THE FUNCTION OF ERGON (WORK) AND S?MEION (SIGN) IN JOHN 14:12 IN THE CONTEXT OF JOHN’S GOSPEL: A LEXICAL STUDY

Abstract

Discussions on John 14:12 are summarized under qualitative and quantitative considerations of the verse. Qualitative interpretations conclude that believers in Jesus would do more marvelous works of wonder than Jesus did. On the other hand, quantitative interpretations conclude that those who believe in Jesus would do a greater number of works than Jesus. These interpretations pay attention to the lexical meaning of meizon (greater) in the context of John’s gospel. This study, however, suggests that a study of John 14:12 should come to terms with the lexical and contextual meaning of the concept of ergon while distinguishing it from s?meion, dunameis or terata in the Johannine gospel. In the end, it concludes that the passage does not mean that those who believe in Jesus would do more mighty works of wonder than him. Rather, they would do more numerous work (ergon) than Jesus since Jesus’ earthly life was restricted both by temporal and spatial limitations. Some of these works done by those who believe in him would function as s?meion when they point to eternal realities.