Reading John and 1, 2, 3 John: A Literary and Theological Commentary (Reading the New Testament, 2nd Series)

by Alicia D. Myers

Publisher:

Smyth & Helwys

, 2019

Overview

Reading John and 1, 2, 3 John explores the literary and theological aspects of these writings, both as representative works from the same community as well as separate works with varying genres and audiences. Reading these works together as well as separately, Myers seeks to retrieve 1–3 John from the recesses of the Christian canon while simultaneously exploring the profound literary artistry and theological insight of all these Johannine writings. The Gospel and Letters of John all agree on the crucial need to recognize Jesus as God’s Christ and Son in spite of the difficulty of his revelation and in spite of the various pressures and fears their readers face. Through such recognition, these writings argue that believers not only can come to know the God who is Love but also can show this Love through their imitation of Jesus.

Key Features

• Examines the theological motifs across the Johannine writings
• Utilizes a Literary-Rhetorical and Sociocultural method of study
• Balances the connections and independence of the Johannine writings

Praise for the Print Edition

Myers has produced a gem—a commentary worth reading in its entirety. Her narratives and dialogue with previous scholarship never leave the reader wondering about the significance of a particular topic or discussion or the logic of her choices. Her explanations of Johannine language and patterns bring clarity for new scholars and restore a luster for advanced scholars that may have dulled by repeated scouring. Myers’s careful delineation of possible relationships between the Gospel and the Letters highlights rather than obscures distinctive facets of each work

—Jo-Ann A. Brant, Professor Emeritus, Goshen College, Indiana

This is a marvelous commentary that bristles with fresh perspectives on and new insights into the interpretation of the Gospel and Letters of John. Alicia Myers opens her study with a clear and measured examination of how the Gospel and Letters can be read together as well as separately, before embarking on a substantial and yet highly accessible literary-rhetorical and sociocultural reading of each of the four texts. A significant and very welcome addition to Johannine studies.

—Catrin H. Williams, University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Product Details

• Title: Reading John and 1, 2, 3 John: A Literary and Theological Commentary
• Author: Alicia D. Myers
• Editor: Todd D. Still
• Series: Reading the New Testament, 2nd Series
• Publisher: Smyth & Helwys
• Publication Date: 2019
• Pages: 246
• Resource Type: Commentary
• Topic: Johannine Studies

About Alicia D. Myers

Alicia D. Myers (Ph.D., Baylor University) is Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek at Campbell University Divinity School. A constant feature of her research is an interest in how Greco-Roman rhetoric and literature can aid our understanding of the New Testament, especially the Gospel of John. She is the author of Characterizing Jesus: A Rhetorical Analysis on the Gospel’s Use of Scripture in Its Presentation of Jesus. Her other recent book, Blessed among Women? Mothers and Motherhood in the New Testament, explores presentations of mothers and maternal metaphors.