Customer Reviews

Priority of John

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This book contends that the Fourth Gospel was probably the first one written, and is the work of John, the Son of Zebedee, a true eye-witness to Jesus, and the Beloved Disciple, and Robinson makes the case, point by point, answering other scholars point by point logically, carefully, and fully. The book demands to be reprinted and more widely read and taken more seriously. I discovered it through a reference by author Charlotte Allen, and it has proved an invaluable find to me in Biblical scholarship. Robinson is extremely easy to read, if not downright exciting, and he does take into account all sorts of other ideas and arguments. He's being neglected now, unfairly. The Fourth Gospel should be re-evaluated in light of his work, as well as that of others in the field including Cribbs, and Dodd. Anne Rice, author The Vampire Lestat et al.

This book is actually by John A.T. Robinson. ---Five years have passed since I first reviewed this book, and I am still reading it, studying it, gaining tremendous insights from it, and marveling at its power. Reading it is like sitting in the study of a brilliant teacher and discussing with him, in warm and excited terms, the Gospel of John in such a way as to bring the Gospel, with all its difficulty and beauty, to life completely. Discovering this book was a turning point in my studies --- it made the gospels move for me as stories as well as Sacred Scripture --- and Robinson continues to revitalize me, and deepen my love and understanding of John's gospel. Robinson's classic --- and it is a classic --- simply must be republished and made available once again in a new edition for bible students. The style is energetic, and endlessly engaging. And mainstream readers will have no problem here at all. Robinson's enthusiasm and brilliance and courage are contagious. Until we see a new publication, I urge you to buy up the used copies available, and perhaps offer them to your fellow students and church goers. --- And let me ad, this book is widely quoted by highly esteemed scholars today. It's alive and well in many a bibliography. I long to see a new edition with supporting quotes from so many who have been influenced by this work.

This is a classic written in the scholar's final years and published after his death. A man of higher criticism that came to conservative conclusions after a life of teaching and research. A must for the serious student of the New Testament.

Robinson's thesis is that the core of The Gospel of John is the actual oral recollections of John the son of Zebedee! His methodolgy for arriving at that conclusion is incisive, and he moves slowly, point by point, through the entire Gospel. For instance, in the story of the Samaritan Woman (chapter 4) he points out that in vs. 6 where the English translation simply says that Jesus was sitting by the well, the Greek implies an action to demonstate how Jesus was sitting. So the way Robinson contends that vs. 6 reads literally in Greek is "Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well like this", and then John, who was narrating the story, would have demonstrated Jesus' posture. Pure genius.

As another reviewer rightly said this book demands to be reprinted and read by a wider audience. The quality of Robinson's research and observations are extraordinary.

Not for the casual reader interested in biblical history. Are you in seminary? Do you love examining things in excruciating detail- this book is for you. For me it was a waste of 40 dollars.