Friendship in the Vine in John 15:1-17

This article argues that Jesus’ extension of friendship in John 15 should be interpreted in light of the wider vine narrative. While Johannine scholarship generally acknowledges the literary unity of John 15:1–17, it has often been treated as functioning in isolated parts. This article argues for the interconnection of the text through conceptual and thematic analysis, and locates the friendship sayings of Jesus within the wider vine narrative. The relevance of this interconnection is demonstrated through its implications for interpreting six attributes of Jesus’ friendship: authority, mutuality, cruciformity, intimacy, mission, and community.