Here’s a nice commentary on what many would agree is one of the most challenging books of the New Testament. Thoughtfulness and tone are its two most prominent strengths. Its weaknesses are few, especially if you consider the aims of the series. I don’t see how you couldn’t consider this volume a success for faith formation.

If you read Peeler’s preface you will get a feel for her writing. She’s got quite a humble knack for self reflection. She’s tenacious in her digging for exegesis while remaining gracious to opposing viewpoints throughout. She might be a bit left of me theologically, but not nearly as much as I expected.

The Introduction was delightful. With the needed depth, it read so well. It led with probing, on-target theology. Hebrews’ place in the canon transitioned nicely to the always thorny issue of authority. While so much has been written on authorship, Peeler was surprisingly lucid in less pages than most major commentaries who rarely escape the fog. The other outstanding feature of the Introduction was her contribution to the discussion of Hebrews’ Warning Passages. From there I delved into her commentary on those passages and they were original without being strangely speculative. I’m not sure I fully agree with her line of reasoning, but that was the most new, interesting material that I’ve had to process on them in a long time.

All of the commentary was consistently good. Most of us have two or three of our favorite big exegetical commentaries as our go-to, but I’ll likely add this one to my short list.

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 picks up where his recent one on Joel, Obadiah and Jonah left off. The strengths and weaknesses are of necessity the same as he clearly worked on Micah at the same time. His Micah is on par with the best of that work (Joel).

His historical background section was my favorite of the Introduction. That time period is as fascinating as any novel could be and even covering the scholarly bases couldn’t diminish it. In unity of composition, authorship, and the text he goes scholarly to the hilt. You can imagine how that complicates conclusions. Both considering Micah among the Twelve and its relevance were better. He is quite expert on the Twelve and can plumb that line with ease. Structure, in my view, is weakly covered unless an outline is enough for you.

The commentary proper is what you’d expect, and what you’d want if the NICOT is a style you go for. Exegesis is nice. Scholarly issues deeply probed. Historical background expertly intwined. There’s some theology and, as usual, that may be a matter of taste.

If you want one major commentary, this will work fine. It’s newer and aware of what’s gone before. Theologically it’s in line with others in the series. Recommended.

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.

What volume could be more important than the one on Matthew in an NT series that aims at considering the book from an OT perspective? Matthew, as Capes explained, has been loved since its earliest days specifically for its OT connections. Additionally, Matthew particularly shines in this series’ unique design. Matthew has so many special features that pulling those out for observation is especially rich for us.

This series is not an exegetical commentary offering. Without apology, it’s a second level asset. We must, then, grade it on its aims. In that vein, it is clearly a winner. Beyond the obvious OT allusions, it is structure that best shines here. Whether macro or micro, Capes stays alert for important structure and offers real understanding to us.

Though its scholarly underpinnings are first rate, this book is engagingly written in a way that any Bible student could be enriched by it. It’s not written for scholars, but they will appreciate it. It’s more about what brings Matthew to life.

The Introduction is engagingly written. It doesn’t really answer any questions, but it tells you what they are. Probably most readers aren’t really after those questions anyway, and there are other major commentaries than can better address them.

Every chapter of Matthew gets a chapter here. Not every word or phrase is covered, but the big picture is beautifully told. I especially enjoy the type of things that get a shaded box to discuss. That’s where the treasure is in this book, so don’t miss them.

This is special series filling a real niche and this one on Matthew gets its due here. If you understand what you’re getting, you’ll love 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’s a solid new commentary on Daniel in the winsome Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament (ZECOT) series. Widder projects as one who did her homework throughout. There’s the right balance between lucidity and depth throughout while the volume succeeds in finding its own niche in what has become a crowded commentary market.

What are the strengths of this commentary? Plenty to be sure. They become apparent in the Introduction. Avoiding stilted language, Widder manages to engagingly lay out scholarly trends on every issue, to weigh them, and to crown the scholarly consensus winners. She hit her stride on Structure after somewhat warming up on earlier topics like genre, authorship and date. Structure was clear and compelling. That is, wouldn’t you agree, fortuitous for this series with its specific aims? Significance of the book discussions and the outline proceed at a high level as well. In the commentary proper, depth, exegesis and clarity are good as is thriving in ZECOT’s sterling format. The tone resonates throughout her writing too and she never turns to lecturing us or grating on our nerves. She can go from macro to micro seamlessly as well. The discourse analysis sings.

What are the weaknesses? Though fewer, they sometimes stand close to the strengths. While the scholarly survey is tops, she is less adept at championing her conclusions. If that is not your preference as is mine, you’ll love the book even more. Perhaps the controversial Daniel 9:27 best illustrates what I’m saying. There’s more scholarly variety there, so the weighing gets harder while the conclusions get more imprecise. ( I’m not basing this merely on disagreeing with what she shared either).

She rarely cuts a new path either. Rather than any original explanations, it strikes me as more of a weighing of the known opinions. That’s worthwhile too, but that is what might separate, say, a really good commentary from a great, influential one.

Still, I’m comfortable in labeling this one a really good commentary. I should mention there’s some theological nuggets along the way too. The book as a whole package succeeds.

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.

He did it. He had big shoes to fill, but he replaced the Hebrews volume in this much-beloved series. He had big words to live up to as well. After I had almost finished the Introduction and was becoming impressed with Sigurd Grindheim, who I had never heard of, I turned back to D.A. Carson’s Editor’s Preface and read the high praise of “lucid brevity” among other things and found he lived up to that too. High expectations I found had been met and exceeded.

What makes this a winning commentary? First, it’s the breath. It’s noticeably impressive. It would take a far better man than me to think of something about Hebrews that he hadn’t fully surveyed. Second, it’s the writing style. Complex things sound simple without an ounce of superficiality. Third, it’s the sparkling theology that can keep the big picture in focus. If you force me to find a flaw, occasionally he led you right to the end before you could figure exactly where he stood, but even that criticism is a stretch.

The Introduction is thorough in its coverage, brilliant in its synthesis and thoughtful in its conclusions. I’m shocked I would say this, but his discussion of authorship and date was riveting. Scholars en masse have rejected the idea of a Pauline authorship, but his fair and balanced presentation led me to believe it’s not as unreasonable as you would think. That is not his conclusion, but that shows the magnanimity of his writing. Audience and occasion are well related while Structure is presented with the most reasonableness possible. I’m forced to agree with it. Rhetoric, an unavoidable issue in Hebrews, is evenly portrayed. Reception gets a deep turn, but as you will see, the doctrinal battles of the church must stop by the door of Hebrews. His discussion of theology kind of suggests theme as much as theology and is winsome all around.

From there, the commentary had little chance of failing. Everything you need for exegesis is neatly packaged, but then, and here’s the neat part, you are left with the essence as well. Commentaries served up from this recipe will gladly find me feasting at its table.

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.