Discipleship, Love, and Friendship in John 13:21-31

An Approach through Cultural Anthropology

Abstract

Cultural anthropology helps to approach the biblical text by unravelling certain cultural keys to understand the Master-disciple relationship in the New Testament socio-cultural context. The community aspect acquires a fundamental value in the fourth Gospel. Friendship with the Master also includes the veneratio of the latter. The status within the community is linked to the degree of intimacy of each disciple with their Master, which in turn is measured with the level of confidentiality that exists between them. Just as Jesus has the role of mediator, the disciples are also the mediators of Jesus, witnesses of the love they themselves had experienced.