For Further Study
Devotional
Exploring the Gospel of John by John Phillips
With an emphasis on practical application, John Phillip’s commentary on the Gospel of John is an excellent resource for those looking for an easy-to-read Bible study without getting bogged down by lengthy theological discussions. This book is designed to bring John’s account of the life of Jesus to bear on the reader’s everyday life.
Entry Level
John, Revised Edition, By Colin Kruse
Written by one of the world’s most distinguished evangelical scholars, Colin Kruse, this commentary is an excellent resource for students looking for a deeper study of John’s gospel without needing an advanced degree to understand its content. Kruse couches his discussion around historically engaging and hermeneutically sound arguments that will leave you with a deeper appreciation for John’s writing.
Intermediate
The Gospel According to John by D.A. Carson
Written by D. A. Carson, a research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, this is one of the best commentaries on the Gospel of John that has been written in the past 50 years. And while the content leans towards the scholarly side of things making it difficult to read, by and large, the text is a veritable treasure-trove of solid biblical exegesis. If you only have one commentary on John, it should be this one.
Advanced
John, Volume 36: Revised by George R. Beasley-Murray
With its emphasis on textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence, this commentary is only for those who love the deeper waters of biblical academia. Written by Dr. George R. Beasley-Murray (1916-2000), this study is the byproduct of a lifetime of research and experience. Although it was revised for the modern reader in 2015, Dr. Beasley-Murray’s work is still not for the faint of heart. But it is well worth the effort for those who put in the work to understand its content.