1 John

by Robert Smith Candlish

(Geneva Series of Commentaries) Candlish's exposition of 1 John was the ripe fruit of years of careful and loving study of the great themes in Johannine teaching. His aim was not so much to produce a detailed technical commentary after the fashion of much exegesis in the new German tradition, but to set on display the heights and depths of the theology of John's 'it can be studied aright exegetically, only when it is studied theologically.'

608 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1994

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this is a fantastic treatment of 1 John. In the comments on 5:19 is to be found, quite possibly, the best definition of worldliness I have ever read. Candlish keeps John's purpose in view throughout, so that he maintains a clear focus throughout the commentary and does not run down various rabbit trails, like many commentators often do. My only complaint was the intellectual inconsistency he exhibits in handling 5:7. He rejects the passage as not genuine and offers no argument, except for a glib wisecrack that no intelligent critic thinks otherwise. With a wave of a magic wand, all debate about the authenticity of the passage, the doctrine of the preservation of Scripture, and the position held by the very men on whose shoulders he stood are all swept aside as unworthy of his time. Methinks his Reformed forefathers would take him to the woodshed for such a comment. Then, commenting on 5:20, he critiques, in other men, the very thing he did. He chastises other theologians for glibly conceding a position without so much as an argument for their position.

Again, I did greatly enjoy the book, as I have enjoyed Candlish's other works.