Reading John and 1, 2, 3 John: A Literary and Theological Commentary

Reading John and 1, 2, 3 John explores the literary and theological aspects of these writings, both as representative works from the same community as well as separate works with varying genres and audiences.

Reading these works together as well as separately, Myers seeks to retrieve 1-3 John from the recesses of the Christian canon while simultaneously exploring the profound literary artistry and theological insight of all these Johannine writings. The Gospel and Letters of John all agree on the crucial need to recognize Jesus as God's Christ and Son in spite of the difficulty of his revelation and in spite of the various pressures and fears their readers face. Through such recognition, these writings argue that believers not only can come to know the God who is Love but also can show this Love through their imitation of Jesus.

Edited by Todd D. Still, the Charles J. and Eleanor McLerran DeLancey Dean & William M. Hinson Professor of Christian Scriptures at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary, the Reading the New Testament, Second Series presents cutting-edge biblical research in accessible language.

Alicia D. Myers (Ph.D., Baylor University) is Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek at Campbell University Divinity School. A constant feature of her research is an interest in how Greco-Roman rhetoric and literature can aid our understanding of the New Testament, especially the Gospel of John. She is the author of Characterizing Jesus: A Rhetorical Analysis on the Gospel's Use of Scripture in Its Presentation of Jesus. Her other recent book, Blessed among Women: Mothers and Motherhood in the New Testament, explores presentations of mothers and maternal metaphors.

Praise for Reading John and 1, 2, 3 John

"Myers has produced a gem-a commentary worth reading in its entirety. Her narratives and dialogue with previous scholarship never leave the reader wondering about the significance of a particular topic or discussion or the logic of her choices." -Jo-Ann A. Brant, Professor Emeritus, Goshen College

"This is a marvelous commentary that bristles with fresh perspectives on and new insights into the interpretation of the Gospel and Letters of John." -Catrin H. Williams, University of Wales Trinity Saint David