J. E. (Jay) McDermond was born and raised in rural Central Pennsylvania and attended Messiah College, Grantham, Pennsylvania. He earned his M. Div. from Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana in 1979 and served as pastor of the Nappanee Brethren in Christ Church, Nappanee, Indian from 1979-1982. He studied at University of Durham (England) and was awarded a M.Litt. and he received his D.Min. degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Jay is professor of Christian Ministry and Spirituality at Messiah College and has also taught in England (Sunderland Polytechnic, 1984-1985) and Kenya (Daystar University College, 1992-1993). McDermond has written many essays, articles and book reviews for both scholarly and popular publications. The 1, 2, 3 John commentary is his first book.