In the Beginning Was the Word

Finding Meaning in the Literary Structure of the Gospel of John

by: James M. Hamilton Jr.

• Format

  Paperback

  ISBN

  9781540904867

  Dimensions

  5.5 x 8.5

  Pub. Date

  Jul 2025

  SRP

  $22.99

  Carton Quantity

  40

  Number of pages

  224

  Buy

About

You may have heard the saying that the Gospel of John is shallow enough for a child to wade in, yet deep enough for an elephant to swim--meaning that any literate Christian can adequately understand it, but there is depth of meaning below the surface that is well worth the effort to explore. In the Beginning Was the Word invites you to go deeper.

Like an expert diving instructor, pastor and biblical scholar James M. Hamilton Jr. gives you the tools and training necessary to discover the theological treasures found in the literary structure undergirding John's Gospel. Covering both the overall structure of the book, as well as key repetition of terms, phrases, concepts, and themes, Hamilton helps you understand what John wanted his readers to understand about Jesus's claims of Old Testament fulfillment, his human and divine natures, the triune nature of God, and more.

Perfect for pastors, Bible teachers, seminary students, and anyone who wants a fresh, theologically rich experience reading the book of John.

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Endorsements

"Jim Hamilton is one of the most faithful scholars of Scripture and expositors of God's Word. In this new work, he offers remarkable insight into the structure of the Gospel of John, implications for biblical theology, and encouragement for biblical exposition. Jim is committed to Scripture and to the marvelous display of the glory of God in biblical theology. This book will greatly encourage all who love and teach and preach the Gospel of John."

R. Albert Mohler Jr., president, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Jim Hamilton makes me love the Bible. That's because his joy for Scripture is infectious. It's also because he understands that the biblical authors didn't simply write truth; they wrote truth in a beautiful way. Their poetry and parallelism, creedal affirmations and chiasms were all employed in the service of exalting the glory of the Son of God made flesh. Jim's ruthlessly textual commitment to biblical theology, his steel-trap memory, and his literary sensibilities are a unique combination that give rise to biblical and beautiful observations from the Gospel of John."

Sam Emadi, senior pastor, Hunsinger Lane Baptist Church

"Fascinating. Novel. Provocative. In the Beginning Was the Word is potentially a watershed publication on the literary structure of the Gospel of John. . . . Hamilton typifies scholarship that treasures the text and adores Jesus--the text's focus--and in this I hope readers follow his example."

S. D. Ellison, director of training, Irish Baptist College; author of Raised According to the Scriptures

"Jim Hamilton's book invites Christian scholars and novices alike to explore the wonder and beauty of John's Gospel, which is a river shallow enough for wading lambs yet deep enough for swimming elephants. After years of insightful study and with eyes trained to recognize how John, with words masterfully chosen and assembled, exquisitely portrays the One identified as 'the Word,' Hamilton contends that John crafted his entire Gospel as a large chiasm. . . . The extent of his structural analysis calls for mindful reflection, not a mere nod of the head or dismissive wave of the hand."

Ardel B. Caneday, University of Northwestern-St. Paul

"In the Beginning Was the Word is a unique and fresh contribution to biblical and pastoral studies, one which rewards a close reading. In the book, James Hamilton attempts to elucidate the layered but rich complexity of the theology of the Gospel of John through its literary form. . . . Hamilton's book should get wide appeal and hopefully regular use. I'm happy to recommend it and look forward to using it in the classroom and the pulpit."

Josh Philpot, pastor, Founders Baptist Church, Houston, Texas

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