This book is ideal for its intended audience–serious beginning students of the Old Testament. Now in its Second Edition, this volume already has a successful reputation. Paul House and Eric Mitchell are both well respected scholars. There’s a helpful section entitled “Beginning the Study” that helps you get off to a good start. 

Part 1 launches into the Pentateuch. The bulk of the volume is given over to discussing individual OT books. Additional information is woven in as you are studying the individual books. The graphs and maps are from the reservoir that B & H Publishing usually draws from and are outstanding. While we might disagree on some little point made, this is a particularly great introduction to surveying the Old Testament.

If you want to maximize your learning experience, be sure to secure “Old Testament Survey: A Student’s Guide–2nd Edition” as well. It is one of the best student guides of its kind that I have seen.

This is a great addition to any Bible study library.

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.

This volume carries on the same valuable commentary that was found in Volume 1 that covered the Pastoral Epistles and the Epistles of John. In Volume 2 he finishes the letters he feels were especially for Hellenized Christians by giving us this full commentary on I and II Peter. I always marvel at his output as a writer of commentaries and here is another 400+ page commentary.

I must confess that I find myself even in less agreement with him than with Volume 1, and it seems he started in the middle with the Introduction of I Peter. Still, that same good, easy-to-follow writing was present that makes commentary reading more enjoyable.

Conclusions about authorship I found particularly hard to follow, but he continues to present his opinions well and share scholarly thinking up to the present. He continues to see the”household code” just as he did in the Pastorals. His comments on the text still make for lively reading even where one must disagree. Agreement is not essential to gain from a commentary and I’m glad to have this one to use.

All in all, this is a solid 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.

I love this book! After having seen and used several New Testament Introductions, this volume strikes me as ideal. It’s clearly designed for advanced studies, yet is so well written and accessible that it will not bore the reader as some advanced studies do. I have never had access to the first edition and so am not sure the level of updating in this second edition, but this is an outstanding book.

Be sure to read the Preface to the Second Edition to see clearly the conservative outlook of Andreas Kostenberger, L. Scott Kellum, and Charles Quarles, and design of the volume. On both counts, it is exactly what I would be looking for in this type volume. Chapter 1 speaks of issues of canonicity and even inerrancy. They well outline the twists and turns of scholarship while not allowing it to make them lose perspective. The chapter on the political and religious background is finely executed.

Chapter 3 expertly introduces the Gospels with a chapter following on each Gospel. Next we have a chapter on Acts, then one on Paul, followed by each of the rest of the books of the New Testament. An ending chapter and an epilogue well round out the volume.

Each of the chapters covering the perspective book is the greatest asset on the volume. Real background, scholarly thought, literary designs, theology, and contents of the book are all enlightening. Fine charts and maps only make the content better.

Again, I give this the highest possible ratings among Introductions of the New Testament.

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.

This volume is a substantial, in-depth introduction to the Old Testament by respected scholars Eugene Merrill, Mark Rooker, and Michael Grisanti. You can tell it aims beyond basic, beginning study as it has a less flashy look (there’s a place for those too) and much text to digest.

Three chapters lay out in a helpful fashion the world of the Old Testament. Historical and cultural aspects presented here moor the Old Testament days for us.

Chapters 5-9 cover the text of the OT and how it has been studied. In the process, you get quite a history of trends and the various critical methods that the OT has been subjected to. While some of us would find little value in that subject, it was written with purpose–to show how much OT study has run off the track with dubious critical approaches. So many available OT Introductions are infected with those methods and this serves as a powerful corrective.

Chapters 10-44 cover the books of the Old Testament. Some of the issues addressed above are discussed again in regards the individual book. Further the contents and theology are effectively presented. Though charts and maps are few, those presented are excellent.

To my mind, this is a fine asset to have and I plan to consult it in individual book study in the days to come.

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.

Here is a highly-respected reprint in paperback of a title by Gordon McConville on the Old Testament prophets. Covering both the Major and Minor Prophets, this book gives the extra coverage needed for an in-depth study of these special books of the Old Testament.

His brief Introduction establishes the issues involved in beginning study of the prophets and their place in the Bible. Then he launches into a chapter for each prophetic book of the Old Testament. Chapter length corresponds well to length of book.

He begins each study with a discussion of date and destination. Then he will delve into a critical interpretation of the book that will discuss several topics of the book at hand and provide something of a history of interpretation. Next he jumps into structure and outline and covers the contents of the book. He works around to theological themes and concluding topics. He gives a handy list for further reading too.

The book is helpful. He seems to have a little too much fascination with things like form criticism that many Bible students find of little value, but otherwise you will find help. It’s not one the flashy introductions aimed more at beginning students as it aims at someone with some theological training under his or her belt. I consider it a handy volume to add to my shelves.

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.

Craig Blomberg followed up his highly successful volume on the Gospels with this title that covers the rest of the New Testament. While it might not be as good as his earlier volume as the Gospels are clearly his specialty, this Introduction is still one I found to be quite an asset.

He presents his material in the typical style taking one NT book at a time. The length of his chapters varies in a fashion corresponding to the length and importance of the NT book discussed. He used good judgment and covered what should be there for us. In fact, pastors and Bible students will love it despite some occasional sidewalks into critical study that some of us put little stock into.

He gave some of his most helpful information when he discussed the structure of the book. I also felt the overview commentary on each book was quite effective in one getting his or her bearings straight. There were more maps than in his earlier volume and some of the charts provided were eye opening for the study of the NT books.

I highly recommend this as a worthy study tool!

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.

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When it comes to New Testament Introduction, the Gospels are so critically important that they are definitely worth a whole volume to themselves. Blomberg has supplied that need as well as any. I read the first edition years ago and was particularly enriched by it. The second edition here is not an extensive revision, though that is a good thing as there are many things too helpful to be changed. The extra material is mostly scholarly developments over the decade between editions.

Part One is outstanding on the historical background including political, religious, and socioeconomic information. He related what you need to step back into that day. Part Two had two chapters on historical and literary critical methods. That was the weakest section to me as there are many elements of that I simply can’t agree with. Still, it was a thorough explanation for what has gone on in the scholarly world involving the Gospels.

Part Three gives a chapter each to specific Introduction for each Gospel. That was likely the section of greatest value for this book. His section on the life of Christ also integrates the individual Gospels approach to it. The final part on historical trustworthiness and theology round out the fine volume.

The book has won awards in the past and this reviewer finds them to be well deserved.

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.

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