John's distinctive portrayal of the Jews reflects this community setting. As Adele Reinhartz points out, these references should not be read as direct hostility to Jewish people, but as an indicator of intra- communal strains. John's community most likely defined itself differently from other Jewish groups, and so the Jews became a rhetorical category to distinguish outsiders from members of the community. This, however, does not do away with the Gospel's tricky history of cultivating Judeophobia, but it does give nuance to understanding the Gospel's intent.

John himself is not anti-Jewish, the Jesus narrative is rooted in the Jewish tradition, salvation is said to come " from the Jews" (John 4:22), and festivals such as dedication, passover and Tabernacles frame Jesus' ministry. These details continue the flow and progression of Israel's story. John, therefore, offers history told through the lens of community memory and theological purposes, showing us that biblical history is as much about identity and meaning as it is about past events.