This volume has been highly anticipated for some time as the magnum opus of highly-respected scholar Richard Longenecker. It appears to have lived up to its billing.

In a short Preface he spells out the greatness of Romans and the challenges of its study. In a relatively short Introduction for a work of this size, he shares more of the great issues of grasping Romans. In fact, his Introduction strikes me as rather different than most. He mostly raises the great issues. He brilliantly defines what they are, but only rarely in the Introduction does he state what premise he will argue in the commentary itself. Apparently, that is the place he feels that he should answer the great questions.

The commentary proper is massive, well written, and perceptive. I studied what he said on several major passages, focusing on those that I thought were harder for a commentator. What I found was outstanding commentary. In Romans 1 he argued beautifully without falling prey to political correctness. In Romans 7 he laid out fairly the various viewpoints and then maturely outlined his position. In Romans 9-11 he handled the theological minefield with dignity and grace. The quality of coverage was constant.

Though this volume is clearly aimed at scholars, he managed to keep it where pastors could glean immensely. That is not always well done in the commentary world. He even translated more Greek than is common with this series. Though I would not agree with every conclusion he made, I constantly felt in the hands of a master as I read. This book is an exceptional commentary.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.