John

Description

Bible. Gospels. This the second of a series of four books covering the four gospels. Based on the work of contemporary scripture scholars, and using the New Revised Standard Version, they are an attempt to offer some overall insights into the four gospels for the general reader. There has been much discussion among scripture scholars about how John's gospel came to be written, and as to why it is so different in style from the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. In all probability John's gospel reflects communal memories of what Jesus said and did, but not the same memories preserved in the other gospels. The Evangelist, with his own creative and dramatic style, and the Redactor, later shaped the tradition into the written gospel we have today. These pages should not replace reading and meditating on the gospel itself. While it is important to understand what the evangelist means, the reader is also invited to let the gospel speak to the heart as well as the head. There is an age-old tradition of contemplating the gospels, and so the reader is invited to undertake an imaginative journey, looking at the people, places and actions of the various actors in the gospel stories, identifying with them imaginatively in the hope of better appreciating each gospel's message.

Subjects

Series Statement

• Navigating the Gospels