Spirituality According to John: Abiding in Christ in the Johannine Writings

by Rodney Reeves

Publisher:

IVP Academic

, 2021

Overview

Through all of John’s works, a consistent message is woven: being a Christian is about abiding in Christ and in his words. The Gospel of John, the epistle of 1 John, and the Apocalypse all begin in the same way: by pointing to the importance of knowing the Word, both written and incarnate. Using an artistic, storytelling approach to spirituality, John relies heavily on readers’ imaginations to help them see what it takes to become disciples by abiding in Jesus.

Rodney Reeves combines exegesis with spiritual reflection to explore how the only biblical writer to employ three different genres presents a consistent vision of Christian spirituality. Rather than focusing on detailed instructions, John uses evocative metaphors and illustrations so that readers can envision how to follow Jesus—as disciples, in community, and even at the end of the world.

Filled with stories and implications for today’s readers, Spirituality According to John provides an accessible introduction to the rich spiritual world of the Johannine literature that makes up much of the New Testament. In John’s era and now, anyone who has ears to hear can learn to truly abide in Christ.

Key Features

• Combines exegesis with spiritual reflection
• Explores the evocative metaphors and illustrations used by John
• Provides an accessible introduction to the rich spiritual world of the Johannine literature

Contents

• The Art of Christian Living

  Part One: John’s Gospel: Following the Word Home

  • Come and See: Hearing the Word
  • See and Believe: Confessing the Word
  • Believe and See: Incarnating the Word
  • See and Come: Abiding in the Word

  Part Two: John’s Letters: Communing with the Word Together

  • Confess Sin: Hearing the Word
  • Deny Worldliness: Confessing the Word
  • Keep Commandments: Incarnating the Word
  • Love One Another: Abiding in the Word

  Part Three: John’s Revelation: Remaining in the Word Till the End of the World

  • Call to Worship: Hearing the Word
  • Declaration of War: Confessing the Word
  • Follow the Lamb: Incarnating the Word
  • Heaven on Earth: Abiding in the Word
  • The Last Word

Top Highlights

“Today, many of us are put off by the strange world of the Revelation, leaving it to television preachers to interpret the message. But John counted on worshipers gathering on the Lord’s Day to hear the word in order to see the kingdom of God coming to earth. It may look like evil empires are running the place. But John pulls back the veil and shows us what’s really happening behind the scenes—a vision that can only be seen when we worship God. For every time the church gathers to worship our King, we deny the idolatrous rulers of the world. We can see their pretentious claims to power, acting like they deserve our loyalty and devotion. But we know better. God reigns.” (Pages 8–9)

“The Greek word for ‘abide’ (menō) refers to both a place and an attitude: to stay at home and to be at home. To abide with someone means you are staying with them, taking up residence with them, moving into their home. But to abide with someone can also mean that you’re remaining with them, going wherever they go, finding a home with them. So, to abide means to live somewhere. But it also means to persist, to keep going, to remain, to last.” (Page 11)

“So John sent letters to his people to teach them that disciples must abide in the word together as a community of faith. John knew we couldn’t be disciples by ourselves. Believers need a fellowship—holding on to what we have in common—with John and with one another in order to have fellowship with the Father and the Son. According to John, you can’t be a Christian without the church.” (Page 8)

Product Details

• Title: Spirituality according to John: Abiding in Christ in the Johannine Writings
• Author: Rodney Reeves
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Pages: 269
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Bible. N.T. John › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Bible. N.T. Epistles of John › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Bible. N.T. Revelation › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Spirituality › Biblical teaching; Word (Theology)
• ISBNs: 9780830853496, 9780830853489, 0830853499, 0830853480
• Resource ID: LLS:SPRTLTYCCWRTNGS
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T03:07:06Z

About Rodney Reeves

Rodney Reeves earned his PhD at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and has done postdoctoral study at Oxford University. He is dean of The Courts Redford College of Theology and Ministry and professor of biblical studies at Southwest Baptist University, both in Bolivar, Missouri. He served previously as a pastor with churches in Arkansas and Texas.