Wisdom Commentary Wisdom Commentary: John 1-10

This first full-scale feminist commentary on John is at the same time irritating and inspiring. Whereas the dominance of Wisdom language may irritate many and trigger fresh reflections about various aspects of the story, Coloe’s thoughtful reflections certainly inspire readers' new perceptions.

Lucid, balanced, and insightful, Coloe introduces students of the New Testament to both the Gospel of John, which draws heavily on wisdom tradition, and the mature feminist criticism to which the Wisdom Commentary series is devoted. Leading feminist scholars join the conversation with Coloe in notes and short essays. This volume will serve admirably in a wide variety of contexts, as readers will delight in its insights into John, the fresh perspectives of this commentary series, and its innovative format.

This is a perceptive and sensitive reading of the first ten chapters of the Fourth Gospel written by a widely-published Johannine scholar. It is full of literary and theological insights into the text, as well as insight into the relevant background issues. It is particularly appropriate for the reader wishing to explore feminist readings of the Bible, but also offers an interpretation that will both nourish and challenge all readers. In Coloe’s hands, the focus on Wisdom-Sophia provides a rich resource for understanding John’s meaning in new ways and new contexts.

With the publication, now underway, of the Wisdom Commentary on the Bible edited by Barbara Reid, New Testament scholarship has probably passed a definitive milestone. Feminist criticism is no longer a ‘niche specialty’ appending to mainline commentary some ideologically critical comments from a feminist perspective. Mary Coloe’s volume on John 1-10 makes this abundantly clear. Throughout the commentary, Coloe integrates seamlessly into a thorough-going, multi-faceted, over-arching feminist interpretation of the Johannine text several complementary and supportive, as well as sometimes challenging, linguistic, exegetical, historical, literary, sociological, and other forms of traditional criticism. This volume is extraordinarily comprehensive, in terms of content and methodology, and demonstrates the originality and fruitfulness of the ideologically critical approach. One would have no hesitations about making it the ‘basic commentary’ in a course on John with suggestions for collateral reading from the major traditional resources. Traditional scholarship is utilized, but deepened, illuminated, challenged, occasionally questioned, but not accorded precedence over the feminist critical approach. This feminist commentary is a major, original contribution to Johannine scholarship. Volume II, devoted to John 11-21, is to be eagerly awaited.

The freshness of this book is the new insight that a feminist lens gives to familiar passages.

The commentary is rich in theological and pastoral insights into this profound gospel, its perennial message enhanced by the feminist perspective of this author and series.

This is an accessible and thought-provoking commentary that invites us to receive the Gospel's Wisdom anew.