Intertextuality, verbal echoes and characterisation in the 'Gospel of John' (On the Johannine depiction of Roman authority with regard to the death of Jesus)

It is often said that the implied author of the Gospel of John whitewashes the Romans in order to maximise Jewish responsibility for the death of Jesus. But I suggest that if "the Jews" are not let off the hook with regard to Jesus' death, the Romans are made to take equal responsibility. This paper will look at two ways in which the Johannine implied author uses characterisation to express this idea. The first part will look at some points of the Johannine characterisation which can only be brought out by comparison with the Synoptics. The second part will look at some verbal echoes within the Johannine narrative which lend similar characterisation of the Romans and the unbelieving "Jews".