John Painter

1–3 John

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“J. P. H. has made a distinctive contribution in his commentary on the Johannine Epistles. Based on his recognition that the three Epistles belong together in the context of worship in the community to which they were sent, he analyzes the Epistles into fifteen chiastic micro-structures which exhort the readers/hearers to a distinctive worship of love of God and brother/sister, thus revealing unity in literary complexity.”

A Commentary on the Letters of John

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Though not the first to identify the Epistles with an intra-Jewish dispute, Olsson develops his own view with meticulous attention to the text of the Epistles, arguing that they should be read in reverse order. This has the effect of describing the process of the schism reported in 1 John. Serious readers of the Epistles will benefit greatly from this persuasive and insightful work.”

Brother of Jesus, Friend of God

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Luke Timothy Johnson rightly argues that the Epistle of James provides important evidence for any study of the brother of the Lord. His work in writing commentaries on James and Acts fits him well for the approach that he has adopted. He argues that his study of the epistle reveals the voice of James, a voice that 'agrees substantially with the best reading of Luke and Paul with respect to the historical James.' Not all readers will agree with this reading, but Johnson makes a strong case for the value of the epistle in understanding the life and mission of the brother of the Lord. Anyone interested in James — the epistle and the person — will want to read this book.”

James, Brother of Jesus, and the Jerusalem Church

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Alan Saxby's well-written and challenging book brings the focus to James and his community as a phenomenon of Second Temple Judaism. He argues that James was an older brother of Jesus who, independently of Jesus, was influenced by John the Baptist and formed a community in Jerusalem prior to the crucifixion. From this perspective he discusses James's relation to Peter, Paul, and the Gentile mission.”

Putting Burdens on Broken Shoulders

Marriage, Family & Relationships

“Because Jesus in the Gospels has been understood to make adulterous any subsequent marriage relationship, Ken Crispin presents an alternative interpretation which is more convincing both in terms of the teaching of Jesus and the human reality. Crispin is ideally qualified to deal with the subject of divorce and remarriage in a Christian context, for his legal vocation has given him ample evidence of the wreckage caused by marriages that have broken down in what seems an irreparable way.”

The Gospel of John

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Although Bultmann's literary hypothesis now fails to convince many scholars, his view that a form of Jewish gnosticism, evidenced in some of the texts from Qumran, provides an illuminating context for the interpretation of the creative theological response of the evangelist. Above all other aspects, Bultmann's theological interpretation remains impressive and relevant, and justifies the judgment of Irenaeus and others, that this Gospel provides a compelling response to challenges to the meaning of the gospel.”