An Introductory Johannine Bibliography
for students, Bible Study groups and others just beginning to read the Gospel and Epistles of John

Briefer Introductions and Commentaries for Group and Student Use:

• Wright, N.T. John for Everyone. The New Testament for Everyone. Westminster/John Knox, 2023. (two volumes: 216+224 pages)
  • Wright's own translation and commentary, now in a 20th Anniversary Edition, with Study Guide questions ideal for individual and group study
     
• Harrington, OP, Wilfrid J. Reading John for the First Time. Paulist, 2016. (152 pages)
  • introduces the major themes and spiritual significance of this gospel; a pastoral commentary intended for non-specialists
     
• Köstenberger, Andreas J. Encountering John: The Gospel in Historical, Literary, and Theological Perspective. 2nd edition. Encountering Biblical Studies. Baker, 2013. (300 pages)
• a recent, slightly longer volume appropriate for college students
   
• Talbert, Charles H. Reading John: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the Fourth Gospel and the Johannine Epistles. Revised ed. Reading the NT. Crossroad, 2013. (324 pages)
• good for undergraduate students, narrative critical approach with brief comments on each passage
   
• Binz, Stephen J. Jesus, the Word Made Flesh: John. 2 vols. Threshold Bible Studies. 23rd Publications, 2011. (136+144 pages)
  • intended for small-group use, using the Lectio Divina method of reading and praying with the Bible
     
• Lewis, Scott M. The Gospel according to John and the Johannine Letters. New Collegeville Bible Commentary, 4. Liturgical Press, 2005. (144 pages)
• in the new edition of Collegeville's popular series; certain to become a new standard for Bible Study groups
   
• Smith, Dwight Moody. "John." HarperCollins Bible Commentary (HarperSanFrancisco, 2000), pages 956-986.
  & Culpepper, R. Alan. "1, 2, 3 John." HarperCollins Bible Commentary (HarperSanFrancisco, 2000), pages 1178-1183.
• among the best short expositions contained in one-volume Bible commentaries
   
• Culpepper, R. Alan, ed. The Johannine Literature. Sheffield New Testament Guides. Sheffield Academic Press, 2000. (324 pages)
• combines the previously published "Sheffield NT Guides" on the Fourth Gospel, Johannine Epistles, and Book of Revelation, authored by Barnabas Lindars, Ruth B. Edwards, John M. Court, respectively
   
• Brown, Raymond E. "The Gospel According to John; The First/Second/Third Letter of John." Chapters 11-14 of An Introduction to the New Testament (Doubleday, 1997), pages 333-405.
  • the best summaries of the thought of one of the best Catholic biblical scholars of the past century
     
• Quast, Kevin. Reading the Gospel of John: An Introduction. Paulist, 1991. (176 pages)
• was my personal favorite for use in undergraduate college classes on John; sadly now out of print, but still available online
   
  
• Perkins, Pheme. "61: The Gospel according to John" and "62: The Johannine Epistles." New Jerome Biblical Commentary (Prentice Hall, 1990), pages 942-85; 986-95.
• compact and solid introductions and detailed commentaries
   
• Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel & Epistles of John: A Concise Commentary. Liturgical Press, 1988. (136 pages)
  • another brief and inexpensive introduction; somewhat dated by now, but still very good
     
• Flanagan, Neal M. The Gospel According to John and the Johannine Epistles. Collegeville Bible Commentary. Liturgical Press, 1983. (128 pages)
• a popular booklet among Bible Study groups; see also the updated volume by Scott Lewis in Collegeville's new series
   
• MacRae, George W. Invitation to John: A Commentary on the Gospel of John with Complete Text from the Jerusalem Bible. Image Books. Doubleday, 1978. (236 pages)
  & Danker, Frederick W. Invitation to the New Testament: Epistles IV. Image Books. Doubleday, 1980. (256 pages)
  
• out of print, but multiple copies of these popular classics are still available in many churches
   

Larger Commentaries for Teachers' and Group Leaders' Use:

• Coloe, Mary L. John 1-10. and John 11-21. Wisdom Commentary, 44A&44B. Liturgical Press, 2021. (600 pages)
  • the best recent scholarly commentary; very comprehensive; part of the outstanding "Wisdom Commentary" series - very highly recommended!
     
• Martin, Francis and William M. Wright, IV. The Gospel of John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Baker Academic, 2015. (368 pages)
   
• Byrne, Brendan. Life Abounding: A Reading of John's Gospel. Liturgical Press, 2014. (384 pages)
• one of the best recent introductions; very readable and accessible
   
• Brant, Jo-Ann A. John. Paideia: Commentaries on the New Testament. Baker Academic, 2011. (352 pages)
   
• Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of John: A Commentary. 2 vols. Baker Academic, 2010. (1696 pages)
   
• Neyrey, Jerome H. The Gospel of John. New Cambridge Bible Commentary. Cambridge University Press, 2006. (374 pages)
   
• O'Day, Gail R., and Susan E. Hylen. John. Westminster Biblical Commentary. Westminster John Knox, 2006. (288 pages)
   
• Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the Gospel of John. Edited by Francis J. Moloney. ABRL. Doubleday, 2003. (384 pages) - highly recommended!
   
• Painter, John. 1, 2, and 3 John. Sacra Pagina 18. Liturgical Press, 2002. (432 pages) - highly recommended!
   
• Malina, Bruce & Richard Rohrbaugh. Social-Science Commentary on the Gospel of John. Fortress, 1998. (336 pages)
   
• Moloney, Francis J. The Gospel of John. Sacra Pagina 4. Liturgical Press, 1998. (632 pages) - highly recommended!
   
• Michaels, J. Ramsey. John. NIBC 4. Hendrickson, 1989. (1132 pages)
   
• Smith, Dwight Moody. John. 2nd ed. Proclamation Commentaries. Fortress, 1986. (134 pages)
   
• Barrett, C. K. The Gospel according to John: An Introduction with Commentary and Notes on the Greek Text. 2nd ed. S.P.C.K.; Westminster, 1978. (660 pages)
   
• Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel According to John I-XII & XIII-XXI: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. 2 vols. Anchor Bible 29 & 29A. Doubleday, 1966-70. (538+688 pages)
   
• click here for More Commentaries on John's Gospel
   

Some Recent Studies and Collections of Essays on Historical, Literary, and Theological Topics:

• Ashton, John, ed. The Interpretation of John. 2nd edition. T&T Clark, 1997. (352 pages)

• Ashton, John. Understanding the Fourth Gospel. New edition. Clarendon, 2007. (620 pages)

• Beasley-Murray, George R. Gospel of Life: Theology in the Fourth Gospel. Hendrickson, 1996. (131 pages)

• Brown, Raymond. The Community of the Beloved Disciple: The Life, Loves, and Hates of an Individual Church in New Testament Times. Paulist, 1979. (208 pages)

• Carter, Warren. John: Storyteller, Interpreter, Evangelist. Hendrickson, 2006. (280 pages)

• Culpepper, R. Alan. The Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel: A Study in Literary Design. Fortress, 1983. (256 pages)

• Culpepper, R. Alan, and C. Clifton Black, eds. Exploring the Gospel of John: In Honor of D. Moody Smith. Westminster John Knox, 1996. (409 pages)

• Edwards, Ruth B. Discovering John: Content, Interpretation, Reception. Discovering Biblical Texts. Eerdmans, 2015. (272 pages)

• Koester, Craig R. The Word of Life: A Theology of John's Gospel. Eerdmans, 2008. (264 pages)

• Kysar, Robert. John, the Maverick Gospel. Third ed. Westminster John Knox, 2007. (200 pages)

• Martyn, J. Louis. History & Theology in the Fourth Gospel. Third ed. Abingdon, 2003. (200 pages)

• Porter, Stanley E. John, His Gospel, and Jesus: In Pursuit of the Johannine Voice. Eerdmans, 2015. (309 pages)

• Rensberger, David. Johannine Faith and Liberating Community. Westminster John Knox, 1996. (172 pages)

• Segovia, Fernando F., ed. "What is John?" Vol. I: Readers and Readings of the Fourth Gospel. Scholars Press, 1996. (286 pages)

• Segovia, Fernando F., ed. "What is John?" Vol. II: Literary and Social Reading of the Fourth Gospel. Scholars Press, 1998. (376 pages)

• Sloyan, Gerard S. What Are They Saying about John? Paulist, 1991; 2nd edition, 2006. (176 pages)

• Smith, D. Moody. John among the Gospels. 2nd edition. Fortress, 2001. (262 pages)

• Smith, D. Moody. The Theology of the Gospel of John. NT Theology. Cambridge University Press, 1995. (216 pages)


 
• See also the inexpensive series of brief "Zacchaeus Studies: New Testament" (originally from Michael Glazier; now from The Liturgical Press; circa 100 pages each):
• Byrne, Brendan. 1991. Lazarus: A Contemporary Reading of John 11:1-46.
• Collins, Raymond F. 1991. John and His Witness.
• Grassi, Joseph A. 1991. Loaves and Fishes: The Gospel Feeding Narratives.
• Karris, Robert J. 1990. Jesus and the Marginalized in John's Gospel.
• Kurz, William S. 1990. Farewell Addresses in the New Testament.
• Pazdan, Mary Margaret. 1991. The Son of Man: A Metaphor for Jesus in the Fourth Gospel.
• Yee, Gale A. 1988. Jewish Feasts in John's Gospel.
   

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