Living Wittily

Robert Browning’s “A Death in the Desert”.

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02106_christ_enthroned Rublev "Stung by the splendour of a sudden thought."

Robert Browning's line comes from one of the very best introductions to John's Gospel – his long poem, "A Death in the Desert".

Does anyone still read Browning?

Rublev's enthroned Christ I've always thought conveys the majesty of the glory of Christ – and thus the miracle of what it meant to say, "we beheld his glory, full of grace and truth".

Some time when you want to come at John's gospel from a different route, try Browning's poem. You know how on the motorway or A road you sometimes see the sign that offers the tourist route, or the scenic route? Think about leaving the critical historical motorway for a while to meander with Browning into the mind and heart of John the ageing evangelist, reflecting on the Gospel he is composing in his head, and every now and then "stung by the splendour of a sudden thought".

Comments

4 responses to “Robert Browning’s “A Death in the Desert”.”

  1. chris avatar
    chris

    I love Browning. “Just when we are safest there’s a sunset touch,
    A fancy from a flower-bell, someone’s death….”
    (Bishop Blougram’s apology)
    He’s not taught much these days, but I still studied “My Last Duchess” with my better students, who were at first bamboozled and then captivated with the sheer brilliance of his use of dramatic monologue. Thanks for introducing me to another of his poems.

    Reply
  2. chris avatar
    chris

    I love Browning. “Just when we are safest there’s a sunset touch,
    A fancy from a flower-bell, someone’s death….”
    (Bishop Blougram’s apology)
    He’s not taught much these days, but I still studied “My Last Duchess” with my better students, who were at first bamboozled and then captivated with the sheer brilliance of his use of dramatic monologue. Thanks for introducing me to another of his poems.

    Reply
  3. Jim Gordon avatar
    Jim Gordon

    Hi Chris. One of my favourite Browning poems is “Paracelsus”. “A Death in the Desert” was written as Browning’s answer to the rising scepticism about the historical Jesus (Strauss and Renan, via George Eliot). The dismissal of John as historical source drew browning to make the distinction between historical fact and historical truth. Poetry as alternative hermeneutic to the historical critical project?

    Reply
  4. Jim Gordon avatar
    Jim Gordon

    Hi Chris. One of my favourite Browning poems is “Paracelsus”. “A Death in the Desert” was written as Browning’s answer to the rising scepticism about the historical Jesus (Strauss and Renan, via George Eliot). The dismissal of John as historical source drew browning to make the distinction between historical fact and historical truth. Poetry as alternative hermeneutic to the historical critical project?

    Reply

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