John 1-6: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary

In this ICC Martin de Boer provides an introduction and commentary on chapters 1-6 of John's Gospel. de Boer sets out to interpret the Gospel in the historical context in which it was written and first read, and to explain it both historically and theologically. Taking his primary bearings from the seminal work of Raymond E. Brown and J.L. Martyn, de Boer applies and advances their approach through each section of his commentary, whilst also engaging with the latest scholarship, alternative viewpoints, and critiques of the Brown/Martyn approach. As such de Boer takes very seriously the view that John's Gospel was written for a particular community, and that the composition of the text as we know it took place over an extended period of time. Examination of the historical realities of this community is a hallmark of this commentary including the notion that, as members of the community, women may have played a role in the Gospel's composition. Cover Title Copyright Contents of Volume I General Editors’ Preface Preface Abbreviations Bibliography INTRODUCTION I. The Distinctiveness of the Gospel of John II. The Approach Adopted in this Commentary III. Who Wrote the Fourth Gospel? IV. For Whom Was the Fourth Gospel Written? V. The Gospel of John as a Two-Level Drama VI. The History of the Johannine Community VII. The Composition History of the Gospel VIII. The Composition History and the Communal History IX. The Beloved Disciple and John 21 X. The Gospel of John and the Synoptics XI. When and Where Was the Gospel Written? XII. Greeks/Gentiles in the Gospel XIII. The Language of the Gospel and of Johannine Christianity XIV. The Greek Text of the Gospel of John XV. The Gospel’s Structure and an Outline of 1:1–6:71 XVI. Procedure and Format of the Commentary COMMENTARY ON 1:1–6:71 I. 1:1–34 Jesus and the Testimony of John the Baptist (In Judea) II. 1:35–2:12 Jesus and His First Disciples (His First Journey to Galilee) III. 2:13–3:21 Jesus and His Conflict with the Authorities (His First Journey to Jerusalem) IV. 3:22–4:3 Jesus and John the Baptist (In Judea) V. 4:4–54 Jesus and His Reception by Samaritans and Galileans (His Second Journey to Galilee) VI. 5:1–47 Jesus as the Son of the Father (His Second Journey to Jerusalem) VII. 6:1–71 Jesus and the Bread of Life from Heaven (His Third Journey to Galilee)