Forgiveness and not stones: misery and mercy in the narration of the adulterous woman (Jn 7,53 – 8,11)

Abstract

This article analyses the pericope Jn 7:53 – 8:11 and shows the relevance of this narration, whose Johannine origin is disputed. Despite being considered by many authors as a late addition to the Gospel of John, the account was considered an inspired text and forms part of the corpus of the IV Gospel and the Canon of the New Testament. The pericope deals with a woman caught in the act of adultery, who is taken to Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees so that he could tell them what would be the fate of “such” women. This way of addressing the woman already exhibits contemptuous language and a pejorative attitude towards her. In addition to the patriarchal scenario, which omits the male figure who had also committed adultery, it is clear that behind the legal concern of the crime in question, there is the disguised intention of putting Jesus to the test in the face of the law of Moses and the power of Caesar. With the authority of a master, Jesus does not answer the question directly, but gives it back in a vital lesson to all those present, teaching that the way is forgiveness and not stoning. The teaching environment is transformed into a legal scenario in which judges, based on the Mosaic Law, are led to face the Law of love and mercy brought by Jesus. The Mosaic Law is overcome after the Christ event; the scribes and Pharisees are not willing to follow the teachings of Jesus and leave the scene without conversion. In this study, the dimension of forgiveness and non-judgment is reflected within the practice and religious understanding that Jesus came to forgive and not to judge. The study is divided into segmentation, translation, textual criticism, delimitation, structure and rhetorical form, analysis of forms, literary genre, comments and conclusion.