John

Summary

John’s Gospel calls for careful, reverent, and disciplined reading. Its language can appear simple, yet its theological depth is immense. We are confronted with the glory of the eternal Word made flesh, the necessity of new birth, the meaning of faith, and the saving purpose of the cross. In preaching John, we need help with structure and detail, but we also need help keeping the Gospel’s aim clear, namely that we would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we would have life in His name. Andreas J. Kostenberger’s commentary is a technical resource that aims to serve that purpose through close attention to the text.

As part of a technical series, the volume takes seriously matters of wording, context, and the flow of argument. That is particularly important in John, where repetition and pattern are deliberate, and where key terms carry heavy theological weight. A preacher can easily default to familiar phrases in John without pausing to ask what John is actually doing in the passage. This commentary repeatedly presses us back to the text, helping us see how John builds his case for the identity and mission of Jesus.

We also benefit from a sustained treatment of the Gospel’s structure. John is often preached as a set of famous episodes, but it is a carefully shaped whole. The signs, the dialogues, the discourses, and the passion narrative all work together. When our preaching follows that shaping, our people are helped to see the coherence of the Gospel and the glory of Christ more clearly.

Strengths

A major strength is careful exegesis in the service of John’s theology. Kostenberger helps us see how John’s narrative and discourse sections illuminate one another. For example, John’s signs are not merely miracles. They are revelatory acts that point to the person and work of Jesus. When we preach them that way, we avoid turning them into detached lessons about faith in general. Instead, we present them as John presents them, as windows into the glory of Christ and invitations to believe in Him.

Another strength is attention to key themes, such as witness, belief, life, truth, and the relationship between the Father and the Son. John’s Gospel confronts our congregations with a clear question. What will we do with Jesus. Technical work helps us answer that question accurately. It helps us avoid softening hard sayings, and it helps us avoid flattening the Gospel into a set of spiritual principles. John is about the incarnate Son who gives Himself for the life of the world, and Kostenberger keeps returning us to that centre.

There is also pastoral usefulness in the clarity that comes from careful handling. John is often used in evangelism and discipleship, and rightly so. Yet misreadings of John can produce confusion, particularly around themes like assurance, abiding, and the relationship between faith and obedience. A technical commentary will not solve every pastoral question, but it can help us say only what the text says, and to say it with appropriate force.

Limitations

The main limitation is that technical engagement can sometimes feel more suited to the study than the pulpit. Some pastors will want a more direct homiletical bridge, especially if they are preaching weekly with limited preparation time. This volume will reward careful use, but it will not always give instant sermon shape. We should expect to distil and translate the discussion into clear congregational language.

Another limitation is that the commentary assumes a level of comfort with technical categories. That is appropriate for its intended audience, but it means it will not be the easiest entry point for lay readers. If we want to recommend a John commentary to a small group leader, we may need a more accessible option.

How We Would Use It

We would use this as a primary technical companion when preaching through John, especially for the longer discourses and the passion narrative where careful tracing of argument and theme matters. We would consult it to confirm interpretive decisions, clarify key terms, and keep the passage anchored in John’s wider purpose. It is also useful for preparing teaching series where we need to anticipate questions and handle them with patience and accuracy.

For theological formation, John is a Gospel that shapes worship. When the preacher handles it well, the people are led to marvel at Christ. A technical volume like this can help us avoid both sloppy familiarity and speculative novelty, so that our preaching stays close to the text and rich in Christ.

Closing Recommendation

This is a serious and serviceable technical guide to John that aims to keep the Gospel’s purpose in view. For pastors and advanced students who want careful exegesis that supports clear proclamation of Christ, it is a strong desk resource.