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ADELINE FEHRIBACH, S.C.N., The Women in the Life of the Bridegroom: A Feminist Historical-literary Analysis of the Female Characters in the Fourth Gospel (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press/ Michael Glazier, 1998). Pp. vii + 222.
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This provocative study is subtitled "A Feminist Historical-literary Analysis" and that it is. A veritable wealth of material on contemporary Johannine scholarship is to be found in it. These materials are variously analyzed, accepted, modified, or rejected. Additionally, Fehribach has provided a fine study of relevant social and religious customs of the first century, both historical and literary In each chapter she analyzes the text of an incident in which a woman is the chief character. Each of these chapters ends with a comment on the patriarchal or androcentric nature of the portrayal of the woman. The book ends with an excellent summary of the points made about the women of the Fourth Gospel who support Jesus' role as messianic bridegroom.
A significant contribution of this book lies in chap. 4, "Martha and Mary of Bethany." In this section, the...