The Gospel According to John I-XII (Anchor Bible Series, Vol. 29)

Raymond Brown is a rare combination of scholar and communicator. Few scholars can talk to ordinary people in an interesting way. This book goes into great detail, looking at almost every word and phrase in the gospel of John. Not only does Brown tell you his theory, but he shares the theories of other scholars. If you have the patience to slow yourself down and let Brown speak to you, you will be greatly rewarded with insight. If you have the time to reflect on what you read, you will be twice blessed. There may be more here than you want to know. I have just come to accept the fact that I will not get 10 to 20 percent of what Brown writes. I appreciate that though. He forces me to extend my mind. I would not expect anything less from the world's greatest authority on John.

I have a particular fondness for two volumes of Raymond Brown' s commentary on John. There are like old friends that I have returned to over and over again through the years. They have been consistent and reliable and I appreciate both Brown's scholarly as well as pastoral view points. The gospel of John presents a particular challenge to the interpreter. It is very different from the "synoptic" gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). It doesn't follow the same dramatic outline and Jesus' words in John often seen so different from the first three gospels. And yet John has remained one ofthe most beloved gospels for laypeople and pastors alike. It takes a sensitive scholar to weave through the complexities of this gospel without simply discarding everything as un-collaborated material (since it's not in the other gospels). Raymond Brown was such a scholar and this two-volume gem remains some of the best Johannine scholarship in our lifetime (I would include Bultmann in that small group as well). True to the Anchor Bible format, Brown gives an exceptional, extensive Introduction that covers may of the historical, literary and theological challenges that confront the interpreter. The commentary section itself presents both a detailed analysis of the given text and a more broad interpretation section. Knowledge of the original Greek language is not necessary. To young pastors, students, church libraries, and even interested laypeople, I enthusiastically recommend this commentary.

If you had to by one scholarly Commentary on the gospel of John, this is it. It is a truly remarkable book. What makes this commentary so good is that it appeals both to the scholarly and pastoral user. Let me explain. Many scholarly commentaries deal almost exclusively with issues of textual and form criticism. While helpful to the scholar, it just does not preach. While pastoral commentaries deal with preaching themes, they often lack scholarly insight into the text. Raymond Brown gives us the best of both. This is one commentary that stands the test of time.

Raymond Brown is an incredible scholar and has presented one of the finest commentaries written on the gospel according to John. Both introductory notes and main commentary are fluid and reveal significant insight. The book is an absolute pleasure to read regardless of theological persuation and one does not get worn out with overly technical information found in other commentaries of this caliber.

The Anchor Bible commentaries by Brown stand, in my own humble opinion, unchalleged in their authority over the Johanine Gospel and Epistles. This is not only because of the unrivalled insight into the theology of the writings, but also because they are so accessible. While the 'Notes' on the translation are somewhat confusing at certain points, the Comment given on the actual text is open to anyone interested, as opposed to other commentaries which come across as written purely for other elite scholars (in this category I would place Barrett, who uses Greek in his commentary under the assumption that the reader will understand). My only criticism of the commentary would be that he sometimes does not give Bultmann as fair a hearing as is deserved, but such can be understood, Bultmann's theories being very unusual in certain places. Nonetheless, Brown's commentary is worth its price and more for anyone who is truly interested in understanding the great depth of the Gospel.