John Through the Centuries

This pioneering commentary, which includes a full consideration of the best of modern historical research on the Gospel of John, embraces the full scope of the Gospel, treating themes such as light, life, witness, judgement, and glory. Mark Edwards explores a diverse range of commentaries on, and creative responses to, the Gospel, including early interpretations by Church fathers and Gnostic theologians, medieval mystery plays and pageants, with particular emphasis on the treatment of the Gospel in English poetry. The diverse excerpts from a wide variety of poets enliven the text, suggesting that imaginative response can illuminate the Bible where purely critical analysis has proved unsatisfactory.

The lively style of the volume will appeal to both students and academics. The main issues discussed by contemporary scholars are handled in notes at the beginning and end of each section, and approaches to the Gospel as a whole from antiquity to the present are reviewed in the introduction. Through exploration of literature and the arts, this commentary offers an unrivalled account of the social and cultural importance of John′s Gospel.

List of Illustrations.

Series Editors′ Preface.

Acknowledgements.

List of Abbreviations.

Introduction: the Gospel and its Interpreters.

Christ the Word: John 1.1–18.

The Baptist s Testimony: John 1.19–51.

Symbols of Purity: Chapter 2.

The New Birth: John 2.23–4.2.

The Samaritan: Chapter 4.

Two Healings and their Aftermath: 4.46–5.47.

Bread from Heaven: Chapter 6.

Ministry in Jerusalem: Chapters 7 and 8.

Parables of the Messiah: Chapters 9 and 10.

The Raising of Lazarus: Chapter 11.

Preparing for Death: Chapters 12 and 13.

Christ and Spirit: Chapter 14.

Valedictory: Chapters 15–17.

Arrest and Trial: Chapter 18.

The Crucifixion: Chapter 19.

The Resurrection: Chapter 20.

The Final Commission: Chapter 21.

Bibliography.

Index

Mark Edwards is Tutor in Theology and Lecturer in Patristics at Christ Church College, University of Oxford. He is the author or translator of numerous volumes, including Origen against Plato (2002).

"Mark Edwards′ John commentary breaks new ground in the field of the reception history of biblical texts. Displaying a remarkable knowledge of its different readings, he brings into dialogue the most diverse and unexpected commentators on the text: bishops, scholars, devotional writers, poets, artists, hymn–writers, and provides the whole with a wonderfully lucid and learned survey of the history of Johannine interpretion."
John Riches, Professor of Divinity with Biblical Criticism, University of Glasgow <!––end––>

"An attractive inventory of exegetical opinion on one of the most important books of the NT. A true mine of information, published in a series that makes the life of researchers easier."
International Review of Biblical Studies

The commentary provides a wonderful smorgasbord of readings and interpretations, drawn from all centuries. Thus the reader is put in touch with a representative sample of readings, interpretations and imaginative appropriations of the Gospel. Australian Religious Studies Review

"In Edwards′ hands reception history becomes a feast of allusions and references around each Johannine text. The mixture is rich and provocative, making you want to read more and more."
Robert Kysar, Bandy Professor Emeritus of Preaching and New Testament, Candler School of Theology, Emory University

"Edwards has provided New Testament scholars with a valuable resource for understanding and appreciating the history of interpretation of the Fourth Gospel. The commentary makes a persusaive case for taking seriously the richness and the value of premodern exegetical insight, artistic interpretation, and reception history for understanding the biblical text, and I look forward to other commentaries appearing in the series."
William M. Wright, Emory Universitiy