John for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-10 (The New Testament for Everyone)
Paperback – January 1, 2004
Description
"No other commentary series comes even close." --The Christian Century"Readers who have been frustrated by the lack of accessible biblical commentaries for laypersons will welcome the series." --Publishers Weekly"Well grounded in scholarship, accessible, and intensely contemporary. The series is a most welcome one!" --Walter Brueggemann, Emeritus, Columbia Theological Seminary"Wright has accomplished a feat in this series. All the time, I tell Bible readers, 'Begin here!'" --Scot McKnight, North Park University From the Publisher "A rare event: a commentary that is learned without being stuffy, accessible without being reductionist. Tom Wright joins us in our homes and workplaces, our sanctuaries and classrooms, in genial, prayerful conversation over this text that forms our lives, the New Testament scriptures." Eugene Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College, and author of The Message N. T. Wright is the Chair in New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He is the former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and is a prolific author and noted New Testament scholar. His books include Scripture and the Authority of God , Surprised by Hope , Simply Christian , and Evil and the Justice of God . Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. "On the very first occasion when someone stood up in public to tell people about Jesus, he made it very clear: this message is for everyone. It was a great day x96 sometimes called the birthday of the church. The great wind of Godx92s spirit had swept through Jesusx92 followers and filled them with a new joy and a sense of Godx92s presence and power. Their leader, Peter, who only a few weeks before had been crying like a baby because hex92d lied and cursed and denied even knowing Jesus, found himself on his feet explaining to a huge crowd that something had happened which had changed the world for ever. What God had done for him, Peter, he was beginning to do for the whole world: new life, forgiveness, new hope and power were opening up like spring flowers after a long winter. A new age had begun in which the living God was going to do new things in the world x96 beginning then and there with the individuals who were listening to him. x91This promise is for you,x92 he said, x91and for your children, and for everyone who is far awayx92 (Acts 2.39). It wasnx92t just for the person standing next to you. It was for everyone. Within a remarkably short time this came true to such an extent that the young movement spread throughout much of the known world. And one way in which the everyone promise worked out was through the writings of the early Christian leaders. These short works x96 mostly letters and stories about Jesus x96 were widely circulated and eagerly read. They were never intended for either a religious or intellectual elite. From the very beginning they were meant for everyone. That is as true today as it was then." --From the Introduction to the Series Read more
Features & Highlights
- Making use of his scholar's understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Tom Wright manages to unravel the great complexity of the extraordinary Gospel of John. He describes it as "one of the great books in the literature of the world; and part of its greatness is the way it reveals its secrets not just to a high-flown leaning but to those who come to it with humility and hope." Wright's stimulating comments are combined with his own fresh and inviting translation of the Bible text.
- Tom Wright has undertaken a tremendous task: to provide guides to all the books of the New Testament, and to include in them his own translation of the entire text. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion with background information, useful explanations and suggestions, and thoughts as to how the text can be relevant to our lives today. A glossary is included at the back of the book. The series is suitable for group study, personal study, or daily devotions.
