Jan van der Watt

In Jesus’ Name

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

Foreword

(wrote the foreword)

Johannine Ethics

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“A clear strength of this collection of essays lies in the well-planned structure allowing leading Johannine scholars to develop diverse aspects of Johannine ethics. Being a largely neglected topic until recently, this volume takes the possibility of Johannine ethics seriously and credibly shows the significance of the ethics within the theological structure of John. This is done by exploring the ethics of John with a renewed intensity, developing a variety of ethical themes in considerable detail and depth. A variety in approaches from different perspectives is offered that leads to different, novel and challenging results. The reader will be challenged to rethink what ethics is and how not only the text of John, but that of all the books of the New Testament should be approached when it comes to the ethical dynamics within these texts. This volume indeed represents a next step in the discussion about the ethics of John.”

The Power of Saving Wisdom

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“To draw the attention to the importance of the Spirit in relation to salvific knowledge is indeed an important contribution and makes Bennema's effort a worthwhile exercise. He is a good researcher who is able to present both his material and his arguments in a logical and consistent way. If one wants to disagree with him, one will have to engage in his well-motivated arguments. I regard Bennema's book as one of the better doctoral studies on Johannine theology to appear during the last decade. It therefore demands attention from Johannine scholars. Bennema's thesis indeed forces research to take cognizance of the role of the Spirit as well as a possible way in which the message of Jesus could be integrated as an affective force in the lives of the Christian community.”

The Word of Life

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Reading The Word of Life is like taking a guided tour through the intriguing world of John's theology, a tour led by one of the world's most able and experienced Johannine scholars. Craig Koester integrates the history of interpretation with thorough and responsible theological analyses of the text of the Gospel in ways that constantly enrich the reader. One discovers how John's Gospel constantly shaped the perspectives of its first readers and still does so for readers today. Koester has an excellent way of exploring and explaining the power of the abiding message of John. By focusing on the major actors and events of the Johannine narrative, he systematically unfolds the richness of John's message and leads the reader into the thought structure of the Gospel, showing how the different theological themes interrelate and interact in order to present the reader with the message of the Word of life. His treatment of the Gospel's themes offers an in-depth look at not only the problems but also the solutions offered in research. This book will most certainly appeal to both students and experienced scholars of John, not only because of its theological depth but also because of its accessible style and clear argumentation. The book's thoroughness and conciseness will surely make it a winner in classrooms among students.”