John (A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition)

by Joseph Dongell

Publisher:

WPH

, 1997

Overview

The purpose of the Gospel of John is “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Central to the Apostle John’s message is the idea of believing. Author Joe Dongell establishes that this believing does not call simply for optimism about life, nor a belief that God exists, but for faith and confidence in the truth that Jesus is indeed the Son of God.

His insights as a teacher and scholar of the Bible enable Dongell to expertly unfold the truths of Scripture and to draw readers into a more earnest study of the Word. He shows us that the relevance of Scripture is unsurpassed. It gives us more than help for daily living, more than “one source of truth among many.” It reveals that “believing” can lead to the redemption of souls and the transformation of lives. This foremost need of humankind is met by God’s grace through Christ—the Christ we see in the fourth Gospel as God in the flesh.

Dongell demonstrates that the Gospel of John is about a pilgrimage of growth for the weak in faith and a journey of discovery for the faithless, that they may know the Son of God.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Both Nicodemus and this Samaritan woman, representatives from two ends of the scale of respectability in their day, had to face the singular truth that eternal life came from above through the Spirit.” (Pages 78–79)

“Jesus then added the key to the puzzle by declaring that everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me (6:45b). In other words, God’s instruction must be accompanied by the human response of listening and learning in order for that instruction to be effective. Those who respond properly to the Father’s teaching by listening to and learning from Him inevitably will come to Jesus, and certainly will be received by Him. Conversely, failure to believe in Jesus stems from a refusal to heed the Father’s instruction. Problems with Jesus are traceable to problems with God! So, despite an apparent teaching of predestination by Jesus, His declarations only underscore the necessity of appropriate human response to the Father’s will.” (Page 101)

“ other words, the Spirit dwells only in an atmosphere of obedient love to Jesus.” (Page 176)

“Fourth, Jesus linked fruit bearing with answered prayer: Ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you (John 15:7b). Not by accident are these two themes intertwined (15:7–8, 16–17). Their connection makes it clear that branches bear their fruit through prayer, and that prayer yields fruit as its outcome.” (Page 184)

“It goes to the heart of the question, ‘How can human beings come to know God and be saved?’ The answer points directly to Jesus the eternal Son as the only One through whom saving knowledge of God is mediated.” (Page 102)

Product Details

• Title: John: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition
• Author: Joseph Dongell
• Series: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition
• Publisher: WPH
• Print Publication Date: 1997
• Logos Release Date: 2009
• Pages: 260
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. John › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9780898271683, 0898271681
• Resource ID: LLS:WESCOM64JN
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-10-04T17:44:20Z

About Joseph Dongell

Dr. Joseph R. Dongell joined the faculty at Asbury Theological Seminary in 1989. He now serves as professor of Biblical Studies, with primary responsibility in the Inductive Bible Studies Department. He received a B.A. from Central Wesleyan College, 1978; a M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary, 1981; a M.A. from the University of Kentucky, 1986; and a Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary, 1991. Prior to joining the faculty, he served as an instructor in various languages (Greek, Hebrew and Latin) at Asbury Seminary (1981-1983), Asbury College (1985-1986) and Union Theological Seminary (1987). His doctoral dissertation focused on the literary structure of Luke’s Gospel, a particular interest that has more recently extended into the Gospels of Mark and John. Dr. Dongell is the author of a commentary on the Gospel of John (Wesley Press). As an ordained elder in the Wesleyan Church, Dr. Dongell has maintained an active ministry in that denomination as an associate pastor, a regular adult Sunday school teacher; a one-time director and frequent advisor of the Wesleyan Seminary Foundation on Asbury Seminary’s campus; an instructor in regional Wesleyan ministerial training; and a representative to the annual Graduate Student Theological Seminar. He and his wife, Regina, have two children.