The Navarre Bible: Saint John’s Gospel

In the early 1970s the theology faculty of the University of Navarre embarked on the project of making a new Spanish translation of the Bible—a volume accompanied by commentary designed for the general reader. This project was entrusted to the faculty by St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei and the university’s first chancellor. The first volume, St. Matthew, appeared in 1976; the project was completed February 2005. The Navarre Bible series is considered by many the best Catholic commentary on the Bible available today.

More comprehensive than the The Navarre Bible: New Testament, this volume features notes and introductions—rarely very technical—designed to illuminate the spiritual and theological message of the Bible. The Standard Edition is replete with quotations from commentaries by the Fathers, as well as excerpts from other spiritual writers—not least among them, St. Josemaría Escrivá—provided to show how they read Scripture and made it meaningful in their lives.

The Gospel of John differs from the rest of the Gospels in several ways. This Gospel does not mention the transfiguration, the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, or many of Jesus’ miracles. But since the author, St. John, was a disciple of Christ, this Gospel lends detail to various events as he witnessed Jesus’ works and teaching (John 21:24).

The subject of faith is emphasized throughout the Gospel, which, through Jesus' signs, words, and actions, urges readers to believe—it affirms that he is indeed the author of salvation, the bread of life, the light of the world, the life of the world, and most of all, the messianic king prophesied in the Scriptures.

The Navarre Bible New Testament, Standard Edition is both scholarly and readable, presenting an intellectual, historical, and applicable survey of the riches of the New Testament. In the Logos edition of St. John’s Gospel, each Scripture passage links to your favorite translation, and is easy to study side-by-side with your other commentaries. You can search by topic or Scripture with split-second results!