Here is the first volume in a brand new commentary series, the Biblical Theology For Christian Proclamation by Holman Reference. Published by the same organization that produced the wonderful New American Commentary (NAC) series, we have high expectations(all contributors will hold to inspiration and innerrancy). One of the General Editors, Thomas Schreiner, contributes the inaugural volume. Admitting in the Introduction to the series that we have so many series today that a new series needs a unique approach, this one aims at especially highlighting the theology of the book.

Mr. Schreiner is a well known scholar and a prolific commentary writer. He has done a good job here. The Introduction covers many of the usual suspects (e.g., he is confident Paul did not write Hebrews), but even there he highlights theology throughout.

The commentary proper is thoughtful. Still, he can’t help wrestling with a few of the more esoteric thoughts that have come along. The scholar in him could not resist, I suppose. Also, in a few places I could not agree with his conclusions. The commentary, however, adds really helpful discussion for pastors and, most importantly, the theology angle is successful. We need to keep theology as one element of our thoughts in studying a text.

The size is perfect for the aims of the series. The volume is an attractive, colorful hardback. This volume bodes well for the future of this series. 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.

This volume is part of the fine, economical Bible Speaks Today series published by IVP. The series is aimed at pastors and teachers and is one of the best at that audience. This volume addresses the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi. As one of the Minor Prophets, Malachi is one of the lesser known books of Scripture, and so help is appreciated.

The Introduction is a little thin compared to some BST volumes, but the author still well explained Malachi’s theme as a conflict between God and His people. The people contradicted the Lord in profound ways, proving their thinking was far the Lord’s conclusions. Their service was sub-par and they were in quite a mess.

He addressed some of the issues typically found in the Introduction in his lengthy commentary on 1:1, so look there for introductory issues.

The commentary is well written, engaging, and thoughtful. He ties in other Scripture appropriately and summarizes well. This will serve as a solid, helpful contribution to our studies of the book of Malachi.

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 the latest entry in the Bible Speaks Today series by IVP. This is a natural assignment as he already gave us an outstanding volume on Jeremiah in this series. Mr. Wright writes as one in love with the text and it shows on every page. He highlights things that interest pastors and teachers rather than the esoteric information some more scholarly volumes bog down in. He understands where this series is aimed and beautifully delivers.

I thought this volume’s greatest feature was how he captured the suffering and near hopelessness that pervades Lamentations. He drew the historical context with precision and the events of the fall of Jerusalem were too severe to sugarcoat. He still found what hope there was, he explained what lament really means and why such words are used, and where the Lord is in it all.

He filled the pages with good things. His comparison with Isaiah 40-55 and how it contrasts Lamentations helped make sense of the whole. This volume is a winner for a lesser known book of the Bible. I hope Mr. Wright get future commentary assignments as he is a joy to read. Pastors and teachers will love this book.

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.

Looking for an up-to-date commentary on the Gospel of Luke? This latest offering in the Pillar New Testament Commentary series, edited by the venerable D. A. Carson, might be just what you are looking for. Mr. Edwards already contributed the well-received volume on Mark in this series, and this new volume has been eagerly anticipated.

The Introduction is relatively short, but its strength lies in discussing things you read no where else. If you consult several commentaries, they can at times be painfully repetitive. He makes a strong statement on the Word of God in his first paragraph, which makes you feel in good hands. His section on the testimony we get from Early Christianity is fascinating. History is his special trait throughout the entire volume actually.

I could not agree with him on sources. There is much speculation in such a discussion, and he does not just skip to the final form as some do now.

Despite my disagreement on sources, the commentary sparkled with great, pertinent detail that really gave insight into the text. For example, there was plenty of material on the birth of Christ that would help anyone teaching or preaching. In fact, I found that true in every passage I studied in it. I call attention to his masterful handling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. That was a joy to read and had profound spiritual insight as well. The Cross and the Resurrection were standout too.

I will always consult this volume on any passage on Luke that I study going forward. I predict pastors will love this volume just as I do. This is a winner!

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 fine volume on Daniel by Dale Ralph Davis, who is simply one of the best writers today on any Old Testament historical portion, in the Bible Speaks Today series. Helpful in the ways usually found in this series, this volume is also particularly so for preachers. It delivers at a level we have come to expect from Mr. Davis too.

The Introduction is short, but powerful in its easy repudiation of critical theories and dating. I would even call that section fun to read. I found myself agreeing with much of what he wrote.

Again, the history was superb here. Background on Babylon and the Jews in Babylon was illuminating. From thoughts on the diet put before Daniel and his friends to Nebuchadnezzar’s mindset or dream the reader gains much and through the more famous stories as well. He brings out the information and insights most needed

Since I have a different perspective than him on prophecy, I could not agree him on passages like, say, Daniel 9:25-27. Still, he was kind in presenting his amillennial case, and the other historical sections are well worth the price of the book. I would already label this my favorite from that prophetic viewpoint though I hold to a different one.

The book is enriching and I highly 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.

The latest offering in the Apollos Old Testament Commentary series, published by IVP, covers the last three of the Minor Prophets where most pastors and Bible students are a little less savvy. If this volume is a precursor of what is to come in this series, it is going to be incredible.

Mr. Petterson was an unknown scholar to me, but writes as well any I have seen. His judgments are conservative, logical, and mature. He brings these three prophets to life in a way that will be a help to those who teach or preach God’s Word.

He gives us a General Introduction for the three prophets in the first 40 pages. The section on Historical Context was superb and really made clear how the times fit in to these prophet’s messages. He also gave us an overview of the methodical approaches to the prophets without dragging us into glassy-eyed boredom. Ever better, he easily dispatched some of the lunacy that somehow often derails the scholarly world.

After that Introduction, each prophet is tackled individually with its own Introduction and thorough commentary. After his own translation, he gives us notes on the text, form and structure, and comment. I found the comments very helpful. I felt I had a much better understanding of these three prophets after reading in this volume.

This commentary is a clear winner and I hope Mr. Petterson gets future commentary assignments as well.

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.

The Tyndale Commentary series, published by IVP, continues its revision in this successful replacement volume for Jeremiah and Lamentations. In fact, this volume is superior to the R. K. Harrison volume it replaces–if for no other reason, it gives us 373 pages to 240. The longest of the Prophets needed those extra pages for sure.

There are fine, succinct Introductions for both Jeremiah and Lamentations. The section on historical background was well done and fits Jeremiah into Israel’s history, as well as international influences. His life and ministry covered the final dark days of a people who had little time left for the Lord all the way through their overthrow and subsequent captivity. This history explains the hard words we often find here and makes more poignant the promises of restoration.

Their is only a little talk of redaction as the author lands on the text as we have it for commentary purposes. This is far superior and spares us the endless speculation some commentaries are compelled to encumber us with. There are other helpful discussions: the key word “turn”, how “falsehood” in false prophets is a recurring theme, and suffering which hits prophet and people alike. Finally, the New Covenant and Jeremiah in the New Testament finish out the helpful introduction.

The commentary proper offers thoughtful help. Perhaps you will still find some passages with less commentary than you wished, but that is likely only because Jeremiah is so long. Still, you will find it worth consulting.

In my opinion, this commentary is not quite as good as another commentary published by IVP and aimed at a similar audience, “The Message of Jeremiah” by Christopher Wright. Still, multiple helps on Jeremiah are so beneficial, and at this price how could you go wrong? 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.

Here is a full-scale revision of Mr. Butler’s 1983 offering to the Word Biblical Commentary series. I can say upfront that this is the best revision by the same author that I have ever seen done in a major commentary series. I own the older volume and this revision has numerous upgrades. So many upgrades, in fact, that it had to grow to two volumes.

Reading the new Author’s Preface you can tell Mr. Butler was surprised that his earlier edition of this commentary was not as well received by conservatives as he expected. While he tried to explain himself at great lengths to prove that he was more conservative than thought, he nevertheless brought this commentary more squarely into the conservative camp by what he wrote this time. I still don’t agree with him on compositional issues, but really appreciate the direction he came.

In volume 1 he has a three part Introduction. The first part is about textual issues and he makes the Masoretic Text his focus. Then he gives a major, impressive section on a “Review of Critical Research”. With a deft hand he brings us from Keil to the present. It could serve as a prototype of what a history of interpretation ought to look like. It was fascinating to see all the zany sidewalks of thought in the study of Joshua, but you will be up to speed on where scholarship has gone before. The final part covers things like ethical and theological issues,

The rest of the volume is commentary in the typical WBC format covering Joshua 1-12.

The second volume covers Joshua 13-24 in 362 more pages. Some paragraphs are unchanged, but many have been rewritten or at least tweaked.

There are many other helpful additions including some well done charts that were not present in the first edition. The visual additions really aid comprehending what he is saying. There are massive bibliographies throughout that will delight the scholars too.

All in all, this set is a winner and will be around for years 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.

As the subtitle “A way forward for those who are tired of taking sides” suggests, this is a provocative volume. His reference to “outside the lines” refers to his preference for living inside the lines where all is a perfect black and white. His writes because he is tired of taking sides. He is tired of all the isms and as he says, “…the ism that feeds them all: elitism”.

In writing he exposes that our “outrage” is often enjoyed. He says that “…some part of us loves feeling 1) right and 2) wronged.” It is all helpfully convicting, especially as he shows that Jesus operated a different way. It wasn’t simply about outrage for Him, but rather people and right and wrong. That is not a subtle difference.

What was subtle about this book, however, is how Mr. Sauls took the subject of outrage and turned it on us. Not only do we live in soundbites and thrive on arguments, but we have lost sight of what we should most scrutinize–ourselves. For example, he transforms the discussion on the unborn and poor into one about how we really view those made in the image of God. He took the issue of declining church attendance and made it about what we have done to drive them away.

In Part 2, he went deeper inside us. He took issues and discussed where a Christian must stand for truth while exposing where we are only playing a game. The chapters “Hypocrite or Work In Progress?” and “Self-esteem or God-esteem?” were his best.

This book speaks to areas of real need in our lives as Christians and I highly 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.

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The Book of Psalms has been well served in the world of commentaries of late, and here the venerable New International Commentary series enters the fray. Three scholars, Nancy deClaisse’-Walford, Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner, combine to give us this 1000-page one-volume commentary.

The target audience ranges from studious pastors to scholars. In this recent spate of commentaries, its niche seems clear. There is a recent fine three-volume set by Allen Ross among others, and this volume appeals to the same audience except offering a more economical option in one volume. This volume attempts to cover the same territory in a more succinct way. Ross would likely be more conservative, though I imagine the depth of three volumes verses the compactness of one volume will be the criteria of choice among purchasers.

The Introduction runs to page 51 and covers key issues well. Pastors will find some parts of it more helpful than others while scholars will delight in it all. Mr. Jacobson writes the bulk of the Introduction (and, as a matter of personal taste, he was my favorite of the three and I found myself agreeing with him more). Settling on the Masoretic Text rather than endless speculations over the elusive “original” is certainly a plus. An easy-to-follow history of approaches to scholarly trends in studying the Psalms was helpful.

Discussion on the Five Books within the Psalms as well as division within the books made sense. Special collections, like the Psalms of Ascent, are discussed in a meaningful way. There is less coverage of Hebrew poetry itself and main theological themes, though what was given I found interesting.

The commentary itself is exegetically satisfying. For reasons not clear to me, only Mr. Jabobson offered us a reflections section on some of the Psalms he covered. Perhaps it would have made the book too large to have it on every Psalm, but I especially enjoyed them. On that point, we can just enjoy what we got.

The writers chose not to translate hesed, which seemed odd to me. “Mercy’ or ‘Loving-kindness” are pretty good English words. Some Psalms seemed a little short in coverage, but, perhaps, that is the cost of covering Psalms in one volume.

Still, this is a fine volume and a worthy counterpart among New International Commentary volumes, and I suspect it will be around for a long time 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.