The clarity of Jesus' self-revelation, typical of John and central to this larger passage (chaps. Most importantly, however, this story highlights the similarities and differences between John and the Synoptics regarding Jesus identity. This setting and theme probably led to its inclusion in John at this point. Furthermore, the theme of judgment also corresponds to the theme of the larger section in John (7:24 8:15-16). The setting is one of controversy in the temple, though the way this is introduced in 7:53â≈:2 is much more like Luke's style (cf. Its presence highlights some of the similarities and differences between John and the Synoptics.
What we have here, then, is a bit of Synoptic-like material stuck in the middle of John's Gospel. Furthermore, it is as well written and as theologically profound as anything else in the Gospels. Most of Christendom, however, has received this story as authoritative, and modern scholarship, although concluding firmly that it was not a part of John's Gospel originally, has generally recognized that this story describes an event from the life of Christ. Those who believe that authorship is a primary criterion for canonicity will suspect or even reject this passage. 3) is similar to stories found in the Synoptics, as is the theme of God's mercy mediated by Jesus.
The controversy with the teachers of the law and the Pharisees (v. But some in the later church thought this one was too good to leave out. It appears to have been a well-known story, one of many that circulated orally from the beginning yet that none of the Gospel writers were led to include. Furthermore, it contains many expressions that are more like those in the Synoptic Gospels than those in John. Furthermore, some manuscripts place it at other points within John (after 7:36, 7:44 or 21:25), others include it in the Gospel of Luke (placing it after Luke 21:38), and many manuscripts have marks that indicate the scribes "were aware that it lacked satisfactory credentials" (Metzger 1994:189). The NIV separates this passage off from the rest of the Gospel with the note, "The earliest and most reliable manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53â≈:11." That is, the earliest Greek manuscripts, the earliest translations and the earliest church fathers all lack reference to this story. It was almost certainly not part of John's original Gospel. This story, beloved for its revelation of God's mercy toward sinners, is found only in John.
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