John: IVP New Testament Commentary [IVPNTC]

About the Series: The IVP New Testament Commentary Series
Pastors with a passion for sound exposition and scholars with a heart for pastoral leadership have joined forces to produce this exciting, accessible, and informative commentary series.

Each volume, informed by the best of up-to-date evangelical scholarship, presents passage-by-passage commentary based on the NIV along with background information on authorship, setting, theme and various interpretive issues. A unique format allows the main commentary to focus on the vital message of the New Testament book being studied for today's church, while bottom-of-the-page notes include valuable scholarly information to support those who use the volumes as a resource for preaching or teaching preparation.

Who Should Use it?The series is accessible to all people who wish to use it for biblical study whether they are pastors, students, or laity. Christians new to Bible study may find it challenging as a starting point for biblical study, but should be able to adapt to it with the help of a Bible study teacher. Those who have used Bible study guides in the past will find this series particularly helpful in taking the next step into deeper biblical study.

About: John

The Gospel of John declares its purpose clearly--"these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." Thus it fulfills a dual function, encouraging believers and providing them with evidences for proclaiming that Jesus is God's Messiah, the divine, incarnate Son of God.

Christians today, as in the first century, can draw strength and courage from John's telling of the story of Jesus, a telling that consistently reflects not only the words and deeds of Jesus but their inner significance. We are called to worship as we find the Father, Son and Spirit revealed in the Gospel. And as in Jesus we discover God's light, life and love, we learn to respond in faith, humility and obedience.

Throughout, Whitacre explains what the gospel meant to its original hearers and its application for us today.