John the Seer/John the Baptist

The name John in Revelation 1:1 links the seer up with John the Baptist, the messenger who came from God to announce the coming of Christ. Some (JM Ford,Revelation (The Anchor Bible, Vol. 38)) have suggested that this points to John the Baptist and his circle as the source of the gospel. Thats . . . . Continue Reading »

Seed abides

In my commentary on the Johannine epistles ( The Epistles of John Through New Eyes: From Behind the Veil ), I followed many commentators in interpreting the “abiding seed” of 1 John 3:9 as a reference to something within the believer. If we take the sperma as Jesus, then believers are . . . . Continue Reading »

Born in fornication

In one of His most intense exchanges with His enemies, Jesus says that they “do the deeds of your father” in seeking to kill Jesus. He means that the devil is their father (John 8:39, 44). They protest that they are children of Abraham and sons of God (vv. 39, 41). “We are not . . . . Continue Reading »

Eucharistic meditation

John 14:12; 16:7: Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father . . . . It is good that I go away. Despite the massive changes coming in the next six months, Trinity Reformed Church will . . . . Continue Reading »

Drawing all men

John 12:20-23 seems slightly comical. Some Greeks want to see Jesus, and approach Philip, a Galilean. Philip doesn’t simply tell them where Jesus is, but tells Andrew, who goes to tell Jesus that some Greeks want to see Him. In the end, it’s not at all clear if the Greeks ever do get to . . . . Continue Reading »

King of the Grave

Is it fitting for Jesus, who died so ignominiously, to be buried in splendor? Thomas has various answers to that question ( ST III, 51, 2), but I think the best answers are inherent to the literary structure and themes of the gospel, especially John. Matthew tells us that Joseph of Arimathea . . . . Continue Reading »

Friends of God, again

My colleague Toby Sumpter offers these additional thoughts on the disciples as “friends of God”: “When Jesus tells His friends about the ‘fire falling.’ it’s hard not to think of Pentecost. Jerusalem is a new Sodom, but this time the judgment falls with even more . . . . Continue Reading »

Friends of God

A student, Kellen Meyer, points out the Abrahamic roots of John 15:14, where Jesus calls the disciples “friends.” Abraham too was called a “friend of God” (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8). In designating the disciples as “friends,” Jesus is in effect calling them . . . . Continue Reading »