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Rating: 
Summary: Possibly a Lemon - You Decide
Review: Don't get me wrong. I love Scott Hahn's bible studies. And for those who haven't been exposed to Hahn before, this study will probably blow your mind and make you, as Hahn coined it, a "Scripture junkie."The only reason I say this one might be a lemon is that this is the 4th Hahn bible study I've been exposed to. I did Matthew, Revelation, and Galatians before this one, and frankly, I was disappointed with this one. Why? Hahn's remarks are great, where he makes them. My complaint is that he didn't make enough of them. This is a 16-tape set, but what you don't know is that the tapes are only 45 minutes long - so about 20 minutes per side. In other words, Hahn doesn't have enough time to really delve into the texts with any detail. In fact, he begins the first tape by saying, "Let's do a quick review, get a bird's eye view before we dig in and get a worm's eye view." So we begin to "review" from a "bird's eye," the whole while, my mouth is watering for the "worm's eye view," and I can't wait to get to that part... and then I realize, this tape series only covers his "bird's eye view." Whatever "worm's eye" view he led his class through didn't make it onto these tapes, and that was a bit disappointing. So, that being said... Hahn does a great job, and 16 45-minute tapes is better than no tapes, but just be forewarned...
Rating: 
Summary: Water, at last.
Review: If you're parched in the wilderness of modern biblical commentary, this audio series will bring delight, joy, life. Why does it take a convert to reconnect Catholics with their authentic scriptural tradition! If you're in the least bit interested in the truth that sets us free (or a skeptic who can't work out why so many christians over so many centuries have been willing to die for their faith), then you MUST get this tape series -- and others by Scott Hahn. His books are OK, his videotapes good, but his audio tapes are awesome, especially the closer studies of books of the bible. I've listened to everything he's done -- and this one several times -- and every time I learn more, and my joy in the catholic faith soares. It's not so much Scott Hahn as the Spirit calling to depths beyond depth. If you want to do one good thing today, buy this tape series (and his series on the Apocalypse), and hear scripture come alive. Then give this series to others. Cannot be too highly recommended. Scott Hahn's bible study tapes have already become classics, and history will show them as an important advance in the coming Catholic Restoration.
Rating:
Summary: Water, at last.
Review: If you're parched in the wilderness of modern biblical commentary, this audio series will bring delight, joy, life. Why does it take a convert to reconnect Catholics with their authentic scriptural tradition! If you're in the least bit interested in the truth that sets us free (or a skeptic who can't work out why so many christians over so many centuries have been willing to die for their faith), then you MUST get this tape series -- and others by Scott Hahn. His books are OK, his videotapes good, but his audio tapes are awesome, especially the closer studies of books of the bible. I've listened to everything he's done -- and this one several times -- and every time I learn more, and my joy in the catholic faith soares. It's not so much Scott Hahn as the Spirit calling to depths beyond depth. If you want to do one good thing today, buy this tape series (and his series on the Apocalypse), and hear scripture come alive. Then give this series to others. Cannot be too highly recommended. Scott Hahn's bible study tapes have already become classics, and history will show them as an important advance in the coming Catholic Restoration.
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant exegesis of the Gospel of John!
Review: There is "exegesis" (reading something OUT of a text) and there is "eisegesis" (reading something INTO a text). For one to understand Scripture, one must apply exegesis. For one to manipulate Scripture to one's own end, one must apply eisegesis.
This tape set is an example of exegesis.
Scott Hahn does a magnificent job of teaching the Gospel of John, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, over these 15 tapes. In what is developing into his pattern, he explains the texts by referring to the relevant Old Testament prophecies and images. The Bread of Life discourse, the cleansing of the temple, the wedding feast, Christ's exchange with Nicodemus, and all of the other lessons and stories are made understandable and reasonable.
The most impressive tape in the set is tape #14 "It Is Finished." Scott does a superb job of explaining why the "It" uttered by Christ can not refer to His saving work here on Earth. Wasn't it St. Paul who insisted that Christ's resurrection was also necessary for our salvation? (Acts 17:3, Acts 26:23) It couldn't be finished if Christ had to rise from the dead now, could it? So what is the "It" Christ was talking about? Anyone familiar with Scott Hahn's article on "The Fourth Cup" will know.
This tape set is an excellent Bible study. I am looking forward to hearing some more of Scott Hahn's lectures. meanwhile, I strongly recommend this one!! Five stars easy!!
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant exegesis of the Gospel of John!
Review: There is "exegesis" (reading something OUT of a text) and there is "eisegesis" (reading something INTO a text). For one to understand Scripture, one must apply exegesis. For one to manipulate Scripture to one's own end, one must apply eisegesis.
This tape set is an example of exegesis.
Scott Hahn does a magnificent job of teaching the Gospel of John, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, over these 15 tapes. In what is developing into his pattern, he explains the texts by referring to the relevant Old Testament prophecies and images. The Bread of Life discourse, the cleansing of the temple, the wedding feast, Christ's exchange with Nicodemus, and all of the other lessons and stories are made understandable and reasonable.
The most impressive tape in the set is tape #14 "It Is Finished." Scott does a superb job of explaining why the "It" uttered by Christ can not refer to His saving work here on Earth. Wasn't it St. Paul who insisted that Christ's resurrection was also necessary for our salvation? (Acts 17:3, Acts 26:23) It couldn't be finished if Christ had to rise from the dead now, could it? So what is the "It" Christ was talking about? Anyone familiar with Scott Hahn's article on "The Fourth Cup" will know.
This tape set is an excellent Bible study. I am looking forward to hearing some more of Scott Hahn's lectures. meanwhile, I strongly recommend this one!! Five stars easy!!
Rating: 
Summary: Detailed Analysis Leaves Bigger Questions Unanswered
Review: This is the first Scott Hahn lecture series I have listened to and I was very impressed with his detailed knowledge of the Gospel of John and his ability to demonstrate recurring themes in the text. However, his approach is not unbiased. Unlike other lectures I have listened to (like those of Luke Timothy Johnson), Hahn can come accross very "preachy" and he strays from what I would describe as a purely intellectual approach to study of the texts. Rather than tackle some of the core conflicts in the gospel, Hahn repeatedly defends his interpretation based on a "supernatural faith" that is required by the readers for his interpretation to make sense. If you have it already, I imagine you are ready for these tapes. But if you are trying to find a resource for gaining knowledge of the gospels through an even, unbiased approach, I'd find some lectures by Johnson. I admire Hahn's faith and knowledge but its too much if you aren't ready for it. Also, the tapes are a little cheap, flipping over in mid-sentence, creating gaps in the lecture.
Rating:
Summary: Detailed Analysis Leaves Bigger Questions Unanswered
Review: This is the first Scott Hahn lecture series I have listened to and I was very impressed with his detailed knowledge of the Gospel of John and his ability to demonstrate recurring themes in the text. However, his approach is not unbiased. Unlike other lectures I have listened to (like those of Luke Timothy Johnson), Hahn can come accross very "preachy" and he strays from what I would describe as a purely intellectual approach to study of the texts. Rather than tackle some of the core conflicts in the gospel, Hahn repeatedly defends his interpretation based on a "supernatural faith" that is required by the readers for his interpretation to make sense. If you have it already, I imagine you are ready for these tapes. But if you are trying to find a resource for gaining knowledge of the gospels through an even, unbiased approach, I'd find some lectures by Johnson. I admire Hahn's faith and knowledge but its too much if you aren't ready for it. Also, the tapes are a little cheap, flipping over in mid-sentence, creating gaps in the lecture.
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