This study of the account of the wedding at Cana in Jn 2.1-12 was prompted by
reactions to the manner in which Jesus addresses his mother as `Woman'. The literary
structure of the pericope is analysed, and the roles of Jesus and his mother
compared and contrasted with those of the bridegroom and head-waiter respectively.
It is argued that Jesus is the true bridegroom and his mother the true head-waiter
in this story, reflecting their status and roles in the divine dispensation. The
connotations of `woman' need to be understood in their cultural context, and
approximate those of `mother', the term of respect with which many African people
address women in their societies.
Barclay, W.1975The Gospel of John, I (DSB;
Philadelphia : Westminster Press
).
2.
Bar-Efrat, S.1989Narrative Art in the Bible (JSOTSup, 70;
Sheffield: JSOT Press
).
3.
Barrett, C.K.1967The Gospel According to St John: An Introduction with Commentary and Notes on
the Greek Text (
London: SPCK
).
4.
Beutler, J.1996 ` The Use of “Scripture” in the Gospel of
John', in
R.A. Culpepper
and
C.C. Black
(eds.), Exploring the Gospel of John: In Honour of D. Moody
Smith (
Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox
): 147-62.
5.
Brodie, T.L.1993The Gospel According to John: A Literary and Theological Commentary (
Oxford: Oxford University Press
).
6.
Cilumba C.N.A.2001Wunder, Glaube und Leben bei Johannes: Eine exegetisch-hermeneutische Studie am
Beispiel von Joh 3 im Hinblick auf die Inkulturationsaufgabe (Arbeiten zur
Interkulturalität, 3;
Bonn: Borengässer
).
7.
Coats, G.W. (ed.) 1985Saga, Legend, Tale, Novella, Fable: Narrative Forms in Old Testament Literature
(JSOTSup, 35;
Sheffield: JSOT Press
).
8.
Cooper, K.T.1978/79 `The Best Wine: John 2:1-11', WTJ 1: 364-80.
9.
Culpepper, R.A.
, and
C.C. Black
(eds.) 1996Exploring the Gospel of John: In Honour of D. Moody Smith (
Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox
).
10.
Davies, W.D.1996 `Reflections on Aspects of the Jewish Background of the Gospel
of John' in
R.A. Culpepper
and
C.C. Black
(eds.), Exploring the Gospel of John: In Honour of D. Moody Smith (
Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox
): 43-64.
11.
Getui, M.N.
, and
H. Ayanga2002Conflicts in Africa: A Women Response (Circle of Concerned African Women
Theologians;
Nairobi: Ruaraka Printing Press
).
12.
Green, B.1982 `The Plot of the Biblical Story of Ruth', JSOT 23: 55-68.
13.
Haenchen, E.1984John 1: A Commentary on the Gospel of John Chapters 1—6
(trans. R.W. Funk; Hermeneia — CHCB;
Philadelphia : Fortress Press
).
14.
Lindars, B.1972The Gospel of John (
NCBC; London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott
).
15.
Loba-Mkole, J.-C.1997 `Les femmes congolaises et la traduction de la Bible', Revue
Africaine des Sciences de laMission7: 223-34.
16.
Marguerat, D.
, and
Y. Bourquin2002Pour lire les récits bibliques: La Bible se raconte (
Paris
: Cerf;
Geneva
: Labor;
Montreal
: Fides-
Novalis
).
17.
Marsh, J.1968Saint John
(
PNTC; London: Penguin Books
).
18.
Mezu, R.U.2006 `Africana Women: Their Historic Past and Future Activism
', http://www.nathanielturner.com/africanawomen2.htm .
19.
Miscall, P.D.1983The Working of Old Testament Narrative (Semeia Studies;
Chico, CA: Scholars Press
).
20.
Moloney, F.J.1993The Belief in the Word: Reading the Fourth Gospel: John1—4 (
Minneapolis: Fortress Press
).
21.
1998The Gospel of John (Sacra Pagina, 4;
Collegeville, MN: Michael Glazier
).
22.
Owings, T.L.1988 `
John 2.1-11
', RevExp85:
533-37
.
23.
Painter, J.1991The Quest for the Messiah: The History, Literature and Theology of the
Johannine Community (
Edinburgh: T&T Clark
).
24.
Schnackenburg, R.1985Das Johannesevangelium. 1. Teil: Einleitung und Kommentar zu Kap.
1—4 (5th edn; HTKNT, 4.1;
Freiburg : Herder
).
25.
Shisanya, C.R.A.2002 `Conflicts Abaluhya Women Face in Marriage', in Mary
N. Getui and Hazel Ayanga, Conflicts in Africa: A Women Response (Circle
of Concerned African Women Theologians;
Nairobi: Ruaraka Printing Press
): 115-32.
26.
Smitmans, A.1966Das Weinwunder von Kana: Die Auslegung von Jo 2,1-11 bei den Vätern
und heute (BGBE 6;
Tübingen: JCB Mohr
[Paul Siebeck]).
27.
Ternynck, M.-J.2001 `
Le signe de Cana: de quelles noces s'agit-il? Portée
christologique du récit
', Aletheia20:
103-10
.
28.
Therath, A.1994Jerusalem in the Gospel of John: An Exegetico-Theological Study (Excerpta ex
dissertatione ad Doctoratum in Facultate Biblica Pontificii Instituti
Biblici;
Rome: Pontifical Biblical Institute
).
29.
Thompson, M.M.1996 `The Historical Jesus and the Johannine Christ', in
R.A. Culpepper
and
C.C. Black
(eds.), Exploring the Gospel of John: In Honour of D. Moody Smith (
Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox
): 21-42.
30.
Vanhoye, A.1974 `
Interrogation johannique et exégèse de Cana
', Bib55:
157-67
.
