Insights on John (Swindoll’s New Testament Insights), by Charles R. Swindoll

I was pumped when Insights on John (Swindoll’s New Testament Insights) arrived in the mail.  Chuck Swindoll is a gifted pastor and teacher whose insights on the Scriptures through his pulpit ministry, Insight for Living radio program, more than 70 published books, and as president and chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary, have literally influenced millions to know Christ better and serve Him more faithfully.  I count myself among those profoundly influenced by his ministry of the Word.  Now those insights are being published again, this time organized  by the book of the Bible to which they relate.

Swindoll is masterful at delivering his insights from Scripture to as many people as possible.  He has never hidden the fact that the content of his radio program and his books stems directly from his preparation for his weekly sermons in the pulpit.  In his Author’s Preface, Swindoll clarifies that the same source material was used to compile Insights: “A rush of relief came when I realized that during the past forty-five-plus years I’ve taught and preached through most of the New Testament.  In my files were folders filled with notes from those messages that were just lying there, waiting to be brought out of hiding, given a fresh and relevant touch in light of today’s needs, and applied to fit into the lives of men and women who long for a fresh word from the Lord.”  I respect and admire Swindoll’s stewardship of the gospel insights delivered to him by the Holy Spirit though his faithful study and proclamation of the Scriptures.

I was very pleased with what I found in this volume on John’s gospel.  Here, organized in one volume, is a passage-by-passage exposition of the fourth gospel by the master teacher Swindoll.  Swindoll divides John’s text into five sections: Prologue, Presentation of the Word, Authentication of the Word, Confirmation of the Word, and Vindication of the Word.  Each of these sections begins with an explanation of key terms John uses, followed by Swindoll’s careful commentary on each passage, including the complete text from the New American Standard Bible, Swindoll’s verse-by-verse exposition, and some very practical thoughts on application – essentially the same content you would hear if you heard Swindoll preach on that particular passage from the pulpit.  Each section is footnoted well, and also includes charts, maps, illustrations and Swindoll’s personal reflections (“From My Journal”) to illustrate the text.

The student of Scripture looking for deeper treatments of John’s theologically-rich gospel will also want to consult one of these excellent commentaries on John’s Gospel.  These are classic commentaries on the fourth gospel from a more scholarly perspective.  Swindoll is a pastor/teacher, not an academic.  Insights on John is a solid expository treatment of The Gospel of John that is more pastoral, practical and accessible.  I am going to want to own every volume in this series.

[Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan as part of their book review blog tour program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”]