Paul and John

Contrary to some trends of modern NT scholarship, Paul and John inhabit the very same world of thought, ask the same questions, address the same problems. One hint of this: John 8 focuses attention, at turgid length, on the question of Jewish origin and identity. The Jews claim to be of God their Father, and therefore sons, the true Israel (cf. Exodus 4:23). Jesus says they are of their father the devil, and they are not the true Israel. The whole question is, Who is Abraham’s seed?

Which is, as NT Wright has shown, precisely Paul’s question.