Christian Book Notes

Sproul, R.C. St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary-John: In the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Lake Mary: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2009. 434 pp. $27.00. Purchase at Westminster for $17.55.

Introduction

This is the second book in the St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary Series. These are being co-published by both Crossway Books and Reformation Trust Publishing.

Summary

This commentary on the gospel of John is not so much a commentary on the history of interpretation or exegetical work and word studies of the contents of John. Rather, this is commentary is Dr. R.C. Sproul’s sermons on the Gospel of John. We are blessed with fifty-seven sermons preached on Sunday’s at St. Andrew’s in Sanford, Fl. That encompasses almost two full years of Sunday morning sermons according to Dr. Sproul in the preface.

Chapter by chapter, verse by verse, Dr. Sproul unpacks and unleashes perhaps some of the best messages recently preached from the Gospel of John. He intertwines high theology and doctrine with simple and practical application in just about every sermon. He shows how the evangelist continually pointed his audience toward the great truth that God became flesh and dwelt among us.

Each chapter is only 6-10 pages long and therefore makes for fairly easy reading in that a chapter can be read and meditated on each day. You will plumb the depths of the purpose and content of the Gospel of John as it applies to us today while you read these messages.

I greatly enjoyed his two-part sermon on the man born blind (chapters 25 & 26).  In these two sermons, Dr. Sproul takes a look at sin and suffering and how we should biblically view suffering in light of Scripture.  In the course of these two sermons, we find that God is always glorified in suffering even if man does not give him the glory.  We see how the man reacted (praising God and being willing to be thrown out of the synagogue) and how his parents reacted (not willing to be chastised for their son’s good fortune!).  Sproul concludes this two-part series with the exhortation to speak of Christ and what He has done for you on the cross (assuming you are a believer).

Recommendation

As I stated in my review of the commentary on Romans in this series, having a compilation of Dr. Sproul’s sermons on a particular book of the Bible is a wonderful addition to any Christian’s library. I am excited that the sermon series on John was the second book to be published in this commentary series. This is not a book that you will purchase as a resource where you will only use it if you are wanting to study the gospel of John. Rather, you will find that drinking of Dr. Sproul’s wisdom through the reading of these messages now transcribed and collected into one source will be of great benefit to your soul.