Anders - John

To my mother,
Rose Marie Gangel,
long in heaven.
A Swiss immigrant,
converted when I was
three years old,
who taught me the
essentials
of the gospel
and foundations of
Christian theology.

Today's church hungers for Bible teaching, and Bible teachers hunger for resources to guide them in teaching God's Word. The Holman New Testament Commentary provides the church with the food to feed the spiritually hungry in an easily digestible format. The result: new spiritual vitality that the church can readily use.

Bible teaching should result in new interest in the Scriptures, expanded Bible knowledge, discovery of specific scriptural principles, relevant applications, and exciting living. The unique format of the Holman New Testament Commentary includes sections to achieve these results for every New Testament book.

Opening quotations from some of the church's best writers lead to an introductory illustration and discussion that draw individuals and study groups into the Word of God. In a Nutshell summarizes the content and teaching of the chapter. Verse-by-verse commentary answers the church's questions rather than raising issues scholars usually admit they cannot adequately solve. Bible principles and specific contemporary applications encourage students to move from Bible to contemporary times. A specific modern illustration then ties application vividly to present life. A brief prayer aids the student to commit his or her daily life to the principles and applications found in the Bible chapter being studied. For those still hungry for more, Deeper Discoveries take the student into a more personal, deeper study of the words, phrases, and themes of God's Word. Finally, a teaching outline provides transitional statements and conclusions along with an outline to assist the teacher in group Bible studies.

It is the editors prayer that this new resource for local church Bible teaching will enrich the ministry of group, as well as individual, Bible study, and that it will lead God's people to truly be people of the Book, living out what God calls us to be.

Twelve volumes designed for Bible study and teaching to enrich the local church and God's people.

Introduction to

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More than fifty years ago, the New Testament scholar Merrill C. Tenney entitled his commentary on the Fourth Gospel, JOHN: The Gospel of Belief. An apt theme to be sure, and one which captures the essence of the apostle's purpose. With profundity wrapped in simplicity John sets forth his case. His Gospel is not always chronological like Luke, yet it is logical and highly theological. From the manifestation of the Word in chapter 1, to the post-resurrection appearance to the disciples in chapter 21, we find John emphasizing over and over again the excellence and eternality of the Son of God.

In this series, we emphasize practical expositionnot literary and exegetical detailso comments on introductory material will be brief. For full coverage of background materials, see the Introduction to Gerald Borchert's work in The New American Commentary.

AUTHORSHIP

Historically, few have challenged the concept of Johannine authorship of the Fourth Gospel. As early as A.D. 180, Theophilus referred to John as the author, and ten years later Irenaeus used 100 quotes from the Fourth Gospel, mentioning John. At the turn of the century in A.D. 200, Clement of Alexandria used John's name frequently in connection with this Gospel. And Tertullian cited passages from almost every chapter, attributing them to the apostle. Opponents of this view have usually come from theological camps outside mainline orthodoxy, such as the Gnostics.

Internally, the author of this book refers to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved (13:23; 19:26; 21:7,20,24). He was clearly an eyewitness to Jesus earthly ministry, knew Jewish life well, and was Jesus intimate friend to whom the dying Lord committed his mother (19:2527). Whether the son of Zebedee actually wrote the scroll is certainly a matter open to question. We do not challenge Peter's authorship of the epistles which bear his name, even through we know Silas helped with the text (1 Pet. 5:12). Borchert spells it out for us: When all of the arguments both internal and external are set together, there seems little reason to reject the idea that the son of Zebedee was the towering figure and the authentic witness involved in the writing of this Gospel. I would not think it necessary that he himself was the actual scribe.