Not Seeing, Yet Believing: Post-Easter Discipleship in John 20:29 and 1 Peter 1:8
Abstract
Jesus’s first disciples lived in an era that many righteous people before Christ had longed to witness (Matt 13:16–17; Luke 10:23–24). This raises the question of how later generations who have not seen the earthly Jesus should regard themselves. This issue is primarily addressed in John 20:29 and 1 Pet 1:8. Although these verses appear in different parts of the NT, they are closely related. This paper identifies eight notable parallels between the texts. It argues that a new era began with Jesus and continues beyond his ascension. Although later believers have not seen Christ, they are still blessed, for eternal life and salvation are available to them as well. Moreover, there is evidence of mutual respect between the earliest disciples and later believers. Later Christians held those who had seen the Lord in high regard. Likewise, the first disciples respected those who believed without seeing him (1 Pet 1:8; cf. John 20:29).
Keywords:
faith, post-Easter, apostles, discipleship, resurrectionReferences
Bauckham, R., Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 2006) .
Bechtler, S.R., Following in His Steps: Suffering, Community, and Christology in 1 Peter (Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series 162; Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press 1998).
Bigg, C., A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude (International Critical Commentary; Edinburgh: Clark 1902).
Brown, R.E., The Gospel according to John XIII–XXI: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (Anchor Bible 29A; Garden City, NY: Doubleday 1970).
Campbell, B.L., Honor, Shame, and the Rhetoric of 1 Peter (Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series 160; Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press 1998).
Carson, D.A., The Gospel according to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1990; reprint 1991).
Casneda, A., Giovanni 20: Uno studio narrativo (Analecta Biblica 241; Roma: GBP 2023).
Comfort, P.W., New Testament Text and Translation Commentary: Commentary on the Variant Readings of the Ancient New Testament Manuscripts and how They Relate to the Major English Translations (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House 2008).
De Boer, M.C., John 1–6: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary (International Critical Commentary; London – New York : Clark 2025).
De Jonge, M., “Signs and Works in the Fourth Gospel,” Miscellanea Neotestamentica (eds. T. Baarda – A.F.J. Klijn – W.C. van Unnik) (Supplements to Novum Testamentum 48; Leiden: Brill 1978) II, 107–125.
Dodd, C.H., Historical Tradition in the Fourth Gospel (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1963).
Dubis, M., Messianic Woes in 1 Peter: Suffering and Eschatology in 1 Peter 4:12–19 (Studies in Biblical Literature 33; New York: Lang 2002).
Farelly, N., The Disciples in the Fourth Gospel: A Narrative Analysis of their Faith and Understanding (WissenschaftlicheUntersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2/290; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck 2010).
Gundry, R.H., “Further Verba on ‘Verba Christi’ in First Peter,” Biblica 55/2 (1974) 211–232.
Hengel, M., “Maria Magdalena und die Frauen als Zeugen,” Abraham unser Vater . Juden und Christen im Gespräch über die Bibel. Festschrift für Otto Michel zum 60. Geburtstag (eds. O. Betz – M. Hengel – P. Schmidt) (Arbeiten zur Geschichte des Spätjudentums und des Urchristentums 5; Leiden – Köln: Brill 1963) 243–256.
Hockey, K.M., The Role of Emotion in 1 Peter (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series 173; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2019).
Holmes, M.W., The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, 3 ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic 2007).
Irwin, L., Jesus and the Visibility of God: Sight and Belief in the Fourth Gospel (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series 185; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2025).
Jobes, K.H., 1 Peter, 2 ed. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic 2022).
Jordaan, G.J.C., “The Joy of Seeing Christ: A Thematic Study of Joy in the Gospel of John,” In die Skriflig 49/2 (2015) 1–9, https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v49i2.1968.
Koester, C.R., “Hearing, Seeing, and Believing in the Gospel of John,” Biblica 70/3 (1989) 327–348.
Keener, C.S., 1 Peter: A Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic 2021).
Koester, C.R., “Jesus’ Resurrection, the Signs, and the Dynamics of Faith in the Gospel of John,” The Resurrection of Jesus in the Gospel of John (eds. C.R. Koester – R. Bieringer) (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 1/222; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck 2008) 47–74.
Lake, K. (trans.), Eusebius: the Ecclesiastical History (London – New York: Heinemann – G.P. Putnam’s Sons 1926), I.
Lincoln, A.T., Gospel according to St John (Black’s New Testament Commentaries; London – New York: Hendrickson – Continuum 2005).
Luz, U., Matthew 8–20: A Commentary (Hermeneia; Minneapolis, MN: Fortress 2001).
Moloney, F.J., The Gospel of John (Sacra Pagina 4; Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press 1998; rev. ed. 2005).
McKnight, S., 1 Peter ( The NIV Application Commentary; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan 1996).
Michaels, J.R., 1 Peter (Word Biblical Commentary 49; Waco, TX: Word Books 1988).
Miller, T.E., Echoes of Jesus in the First Epistle of Peter (Eugene, OR: Pickwick 2022).
Most, G.W., Doubting Thomas (Cambridge, MA – London: Harvard University Press 2005).
Nagy, J., “Joy at the Birth of Christ: A Study of Matthew 2:10 and Luke 2:10,” The Biblical Annals 15/3 (2025) 437–451, https://doi.org/10.31743/ba.17901.
O’Collins, G. – Kendal, D., “The Uniqueness of the Easter Appearances,” Focus on Jesus: Essays on Christology and Soteriology (Herefordshire: Gracewing 1996) 111–127.
Reese, R.A., 1 Peter (New Cambridge Bible Commentary; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2022).
Snodgrass, K.R., Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus, 2 ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 2018).
Schelkle, K.H., Die Petrusbriefe. Der Judasbrief (Herders Theologischer Kommentar zum Neuen Testament 13/2; Freiburg: Herder 1961).
Schneiders, S.M., “Touching the Risen Jesus: Mary Magdalene and Thomas the Twin in John 20,” The Resurrection of Jesus in the Gospel of John (eds. C.R. Koester – R. Bieringer) (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 1/222; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck 2008) 153–176.
Schnelle, U., Einleitung in das Neue Testament, 5 ed. (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 2007).
Schutter, W.L., Hermeneutic and Composition in I Peter (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2/30; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck 1989).
Schütz, J.H., Paul and the Anatomy of Apostolic Authority (New Testament Library; Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox 2007).
Strack, H.L. – Billerbeck, P., Kommentar zum Neuen Testament aus Talmud und Midrasch (München: Beck 1924; reprint 1961) II.
Strecker, G., “μακάριος,” Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament (eds. H. Balz – G. Schneider) (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1991) II, 376–379. (= EDNT)
Sylva, D., Thomas – Love as Strong as Death: Faith and Commitment in the Fourth Gospel (The Library of New Testament Studies 434; London – New Delphi – New York – Sydney: Bloomsbury – Clark 2013).
Trites, A.A., The New Testament Concept of Witness (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series 31; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1977).
Tuckett, C., “Seeing and Believing in John 20,” Paul, John, and Apocalyptic Eschatology: Studies in Honour of Martinus C. de Boer (eds. J. Krans et al.) (Supplements to Novum Testamentum 149; Leiden: Brill 2013) 169–185.
Witherington III, B., Letters and Homilies for Jewish Christians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1–2 Peter (Downers Grove, IL: IVP 2007).
Witulski, T., Der erste Petrusbrief und die johanneischen Schriften. Versuch einer traditionsgeschichtlichen Verhältnisbestimmung (Biblical Tools and Studies 46; Leuven – Paris – Bristol, CT: Peeters 2023).
Williams, T.B. – Horrell, D.G., 1 Peter. I. Chapters 1–2 (International Critical Commentary; London – New York: Clark 2023).
Williams, T.B., Persecution in 1 Peter: Differentiating and Contextualizing Early Christian Suffering (Supplements to Novum Testamentum 145; Leiden – Boston, MA: Brill 2012).
Woodington, J.D., The Dubious Disciples: Doubt and Disbelief in the Post-Resurrection Scenes of the Four Gospels (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift fur die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft 241; Berlin – Boston, MA: De Gruyter 2020).
Wright, R.B., The Psalms of Solomon: A Critical Edition of the Greek Text ( Jewish and Christian Texts 1; London – New York: Clark 2007).
Pápa Reformed Theological Seminary https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6371-6271
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Pursuant to the Act on Copyright and Related Rights of February 4, 1994, the Author of the publication grants to the Publisher of the journal „The Biblical Annals” e a non-exclusive and royalty-free license to use the Work submitted for publication, without time and territorial restrictions in the following fields of use:
a) record the Work and copy it by means of any technique (including printing and electronic recording) on all known data carriers (including IT, electronic and polygraphic), and in all IT systems (in particular those available online);
b) enter the Work into computer memory, disseminate the Work and its copies, as well as market the Work and its copies;
c) publicly perform, replay, display and screen the Work, as well as lend, rent and lease the Work and its copies;
d) make available, market and disseminate the Work and its copies via IT networks, and in particular via the Internet, including the promotion or advertising of the Work, the journal or the Publisher. - The Author shall further grant his/her consent for the Publisher to use and dispose of derivative works.
- The Publisher may sublicense the work.
- Third parties may use the articles and other materials containing the Works, or developed on the basis of the Works in line with the model Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (also referred to as CC BY 4.0).
