Response from DeConick
I have just noticed that April DeConick posted a response to the interview about my book (which interacts with a theory she has written extensively on). I do not have time for a full response now but read her thought-provoking post. I think it interesting that she regards the Fourth Gospel as “containing many polemics,” (emphasis mine) and this type of thinking goes directly to my point in the conclusion of the book. In her exegesis, and in the work of both Riley and Pagels, the Fourth Gospel becomes a field in which to mine for insights about Christian origins and leaves little room for the evangelist to say anything genuinely declarative, instructive, or didactic to his audience (except in response to all his “competitors”).
Thanks to April for the detailed reply.
