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The Gospel & Epistles of John
This volume actually contains two books, "The Gospel of John," and "The Epistles of John." From the back cover: "Available together for the first time, F.F. Bruce's commentaries on the Gospel of John and the Epistles of John deliver careful verse-by-verse exposition that will enrich all readers' understanding of the original text, its historical context, and its relevance for Christians today. Written by one of the most respected New Testament scholars of the twentieth century, these commentaries provide a solid starting point for all who seek to explore more deeply the New Testament books written by John."
588 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
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About the author
F.F. Bruce
251 books135 followersFrederick Fyvie Bruce FBA was a Biblical scholar who supported the historical reliability of the New Testament. His first book, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? (1943), was voted by the American evangelical periodical Christianity Today in 2006 as one of the top 50 books "which had shaped evangelicals".
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 14, 2012
It is sad that I have been teaching the scriptures for many years but have never yet read Bruce until recently. This book was one of the more enlightening reads that I have encountered in a journey through John's Gospel.
Anyone who studies the writings of John will likely be overwhelmed by the cascade of literature that is available on this gospel. So the question that one might ask is why should I buy this book rather than another of the many available commentaries on the same subject. Let me give you a few reasons why this book stands out:
1. Bruce's knowledge of New Testament culture and history is excellent. There were stories that he was able to fill in that many of the other commentaries I have read were silent about. For one thing he knows a fair amount of information about the scrolls themselves and is able to comment authoritatively on the original text. He knows the history of the period well enough to connect things to the culture. For example: In John 9 Jesus heals a blind man on the sabbath which causes a rift among the Pharisees over whether Jesus is a sinner or whether he is of God. Bruce fills this in with material about the followers of Shammai and Hillel and this gives a new dimension to the story.
2. Bruce is easy to read. His book is well adapted for both scholars and layman. It is not weighed down by so many technical terms that is difficult to follow. It is written in clear language minus the unnecessary jargon. He does consult the Greek and provide varying viewpoints on occasions but it does not weigh down the book and distract from the main points of thought.
3. This book is written from a very conservative viewpoint. This is not to say that he is not critical of the text but he is less likely to make big leaps in deciphering symbols or phrases. He was of the reformed tradition theologically but is always hesitant and respectful when he discusses parts of John that tend to be divisive.
Overall, this is a great book and he covers thing about John that are not usually brought up in other commentaries. It comes highly recommended.
Comment | Permalink
Anyone who studies the writings of John will likely be overwhelmed by the cascade of literature that is available on this gospel. So the question that one might ask is why should I buy this book rather than another of the many available commentaries on the same subject. Let me give you a few reasons why this book stands out:
1. Bruce's knowledge of New Testament culture and history is excellent. There were stories that he was able to fill in that many of the other commentaries I have read were silent about. For one thing he knows a fair amount of information about the scrolls themselves and is able to comment authoritatively on the original text. He knows the history of the period well enough to connect things to the culture. For example: In John 9 Jesus heals a blind man on the sabbath which causes a rift among the Pharisees over whether Jesus is a sinner or whether he is of God. Bruce fills this in with material about the followers of Shammai and Hillel and this gives a new dimension to the story.
2. Bruce is easy to read. His book is well adapted for both scholars and layman. It is not weighed down by so many technical terms that is difficult to follow. It is written in clear language minus the unnecessary jargon. He does consult the Greek and provide varying viewpoints on occasions but it does not weigh down the book and distract from the main points of thought.
3. This book is written from a very conservative viewpoint. This is not to say that he is not critical of the text but he is less likely to make big leaps in deciphering symbols or phrases. He was of the reformed tradition theologically but is always hesitant and respectful when he discusses parts of John that tend to be divisive.
Overall, this is a great book and he covers thing about John that are not usually brought up in other commentaries. It comes highly recommended.
Comment | Permalink
April 8, 2025
A very solid commentary from one of the great experts on Johannine writing.
March 31, 2025
Frederick Fyvie Bruce would be regarded as a "conservative" Christian scholar, but what does that mean? To my eyes, he's a Bible scholar who does careful, thorough work, and reaches conclusions that generally align with readers who believe in the authority of inspiration and the historicity of key events in the Jesus story. Bruce's commentary on the Gospels and Johannine epistles is helpful for preachers and Bible readers who want a fuller picture of the context in which the NT was written.
June 10, 2012
A little more technical than Phillips' commentaries, but still understandable and very insightful. He made me look at several passages with fresh insight. I got the sense that he was presenting as honest a picture of the book of John as he possibly could. Not at all following the convention of one camp or another.
May 23, 2008
I have used this commentary very little since purchasing it, but in the few instances that I have referenced it I was not overwhelmed with its contents. I must say that I was surprised with the twinge of disappointment that I felt. However, Bruce is a top-notch guy, and it was probably just me.
June 6, 2013
this is an in depth look at the gospel of John with a look into the local context. it is not an application type commentary but rather a technical one. every preacher dealing with John should own this volume.
July 3, 2023
1 John - March 2008
John - July 2023
John - July 2023
December 19, 2013
Must reading for anyone who wants to seriously study the Gospel of John. I am so thankful that Jesus gave to his church in my lifetime F.F. Bruce.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews