Abstract

Moses stands as a pivotal yet contested figure in first-century Jewish self-perception. While both the Gospel of John and Philo of Alexandria utilize Mosaic traditions, they construct different portraits of Israel’s lawgiver. This study navigates this “traditionary competition” by moving beyond traditional textual criticism to employ a Cognitive Theory of Characters, drawing on the methodological insights of Rüggemeier and Shively. Focusing specifically on the Sinai Tradition (Exodus 19–40), the paper analyses how these authors guide readers to mentally construct, evaluate, and integrate complex representations of Moses through Conceptual Blending Theory. The analysis reveals that while Philo blends Sinai narratives with Hellenistic philosophical ideals to elevate Moses as the “living law” and the “unpassable standard” of piety, the Fourth Gospel employs the same Sinai inputs, namely glory, tabernacle, and grace, to construct a Christological framework of supersession. In John, the cognitive blend results in the subordination of Moses, positioning Jesus as the exclusive locus of “grace and truth.” Finally, the study demonstrates that these competing cognitive models serve distinct sociological functions: Philo’s characterization cultivates an identity under the influence of Mosaic perfection, whereas John’s re-reading of Sinai constructs a renewed covenant community defined by faith in Jesus.