Abingdon
New Testament Commentary
Fr. Brown approaches the New Testament from a balanced perspective, acknowledging the various scholarly opinions and controversies inherent in biblical criticism, while at the same time retaining a great love for the text as the Word of God.
I particularly appreciated the fact that if Fr. Brown was unsure about his position on an issue, for instance, regarding the authorship or dating of a book, he was willing to say so! What a refreshing lack of academic hubris!
This book is suitable for use as an upper division undergraduate theology text, as a graduate level introduction, or as a seminary text.
Comprehensive, but......Boring. As a reference, this is a great book, a thorough (and thick & heavy) survey of New Testament theology by one fo the the heavy hitters of NT scholarship. I read this book, however, as part of a graduate seminar, and found it extraordinarily boring, as, I believe, surveys of this sort are often doomed to be. If you're looking for something to read cover-to-cover, this is a tough one. The writing is lucid throughout--no problem there.
There is simply too much information packed between the two covers, without an angle. It's like reading the encyclopedia. Nevertheless, if what you want is a reference, this is the book. Brown covers a very wide range of scholarship, and varying opinions in discussing the books of the NT. At the end of each chapter, he gives a long list of books for suggested reading.
A Quality Infroduction Father Raymond Brown is, as always, impeccable in this "light" Introduction to the New Testament. He states in the opening section that this book is not for scholars. Somehow, I think this book has found its way onto the bookshelves of every pre-eminent NT scholar today. In spire of its heftiness, it is only an introduction to the NT. It starts off with wonderful background material to NT times, examining contemporary thought, philosophy, and history. This helps the NT reader to understand the difficulties and issues which are being addressed by the author of a particular NT text. After this background material Fr Brown insists that you actually read the specific book prior to reading his commentary and analyses of the text. If you do not do this, you will not be able to extract all of the information that Fr Brown is presenting to you. So I suggest one read the background material first, and then crack the Bible open to Mark and start reading along with Fr Brown, one text at a time. This will give you the most benefit for your effort. It is important to make sure the material is fresh in your mimd. As time goes by, one tends to integrate the letters, gospels and parables into a working synthesis, and unless you know which version of a particular parable is being commented upon, the commantary and analysis will not be entirely useful. I am enjoying this book immensely, and I encourage all serious Bible students, scholars or wanna-bes, to invest your time in this wonderful book.
One additional commanet: Father Brown is a Roman Catholic Priest. I have noticed that a lot of people have been making rather apologetic remarks for that fact on his behalf in these reviews. I am certain Father Brown, were he alive today, sees no need for these apologies of faith. Father Brown, in my opinion, clearly demonstrates that the Catholic Church does not sacrifice reason in order to maintain faith. This is an intelligent worthy resource for Galatians. Here is yet another in the Anchor Commentary Series which continues the fine scholarship. Here is wealth of study of philology and hermeutics, with the author's owntranslation and comments on topics and phrases.
There is much to be mined in this fine commentary to be discerned by running through one's own heremenutical filter. I have found this to be fine resource for Galatians work and recommend it as one that thorough Biblical student can turn to as one resource in their library.
A masterful reading of Galatians as apocalyptic theology. The publication of J. Louis Martyn's long-awaited Anchor Bible commentary on Galatians is a major event in Pauline studies. Alongside the commentary, readers should consult the volume of Martyn's collected essays, Theological Issues in the Letters of Paul (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1997; Nashville: Abingdon, 1997), which was published almost simultaneously. This collection gathers Martyn's incisive essays on Paul from the past thirty years, including such classics as "Epistemology at the Turn of the Ages," "Apocalyptic Antinomies," and "From Paul to Flannery O'Connor with the Power of Grace." These pieces elaborate the theological framework within which the commentary is composed. Taken together, these two books exemplify the depth, passion, and precision to which all New Testament scholarship should aspire. Richard B. Hays
An excellent reference for the rest of us The Anchor Bible series continues to provide excellent material for the inquiring Christian. The almost word-for-word translations and discussions of the alternate usages of the Greek give an excellent understanding of the meaning of the words. The commentary ties into the translation notes well and goes on to provide a scholarly understanding of the text. While it is difficult to not use the arcane language of the Biblical scholar, these books at least make the effort to minimize it. The perfect resource for a small town Sunday School bible teacher like myself. But this book today! This is an excellent commentary, and surely all around the best now available on Mark in English, or perhaps any language. It is up-to-date, thoroughly conversant with the primary sources and secondary literature, and often original in its exegesis. It is also well written, so that while it must, of necessity, sometimes discuss involved topics, such as the meanings of Greek words, the author's meaning is always perfectly clear. Particularly important for scholars are the keen attention paid to the scriptural subtexts beneath Mark's surface and the consistent attempt to understand Mark within the context of the Jewish war. But this is a book for pastors as well as academics, full of intimations about the possibilities of contemporary meaning. Its length is just right -- the discussions are never too long to bore, nor too short to leave one unsatisfied. In sum, this is a worthy addition to the prestigious series to which it belongs, The Anchor Bible. Buy it.
Marcus Finally Makes His Mark! Those of us who were familiar with Joel Marcus' monograph, "The Way of The Lord", have long awaited the day he would write a commentary on the Gospel of Mark. It seems fitting that a strong commentary like this one be used to replace the astonishingly lame commentary by C.S. Mann.
The objective of the Anchor Bible commentary series is to make the Bible accessible to the modern reader by providing an exact translation, extended exposition and a reconstruction of the ancient setting. The targeted readership is the general reader with no formal training in biblical studies. Marcus' commentary does an outstanding job in reaching these objectives. His translation is fairly literal but is still readable for those of us whose first language is English. His crisp exposition also goes a long way in helping the general reader follow his arguments.
With regard to some specifics about his interprative decisions Marcus believes that the Second Gospel was written by someone named Mark but probably not the one associated with Peter as the Papian tradition would suggest. He also denies that the gospel was written for a general audience (aka Richard Bauckham) or as an evangelistic tool (aka Robert Gundry) but instead argues the pervasive opinion that Mark is addressing a particular 'Markan' community. Marcus also argues that this community probably resided in Syria. He suggests that the purpose of the Gospel was to address a community under persecution during the Jewish War and that Mark presents Jesus as a paradigm for suffering.
Undoubtedly this commentary is hefty and due serious consideration by students of the Gospel but nonetheless, I suspect, that many readers will find Marcus guilty of over-interpretation and straining to find subtle echoes of the OT where there probably is none to be found. For example, many readers may be bewildered by how Marcus can understand the author of the second Gospel to have felt on one hand the need to explain the OT Jewish custom of handwashing (7:3-4) and then on the other hand expect his readers to pick up on Jonah imagery in a storm on the lake.
Even though some may disagree with various issues of 'Introduction' and may see places where Marcus' interpretations seem strained and overworked, I suspect, it will be found useful to many studying the second Gospel.
If you are intending to study the Gospel of Mark definitly consider purchasing this book. I would have given the book a three and three quarter stars if possible.
The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture is an ecumenical project, promoting a vital link of communication between the varied Christian traditions of today and their common ancient ancestors in the faith. On this shared ground we listen as leading pastoral theologians of six centuries gather around the text of Scripture and offer their best theological, spiritual and pastoral insights.
Today the historical-critical method of interpretation has nearly exhausted its claim on the biblical text and on the church. In its wake there is a widespread yearning among Christian individuals and communities for the wholesome, the deep and the enduring. The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture seeks not to replace those excellent commentaries that have been produced in the twentieth century. It supplements them, framing them with interpretive voices that have long sustained the church and only recently have fallen silent. It invites us to listen with appreciative ears and sympathetic minds as our ancient ancestors in the faith describe and interpret the scriptural vistas as they see them.
The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture is a postcritical revival of the early commentary tradition known as the glossa ordinaria, a text artfully elaborated with ancient and authoritative reflections and insights. An uncommon companion for theological interpretation, spiritual reading, and wholesome teaching and preaching.
The series now includes 10 volumes, with Matthew 14--28 released in
March 2002.
(comments
from publisher)
The plan of each commentary is designed to enhance its usefulness. The Introduction presents a topical overview of the biblical book to be discussed and provides information on the historical circumstances in which that book was written. It may also contain a summary of the biblical writer's thought. In the body of the commentary, the interpreter sets forth in brief compass the meaning of the biblical text. The procedure is to explain the text section by section. Care has also been taken to avoid the heavy use of technical terms. Because the readers of the commentary will have their Bibles at hand, the biblical text itself has not been printed out. In general, the editors recommend the use of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
The authors of this commentary series are professors
at seminaries and universities and are themselves ordained. They have been
selected both because of their expertise and because they worship in the
same congregations as the people for whom they are writing. In elucidating
the text of Scripture, therefore, they attest to their belief that central
to the faith and life of the church of God is the Word of God.
comments
from publisher
If you preach or teach from Scripture, the Bible Speaks Today series will help you apply the timeless biblical message to the everyday experiences of your listeners. And if you study the Bible on your own, these volumes will be a helpful resource focusing on the significance of God's Word for your own life and work.
Recent additions to the series inlcude The Message of Ezekiel, The Message of Romans, The Message of 2 Timothy & Titus, The Message of Psalms 1--72 and The Message of Psalms 73--150.
Comments
from publisher
ISBN 0-87784-925-0
An important aim of the NIGTC authors is
to interact with the wealth of significant New Testament research published
in recent articles and monographs. In this connection the authors make
their own scholarly contributions to the ongoing study of the biblical
text.
The text on which these commentaries are based is the UBS Greek New Testament, edited by Kurt Aland and others. While engaging the major questions of text and interpretation at a scholarly level, the authors keep in mind the needs of the beginning student of Greek as well as the pastor or layperson who may have studied the language at some time but does not now use it on a regular basis. (comments from publisher)
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