"The Samaritan Woman's Story" (Caryn A. Reeder)

TITLE: The Samaritan Woman's Story: Reconsidering John 4 After ChurchToo
AUTHOR: Caryn A. Reeder
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2022, (216 pages).
 

One of the many critiques of the Bible is about the patriarchal nature of the ancient culture. Pointing to the unequal status of gender, women throughout biblical history have been painted (or interpreted) in a rather negative light. Many are victims of some male schemes, such as the maidservants of Abraham and Sarah, made to bear children for them. Others include the stories of Dinah, Tamar, Hagar, etc whose lives were either sad or tragic. With the highly male-centric cultural norms at that time, modern readers find it hard to reconcile the stories of women with the biblical truths of grace, fairness, justice, mercy, tolerance, love, etc. The famous story of the adulterous woman exposes a woman to public disgrace while the man (or men!) were nowhere to be found. Wasn't adultery a two-person affair? Why only accuse the woman? Moreover, the Old Testament laws also placed an unfair burden on women as if there was no such thing as sexual equality. Rather than simply accepting the popular cultural narrative of the Bible being sexist against females, biblical scholar Caryn Reeder offers us a new interpretation of the "intersection of women, sex, and sin" as well as an alternative interpretation of the story of the Samaritan woman. 

"John Through Old Testament Eyes" (Karen H. Jobes)

TITLE: John Through Old Testament Eyes: A Background and Application Commentary
AUTHOR: Karen H. Jobes
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2021, (376 pages).

How do we read and interpret the gospel of John? Some recommend that for beginners, it is the best gospel to read first due to the simplicity of language. For theologians, that is not so. The gospel of John has been said to be shallow enough for one to wade in and also deep enough to drown an elephant. Simply put, the language in the fourth gospel is simple but theologically profound.  Many commentaries work on an inductive verse-by-verse format, exegeting the Greek to find out the key meaning of the text. This has been one of the most popular formats because it lets Scripture speak for itself. Other commentaries adopt the deductive format to guide us through themes such as the seven signs, the seven I AM's, and other prominent symbolism mentioned in the gospel. As the gospel contains many Old Testament allusions, why not let the Old Testament guide our reading and interpretation? This is exactly what this new addition to the "Through Old Testament Eyes" series seeks to do. Readers not only get to understand the background of John with new insights from the Old Testament, but they also have a competent Bible Professor who had spent many years marinating in the gospel of John to guide us. The central conviction is that the gospel writer is steeped in Old Testament literature. When we understand the contexts of John, we see the Truth according to what the original author sees. Readers would then be able to appreciate the deeper meaning of the gospel with Old Testament "eyes." From feasts to festivals, rituals to religious teachings, the author's singular concern is to use the Old Testament lens as her interpretive framework. She leaves the literary analysis, the Johannine tradition, the extra exegetical work aside so that she could focus on the parts that relate to the Old Testament and Second Temple Jerusalem. The general framework comprises four key segments:

"John" (Brian Chung, Bryan Ye-Chung, & Jan Johnson)

TITLE: John (Alabaster Guided Meditations)
AUTHOR: Brian Chung, Bryan Ye-Chung, & Jan Johnson
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020, (116 pages).

This is a whopping eBook with a tonne of illustrations on the gospel of John. Filled with incredibly beautiful photos and pictures of daily life, it brings to life the gospel of John by inviting us in via the spiritual practice of lectio divina. For those who don't know what that is, the authors of this book make use of the classic definition of lectio divina by St John of the Cross: "Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation." The authors expand this by incorporating a 4-step process: Read; Reflect; Respond; and Rest. By pairing photos with the gospel of John, the hope is that it will not only illuminate Scripture in a unique way, but also evoke an inner response within our hearts. That as we read the gospel, the photos will prompt us to reflect on the words and to respond accordingly. This is followed by a gratitude in rest. Each guided meditation not only gives us the steps, it shows us the way to read, to reflect, to respond, and to rest. The reader is never left to figure things out alone.

"The Gospel of John" (Francis Martin and William M. Wright IV)

TITLE: The Gospel of John (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture)
AUTHOR: Francis Martin and William M. Wright IV
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2015, (368 pages).

Since Vatican II, the Roman Catholic Church has paid a lot more attention to the rising hunger for the Word of God. While they have been venerating the Scriptures for hundreds of years, it is only after Vatican II where the focus has become sharpened. With more desire from the laity to learn to interpret and to study the Bible for themselves, there is also a need for biblical resources like commentaries that are updated for the modern masses. This is where the "Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture" comes in. What makes this unique are the following:

• Rather than technicalities of the texts, it focuses on the "meaning of the text for faith and life"
• The Interpretation includes perspectives from Protestants and Orthodox groups
• Though the main translation is the New American Bible, there are frequent comparisons to other translations like NRSV, JB, and NIV.
• Special sidebars containing biblical background (historical, literary, theological, tradition, miscellaneous writings) information
• Relating Scripture to Catholic doctrine
• John being a special bridge to the other gospel writers as well as the three Johannine letters and Revelation. 

The two Catholic theologians serve in various teaching institutions of the Church. Francis Martin is Professor Emeritus of New Testament at the Dominican House of Studies while William M Wright is Associate Professor of theology at the Catholic Church's Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Both of them writes from a Roman Catholic perspective.

"The Grave Robber" (Mark Batterson)

TITLE: The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible
AUTHOR: Mark Batterson
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014, (288 pages).

Miracles are not restricted to the past. They exist in both the present as well as the future. In Batterson's words, "sometimes God shows up. Sometimes God shows off." Based on the famous seven signs recorded in the Gospel of John, Batterson asserts once again that each of these signs point to the Person of Jesus Christ. These stories reveal the power of God not only for the people then, but also for us. We are all urged not to miss the miracle. John's signs are meant to stretch our faith. Every miracle does its part to build up a grand picture of Jesus coming to earth as a humble baby, and rising up to heaven in glory and honour. All in the power of Almighty God.

The first sign showed us that the miracle at the wedding in Cana was no mere coincidence. Every water molecule was converted to wine. In fact, it foreshadowed the Last Supper where wine was the blood of the Lamb. Batterson describes how Mary nudges Jesus and reminds us of Hebrews 10 that nudges us toward good works. We read of how a bridegroom's potentially worst embarrassment can become a beautiful moment to bless the guests. The One who made it all possible? Jesus.

"The Drama of Living" (David Ford)

TITLE: The Drama of Living: Becoming Wise in the Spirit
AUTHOR: David F. Ford
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2014, (240 pages).

In his earlier work, the Shape of Living, Ford talks about the need to live wisely amid three guidelines to help us deal with the "overwhelming" forces in life. He calls it the NDA: Name-It; Describe-It; and Attend-to-it. This book continues the flow which I call as "Live-It." In this sequel, Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge, Dr David Ford continues with another trio of Bible, poetry, and life. The operative words in this book are "drama," "improvisation," and "wisdom."

On the Bible, Ford focuses on the gospel of John, calling it the "most dramatic book of the New Testament." The first chapter of the book tells us what the book is about. Using the same name as the title, Ford observes how Jesus' public life intersects with the lives of ordinary people, and how Jesus shaped them. He then ponders on the question of how our own lives are shaped by noting the need for patient listening to truth matters, and gentle entering into the brokenness of this world. Public drama influences us in more ways than one. In a world crowded with famous people, we can be influenced by what they say or do. We need to be selective on which character we allow to influence us. More importantly, we need a better grip of the ordinary, and not to be easily swayed by popular persons or fads that do not last. He praises the ordinary because it is a great environment to promote "promises, commitments, habits, disciplines, and routines." This calls for an "ongoing improvisation in the Spirit," something that is about embracing Jesus' love, following after Jesus, and manifesting his love in daily living.

John: Reformed Expository Commentary (Richard D. Phillips)

TITLE: John: Reformed Expository Commentary
AUTHOR: Richard D. Phillips
PUBLISHER: Phillipsburg, NJ: P and R Publishing, 2014.

[Disclaimer: This review is only based on excerpts of the first chapters of the 2 set volume]

Coming in two volumes, the first is based on a series of sermons given at First Presbyterian Church in Coral Springs/Margate Florida as well as at Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina. The series are based on four presuppositions:

1. Biblical expositions with careful attention to the texts
2. Doctrinal commitment to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Cathechisms
3. Redemptive-Historical Orientation
4. Practical

Contributors are both pastors as well as scholars, giving the work a respectable academic and research grounding and a pastoral care approach that is practical. Phillips is one such person. The title of the book tells us that the work is based on the Reformed tradition. After a short preface, the expositions read like a sermon given on a typical Sunday. There are plenty of citations throughout with brief illustrations inserted at various points. Unfortunately, I am not able to give a more detailed review of how well the work has accomplished all four objectives listed above. Interested readers will need to find out for themselves how the whole work is able to do that. The work shows some promise, but again with such brief excerpts of the work at hand, I am not able to comment much further.

Rating: unrated

conrade

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This partial book was provided to me courtesy of P and R Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"The Writings of John" (C. Marvin Pate)

TITLE: The Writings of John: A Survey of the Gospel, Epistles, and Apocalypse
AUTHOR: C. Marvin Pate
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011, (562 pages).

This survey covers all five New Testament books in the New Testament written by John; the gospel of John, the three letters of John, and Revelation. Recognizing the centrality of Christ in its Christology, Soteriology, and Eschatology, and its impact on the formation of creeds and confessions for the Church, this work balances critical scholarship with general commentary, drawn from a variety of sources, including extrabiblical sources such as the Qumran Dead Sea scrolls, the old and new testament Apocrypha, and Pseudepigrapha.

Each of the 57 chapters begin with the same format. It begins with a one page list of objectives for that chapter. Filled with colourful diagrams, tables, and illustrations, it draws out key theological themes, frequent flashbacks to the Old Testament, section by section commentary of the key ideas in John's writings, highlighting contextual information with great clarity and insight. The review questions enable readers to look over the chapter in case they have missed something.

My Thoughts

This book is a preacher's treasure chest for preaching on anything that is from John's writings. With brilliant drawings and corresponding photo images of the lands, the book brings the gospels, the letters, and revelation alive to the reader. There are so many ready made point by point summary that it helps preachers and teachers be able to communicate the Bible clearly and meaningfully. The most fascinating part for me is the part on Revelation. Pate is able to move in and out of the three genres: apocalyptic, prophetic, and epistolary. There is history and prophecy, major schools of interpretation compared, with brilliant explanation  that unpacks complex imagery into understandable ideas. Focused on descriptive terms, readers can be rest assured that the author does not share just one view. He draws on many interpretations, and allows readers to decide for themselves. The multiple summaries, glossary, definitions of terms, make this book ideal for learning the writings of John on their own.

If you are looking for something in depth, this may not suit your liking. If you are looking for something that resembles a doctoral dissertation, look elsewhere. If you want to appreciate what the writings of John is about, how the contexts inform understanding of the biblical texts, and how educators can bring alive the events John recorded to the lay person, this is it.

I wish I had this book.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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This review is based on a book provided by the local library.