1, 2, & 3 John by Gary W. Derickson is a volume in the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary series which is published by Lexham Academic.
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What is the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary Series?
This is personally one of my favorite commentary series! As the inside front cover mentions, “The Evangelical Exegetical Commentary series is a premier biblical commentary rooted in the original languages of Scripture. Incorporating the latest in critical biblical scholarship and written from a distinctively evangelical perspective, each volume provides historical and literary insights and examines exegetical, pastoral, and theological details. Readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of the text and how to apply it to everyday life.”
1, 2, & 3 John: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary
The first reason I love this series is because it deals with the original languages. The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek are found all over these volumes. They are not transliterated, nor are they relegated to footnotes. The main body of the text provides the original languages which is very helpful for pastors, teachers, and serious Bible students that want to see exactly how the author is dealing with the text. However, please don’t be discouraged if you are unfamiliar with the original languages, for the author provides an English translation immediately following the verse in the original language.
The second reason I really enjoyed this volume is because of the depth and breadth that it covers. Derickson often takes 10+ pages to cover one verse of Scripture! This is not a short, concise commentary by any means! Even many other commentaries that I love do not get even close to this level of interaction with the text. This is incredibly thorough!
I want to highlight some other excellent aspects of this volume. I’ll begin with the introduction. Derickson’s intro covers the typical issues that are found in intros of commentaries. He discusses the author, recipients, date, occasion and setting, purpose, and more. I like that he added a section on “order of composition” and “relationship to the Gospel of John” and to John’s other two epistles. His section on theological and practical emphases is also noteworthy. In this section, he dives into eternal life, mutual abiding, Christoogy, and John’s ethic of love.
The layout of this volume is very user-friendly and helpful. Each section, or chapter, begins with an introduction to that particular passage. This is followed by the text in its original language. After that, there is a section on textual notes that deal with variants and reasons for choosing one manuscript over another. There is then an English translation of the text. This is then followed by the commentary. I appreciate that every verse is in bold, which makes it very helpful when searching for a specific verse. At the end of the commentary section, there is a section with “Biblical Theology Comments”. This is pure gold, and an excellent addition to any already outstanding volume. Then, to make it even better, there is an “Application and Devotional Implications” section. If it seems like I’m getting too excited, please let me explain. Most commentaries are either technical (dealing with the original languages and critical issues), theological, or pastoral/devotional in nature. This series runs the full gamut! There is nobody left out. All will find something in this volume that is very satisfying to them, and if you’re like me, you’ll find all of its features to be satisfying!
I was sorely let down when I looked up Derickson’s treatment of 1 John 2:2 (one of the most, if not the most, controversial passages in this book). He explained that this passage teaches a universal atonement instead of an atonement that was made for the elect of God. This is where we see that exegetical theology and systematic theology work together. We all bring out theological presuppositions to the text, regardless if we are aware of it or not. As the great preacher D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “Each message, which arises out of a particular text or statement of the Scripture, must always be a part or an aspect of this total body of Truth. It is never something in isolation, never something separate or apart. The doctrine in a particular text, we must always remember, is a part of this greater whole–the Truth or the Faith.” In other words, Scripture is a beautiful unity, and it cannot contradict itself. In this way, we see that Biblical theology and systematic theology rely upon one another. They are friends, not enemies. In this case, Derickson’s theology has led him astray on his interpretation of 1 John 2:2.
Conclusion
This volume is wonderfully written, very understandable, and extremely thorough. It’s a wonderful addition to the EEC series, and I can’t recommend it highly enough to those who want to dig deeply into the Scriptures that God has graciously given to us!
Disclaimer: My thanks to Lexham Press for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Other Books We’ve Reviewed in the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary Series:
Matt became a joyful follower of Jesus at the age of 21. He is very grateful to be a husband to Lindsey, and a father to four boys. He is an ordained minister (teaching elder) in the PCA. He previously served as a pastor of biblical counseling and is currently a corporate chaplain in southern Delaware. Matt received his Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds an advanced certification in biblical counseling from the Association of Biblical Counselors. In his free time, he loves playing with his boys, traveling with his wife, and reading (and buying!) books.
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