The Gospel According to John I-XII (Anchor Bible)

Description

Raymond E. Brown’s The Gospel According to John I–XII (Volume 29 of the Anchor Yale Bible series) provides a comprehensive analysis of the first twelve chapters of John’s Gospel, covering the Prologue (“In the beginning was the Word”) and the Book of Signs, which details Jesus’ miracles and public ministry.

Key Features:

Critical Scholarship: Brown addresses major Johannine questions, including authorship, composition, dating, and John’s relationship to the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke). He synthesizes modern theories while weighing textual evidence and historical context.

Translation Approach: The translation prioritizes accuracy over literary elegance, rendering the Gospel’s “simple, everyday Greek” into contemporary American English for clarity and immediacy.

Structural Analysis: The commentary highlights literary patterns, such as geographical framing (e.g., references to sites like the Jordan River) and thematic emphasis on Jesus’ identity as the divine Son sent to bring salvation.

Miracles as Signs: Brown underscores the theological purpose of Jesus’ miracles (e.g., turning water to wine, healing the official’s son), which serve primarily to reveal his glory and inspire belief, rather than emphasizing supernatural spectacle.

Appendices: Detailed studies on Johannine vocabulary, the “Word” (Logos), and comparisons with Synoptic miracle narratives provide deeper insights into the Gospel’s unique theology.

Scholarly Contributions:
Brown’s work is noted for its balanced approach, integrating historical-critical methods with respect for John’s theological depth. His analysis of anti-Semitic elements in the text and the Johannine community’s historical setting remains influential. The commentary’s meticulous attention to linguistic detail and compositional layers (e.g., multiple editions of the Gospel) makes it a foundational resource for both scholars and lay readers.

This volume sets the stage for Volume 30 (John XIII–XXI), which examines the Last Supper, Passion, and Resurrection narratives.