Rating: 
Summary: An evangelical commentary worthy of 3.5 stars
Review: One of the strengths of this commentary is its introduction covering issues such as authorship and date. For those who prefer commentaries with a more conservative approach, Carson's argument for the authorship of this gospel is helpful. He argues that the beloved disciple is the primary author of the gospel, and that the beloved disciple is John, the son of Zebedee. Carson also arrives at a date of composition around 80-85 C.E. and sees no reason to doubt the tradition of Ephesus as the probable place of origin.Another strength of this commentary was the theological insights provided by Carson. He does a good job of bringing out John's message and I'm sure this would be a helpful aspect for preachers. The NIV is the text used by Carson. There are frequent discussions of Greek terminology, and thankfully the commentary was written with footnotes instead of endnotes. This helped to make for a much smoother read. While not an excellent work on John, Carson does an above average job in providing a work written from a conservative, evangelical perspective.
Rating: 
Summary: A Really Great Commentary
Review: This is a really great commentary on John. I went through it with a bible study and it was extremely helpful. It is thorough and academic (others are probably more qualified to talk about the scholarship) but also readable and devotional. Carson, of course, is solidly evangelical and very well respected in the academic world. If you are looking for a commentary on John for use in a Bible study or personal devotions, this is the one, provided your group is already fairly grounded in the scriptures and in theology and is willing to invest some time into their study.
Rating:
Summary: A Really Great Commentary
Review: This is a really great commentary on John. I went through it with a bible study and it was extremely helpful. It is thorough and academic (others are probably more qualified to talk about the scholarship) but also readable and devotional. Carson, of course, is solidly evangelical and very well respected in the academic world. If you are looking for a commentary on John for use in a Bible study or personal devotions, this is the one, provided your group is already fairly grounded in the scriptures and in theology and is willing to invest some time into their study.
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