Reading John for Dear Life:A SpirituaWalk with the Fourth Gospel

by Jaime Clark-Soles

Jaime Clark-Soles takes readers on a dynamic journey deep into the heart of John in this lively reading of the Fourth Gospel. This book is not simply a commentary but a spiritual companion to be read alongside the Bible. Clark-Soles provides important historical and literary insights while illuminating the dramatic characters in John and emphasizing the Gospel's unique themes and symbols. Her engaging writing style will generate enthusiasm and investment in John's message. Readers will also appreciate the addition of prayers as well as questions for individual study and/or group discussion. This excellent guide will enrich our spiritual journeys while opening ourselves up to Jesus through the words, stories, questions, symbols, and characters we encounter in John's Gospel.

Genres: Christianity, Theology

184 pages, Paperback

Published November 4, 2016

About the author

Rev. Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles is Professor of New Testament and Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. She is also the Director of the Baptist House of Studies at Perkins. She received her B.A. from Stetson University where she focused on both Philosophy and Russian Studies. She earned her M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and her Ph.D. in New Testament from Yale University.

Reviews

[Jeanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every moment of every day is ripe with the promise of resurrection and life. The point is not to escape the world but to transform it such that it promotes the flourishing of all creation, the creation that God carefully orchestrated. God is always at work in the world, in embodied lives.

A commentary on the book of John that is conversational and at times insightful. The above quote is a solid biblical truth, however, I found some of his text would contradict this truth. Universalism being one - which he did not go into great depth but just mentioned that John was a universalist which I would totally disagree and his text on love and truth. More or less love pits itself against truth.

This I would not recommend.

A Special Thank You to Westminster John Knox Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps its the lectionary or the quest for the historical Jesus, but John's Gospel tends to lag behind the three gospels that make up the Synoptic trilogy. While the synoptics have their differences, John is much different. Thus, John gets ignored, especially when it comes to preaching.

I'll be offering a much more detailed review, but as a start let me say that Jaim Clark-Soles very readable, insightful, and even enjoyable exploration of the Gospel of John is a must read. While she doesn't cover every episode in John, she opens enough of the book to make John a more understandable book, even if the complexity remains.

To read the full review -- http://www.bobcornwall.com/2016/12/re...

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a scholar of John, Clark-Soles gives new insight into the details and nuances of this particular gospel. It is important to pay particular attention to themes in understanding John. Clark-Soles outlines these themes, thus giving new meaning to many of the stories in John. Among important themes are love, embodiment, community, and the contrast between darkness and light. In addition, she also addresses the difficult issue of antisemitism. I have gained new appreciations for this gospel by reading this book and would highly recommend this very readable and interesting view of John.

[Jonathan Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for anyone interested in the Gospel of John. Dr. Clark-Soles brings the Gospel to life with her wisdom, experience, and her love of the text. This book invites the reader to struggle with the text; to find themselves and their community in the Gospel narrative.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough about this wonderful study of John. Jaime Clark-Soles taught me NT at Perkins, and has outdone herself with this wonderful journey through the 4th Gospel. We've spent Easter and the first part of Pentecost with this book at St. James, and it has enriched many lives. Get a copy. Read it. Read it again next year. And next.

Thank you, Jaime, for supporting those of us in parish ministry with your gifts!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like learning about Scripture, I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's accessible, brilliant, inspiring, and informative. I've always loved the gospel of John, but this book has helped me appreciate it so much more!

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent, thought-provoking, enlightening walk through (John) the fourth gospel. The author is intimately passionate with her knowledge and insight into many well know passages of scripture. In fact, they become transformational in nuance and in understanding. I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels they have read everything concerning the Gospel of John. You will be amazed at the context you previously may not have considered.

[Kay Smeal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaime is clearly a talented scholar and writer who is able to express such knowledge in terms that anyone who picked up the book could understand. The book works through topics of discipleship, problematic themes (anti-semitism, disability theology), and shows just how much John expresses the relational, loving God we serve. This will be one of those books I pick up time and time again as there will always be something to glean from it.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie Clark-Soles has written a remarkable in-depth study of the Gospel of John. Her personal illustrations mixed with the Biblical text help the reader understand more deeply what the author of this Gospel wants his/her audience to understand about the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ.

This book can be used for a laypersons' Bible Study as well as to enrich one's own understanding of the Gospel of John.

[Lyndsey Thackston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. I am sad I got a used copy because I had to deal with someone else’s marginalia. This was a deep dive into John that was accessible. It also had fantastic reflection questions. I thought based on the title it would be more of a memoir but it was great. I did leave wanting to know the authors own experience. Like why was she reading John for Dear life and how did it change the way she thought about life and Christ.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy-to-read and helpful guide through the gospel of John. It's more of a devotional-style book than a commentary. I used it as a resource through a preaching series in John and found it helpful, especially when it gets more into literary-narrative-style interpretation.

[john wendleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book on John

Over all a great book on John. I would consider this book for a Bible or an adult Sunday school class

[Liana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a PW Circle read that we collectively abandoned after a couple of months.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I at first thought this was too complex, i worked very well with Adam hamilton book, was introduced by my dearest friend. Excellent

[Jann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this book for a bible study class. This is an in-depth study of the Book of John, chapter by chapter. Through this book and the class discussions, I have learned about reading between the lines of the biblical passages to discover their deeper meanings.