drawn between John and the Synoptics: rather, all have written in some sense ‘spiritual’ Gospels, that is, accounts which are not just dry recitals of physical facts (though what ever is?!), but accounts which are deeply impregnated by the concerns and beliefs of their authors. Further, in recent years it has been increasingly recognized that just as important as any theological ideas of a writer are the social factors in any situation which may significantly affect the way in which an author writes.