John's Gospel has had an incalculable impact on human history. Its pages contain a moral and spiritual potency which, over the centuries, has transformed communities, brought about political change and remade human character on a scale without precedent.
The power remains in the Gospel today. At its centre, as at the centre of his exposition, is Jesus Christ in his glory and grace, majesty and tenderness. Bruce Milne believes that we can experience his presence even today, for the Gospel was 'written that ... you may have life in his name'.
The Gospel of John is a witness to the King, as much a tract for our times as for John's. Bruce Milne's exposition focuses on the ministry of Jesus before his incarnation, during his life on earth and after his resurrection. The centrepiece of this Gospel is the cross, and its background the solemnity of God's judgment of the world.
Over the past week I have read through the BST message of John with a inexpensive gospel of John, a pen and a highlighter.
Yes at times it's been a bit too complicated for me. However I have learnt a lot and what teaching from church or sometimes bible study class doesn't give you is a full picture. When I read a full gospel with a commentary it gives me more of an idea about the thoughts, feelings and attitude of the characters more than just studying a few lines in church.
There is always more to learn. And I would definitely read through another gospel with a BST book.
My favorite short commentary on The Gospel of John by Canadian pastor, Bruce Milne. I grade this slightly above the Kruse volume in Tyndale because Milne is more helpful in suggesting ways for preacher's to outline a given text. Milne also has some pithy and packed statements of personal and corporate application.
This is probably a 4.5 star book. While I thought Milne could have said a few things better and had some places of theological divergence, it overwhelmingly made me fall deeper in love with Jesus.
Have you ever read a Bible commentary from cover to cover?
I don’t mean simply consulting a commentary and reading a bit of it on a text you want to understand better. I mean, you actually read the commentary from beginning to end.
On several occasions, I read a commentary in this way with great benefit.
Bruce Milne’s volume on the Gospel of John is the commentary I have read most recently. Of course, I am primarily reading the text of John’s Gospel—the commentary is my companion in this reading.
Milne’s knowledge and writing style combine wonderfully to give helpful, understandable, and enriching insights into the holy and ancient text of John. He brings understanding and encourages the practical expression of what you learn.
I encourage you to read a book of the Bible carefully, intelligently, and thoroughly, accompanied by a reliable commentary as your guide.
Not every commentary can be read in this manner. Two reliable commentary series that lend themselves to this kind of reading in both the Old and New Testaments are:
-The Bible Speaks Today (which includes Milne’s contribution), and -The Tyndale Commentaries.
John "The beloved disciple" pens the fourth Gospel with power & might as the "seven signs" & the "seven "I ams"" Strategically placed as the last Gospel has claims as being the most spiritually minded & most eloquent of all Gospels written of the Life, death. and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Although this book is an item from the "Message" series it is not simple, but very complicated to follow amid poetry of all things. Explaining a text using poetry as a vehicle is very lop~sided it is at best that. I was very daunted with this book and use it as less often as possible for reference. I am not a lover of poetry, yet I still see this book objectively overwhelming when poetry is in use at expounding ( making very clear & simple the text) the depth of the Gospel of John.