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John 6:51-58
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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • "Supper & Eucharist," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • XVIX.43-52; Tatian's Diatessaron (c. 150-160).
  • Chapter XVI, On Baptism,  Tertullian (c. 198)
  • I.6, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter XIII, On the Flesh of Christ, Tertullian (c. 211)
  • Chapter XXXVII, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • V.III, The Refutation of all Heresies (Philosophumena), Hippolytus of Rome. (c. 225)
  • VI.26, X.13, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
  • XI.14, XII.5, XII.33, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
  • On the Lord's Prayer -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • From Augustine's Tractates on John: Tractate XXVI (6:41-59).
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "Flesh cannot make a difference between fleshly eating, which is done by the help of the teeth, and spiritual eating, which consists in faith: and therefore it condemns that which it does not understand: yet nonetheless, the truth must be preached and taught."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "We partake of Christ and his benefits by faith. The soul that rightly knows its state and wants, finds whatever can calm the conscience, and promote true holiness, in the redeemer, God manifest in the flesh."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "We keep his doctrine by believing, his promises by hoping, his command by obeying."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "...when He added that they "had no life in them unless they thus ate and drank," it was impossible they should think He meant that the temporal life they were then living was dependent on their eating and drinking, in this gross sense, His flesh and blood."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Whosoever by faith trusts in the death of Christ and is "baptized into his death" (Rom. 6:3), spiritually partakes of the body and blood of Christ. So does he also who eats in loving remembrance of him the emblems that represent his body and blood."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, John 6:51-58, Craig A. Satterlee, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2015.
    • "The temptation on this Sunday, when the gospel reading is so obviously, if not originally and explicitly about the Eucharist, is to endeavor to explain Holy Communion."
  • "A 'Living' Bread," Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, 2015.
    • "God provides, that life is abundant (10:10), that eternal life is not something you can conveniently and conventionally postpone to your future but is your promise in the present, that any claim about life with Jesus, life with God, means an abiding, a unity, a reciprocity, and oneness."
  • "Meeting the Carnal God," David Lose, ...in the Meantime, 2015.
    • "So perhaps the task this week, Dear Partner, is to tell our hearers in language as vivid as we can muster that each and every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper God comes to us once again to offer us a promise made so concrete and solid so that we can touch and feel, taste and eat it."
  • The Center for Excellence in Preaching, Scott Hoezee, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, illustration ideas, 2015.
    • "Commentator Raymond Brown says that across the centuries, a few commentators have disputed the idea that there was anything particularly distinctive about trogein over against the more common phagein. But Brown and others are convinced that this is very intentional on John’s part, magnifying the vividness of the real “feeding” that takes place in the Eucharistic meal (and that Jesus/John so clearly intends here)."
  • This Terrible Eating of Bread," Andrew Prior, One Man's Web, 2015.
    • "I don't think I can understand just how offensive Jesus' words are. Seven times it says we are to eat him. And four of those occasions also refer to the drinking of his blood. Our life depends on it!"
  • "Eternal Life," Nancy Rockwell, The Bite in the Apple, 2015.
    • "And always, always, Jesus. He awakens hearts every day, setting people free from fear and despair, and raising them in hope, dignity, confidence and joy, in every culture in the world."
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2015.
  • '"Bread," sermon discussion from Frederick Buechner, Frederick Buechner Blog.
    • "To eat is to acknowledge our dependence - both on food and on each other. It also reminds us of other kinds of emptiness that not even the blue-plate special can touch."
  • "Some (Not So) Random Thoughts on Bread," Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2015.
    • "Our faith is passed down from generation to generation. While it is the same, it certainly takes on different flavors depending on where and among whom it is nurtured."
  • "Hungry Hungry Humans and the Bread of Life," Sharron R. Blezard, Stewardship of Life, 2015.
  • "Enduringly Yours," Thomas Beam, 2015.
  • "Down, Not Out," Howie Adan, Just Off The Map, 2015.
  • Commentary, John 6:51-58, Ginger Barfield, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2012.
    • "This is not simply a text about an appropriate theological understanding of the elements at the communion table. It is not simply a text about how real Jesus' incarnation is -- flesh and blood. It is richer in that it invites full relationship and participation in the life-giving power of Jesus."
  • "From 'Bread of Heaven' to 'Gnawing on Flesh,'" D Mark Davis, raw translation and exegesis/questions, Left Behind and Loving It, 2012.
  • "Eucharistic Bombshells," Rick Morley, 2012.
    • "John’s Jesus uses incredibly incendiary language in chapter 6. So incendiary, in fact, that some people stopped following him because of it."
  • Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2012.
  • "Living in Jesus' Heart," Alyce McKenzie, Edgy Exegesis, Patheos, 2012.
    • "The verb here translated abide (meno) occurs 40 times in John and 29 times in the Johannine letters. It means to remain, stay, abide, live, dwell, last, endure, continue."
  • "Sharing Bread," Janet Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2012.
    • "Can you think of times when the Sacrament has brought together those who might otherwise be separated? How do those experiences deepen your understanding of the gifts of God?"
  • "Bread of Life Sermon Series," David Lose, Working Preacher, 2012.
  • "Cannibal or Mystical," Peter Woods, I Am Listening, 2012.
  • Lectionary Greek, John 6:35, 41-51, Rob Myallis, 2012.
  • "Chomping in Church," Andrew Prior, 2012.
  • "Jesus, the Bread of Life," compiled by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, 2012.
  • Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
  • "You Are What You Eat," Russell Rathbun, The Hardest Question, 2012.
    • "Does Jesus want us to become God?"
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, John 6:51-58, David Ewart, 2012.
    • "Thus, the crowd listening to Jesus would hear his words, 'eat my flesh and drink my blood,' as blasphemy, as an abomination, as a violation of a core belief about the Holy and our proper relationship with the Holy. These words of Jesus are akin to the words of the snake in the Garden tempting his listeners to eat a forbidden fruit; to violate a God-given commandment; to violate the sacred ordering of creation."
  • Comentario del Evangelio por Ofelia Dávila Llimpe, Juan 6:51-58, Working Preacher 2012.
  • Commentary, John 6:51-58, Brian Peterson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "If this text is at one level a meditation on the Eucharist (and I believe that it is), then part of the point is that the Eucharist is life-giving because it is Jesus who gives it, and it is life-giving because it is Jesus himself who is given."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "First Thoughts on Year B Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 12, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Ultimately all hunger cries out for satisfaction and the oldest Jesus traditions report the promise and agenda of the kingdom: ?Blessed are you who hunger; for you shall be satisfied? (Luke 6:21); so will those ?who hunger and thirst for justice? (Matt 5:6). The two must not be divorced, because in the bread of life we are being nourished by the one whose being is love and compassion."
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen, CrossMarks Christian Resources.
    • "This crude image of eating and drinking can also be a corrective to an overly emotional, subjective understanding of "Jesus-in-me." Whether we feel it or not, the objective truth is, when we chew the bread and drink the wine, we are receiving the flesh and blood of Jesus in some way and we are receiving the benefits that Jesus promises us."
  • Join the Feast, John 6:51-58, Martha Rollins, Union PSCE, 2009.
    • "To eat or not to eat was the question before Adam and is before us in this 'do-over' offered by Jesus."
  • "An Abiding Meal," Bill White, Sabbatheology, The Crossings Community, 2009.
    • "Because we now fully participate in Christ's word, i.e. Jesus abides in us and we in him, we have both the promise of eternal life AND a meaningful life with God now."
  • "Holy Communion," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
  • "Eucharistic Symbolism in the Gospel of John," David E. Fredrickson, Word & World, 1997.
    • "A metaphorical reading of eating Jesus' flesh in John 6 is insufficient. It keeps the reader from seeing the connection between Jesus' self-giving and his divinity; it does not reckon with the communication of divinity to communicants; it does not allow for our participation in the life of God through the ascent of the incarnate Word."
  • 13th Sunday after Pentecost, John 6:1-71 -- The Bread Which Gives Life to the World, Paul S. Berge, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1985.
  • Marginally Mark, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • Wellspring of the Gospel, Ordinary 20B, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, Weekly Wellsprings.
  • "The Scandal of the Living Bread," Ordinary 20B, Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
    • "In what ways does Christianity cause scandal?"
  • Commentary by Hall Harris at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
  • "The Sociology of Secrecy and the Fourth Gospel." Jerome H. Neyrey, in What Is John? Vol. II: Literary and Social Readings of the Fourth Gospel, 79-109. F. Segovia, ed. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1998.
    • "Once we start to pull back the veil, we notice numerous instances of hiding-revealing, secrecy, ambiguity and even lying. The following is an attempt to catalogue the primary and related instances of secrecy and "information control" in the document."
  • "Food For Thought: The Bread of Life Discourse (John 6:25-71) in Johannine Legitimation," by James F. McGrath, from Theological Gathering 2 (Winter 1997).
    • "...the bread of life discourse represents a christological exposition of the Old Testament manna tradition. Eucharistic language is thus probably used not as an end in itself, but because it enables faith in Jesus to be expounded in a way that is relevant to the Johannine community's legitimation of its beliefs and practices in the context of its conflict with the synagogue."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
• Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Bailey, Raymond, "John 6," Review and Expositor, 1988.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Berge, Paul S., "The Bread Which Gives Life to the World," Word & World, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Crossan, John Dominic, "It Is Written: A Structuralist Analysis of John 6," Semeia, 1983.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Fitzgerald, Matt, "Living by the Word: John 6:51-58," The Christian Century, 2009.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Fredrickson, David E., "Eucharistic Symbolism in the Gospel of John," Word & World, 1997.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hanna, Eleanor B., "Biblical Interpretation and Sacramental Practice: John Calvin's Interpretation of John 6:51-58," Worship, 1999.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Harrill, J. Albert, "Cannibalistic Language in the Fourth Gospel and Greco Roman Politics of Factionalism," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Holeton, David R., "The Communion of Infants and Hussitism," Communio Viatorum, 1984.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • "Homiletical Helps," Concordia Journal, 2009. (Section on this text begins on page 298)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • John Paul II, Pope, "Through the Eucharist Christ Invites Us to...." AFER, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Kilmartin, S.J., "Liturgical Influence on John 6," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1960.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Koester, Craig R., "John Six and the Lord's Supper," Lutheran Quarterly, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lilly, Joseph L., "The Eucharistic Discourse of John 6," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1950.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Phillips, Gary A., "'This Is A Hard Saying. Who Can Be Listener To It?': Creating a Reader in John 6," Semeia, 1983.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ruland, S.J., Vernon, "Sign and Sacrament: John's Bread of Life Discourse," Interpretation, 1964.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Rusch, Frederick A., "The Signs and the Discourse - The Rich Theology of John 6," Currents in Theology and Mission, 1978.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Stroble, Paul, "Whose Casserole?" The Christian Century, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Temple, Patrick J., "The Eucharist in St John 6," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1947.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Voelz, James W., "The Discourse on the Bread of Life in John 6: Is It Eucharistic?" Concordia Journal, 1989.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Von Wahlde, Urban C., "Literary Structure and Theological Argument in Three Discourses with the Jews in the Fourth Gospel," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1984.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Yeago, David S., "The Bread of Life: Patristic Christology and Evangelical Soteriology in Martin Luther's Sermons on John 6," St Vladimir's Theological Quarterly, 1995.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "Living Bread," Rev. Dr. Timothy Smith, Day 1, 2012.
  • "To Be Or Not To Be," Pentecost 11, 20 August 2006, Walter W. Harms, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
  • "Holy Communion," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • "A Taste of Freedom Food," the Rev. Harvard Stephens, Day 1, 2000.
  • Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily
    • Ordinary 20, 2012
    • Body and Blood of Christ, 2011
    • Ordinary 20, 2009
    • Ordinary 20, 2008
    • Ordinary 20, 2006
    • Ordinary 20, 2000
    • Body and Blood of Christ, 1999 (Dr. Mary G Durkin)
    • Body and Blood of Christ, 1996
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Proper 15B, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2012.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," 2015, Union Presbyterian Seminary.
  • "The Bread of Life," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
  • John 5 & 6 Word Search, Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
• Drama:
  • "In Front of the Synagogue of Capernaum," from A Certain Jesus by Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications.
  • "Tough Teaching," Jane and Mark Lewis, Potted Jam.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Art in the Christian Tradition, Jean and Alexander Heard, Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike 3.0 License.
  • Clip Art Images: John 6:51-58, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • John 6:51-58, at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • John 6:51-58, John 6:51-58, John 6:52-59, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
  • Commercial Site: "True Food and True Drink," "Bread of Life,", Visual Liturgy/Film, The Work of the People.
  • Bulletin Cover/Art, John 6:51, John 6:57, John Stuart, Knoxville, TN. (Free use by churches.)
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: John 6:51, 55, 56, 57, 58. The Cyber Hymnal.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Eating/Feeding/Eucharist
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Communion/Eucharist
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of John