John 4:4–42: Defining A Modus Vivendi Between Jews And The Samaritans

Abstract

It has often been pointed out that the Samaritans are a subject of special concern to John; this interest is most obvious in John 4:4–42. The passage relates Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob next to the city of Sychar. This essay demonstrates that John 4:4–42 represents an attempt to delineate the outline of a mixed Jewish–Samaritan community. This account had a twofold aim: in the first place, it was designed to overcome the Jews’ reluctance to deal with Samaritans, by depicting Jesus as disregarding prejudices about their alleged ritual impurity; secondly, it was intended to make the faith in Jesus accessible and relevant to the Samaritans.