“The colour of words. An analysis of the Gospel of John. From ‘social death’ to freedom, in the household”

In the text of John, the deep social reality of slavery, especially of the domestic one, comes to the surface. It is a widespread and influential reality that the Gospel of John seems to know very well. Its terminology demonstrates a knowledge of the actual functions of the slaves and of the forms of relationships that bind them to their masters. The author shows capacity in the symbolic use of the slave terminology and is able to adapt it to his project.