friendship. The Middle East of Jesus’ day believed that there was a set amount of honor like a fixed bank account (cf. Plutarch, On Listening to Lectures, 44B [LCL, Babbitt, 1.237] and Josephus, JW 1.23.5 § 459). Thus, if one person takes honor, another must lose the same amount of honor. Therefore, John willingly forfeits his clout, influence, and following for the growth and aggrandisment of Jesus’ fame.41 31 “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth
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