From Introduction:

This volume is a collection of commentaries on six letters in the New Testament: three by John, one by Paul, one by Judah (also known as Jude) and the letter to the Hebrews.

Recent scholarship and the continual dynamic of the Spirit have combined to present a clearer view of the original springs from which the faith has flowed. Ad fontes: back to the sources! Let us return as close as we can to the primary sources for a clearer understanding as we engage conversations with the ancestors and wrestle with the interpretation of these Scriptures – as they applied to them then, and as they are now appropriate to our time.

Genesis 26 records Isaac digging again the wells that Abraham had dug. The envious Philistines had filled them in with earth, cutting off their supply of water – and thus, of life. Similarly, over the past nineteen centuries of the translation and interpretation of the Greek texts, divergent and partisan views have caused an accumulation of rubble which filled in the wells of the New Testament manuscripts with "earth," cutting off access to the original "springs." The flow of the Living Water from many verses and passages has been blocked. Like Isaac, each succeeding generation must endeavor to re-dig the wells and re-open the providential springs for a fresh release of the Living Word to our land.

The interpretation and comments of this work are based upon THE NEW TESTAMENT, God's Message of Goodness, Ease and Well-being Which Brings God's Gifts of His Spirit, His Life, His Grace, His Power, His Fairness, His Peace and His Love – a translation by the author.

My conclusions reflect this expanded translation, and take into consideration the semantic range of many Greek words. Their potential lexical meanings are parenthetically inserted into the text of the translation, along with variant manuscript readings. I have given much attention to the significance of the Greek verb tenses and to the functions of the noun cases, rendering the different ways that each of them could be translated within its context. Each verse is presented in bold face with alternate renderings parenthetically given in light face. The reader should not give preference to one rendering over another, but should thoroughly and thoughtfully consider all the possible combinations. An = sign signifies that what follows is a paraphrase, which means that the literal Greek has been interpreted to assist the reader. Bear in mind that such instances are just one studied interpretation of that particular Greek expression.

The main guides for interpreting the original works are the translation and the context, together with careful attention given to the culture and historical setting of the people to whom these letters were written. A concise introduction begins the comments on each letter. I make references to some additional New Testament letters and to the four gospels, as well as occasionally citing Old Testament passages that relate to the context. Other commentators’ quotes, as well as insights from friends, are also cited.

In short, this work is intended to shed new light based upon a correct understanding of the Greek texts within the perspective of the local life situations and their first century contexts, and equally important, to serve as a catalyst for critical thinking regarding the impact of these letters upon our lives today.

In addition to these commentaries, five topical studies have also been included.

To God be the glory,

Jonathan P. Mitchell

Read sample passages/verses:

1 John  2 John  3 John

Judah (Jude)

Hebrews  Galatians

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