In this addition to the well-received Paideia series, a respected New Testament scholar examines cultural context and theological meaning in First, Second, and Third John. Paideia commentaries explore how New Testament texts form Christian readers by attending to the ancient narrative and rhetorical strategies the text employs, showing how the text shapes theological convictions and moral habits, and making judicious use of maps, photos, and sidebars in a reader-friendly format.

What Do You Know about Simon Pecer? He was brash. Impulsive. Impatient. Quick to speak and quick to act. But there's a lot to admire -- and a lot of ourselves -- in this humble fisherman Jesus transformed into a courageous, effective leader. Despite his flaws, Peter had a deep love for Christ, and his faith shines from the pages of Scripture like gold refined by fire.

In this addition to the successful Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, two respected scholars and Bible teachers interpret James and First, Second, and Third John from within the living tradition of the Church. The commentary provides crisp explanations of the text with helpful sidebars and ideas for application to enrich preaching, group Bible study, and personal reflection. This volume presents excellent biblical scholarship in a format accessible to laypeople with no special training in biblical studies.

This careful and thoughtful book unlocks the door to the theological and ethical treasures contained in the Epistles of John. It is an invitation to a journey of discovery, from the well-known and familiar to the less familiar but rewarding.

52 Quick Lessons on the Bible will help students to understand the Bible as a whole and that Jesus is in every book of the Bible. Each lesson is designed to lead students to learn that the Bible connects from cover to cover. Scripture verses are at the end of each lesson for students to memorize. The Scriptures to be memorized are great life verses for students to recall as a help to guide them throughout their journey in life.

This insightful study engages the debates and interpretations of the brief and somewhat elusive writings known in the Christian canon as 1, 2, and 3 John. Chapter 1 identifies six unknowns about the origins of the three writings: authors, relationship to John's Gospel, order, date and location of the writings, and their audiences. Chapters 2 and 3 delineate the debate concerning the relationship of these writings to a purported “Johannine tradition” and “Johannine community” in which a schism is claimed to have occurred. An alternative view recognizes that while there are some connections with John's Gospel, it is more compelling to see the writings as independent rather than derivative, as internally not externally directed, as pastoral not polemical, and as schism-free. Chapters 4-7 discuss important aspects of 1 John. Chapter 4 argues that its structure or organization is based on rhetorical and conceptual links among the writing's small units. Chapter 5 reads 1 John as a pastoral “in-house” writing, rather than a polemical attack on opponents. Chapter 6 identifies the genre of I John as not a letter or sermon but an epideictic speech that seeks to strengthen the identity, commitments, and practices of its believing recipients. Chapter 7 outlines theological understandings that underpin the writing's pastoral work. Chapters 8 and 9 focus on 2 and 3 John as writings that provide two different approaches to itinerant teachers. The narrative fiction in 2 John presents the elder's warning and skepticism about itinerant teachers whereas the author of 3 John, by contrast, advocates reception and welcome for itinerant teachers.

This is another volume in the series of Bible Commentaries of Matthew Henry. In this Volume, the entire text of the First, Second, and Third John is commented with notes of each chapter. This Commentary will help you better understand the God's word! Churches, theological seminaries and Bible schools will find an excellent aid in this biblical commentary on the First, Second, and Third John.

The Apostle John tells his readers, he has an important message to tell them. It is about a person who was already there before the beginning of the world. We heard him speak. We’ve seen Him with our own eyes. We watched Him and we touched Him. He is the Word that gives us life with God. This is the message: God is completely good and pure. He is like light. There is nothing dark about Him. Amazingly, John tells us that one of the things Jesus wanted us to understand is that by loving others we love God. Yes, we do make mistakes and so do other believers but we are not to hold that against them because just as we were given forgiveness by God’s mercy and grace since we are in union with His Son, so can they. What we are not to do is claim access to this privilege but then live like those in the world. Our goal is not just life, but eternal life. After all, we are God’s children and no child of God keeps on sinning after they are born again through Jesus the Anointed One.

Delve Deeper into God's Word In this verse-by-verse commentary, Robert Gundry offers a fresh, literal translation and a reliable exposition of Scripture for today's readers. In these three short letters, the apostle John seeks to strengthen the Christian's knowledge, joy, and assurance in true Christian faith over against Gnostic falsehoods. Second and Third John warn against housing false teachers and encourage showing hospitality to messengers of truth. Pastors, Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and laypeople will welcome Gundry's nontechnical explanations and clarifications. And Bible students at all levels will appreciate his sparkling interpretations. This selection is from Gundry's Commentary on the New Testament.