Evaluation

Overall Score: 7.7/10

An advanced, text centred guide to John that strengthens serious preaching preparation.

Publication Date(s): 1987

Pages: 441

ISBN: 9780849902352

Faithfulness to the Text: 8.4/10

We find consistent attention to John’s wording, structure, and argument, with careful handling of key interpretive decisions.

Christ Centredness: 7.2/10

John’s Gospel is openly Christ proclaiming, and this volume helps us see that proclamation in the text, even if it is not written as a sermon manual.

Depth of Insight: 8.3/10

We are helped by sustained engagement with themes and narrative development, especially in the signs and passion material.

Clarity of Writing: 7.4/10

Generally clear for the level, though it expects some concentration and willingness to follow technical discussion.

Pastoral Usefulness: 7.6/10

Most useful as an exegetical backbone that steadies preaching, especially when paired with a more applicatory resource.

Readability: 7.2/10

Readable in sections, but best approached as a study tool rather than a quick skim.

Summary

At a Glance

Length: 441 pages
Type: Exegetical (Technical)
Theo. Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Overall score: 7.7 / 10
Strength: Strong exegesis that tracks the Gospel’s flow and themes.
Limitation: Less direct help with sermon structure and illustration.

We find Beasley Murray’s John to be a careful, text centred guide to the Fourth Gospel, combining technical detail with a steady concern to let John speak in his own voice. He helps us track the Gospel’s structure, its key themes, and its repeated insistence that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

The style is scholarly but not needlessly obscure. It is most useful when we want help with interpretation, argument flow, and the Gospel’s theological emphases, rather than a set of sermon outlines.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this commentary when we are preaching John and want a mature companion that keeps our feet in the text. John’s Gospel invites both shallow familiarity and over imaginative speculation. This volume helps us slow down, observe, and argue responsibly.

We also benefit from its attention to the Gospel’s big movements, especially the signs, the growing opposition, and the climactic focus on the cross and resurrection. That helps us preach John with clear trajectory, not as isolated scenes.

For Reformed preaching, the value lies in the way it supports faithful proclamation of Christ from the text itself. It does not do all our homiletical work, but it strengthens the exegesis that makes our preaching sturdier and more credible.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this as an advanced, dependable exegetical companion for the Gospel of John. It is particularly helpful when we need careful reasoning and textual clarity, and it pairs well with a more explicitly pastoral exposition.

As a next step, we can visit the Bible Book Overview for John, browse Top Recommendations, or use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser, more balanced shelf.

Where to buy

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