John is at once the most complex and the easiest to understand of all the Gospels. If we want a young seeker or new believer to read something that is both clear and filled with the gospel and good basic theology, we give them the Gospel of John. And if we want to study an incredibly deep theological masterpiece that stretches the brightest mind, we open the Gospel of John. It is the most evangelistic account of Jesus’ life and ministry, and it also gives the mature Christian deep theological truths to chew on.
In John Verse by Verse, respected New Testament scholar Grant R. Osborne invites the reader to become caught up in the dramatic masterpiece of the Fourth Gospel. He writes, “If I were teaching a course in college or seminary on creative writing, John’s Gospel would be set alongside Shakespeare as models of brilliant characterization and plot.” It is perhaps Osborne’s favorite book of the Bible, and enthusiasm for it shines on every page.
For over two decades I have benefited from Dr. Osborne’s careful and erudite treatment of Scripture. I am excited to add this treatment of one of my favorite of New Testament books to my library, and would commend it to every preacher, scholar, and serious Bible student.
—J.D. Greear, pastor, The Summit Church (Raleigh-Durham, NC)
As a senior statesman of evangelical biblical scholarship, Grant Osborne is not only a remarkably careful exegete, but also a clear, engaging and accessible communicator. Everything he writes is for the benefit of the church, not just the ivory towers of academia. This commentary on John, like the others in this series, is a model of this balance. It demonstrates a deep awareness of the questions scholars raise about the Fourth Gospel, yet presents them in language every reader can understand. Commentaries that prove to be most enduring are those that find this balance between accuracy and accessibility. By this standard, the volumes in this series are destined to become classics.
—Mark L. Strauss, professor of New Testament, Bethel Seminary San Diego
“Jesus is the Living Revealer (Word) of God and is God himself. In Jesus God has taken on human flesh (incarnation), and in him the Shekinah (God ‘dwelling’ among his people) walks planet Earth.” (Page 23)
“However, sin is the great obstacle between God and humanity, and sinners must turn to Christ and be reborn to be forgiven. Many of the key terms in this Gospel are introduced here: life, light, darkness, sent, truth, world, believe, know, receive, witness, new birth, love, and glory. These terms will come up again and again throughout John’s narrative.” (Page 23)
“In these first two verses Jesus is speaking to the believers in the crowd and defines true disciples as those who ‘hold to my teaching,’ with ‘hold’ translating the verb menō, ‘remain, abide in.’ This key term appears forty times in John and connotes a permanent relationship with God and his Word, an absolute commitment and abiding faithfulness to Jesus’ teaching.” (Page 221)
“But the term menō (‘staying’) is a major concept in John and implies a desire to ‘dwell’ or ‘remain’; we will see it later in the ‘mutual indwelling’ theme of 15:4–10. At the deeper level, they are expressing a desire to follow Jesus and ‘remain’ with him.” (Page 51)
“Miracles in John are ‘signs’ because they signify who Jesus is and center on Christ more than on the supernatural healing. This story culminates the movement of the opening stages of Jesus’ public ministry with the salvation of the royal official and his entire family. John’s interest is in the conversion of this powerful public figure more than in the healing of his son. The progression of the subjects of these salvation dramas so far in this Gospel—from the disciples of John to Nicodemus to the Samaritan woman to the royal official—shows that John wants each of us to get involved in spreading the light of Christ ‘to everyone’ in the world (1:9), from the least to the greatest.” (Page 121)
Lexham Press is proud to announce a New Testament commentary series from respected biblical scholar Grant R. Osborne. His seminal work, The Hermeneutical Spiral, has become a standard for biblical interpretation, and as a culmination of his life’s ministry, he's bringing his academic acumen to an accessible, application-focused commentary.
The Osborne New Testament Commentaries interpret Scripture verse by verse, bridging the gap between scholarship and the Church. This set of commentaries is for people seeking a straightforward explanation of the text in its context, avoiding either oversimplification or technical complexity. Osborne brings out the riches of the New Testament, making each book accessible for pastors and all who consider themselves students of Scripture.
Learn more about the other titles in this series.
With this new series, readers will have before them what we—his students—experienced in all of Professor Osborne's classes: patient regard for every word in the text, exegetical finesse, a preference for an eclectic resolution to the options facing the interpreter, a sensitivity to theological questions, and most of all a reverence for God's word.
—Scot McKnight, Julius R. Mantey Professor in New Testament, Northern Seminary
The Osborne New Testament Commentaries draw from the deep well of a lifetime of serious study and teaching. They present significant interpretive insights in a highly accessible, spiritually nurturing format. This is a tremendous resource that will serve a new generation of Bible readers well for years to come. Highly recommended!
—Andreas J. Kӧstenberger, Founder of Biblical Foundations™, senior research professor of New Testament & biblical theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Grant R. Osborne (1942–2018) was professor emeritus of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the author of numerous books, including The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, and commentaries on Revelation (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Romans (IVP New Testament Commentary), Matthew (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), and John, James, 1-2 Peter, and Jude (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary). He has also taught at Winnipeg Theological Seminary and the University of Aberdeen, and has pastored churches in Ohio and Illinois.
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