An Introduction to the Johannine Gospel and Letters

by Jan van der Watt

This accessible guide to the Gospel and Letters of John introduces readers to key issues arising from historical, literary, and theological approaches to the Johannine literature, also discussing the methodological rationale underlying each of these approaches. After introducing the reader to the development of the narrative structure of the book, the message (theology) is discussed in detail, with the aim of introducing the reader to the interrelatedness of the multiple theological ideas in this Gospel. Similarities, but also differences between the Gospel and Letters are constantly considered. Familiar with the content of the Gospel, readers are then confronted with questions about the origin, development and socio-cultural nature of the Gospel and letters. In each case the scholarly field is briefly reviewed and major solutions are discussed. Thorough discussions on different issues are presented in different chapters, each time referring to the relevant methodological approaches. How do the Gospel and Letters relate to the synoptics, or the Old Testament? Do we have a Gospel composed of multiple sources or is it a seamless document. How was this influential document written and where do the ideas found in the Gospel come from?

Since the aim of this book is to form a solid and comprehensive basis for future study of the Johannine literature, readers are placed firmly within the scholarly currents and streams of the Johannine literature. In terms of a metaphor: after reading the book, explorers will know what is out there and why. Now they can start to dig deeper for themselves without feeling lost in an uncharted land.

162 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2008

About the author

Jan van der Watt is ’n internasionaal erkende teoloog, spreker en die bekroonde skrywer, redakteur of medewerker van byna 50 boeke en 150 akademiese artikels. Hy is die hoofredakteur van die Review of Biblical Literature, ’n subredakteur van De Gruyters International Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception en senior redakteur van die Oxford Dictionary of the Bible and Ethics. Jan is professor aan die Radboud Universiteit in Nijmegen, Nederland, en buitengewone professor in Nuwe Testament, Noordwes-Universiteit, Potchefstroom

Reviews

[Melvin Vlot]

A clear, balanced and compact introduction to the Gospel of John. Not that much information about the letters though.

[Nathan Whitley]

This is a great introduction to Johannine Literature. Van der Watt unpacks a lot of valuable insight from these books. I hope to read more of Van der Watt's books in the future.