Customer Reviews

John: The NIV Application Commentary

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this commentary after being very pleased with Burge's commentary on the Letter of John from the same commentary series. I was looking for a commentary that laid out the issues and ideas of mainstream theological thought about John's Gospel without getting bogged down in either the details of the Greek or the complexity of academic discourse. In short, I was looking for a commentary I could use to get a "lay of the land" in terms of modern scholarly interpretation before plunging into the more detail oriented commentaries found in the Word and NICGT series. Additionally, in Burge's other commentary I found a willingness to consider some of the issues and currents coming from the emerging movement and how they might be addressed Scripturally.

I found that this commentary not only met my needs but exceeded my expectations. While I have a great fondness in my heart for Bruce's commentary on John, I have found myself reaching first for Burge's work when preparing to lead a group of college students in a study centered around examining answers to Jesus' question, "Who do you say I am?" I have found that Burge fairly and insightfully includes the work of others (Bruce, Morris, Beasley-Murray, etc.) in his comments, notes and bibliography even when it is clear that he doesn't agree with their conclusions. Unlike other reviewers, I have found Burge's comments on the contemporary significance of the Gospel insightful and relevant for the types of conversations our group seems to have. Finally, I have really appreciated Burge's willingness to allow both the mystery and sacramental perspectives of traditions within Christianity to be considered even if his own faith tradition may not accept these from a theological perspective. This is rare for a commentary written from an evangelical perspective.

A note or two of caution. First, this is not intended to be a scholarly commentary. While there is certainly enough here to keep most students of the Gospel intellectually engaged, those who are looking for something weightier and meatier in academic discourse would be better served by Beasley-Murray's or Morris' commentaries. Secondly, Burge isn't afraid to express his opinion and challenge the thinking of those he doesn't agree with. I found that in those places where he does have an opinion he is careful to express it as such and is respectful towards those who do not hold it. Those looking for a commentary to boost up or support their own agendas will find themselves challenged here. In terms of speaking to issues and perspectives of interest to the emerging movement, Burge offers valuable insights while not being afraid to expose some of the shoddy thinking that can creep into the emergent conversation.

In closing, I would strongly recommend this commentary to any student of the Gospel who is looking to move past the number of devotional style commentaries one finds and into something with a substantial amount of meat. This commentary is perfect for Bible study leaders with a beginning to moderate background on the Gospel of John and for seekers looking to add to their understanding of Christ without having to commit to the massive time commitments some of the more "learned" commentaries require.

I have read 5 to 10 of the NIV Life Application Series commentaries (a quality series), and Burge's volume on John is easily my favorite. Burge's scholarship and writing are solid and the book is a joy to read. The book of John comes alive when the context is discussed along side the text. You will never view the phrases "bread of life," "living water," and "light of the world" the same again.

Regarding the Contemporary Significance, Burge does spend *some* of the discussion on Israel and Palestinians, a touchy subject to say the least. Dr. Burge has spent a great deal of time in the middle east, and it is a subject that he is passionate about. However, his "controversial" statements are things like, "There are thousands of Palestinian Christians in Israel who are not terrorists; they are brothers and sisters in Christ and part of the international church, and they deserve our support." It is something that many Christians never hear about (and need to hear about), and I found his coverage of the subject to be refreshing. Nevertheless, that topic is only a small part of the Contemporary Significance; there is much more to be gained if you read it.

I could not recommend this book any higher.

I purchased this commentary for an in-depth study that I was doing on Wednesday evenings. I carefully checked a bunch of commentaries on Amazon, hoping to find the one that would help me with insights that I could share in the study.

Unfortunately, this volume hasn't lived up to my hopes. I didn't need something that would offer the obvious points (I can do that myself). I was hoping for something that would offer insights into some of the more difficult and confusing passages, including thoughts on how those passages apply to our lives today. I've been disappointed. I am now well into the study and rarely even check the book anymore as I'm gathering information.

I was between this one and the Carson commentary. Obviously, I think I made the wrong decision. (Not that there's anything theologically wrong in the text - it's just not what I was hoping for.)

I found this book incredibly helpful to my personal and academic study of the book of John. This commentary is the most helpful and the most applicable I think I have ever seen. It is so insightful, and allows even a casual reader to delve into the scripture to discover what these words ment to Jesus and how they can be applicable to our lives today. I read John very much differently than I did before readign this book. I give it an A+

I thought this was a great commentary. After completing seminary, I have no desire to read "thebonics" and academia when I prepare for studies and sermons. Burge writes in a wonderful manner that allows for the depth of discussion required, while still being a nice read. I would reccomend this volume out of all of the NIV Application Commentary. It's great series - this is the best of the best. I'm going to get the letters of John now because I enjoyed Burge so much.

I have read one other commentary by Burge for a class I took, and found it, although not the easiest of reading, very insightful. The same with this one. The reading is not for the average Sunday School learner, but a must for any teacher. Very in depth. If you like to learn, you'll love Burge!

I heard Dr. Burge speak at Willow on the book of John and found his level of knowledge awe inspiring. I found this commentary to be very informative. He addresses the history of each topic in the book of John, bringing out many points I did not see on my own. Additionally Dr. Burge references the subjects to other books in the Bible where the subject is also addressed. Dr. Burge writes at a level that is enjoyable and readable, with applicable footnotes for further readings. Willow has been blessed with an large number of extraordinary speakers over the years, and I found Dr. Burge to be on my top ten list. He is humble, informative, with a personal touch in his delivery. I found his commentary to be very similar to his teaching style. I also loved the approach of the NIV commentary series, starting with the detail, bridging the context, and then writing on how I can apply the text today.

Having benefited from previous volumes in this same series, I was hopeful as I purchased Burge's volume on John. Burge's exegetical notes are helpful, and I have gleaned helpful insights in my sermon prep. But when it comes to the "contemporary significance" stage of the commentary, Burge seems more interested in riding his own personal hobby horses and in vindicating some of his own peculiar views. For the student or preacher wanting to find a really solid volume on the gospel of John, I would suggest he/she keep shopping.