It’s the breadth of this volume that immediately grabs you. As you continue perusing, the scope and then the depth impresses. There’s 1160 double-columned pages on, just think, Paul and his letters. I know Pauline studies take on a life of their own in scholarly circles, but that’s still amazing. Those modern tangents are of course covered, but the classic subjects are as well. Such massive productions are more a thing of the past for whatever reason, but this work can stand up to any of them.

The updating of this volume is so extensive that it’s almost a brand new work. It’s predecessor was well received, but it is here superseded, though the older work is still worth having as either a comparison of 20 years of developments or an alternate angle.

There’s nothing I could think of that is missed, nor did I find anything superficially handled or glossed over. You might not, as I, always agree with conclusions offered, but the elements that we might debate are usually clearly given.

What’s my favorite feature out of the many positive attributes I found in this volume? It’s the extensive coverage of each letter of Paul that really amounts to an Introduction of each—like maybe what you’d find in a really good commentary. That coupled with all the extensive background material and you’ve got a winner here. There’s good theology too here where the absence of can at times sink other such works. Additionally, even if you don’t find some of the more esoteric subjects riveting, you’ll at least have a place to remind yourself what they are should the need arise.

Easily, this book is the best of its kind.

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.