The St. John Passion is one of Bach's most fascinating works. Its text reflects an unusually deep understanding of the thoughts of the Evangelist John, and the correspondence of the biblical choruses within the composition is a unique phenomenon in music history. Not least, the fact that the Passion has been preserved in four different versions raises the question for the observer of which changes stem from Bach's intention to improve the work and which should be seen as necessary concessions to the respective performance conditions or to official requirements. Therefore, this book combines an introduction to the work with a history of the creation and transmission of the St. John Passion, along with the complete text printed in the appendix.