The Gospel of John, written by Jey J. Kanagaraj
A Commentary with Elements of Comparison to Indian Religious Thoughts and Cultural Practices
Written by Jey J. Kanagaraj and Published by OM Books, Secunderabad, India.
During my doctoral study in Durham, UK, I worked on the ‘mystical’ elements in John’s Gospel studying them particularly against the background of Jewish mysticism. By God’s grace, the dissertation came up to the level of publication done by Sheffield Academic Press, Sheffield, UK. This venture gave me a desire to write a commentary on John’s Gospel, because the Fourth Gospel has many ideas that are familiar to Indian mind. As I was looking for the right time to start the work, the Langham Writers Project invited Langham scholars to write books to be read particularly by intelligent lay people in the Two-Third world. I chose to write a commentary on John making it relevant to the socio-political and religious context in India with the hope that it will be read by a wider group of people in India. There had been no commentary on John earlier written solely by an Indian Christian scholar for the people of India, and this situation instigated me all the more to fill up this vacuum. Therefore I have written a commentary on John’s Gospel comparing John’s ideas, wherever possible, with the religious thoughts prevalent in India.
The commentary has been published by OM Books, Secunderabad, India, and it was released on the 21st June 2005 at the Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India. The Principal of the Seminary, Rev, Dr, Samson Parekh, released the book and got the first copy from the Mr. K.C. Joseph, the Publisher of OM Books. Dr. P.S. Jacob, who has written the foreword to the book, delivered words of felicitation.
Most of the Johannine concepts are compared with Hindu religious and philosophical thoughts in the book. The concept of incarnation is compared with the Hindu concept of avatars (the periodical appearances of gods in human form), and the ideas of “knowing” and “abiding in”, and mutual indwelling are compared to the notion of “mystical union” commonly known in India. The enlightenment motif is compared with the same motif found in Buddhism. Jesus’ saying about “truth” is compared to Gandhi’s view of “truth”. I believe that such comparative study will enable the readers in India to appreciate God’s love and truth revealed in Jesus and the manner of his relationship with human beings. The pastoral dimension of the Fourth Gospel, as found particularly in the “Good Shepherd” passage (John 10), is made relevant to churches in India. The Indian cultural practices are traced in the Gospel, particularly in chapters 11, 12 and 13, and I am sure that an Indian will feel homely when he/she reads the Gospel message.
Theologically loaded words are avoided in this commentary. Greek words are used as minimum as possible and only in places where the words are necessary to bring out the meaning correctly. This is to enable the readers to easily understand God’s love and life expressed in the Gospel. Solutions to the following issues are suggested: Does the word “water” in John 3:5 and 19:34 mean Christian baptism? Whom does Jesus refer to by “others” in 4:38? Why did Jesus heal on the Sabbath? Whom does Jesus attack in 8:31-58 - believers or unbelievers? Who is the unnamed disciple in 18:15-16 and the disciple whom Jesus loved mentioned in 13:23; etc? Why didn’t the soldiers break the legs of the crucified Jesus? Does the giving of the Holy Spirit in 20:22-23 denote the Pentecostal experience? Therefore I am sure that pastors, teachers, lay people, Christian workers, and theological students will greatly be profited by using my commentary.
I would like to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to the John Stott Ministries and Langham Partnership for giving me the needed financial aid to take Sabbatical leave and work on this commentary. I would assure all the donors and prayer partners that God has blessed your effort and that the book, the fruit of your contributions and prayers, is benefiting many within and outside India. May our Lord bless all your efforts continuously.
Jey J. Kanagaraj
Professor of New Testament
Union Biblical Seminary
Bibvewadi, PUNE 411037
Maharashtra, INDIA.