Reading John for Dear Life: A Spiritual Walk with the Fourth Gospel

I finished this book last night and cannot wait to start it over again! It is so meaningful that I would read it slowly and then re-read passages... savoring every morsel...before continuing on. The author is in a "league of her own!" I have never read a book like this before and am so grateful that I accidentally stumbled upon it. I was looking for something to deepen my Bible Study Group's study on the Gospel of John. The author is a Johannine scholar. I looked up her bio on her web page and she has an impressive education and resume. But her gift is taking the original Greek scripture and explaining the true meaning to "lay folks" like myself. Clark-Soles practically paints you a picture of the customs, traditions, historical background, etc. from the scripture. She makes the scripture come alive and brought me...the reader...into the story...it is almost Ignatian. She helped me make connections and applications within my own life. She is a professor at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Texas. If I lived closer to Texas...I would go audit her courses! If you enjoy delving deeper to understand the Bible, you will not want to miss this book. It is such a gift to myself...a classic! I cannot wait to give copies to my adult children! And I look forward to reading some of her other books as well.

I read this book for a class I was taking. I wanted to grow in knowledge of the Lord, and I was thinking it may help me in my ministry. This book did not disappoint. Dr Jaime Clark-Soles is fluent in Greek which enables her to explain the text in a more accurate manner. She sums up the book of John well when she says, "(John) understands the difference between knowledge for the sake of knowledge, and knowledge for the sake of transformation." I believe this book accomplishes that!

John was elderly, reflective, and loved. Thank God he granted an interview to Jaimie! Well worth your investment in time.☺

Done in a very scholarly manner

Jamie Clark-Soles writes her commentary Reading John for Dear Life a little like the writer of John writes his gospel. Her approach is not to share knowledge for the sake of knowledge, although this book is well considered and academically adroit. Instead this is a book written because the gospel of John matters to our everyday rough and tumble lives. Clark-Soles is keen for us to not just know John, but feel and apply the Gospel. She also writes poetically - and weaves her favourite poets into the commentary - which matches the fourth gospel beautifully. The commentary is easy to read, like sitting in an armchair in front of a fire, having a good chat to a friend who has fresh and unique ideas.While I don’t agree with every conclusion made, I would recommend this commentary to anyone wanting to apply the gospel of John to how they live and worship.

While many other commentaries on John's Gospel are much longer, few have challenged me to think deeply about John's portrait of Jesus and the implications of that portrait for contemporary disciples. As I walked with her through John's Gospel, I found myself stopping all along the way to ponder some insight I had not encountered before.

Over all a great book on John. I would consider this book for a Bible or an adult Sunday school class

Wonderful book, each chapter like sitting down to a spiritual feast. Worked well for personal devotions and is working equally well for a group study.