The Jobannine Commandments: l John and the Struggle for the Johannine Tradition presents a radical new perspective on the Letters of st. John in the New Testament, and uncovers for the first time their intimate relationship to the stormy history of the Johannine community. Students of John, historians of the early church and contemporary Christians will find this book to be a thorough examination of Johannine theology. Author Urban C. von Wahlde argues that the theological crisis which split theJohannine community was caused by two opposing interpretations of the Johannine tradition, as well as opposing interpretations of the messianic hope of Judaism. Within this crisis, the Johannine commandments play a central role in defining and safeguarding the tradition. Within the Johannine struggle, the delicate balance between the inner guidance of God's holy Spirit and the external objective expression of the Father's will in the words and deeds of Jesus was defined and articulated with unique clarity and force. This struggle to achieve such balance is one that in various manifestations has faced the church throughout the ages and continues to do so today.