Writing "with a light touch but with a weight of scholarship," the author expounds the text of John's Gospel in a most arresting way. He weaves together notes on the historical background, comments based on the Greek text, and discussion of the theology of John, along with contemporary illustrations and application. He describes this work as "an attempt to convey to the reader the meaning for us today of some of the great things John is saying." He comments on the English text (his own translation) unit by unit rather than verse by verse.

"The tone is devotional," writes the authors in the preface, "for I think that is the way John should be read. There is profound theology in this Gospel, and there are critical questions that have preoccupied scholars through the centuries and still keep them busy. But we must always bear in mind that John wrote so that we might believe and in believing might have life."

Reflections on the Gospel of John and the author's New International Commentary on the same Gospel (published in 1971) together compromise the richest resource available on this pivotal book.

Leon Morris establish his reputation with the publication of the Apostolic Preaching of the Cross in 1955. Since then more than twenty-five books, including three on the Gospel of John, have only enhanced that reputation. In 1979 he retired as principal of Ridley College in Melbourne after teaching at that school for 29 years. His Ph.D. degree is from the University of Cambridge.