Hearing the voice of John's Gospel in Years A, B and C
James Woodward is a Canon of Windsor, and the general editor of the book. He has written extensively in the area of pastoral and practical theology. His recent publications include Valuing Age (SPCK 2008). Dr Paula Gooder is a writer and lecturer in New Testament studies. She is also a visiting lecturer at Kings College London, an honorary lecturer at the University of Birmingham, senior research scholar at the Queens Foundation, Birmingham, and Canon Theologian of Birmingham Cathedral. Her publications include Searching for Meaning (SPCK 2008) and Heaven (SPCK 2011).The Reverend Mark Pryce is Bishops Adviser for Clergy Continuing Ministerial Development in the Diocese of Birmingham.
'Journeying with John: Hearing the voice of John's Gospel in Years
A, B and C' is not a traditional commentary in that it neither goes
through the Gospel, section by section, nor does it go through the
passages from the Gospel prescribed in the lectionary in a
systematic way. Instead, it focuses on each liturgical season,
commenting on the various Johannine passages before focusing more
intensely on one or two.
The structure is also unusual, though highly effective. After a
long introduction to the Gospel, there are eight chapters: Advent
and Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Passion and Holy Week, Easter, The
Easter Season, Pentecost, Ordinary Time.
Each chapter is made up of three parts, exploring the text,
imagining the text and reflecting on the text.
The first part is by Paula Gooder, who brings the reader into the
text through background, context and exegesis.
Mark Pryce 'imagines' the text through poetry and creative writing,
offering a different lens through which to examine a familiar
scene.
James Woodward then offers some reflections on how this might be
applied to our own lives and in contemporary society. This is then
followed up with some suggestions for action, conversation,
questions and prayer, set in the context of 'marks of mission,'
from material generated by the Anglican Communion focusing on the
mission of the Church. There is a wealth of material and insight
here for individual reading, for study groups and indeed, for
homiletic preparation. While many parts could be marked out for
consideration, the reflection in Chapter three on our pastoral
heart and Chapter four on the passion of Jesus are particularly
worth consideration.
Having finished the book, the only fault was that I was left
wanting more. I would deeply appreciate a more systematic approach
to all of the Johannine narrative in a similar vein.
*Church of Ireland Gazette*
John’s Gospel has fared less well than the other three in the
Revised Common
Lectionary in that, instead of having a year to itself, its message
is dispersed in
short spurts over three years. In this attractive book three
seasoned scholars, all
actively involved in the Church’s life, seek to remedy this by
bringing together
reflections on John as seen through the lens of the Christian
liturgical year.
The Preface explains that the book arose from shared study of John
in the light
of the Anglican Communion’s five ‘marks of mission’. The
Introduction then
explores the Gospel’s background, covering issues such as
authorship, structure,
the Johannine ‘community’, date, John’s attitude to ‘the Jews’, its
relation to the
Synoptics, and its portraiture of Jesus as both divine and human.
This is expertly
written, balanced in its views and taking account of modern
scholarship without
being over-heavy. It ends with a poetic paraphrase of John’s
Prologue, which adds
new ideas and images (e.g. the Word as a lover and adventurer, an
unquenchable
love which flares like a forest fire).
This sets the tone for the eight chapters, which first ‘explore’
the text; then
‘imagine’ it; then ‘reflect’ on it; and finally offer ideas for
action, conversation
and prayer, all relevant to the theme of mission. They discuss in
turn John’s
incarnational theology (linked to the season of Advent and
Christmas);
‘Epiphany’ – the revelation of Jesus’ glory, including his
miracles; ‘Lent’, focusing
on Jesus’ discourses and ‘encounters’; ‘Passion and Holy Week’
considering what
kind of Saviour Jesus is and the role of the Cross; ‘Easter’ on the
Resurrection and
its implications; ‘the Easter season’ on knowing, belonging and
loving, and the
nature of the Church; ‘Pentecost’ on the Holy Spirit’s role; and
‘Ordinary Time’,
discussing John’s ‘I am’ sayings, focusing especially on John 6
(which occupies five
successive Sundays in Year B). There is no general conclusion,
footnotes or
indexes; the book ends with a short note on ‘Further reading and
resources’.
To some extent the arrangement of the material is artificial, since
some aspects
of John’s relate more easily to the Church’s seasons than others.
But on the whole
the attempt is successful (the most awkward area being ‘Ordinary
Time’).
Inevitably the authors are selective on what they cover: only three
miracles receive
any detailed discussion, and certain problematic aspects are
ignored (e.g. the
fact that the lame man does not come to faith in the narrative).
Many will find
the more creative sections helpful, even though they go beyond what
arises directly
from the text. I warmly commend this short book to those beginning
study of John,
and those seeking to relate its message to their personal lives and
the modern
world.
*Theology journal*
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