The most theological

The Gospel of John is the most theological of the 4 Gospels. It begins with this most mesmerising of verses –

In the beginning, was the Word,

   and the Word was with God,

    and the Word was God.

Here are 2 excellent books for those of us who wish to deepen their knowledge and, in the process, nourish their faith, by osmosis.

The Gospel of John by Martin and Wright IV is one of the volumes in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture.  This series can be used by Christians of other traditions and denominations. I find it useful with 350 pages of commentary. Interspersed are Biblical Background sidebars that present historical, literary and theological information; and Living Tradition sidebars that contain quotations from Church documents and from the writings of saints and Church Fathers.

Day by Day Through the Gospel of John is a compilation of sermons and writings by famous English, Scottish and American preachers who lived circa 1662 – 1936. All of them save for John Wesley is now unknown to most Christians and non- Christians alike.

Lance Wubbels has done us good service to compile their sermons and writings. Arranged for daily meditation 365 days verse by verse this book gives us a good insight into the minds of these preachers now long gone and the concerns of their flocks at that point in time. It is therefore, a pity the book does not have an index of the preachers and does not show where and when a particular sermon was delivered or where a particular sermon or writing was sourced from. It also lacks an index of pastoral topics. It does have a very useful biodata of the preachers.

These two books are to be read and reread. Through generations.

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