The Light Has Come: An Exposition of the Fourth Gospel

by Lesslie Newbigin

Thousands of books have been written on the Fourth Gospel, but few have had the lasting impact of this modern classic by respected missiologist Lesslie Newbigin. Developed over a period of thirty years during which Newbigin led Bible studies as a bishop in the Church of South India, this excellent commentary on John is unique both in its power to prepare pastors and teachers to effectively declare the Word of God to others and in its ability to clearly communicate John's message to contemporary Western readers.

Genres: Theology, Biblical Studies, New Testament, Reference, Spirituality

295 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Bishop James Edward Lesslie Newbigin was a British theologian, missiologist, missionary and author. Though originally ordained within the Church of Scotland, Newbigin spent much of his career serving as a missionary in India and became affiliated with the Church of South India and the United Reformed Church, becoming one of the Church of South India's first bishops. A prolific author who wrote on a wide range of theological topics, Newbigin is best known for his contributions to missiology and ecclesiology. He is also known for his involvement in both the dialogue regarding ecumenism and the Gospel and Our Culture movement. Many scholars also believe his work laid the foundations for the contemporary missional church movement, and it is said his stature and range is comparable to the "Fathers of the Church".

Reviews

[Michael Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have followed the writings of Newbigin since my time in seminary in the late eighties. Charles Taber, a pioneer missiologist, introduced me to the Gospel in a Pluralist Society. I first ran across this commentary while I was in Birmingham, England preparing a chapel message to students attending the Selley Oak Colleges. A few years later I had one of those rare opportunities that come along: To sit with Newbigin, Dan Beebe and our host land listen while they talked about and planned how to introduce The Gospel and Our Culture to the U.S.

A respected missiologist, Newbigin's commentary on John draws from a life time of thought and experience making the gospel relevant in a post-modern world. It is unique both in its power to prepare pastors and teachers to declare the Word of God to others and in its ability to communicate John's message to contemporary readers.

This commentary has become a classic exposition that is incredibly valuable for the study of John's Gospel. You'll not only enjoy reading it, but will find usual and relevant comment for contemporary life. Here is a kernel that will give you an example:

[The] "terrible paradox of human existence...in its most piercing reality. “Religion” in its purest and loftiest form is found to belong to the area of darkness. Not those who are blind, but those who confidently say “We see” are found to be in the realm of darkness."

[Chad D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really glad I read it. Good on missiology, good on ecclesiology, good on discipleship and on bearing witness. The themes are crucial and worth sitting with.

As commentary it tends more toward the abstract, theological meaning, separate from the words. Isn't a page-turner unless you like that sort of thing. Also glad I finished it :).

[Gavin Breeden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it to be a helpful resource as I preached through John. Easy to read, gets to the heart of the passage.

[Andrew Canavan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When this commentary is good, it is very good: extremely helpful insights for readers of John's Gospel and for pastors applying this gospel in sermons. Newbigin, however, uncritically accepts a great deal of critical scholarship of John's gospel (regarding authorship, dating, etc.). That tends to take him away from the text to rather tenuous assertions about what various passages must mean if we presuppose the most critical views. There are also points where his interpretations of John through the lens of a missionary to India left me scratching my head. They may be very insightful, I just don't know enough to understand what he was getting at. Still, this is a great commentary to read with discernment and would pair well with a respected and rigorous technical commentary from a conservative scholarly perspective (such as D.A. Carson's).

[Jonathan Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a refreshing commentary on John. Although short, Newbigin gives some beautiful insights into the Gospel.
Whilst I didn’t agree with everything, this is a great companion for the standard Carsonic approach.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read this short commentary twice now, and while I think it provided some benefit in understanding John, it didn't keep my interest or my thoughts after reading it. Perhaps that is more upon me than the book though.

[haley whitaker]

fantastic stuff

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished my erratic, devotional first reading of it and have picked it up to read it again. It is a wonderful short commentary of John, not too worried about the state of modern scholarship, but concerned about theological and pastoral concerns that relate John, and the Jesus John proclaims, to a missionary encounter with our Western world. It enlarged my vision of Jesus and continues to do so. As a small example of the text, here is a little ecclesiology. "The coming of Jesus into the world of 'flesh and blood' was the fresh creative act of God himself, and it has as its result the existence of a company of men and women whose life is a kind of extension of his, a new life which is no achievement of human desire or human power, but a sheer gift of God." (8) It is good to be shown how all these things (Incarnation, new life, church, and grace) come together.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing to read a commentary written by a missiologist. As one who thinks about Hinduism and how the Gospel translates into Hindu cultural mindset, I find Newbigin's thoughts really helpful and easy to relate to. Plus, I find thinking from a missiological perspective gives so much new insight into the book of John.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Newbigin. Newbigin's exposition of the gospel of John is incredibly poignant and direct. While Newbigin has an incredible mind, he writes with and profound simplicity. Light and darkness. The dichotomy of the world of man and the kingdom of God. I will remember Newbigin writing about Gods action toward us. His movement and God tabernacle'ing among us. Highly recommend Newbigin.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Short John commentary from the godfather of contemporary missional theology. Newbigin examines Jesus in the fourth gospel, always with an eye for his mission. Some great material in here. It not a technical commentary and students of John would want to augment their reading with something else. But I never look at John's gospel without dipping back in here.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newbigin moved step-by-step through the gospel of John, explaining each section. I enjoyed reading this, but I feel like there is still a lot Newbigin is saying that I don't really understand. I should try reading this again in a few years.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best New Testament commentaries I have read. A great reference to have or even to read while reading through the Gospel of John.

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good commentary on the book of John. Solid theology, but still not too hard to read.