The Gospel of John: A Commentary
Overview
The author of a much-loved two-volume Matthew commentary that he revised and expanded in 2007, Frederick Dale Bruner now offers The Gospel of John: A Commentary—more rich fruit of his lifetime of study and teaching. Rather than relying primarily on recent scholarship, Bruner honors and draws from the church’s major John commentators throughout history, including Augustine, Chrysostom, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Henry, Bultmann, Barrett, and more.
This “historical interpretation” also sheds light on Bruner’s “contemporary interpretation,” which includes a clear translation of the text, references to major recent scholarship, and Bruner’s personal application of the Gospel to present-day experience. Rich in biblical insights, ecumenical in tone, broadly historical, deeply theological, and lovingly written, Bruner’s Gospel of John promises to be an invaluable reference for pastors and teachers.
- Provides extensive verse-by-verse commentary
- Includes a full translation of John
- Discusses the context and background of the book of John
- Features insight drawn from historical commentators as well as “contemporary interpretation”
- Part I: Jesus’ Public Ministry (Chaps. 1–12)
- John 1: John the Evangelist’s and John the Baptist’s Jesus Sermons: How Jesus Came
- John 2: Jesus’ Wine and Whip Sermons: How Jesus Comes with Grace and Truth
- John 3: Jesus’ Nicodemus Sermon: How Jesus Evangelizes, I
- John 4: Jesus’ Samaritan-Woman Sermon: How Jesus Evangelizes, II
- John 5: Jesus’ Divinity or Father-Son Sermon: How the Son is Related to the Father and is Accredited by Him
- John 6: Jesus’ Bread Sermon: How Jesus Comes to Us and Wants Us to Come to Him (Worship)
- John 7: Jesus’ Confrontation Sermons, I: How Jesus Defends His Person Before a Misunderstanding World
- John 8: Jesus’ Confrontation Sermons, II: How Jesus Defines His Person Before a Mistrusting World
- John 9: Jesus’ and the Blind Man’s Sermons: How the Man Who Always Tells the Truth Honors Jesus
- John 10: The Good Shepherd Sermons: How Jesus Seeks a Christocentric Church
- John 11: Jesus’ Lazarus Sermon: How Jesus Conquers Death
- John 12: Jesus’ Valedictory Sermons: How Jesus Epitomizes His Public Ministry
- Part II: Jesus’ Discipleship Sermons and Prayer (Chaps. 13–17)
- John 14: Jesus’ Father Sermon (The Comings): How Jesus Comes Bringing God for World Mission (RSVP)
- John 15: Jesus’ Son Sermon (The Homemakings): How Disciples Learn Their Home for World Mission
- John 16: Jesus’ Spirit Sermon (The Paraclete): How Disciples Learn Their Gifts for World Mission
- John 17: Jesus’ Church Prayer (The Lord’s “Lord’s Prayer”): How Disciples Learn to Pray for World Mission
- Part III: Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection (Chaps. 18–21)
- John 18: Jesus’ Court Sermons: How Jesus Rules at His Trials
- John 19: Jesus’ Cross Sermons: How Jesus Reigns from His Tree
- John 20: Jesus’ Resurrection-Mission Sermons: How the Risen Lord Met His First Disciples and Sent Them into World Mission
- John 21: Jesus’ Revelation Means-of-Grace Sermons: How the Risen Lord Will Continue to Reveal Himself to His Disciples for World Mission until the End (Epilogue)
Top Highlights
“By the kindest interpretation Nicodemus seems to be saying, ‘Jesus, you are pointing me in the wrong direction; I want to know how to go forward, not how to go backward and start all over again.’ Nicodemus is almost saying, ‘What’s wrong with the distance I’ve come? Why are you suggesting a whole new beginning? I don’t like your implication. Yes, candidates or beginners need a new start (if that’s what you mean by being ‘born’). But do the advanced? Give me a little credit.’” (Page 174)
“‘Be moved by the Spirit through the message of the gift of the Father in the Son to believe the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ for the world and for oneself and so be baptismally initiated into (or be grateful for our past baptismal initiation into) the Spirit and the believing Church.’” (Page 178)
“We should want Jesus and his cause to succeed, of course. But to succeed in God’s way, which is the way of lowliness, not in the world’s way, which is the way of show business.” (Page 464)
“At the end of the first story in our chapter, ‘Water into Wine,’ we read the words ‘and the disciples placed their trust in him’ (2:11). Now at the end of this second story in the chapter we read ‘and they trusted both the Scripture and the Word Jesus had spoken’ (2:22). The faith of the Church is going deeper and deeper. Jesus’ works move us especially to trust his person; Jesus’ words move us especially to trust messianic Scripture and his own Word. Both Scripture and Jesus’ Word are and point to, eventually, the same reality: Jesus is God with us.” (Page 148)
For those who have treasured Dale Bruner's two-volume commentary on Matthew, the arrival of his commentary on John is yet another cause for celebration. After sifting the best contributions of leading commentators, Bruner adds his own unique wisdom and pastoral insight that are unmatched by any of the many John commentaries on my shelf. This will immediately become one of the favorite commentaries pastors reach for to find the essential ideas that will bring John's Gospel to modern audiences.
–Gary M. Burge, Wheaton College and Graduate School
This extensive study on the gospel of John is certainly welcome. . . . A commentary with passion, verve, insight, humor and excitement. . . . Highly recommended for the preaching pastor.
–Ashland Theological Journal
In this masterful new commentary, Dale Bruner digs deep into the Gospel of John and the history of its interpretation, mining both ancient Greek words and the church's history of reading and studying them for their theological gold. Bruner's work is suffused with a love for the text, the passion of a theologian, the care of a scholar, and the mind and heart of a teacher. Marked by a strong commitment to the authority of the Word and a deep love for Christ and Christ's church, the commentary is a careful, creative, and compelling analysis of the Gospel of John that will both instruct and inspire.
–Marianne Meye Thompson, Fuller Theological Seminary
Pastors know there are certain 'must-have' commentaries that help to make preaching vibrant, practical, and above all deeply biblical. Dale Bruner's Matthew commentaries have long been at the top of that 'must-have' list, and now, by God's grace, the list expands to include his masterful work on the Gospel of John. Bruner's lifetime of prayer, teaching, meditation, and study, distilled in these pages, will feed many lifetimes' worth of preaching in the church. What a gift!
–Scott Hoezee, -- Director of the Center for Excellence in Preaching, Calvin Theological Seminary
- Title: The Gospel of John: A Commentary
- Author: Frederick Dale Bruner
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Print Publication Date: 2012
- Logos Release Date: 2012
- Pages: 1311
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible. N.T. John › Commentaries
- ISBNs: 9780802866356, 0802866352
- Resource ID: LLS:EERDNT64JN
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-08-09T17:48:38Z
Reviews
6 ratings
Jordan Cavanaugh
11/22/2021
Glenn Crouch
1/15/2021
Having finished, and thoroughly enjoying Bruner’s 2 volume work on Matthew, I proceeded into his commentary on John - which I also really enjoyed. I would argue that his works on Matthew are better, but that is more in the way of I wish I could give them 6 out of 5 stars. The Author does a good thorough coverage of John, and I really benefited from the many references from throughout Church History - including such as Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, Augustine, Calvin and Luther - as well as sharing insights of commentators from the past century or so. This approach gives the reader much to think about, and aids in the process of “mulling over” this Gospel. I would highly recommend this book to all who wish to learn more about the Gospel, but especially those who are Pastors and Preachers.MYUNG JAE OH
10/9/2018
kim jae kwang
7/1/2016
Suzanne Gorhau
4/24/2014
This is an excellent commentary. My go to source when I'm preaching on John. Mr. Bruner does an excellent job of gathering the opinions of historical and modern commentators, and providing key theological insights into the text. Very valuable for preaching.
