The Gospel of John: When Love Comes to Town (Resonate Series)
Paul Louis Metzger wrote this volume and also serves as the Executive Editor for the Resonate series. While they can be considered commentaries, this is a loose definition because a larger goal is in place. The independent works are an “exegesis of scripture and culture”. Resonate responds to a growing secular culture and the integration of new Christians into formation and current Biblical culture. Exposure to the biblical material serves as a guiding principle in the series. You can catch a great video explaining the series here, on IVPress.com
That said, the gospel of John functions as a great choice for the opening of the series. A highly theological gospel, it plays great with the approach of this new commentary series. Metzger paints with a broad brush stroke covering key themes of John. If you hunt for a verse-by-verse rendering of the text, you will be disappointed. Instead, you have the work of someone who has read and studied JOHN, not in bits and pieces, but as a literary whole.
This emphasis on the whole of John makes the book real unique. It meets the goal of explaining the Biblical text to a curious, but unChristian world. I applaud what is a desperately needed vision.
Metzger divides John up into 6 main sections, with 41 sub-themes. Each sub-theme is given at least one appropriate narrative found from pop culture. Many of these references are drawn from movies and music. One of the best examples of this relates John 14 to the Clint Eastwood film Gran Torino. The Gospel of John (book) follows many of the elements that we see as spiritual in current pop culture.
The author also works around John 18:1-27 (Gimme Shelter) using the analogy of the Rolling Stones failed attempt to replicate Woodstock at the Altamont Motor Speedway. I am a huge Rolling Stones fan, so this was a plus. I also have thought about Altamont many times during my background as a sociologist. Metzger isn’t just name dropping these references, but has clearly spent time in his comparisons. The audience quickly engages because of the places of author/reader connection.
Appealing at this depth to secular situations might be a turn off for some readers. However, I want to point you back to one of the original goals of exegeting both "scripture AND culture" (pg. 13). Metzger applies this point to the book but also to the pastoral teaching vocation. Isn’t this what we do everyday?
My only complaint lies in the strength of the book. Reading the book is almost like watching an episode of The Family Guy. You can be paying a tremendous amount of attention, but unless you have a working knowledge of pop culture, many things can be lost on you. In reading The Gospel of John, you quickly realize the depth of appropriation that Metzger has taken with the actual biblical book of John.
Books like this are needed as teachers and pastors seek to translate the Biblical message to a culture grappling with faith. In times such as ours, the message isn’t about convincing, but placing the timeless Gospel story into a narrative framework that is contemporary. Paul Metzger doesn’t change the message of Jesus, but he places it at a place where it can change us.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/2
I also would like to thank Adrianna Wright at IVP.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the book. I'd love to get a copy and read about John's Gospel from the author's point of view. I am open to the interpretation of others about John's Gospel.
Posted by: Kenneth Copeland | February 01, 2011 at 06:34 PM
Hello Chad,
Thank you for your very thoughtful, careful, and creative engagement of my book. It was a pleasure to read your review.
All best wishes,
Paul Louis Metzger
Posted by: Paul Louis Metzger | February 09, 2011 at 05:59 PM
-Thanks Paul
Posted by: chad | February 10, 2011 at 06:02 AM
WO WO WO WO .... WE STAND HERE TODAY....WHOEVER SAID....
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