John's Account of Jesus' Demonstration in the Temple: Violent or Nonviolent?

Abstract

In this article I attempt to deal only with John's account of the temple incident in chapter 2. The initial concern of this article is to what extent John's version of the temple incident harmonizes with the Jesus who teaches love for neighbors and enemies alike. I will argue that John's telling of the incident is controlled by his reflections on certain First Testament traditions and traditions regarding Isaac and the temple. The distinctive aspects of the account can be accounted for by First Testament allusions and later Judean developments. In conclusion, it is possible to establish Jesus' demonstration as motivated by his perception that the temple is the center of violence.