Month: February 2026

1 Corinthians (EBTC) by David Starling

/ jimmyreagan / 1 Comment

This is my first encounter with Mr. Starling. He is in Australia and I hadn’t even heard of him, but I must admit that he struck me as a seasoned commentator. 1 Corinthians has several passages that invite debate, but I felt he was at his best guiding us through such passages. I loved his conservative, clear-headed explanations.

He also excels at a biblical theology level. Corinthians isn’t taking some big picture view as some places in Scripture, but it’s a helpful overview for what we face. Mr. Starling helps us here. I’d describe his view as this book guides us through facing and withstanding cultural pressure. I love it. It makes perfect sense. That viewpoint informs the commentary throughout.

He has a solid chapter in the Introduction as well on themes of biblical theology. They are pretty broad themes, but are well done. His explaining the background of Corinth, a major section in every commentary on Corinthians, was on target if not as lengthy as some. Other introductory issues were at least surveyed. His stab at structure is merely an outline.

This series has carved out its own lane and this is a good representative of it. I recommend it.

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.

Deuteronomy (EBTC) by Gary Millar

/ jimmyreagan / Leave a comment

Mr. Millar began his Introduction by admitting he seldom read the Introduction to commentaries. Strangely enough, it was his Introduction that made me like his commentary. Perhaps irony is a synonym for peculiar.

It was his approach that won the day for me. The slick way he dispensed with the whole Hittite vassal treaties by page 4 showed me I was going to like this one. Making Deuteronomy “essentially Mosaic” equally showed a man who felt no need to drown in watery nonsense along with so many other scholars. His outline was suggestive even if his minimalist approach might not have satisfied Goldilocks.

His greatest contribution is his overall approach to Deuteronomy. Rather than our normal foreboding views of Law, he saw “the connotation of living richly within the right boundaries that God has laid down”. He at once impressed and convinced me on that point. I ended up with being even more appreciative of Deuteronomy.

That guiding principle infuses the rest of the commentary with pleasing usefulness.

The theology that this series purports to give rings true as well. I’ve seen much longer commentaries, but this can be the favorite of many of you.

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.