The Letters of John (Pillar New Testament Commentary) [Hardcover]

Colin G. Kruse (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pillar New Testament Commentary | Publication Date: March 11, 2000

Johns epistles appear to be among the simplest books in the New Testament, until you dig a little deeper. Colin Kruses The Letters of John---a trustworthy contribution to The Pillar New Testament Commentary series---explores the full depth of what the apostle taught to enrich your spiritual life. Kruse examines authorship, audience, purpose, major Christian doctrines, theological themes, and more. Includes verse-by-verse commentary on each letter.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (March 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080283728X
• ISBN-13: 978-0802837288
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,593 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but the Church Needs Something Better, April 13, 2007

By 

J. F Foster - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Letters of John (Pillar New Testament Commentary) (Hardcover)

In the last 30 years, a number of standard commentaries on the Johannine epistles have been produced that require interaction from the church. Brown's commentary on the epistles is the most obvious example, but the work of Judith Lieu and Strecker also demand engagement. What has been missing for some time is a solidly evangelical commentary on the epistles that is both pastoral and academically robust. This effort by Colin Kruse does not fail the reader on either front, but neither is it a glowing success either.

Kruse presents a generally conservative approach to interpretation, though he does at times draw heavily from non-evangelical scholarship, particularly in his excursus on hospitality. Kruse is helpful if for no other reason than because he offers some balance to many prevailing commentators and their pet theories. Kruse does not jump on the sectarian reading bandwagon, nor does he adopt the fashionable scholarly position of holding a rather unsympathetic view toward the Elder of 2 and 3 John. Kruse rightly attempts to show that these epistles are not merely the situational period pieces that seem to form the basis for most scholarly interaction with the epistles. All of this makes the book refreshing in its outlook and treatment of these letters.

But in my view, the commentary is a bit weak when it comes to the 'robustness' of its scholarship. Compared with other commentaries, very little time is spent surveying the historical situation of the writings and interacting with other scholarly proposals on this score. This is disappointing considering Kruse himself acknowledges the necessity of establishing such a starting point as a basis for approaching the texts. While it is very true that Johannine scholars have let their imaginations too often get the best of them when tackling these topics, it is not inappropriate (or irrelevant) to examine these subjects in some detail and arrive at more solid conclusions. Kruse does not break any new ground here, and doesn't really retill the earth that has already been dug. This does the commentary a disservice.

In addition, while his excursus on hospitality is good, it similarly does not break new ground but simply regurgitates what others (mainly Malina) have done. I would argue that while Kruse hits a number of necessary points in his hospitality excursus, he actually misses the component of Mediterranean hospitality that is most relevant to interpreting 2 and 3 John (and even 1 John) - the step of testing. It is very surprising that this has gone predominately unnoticed in most commentaries on the epistles (including Kruse's), when its reckoning can serve to really open a doorway into the historical situation of the writings as well as the instructions given by the Elder which often get so many interpreters bent out of shape. Kruse had a great opportunity to present a very robust hospitality reading of 2 and 3 John that could have successfully refuted much of the trepidation scholars often have about these epistles. But in my view, this opportunity was largely missed.

In conclusion, the commentary is helpful and at least begins to provide a counterweight to prevailing scholarly opinions which are mostly negative about the epistles. But the evangelical church still awaits a commentary that is as robust as its non-evangelical counterparts and can truly compete in the academic world with those currently inclined to follow the theories of Brown, Lieu, Strecker and others. Carson gives Kruse's commentary a bit too much credit, and it is hoped by this reader that his upcoming commentary on the epistles will be the kind of commentary that is needed to balance the scales.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those who walk in the light....., May 13, 2001

By 

Neil M Cameron (Waratah, New South Wales Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Letters of John (Pillar New Testament Commentary) (Hardcover)

1 John is not the easiest book of the Bible to understand, but Kruse is very helpful in his analysis. Originally a thematic analysis, Kruse expanded his work to be a detailed commentary with the thematic sections appearing as they arise within the text.

Kruse is succinct in style and conservative in content. I am currently using this book as I preach through 1 John, and I am finding his work invaluable. For those who have found certain passages in 1 John to be discouraging (ie Christians don't sin), Kruse shows that the author is writing during a period of time when proto-gnostic heresy was infiltrating the church - a heresy that denied Christ's humanity and sin within believers. Rather than discourage believers, 1 John (interpreted in this correct context) is a great encouragement to all who walk in the light and have fellowship with the Father.

David Jackman (Bible Speaks Today) and John Stott (Tyndale), are helpful side-commentaries - but Kruse is much more helpful.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good, July 29, 2004

By 

Brian G Hedges (South Bend, Indiana) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Letters of John (Pillar New Testament Commentary) (Hardcover)

This is a very good commentary on the letters of John, which I referred to often when I was preaching through 1 John last year. The commentary reflects competent scholarship (but without being cumbersome, e.g. Greek words are transliterated) and a conservative theological perspective. Of special help are the many theological excursions spread throughout the text (A Note on the Meaning of 'Fellowship,' A Note on Hilasmos, A Note on Antichrist, A Note on Sinless Perfectionism, A Note on Sins that Do and Do Not Lead to Death, etc.) Kruse gives a good survey of various interpretations, but also grounds his own conclusions in solid exegesis of both text and context. This is, without doubt, one of the best commentaries on John's letters available today.