The Chiastic Structure of Seven Signs in the Gospel of John: Revisiting a Neglected Proposal

Six signs in the Gospel of John are commonly recognized, but much less agreement has emerged on the total number and identity of the Johannine signs. In this article, I revisit the number and structure of signs in John, drawing on an often-neglected article from Marc Girard. Girard argued for seven signs in John, arranged in a chiastic pattern. Though modifications to Girard’s structure are needed, his argument has much to commend it and deserves a fresh hearing. Building on Girard’s structure, I argue that the “lifting up” or “glorification” of the Son is the seventh sign, and the pivot of the chiasm is found in the feeding of the multitudes in the wilderness, which underscores the centrality of abiding in the Son through faith.