Constantine R. Campbell - 1, 2, and 3 John

Getting a story is about more than merely enjoying it. It means hearing it, understanding it, and above all, being impacted by it. This commentary series hopes that its readers not only hear and understand the story, but are impacted by it to live in as Christian a way as possible. The editors and contributors set that table very well and open up the biblical story in ways that move us to act with sensitivity and understanding. That makes hearing the story as these authors tell it well worth the time. Well done.

Darrell L. Bock
Dallas Theological Seminary

The Story of God Bible Commentary series invites readers to probe how the message of the text relates to our situations today. Engagingly readable, it not only explores the biblical text but offers a range of applications and interesting illustrations.

Craig S. Keener
Asbury Theological Seminary

I love The Story of God Bible Commentary series. It makes the text sing, and helps us hear the story afresh.

John Ortberg
Senior Pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church

In this promising new series of commentaries, believing biblical scholars bring not only their expertise but their own commitment to Jesus and insights into todays culture to the Scriptures. The result is a commentary series that is anchored in the text but lives and breathes in the world of todays church with its variegated pattern of socioeconomic, ethnic, and national diversity. Pastors, Bible study leaders, and Christians of all types who are looking for a substantive and practical guide through the Scriptures will find these volumes helpful.

Frank Thielman
Beeson Divinity School

The Story of God Bible Commentary series is unique in its approach to exploring the Bible. Its easy-to-use format and practical guidance brings Gods grand story to modern-day life so anyone can understand how it applies today.

Andy Stanley
North Point Ministries

Im a storyteller. Through writing and speaking I talk and teach about understanding the Story of God throughout Scripture and about letting God reveal more of His story as I live it out. Thus I am thrilled to have a commentary series based on the Story of Goda commentary that helps me to Listen to the Story, that Explains the Story, and then encourages me to probe how to Live the Story. A perfect tool for helping every follower of Jesus to walk in the story that God is writing for them.

Judy Douglass
Director of Womens Resources, Cru

The Bible is the story of God and his dealings with humanity from creation to new creation. The Bible is made up more of stories than of any other literary genre. Even the psalms, proverbs, prophecies, letters, and the Apocalypse make complete sense only when set in the context of the grand narrative of the entire Bible. This commentary series breaks new ground by taking all these observations seriously. It asks commentators to listen to the text, to explain the text, and to live the text. Some of the material in these sections overlaps with introduction, detailed textual analysis and application, respectively, but only some. The most riveting and valuable part of the commentaries are the stories that can appear in any of these sections, from any part of the globe and any part of church history, illustrating the text in any of these areas. Ideal for preaching and teaching.

Craig L. Blomberg
Denver Seminary

Pastors and lay people will welcome this new series, which seeks to make the message of the Scriptures clear and to guide readers in appropriating biblical texts for life today.

Daniel I. Block
Wheaton College and Graduate School

An extremely valuable, and long overdue series that includes comment on the cultural context of the text, careful exegesis, and guidance on reading the whole Bible as a unity that testifies to Christ as our Savior and Lord.

Graeme Goldsworthy
author of According to Plan

Editorial Board
of
The Story of God Bible Commentary

Old Testament general editor

Tremper Longman III

Old Testament associate editors

George Athas

Mark J. Boda

Myrto Theocharous

New Testament general editor

Scot McKnight

New Testament associate editors

Lynn H. Cohick

Michael F. Bird

Joel L. Willitts

Zondervan editors

Senior acquisitions editor

Katya Covrett

Senior production editor, Old Testament

Nancy L. Erickson

Senior production editor, New Testament

Christopher A. Beetham

ZONDERVAN

1, 2, and 3 John

Copyright 2017 by Constantine R. Campbell

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ePub Edition February 2017: ISBN 978-0-310-59921-0

Excerpts from 1, 2, and 3 John, ZECNT (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014) by Karen H. Jobes, 2014. Used with permission.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design: Ron Huizinga

Cover image: iStockphoto

Interior composition: Matthew Van Zomeren

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 /DHV/ 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Maria, Eleni, and Dimitra

Sisters by water and blood

Contents

Old Testament series

1	Genesis Tremper Longman III
2	Exodus Christopher J. H. Wright
3	Leviticus Jerry E. Shepherd
4	Numbers Jay A. Sklar
5	Deuteronomy Myrto Theocharous
6	Joshua Lissa M. Wray Beal
7	Judges Athena E. Gorospe
8	Ruth/Esther Marion Taylor
9	12 Samuel Paul S. Evans
10	12 Kings David T. Lamb
11	12 Chronicles Carol M. Kaminski and Christine Palmer
12	Ezra/Nehemiah Douglas J. Green
13	Job Martin A. Shields
14	Psalms Elizabeth R. Hayes
15	Proverbs Ryan P. ODowd
16	Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs George Athas
17	Isaiah Mark J. Boda
18	Jeremiah/Lamentations Andrew G. Shead