J o h n Mark Edwards J O H N Blackwell Bible Commentaries Series Editors:John Sawyer,Christopher Rowland,Judith Kovacs John Revelation Mark Edwards Judith Kovacs & Christopher Rowland Forthcoming: Genesis Jeremiah Gary Philips & Danna Nolan Fewell Mary Chilton Callaway Exodus Lamentations Scott Langston Paul Joyce Judges Jonah David Gunn Yvonne Sherwood 1 & 2 Samuel Haggai,Zachariah and Malachi David Gunn Richard Coggins 1 & 2 Kings Mark Martin O’Kane Christine Joynes Job Luke Anthony York Larry Kreitzer Psalms Romans Susan Gillingham Paul Fiddes Ecclesiastes Galatians Eric Christianson John Riches Isaiah 2 Corinthians John F.A.Sawyer Paula Gooder J o h n Mark Edwards © 2004 by Mark Edwards 350 Main Street,Malden,MA 02148-5020,USA 108 Cowley Road,Oxford OX4 1JF,UK 550 Swanston Street,Carlton,Victoria 3053,Australia The right ofMark Edwards to be identified as the Author ofthis Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright,Designs,and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved.No part ofthis publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted,in any form or by any means,electronic,mechanical,photo- copying,recording or otherwise,except as permitted by the UK Copyright,Designs,and Patents Act 1988,without the prior permission ofthe publisher. First published 2004 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Edwards,M.J.(Mark J.) John / Mark Edwards. p.cm.– (Blackwell Bible commentaries) Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 0-631-22906-X (hardback) – ISBN 0-631-22907-8 (pbk.) 1. Bible.N.T.John–Commentaries. I. Title. II. Series. BS2615.53.E39 2004 226.5¢07–dc22 2003019601 A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library. Set in 10 on 12.5 pt Minion by SNP Best-set Typesetter Ltd.,Hong Kong Printed and bound in the United Kingdom by TJInternational Ltd,Padstow,Cornwall For further information on Blackwell Publishing,visit our website: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com C o n t e n t s List of Illustrations vii Series Editors’Preface ix Acknowledgements xi List ofAbbreviations xiii Introduction:The Gospel and its Interpreters 1 Christ the Word:John 1:1–18 15 The Baptist’s Testimony:John 1:19–51 26 vi Contents Symbols of Purity:John 2:1–22 35 The New Birth:John 2:23–4:2 44 The Samaritan Woman:John 4:3–45 53 Two Healings and their Aftermath:John 4:46–5:47 62 Bread from Heaven:John 6 72 Ministry in Jerusalem:John 7 and 8 81 Parables of the Messiah:John 9 and 10 97 The Raising of Lazarus:John 11 112 Preparing for Death:John 12 and 13 122 Christ and Spirit:John 14 138 Valedictory:John 15–17 146 Arrest and Trial:John 18 164 The Crucifixion:John 19 174 The Resurrection:John 20 189 The Final Commission:John 21 201 Bibliography 211 Index 229 I l l u s t r a t i o n s EI Greco,Christ Driving the Traders from the Temple. 40 Giovanni Lanfranco,Christ and the Samaritan Woman. 55 Hogarth,Christ at the Pool ofBethesda. 64 Bruegel,Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery. 87 Sebastian del Piombo,The Raising ofLazarus. 118 Rembrandt,Ecce Homo. 177 viii List ofIllustrations Master of the Dominican Effigies,Crucifixion and Deposition. 181 William Blake,The Angels Guarding the Body ofChrist in the Tomb. 191