In 1, 2 & 3 John, Gary Derickson explores how John communicates his pastoral concerns in his three epistles. Interacting with the most recent scholarship, Derickson focuses on John’s message and concerns rather than following the common theory of a Johannine school and secessionist polemic. He distinguishes pastoral and polemical elements within John’s message and recognizes John’s own assessment of his readers’ faith. By encouraging his readers to express God’s love through active involvement in one another’s lives, John shows that he is concerned not with how we possess eternal life but with how we express it as we relate to God.
Dr. Gary Derickson’s volume in the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary on 1–3 John is first rate analysis and synthesis of one of the most important collections of writings in the New Testament. Derickson provides evidence and evaluation of all exegetical and theological options while interacting with the latest scholarly literature. The layout and structure of the commentary is unique and extremely helpful to both pastor and student. This is an important and essential work.
—Fred Clay, PhD, Associate Professor of Theology, Phoenix Seminary
Gary Derickson’s commentary on the Letters of John sets a very high standard and is notable for its thoroughness, careful exegesis, in-depth knowledge of the scholarly literature, and warm-hearted commitment to the gospel of Christ. It deserves to be warmly received and widely used.
—Colin Kruse, PhD, Senior Lecturer in New Testament, Melbourne School of Theology
The Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (EEC) series is a premiere biblical commentary rooted in the original text of Scripture. Incorporating the latest in critical biblical scholarship and written from a distinctly evangelical perspective, each comprehensive volume features a remarkable amount of depth, providing historical and literary insights, and addressing exegetical, pastoral, and theological details. Readers will gain a full understanding of the text and how to apply it to everyday life.
Learn more about the other titles in this series.
“John’s First Epistle appears to have a double purpose, namely, pastoral and polemical, with the pastoral dominant and the polemical brought out only as it relates to pastoral concerns.” (Page 27)
“What he has said about confessing sin instead of denying it was said in order to encourage them to avoid sin, not to give permission to commit it.” (Page 115)
“The recipients of 1 John were Christians of Asia Minor where John ended his days in ministry from Ephesus.” (Page 5)
“The Test of Life view identifies three tests in 1 John, which reveal whether the reader is in union with God and so has spiritual life.” (Page 24)
“Selecting one or the other purpose statement as controlling the message of the epistle has led to two approaches to the message of 1 John.61 The first view, and most commonly held, is best described as the ‘Test of Life’ view. The second view, representing a minority of scholars and popular writers, is the ‘Test of Fellowship’ view. In recent years a third approach has developed, taken by this commentary. The interpretation of the epistle should be based on its subject, the experience of eternal life, that is introducted in the prologue rather than any of the stated purposes.” (Page 24)
Gary Derickson is ministry division chair at Corban University. He has published articles in Bibliotheca Sacra, ETS Studies Series, The Master’s Seminary Journal, and The Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society. He contributed to The Nelson’s Complete Study Bible and is co-author of The Disciplemaker: What Matters Most to Jesus.
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