John’s Gospel distinguishes itself among the four Gospels by its thorough discussions of single topics and by embedding its teaching material in conversations. Its approach allows for detailed exposition of doctrines and concepts, and also for practical application to the reader’s life.
Richard Phillips highlights the apostle’s chief focus on the deity of Christ, the gospel witness of the church, and salvation through faith in Jesus. He shows the person and work of Christ with biblical clarity and pastoral insight and demonstrates how evangelistic appeals should be modeled. His scholarly, sequential study of each passage is ideal help for preparing sermons, while the nontechnical language makes the book suitable for Bible teachers and devotional reading.
As are all the books in the Reformed Expository Commentary series, this exposition of John in two volumes is accessible to both pastors and lay readers. Each volume in the series provides exposition that gives careful attention to the biblical text, is doctrinally Reformed, focuses on Christ through the lens of redemptive history, and applies the Bible to our contemporary setting.
Endorsements
“Rick Phillips’s two volumes will become constant friends and ‘go-to’ companions for those charged with the daunting task of preaching the depths of the fourth Gospel. The whole of Phillips’s work maintains an unwavering focus on the apostle John’s grand purpose of leading his readers to believe that ‘Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God’—so that each exposition is gospel-rich. . . . The fact that these expositions have been delivered in the living context of the church gives them a depth and piquancy that many of the standard commentaries lack. Those who preach the Word will also find these volumes full of fresh insights and homiletical inspiration—good friends indeed.”
—R . Kent Hughes, Senior Pastor Emeritus, College Church, Wheaton, Illinois
“Richard Phillips’s exposition of John explains the text clearly, but it also sings, marvels, and gets its hands dirty in real-life illustrations. What a terrific combination of biblical exegesis, doctrine rooted in the Reformation, and practical application! This is a great sermon commentary for pastors and an extremely helpful book for all other Christians who desire to grow in their love for the one who said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’”
—Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Although commentaries on the Gospel of John abound, far too few of them combine careful scholarship, deep theological reflection, and a pastoral heart. Thankfully, this commentary by Rick Phillips is one of those few. Clearly born out of many years of preaching and teaching, this commentary is a must-read for modern-day pastors who not only want to understand the text but also want to apply it to the lives of those in their congregations.”
—Michael J. Kruger, President and Professor of New Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina
