The 2008 Preaching Survey of Bibles and Bible References

Thomas Aquinas’ Commentaries on St. Paul’s Epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (Saint Augustine Press; pb., 222 pp) has been made available in a new English translation. The commentaries are lecture notes which are briefer than typical commentaries. This will not be a key source for sermon preparation but is an interesting work to compare current ideas with the comments of the leading theologian of the 13th century. James W. Aageson’s Paul, the Pastoral Epistles, and the Early Church (Hendrickson; pb., 235 pp.) is a more technical work but is well done.

Douglas Wilson’s Hebrews Through New Eyes (Athanasius Press; pb., 200 pp.) is a very thoughtful, theological exposition with literary awareness. In his introductory chapters Wilson works carefully through the author’s use of the Old Testament. This is a stimulating work that will be useful to preachers. Alan Mitchell’s Hebrews in the Sacra Pagina series (MG; hb., 357 pp.) provides a careful, thoughtful interaction with the text. I think Hebrews is one place where differences in Catholic and Protestant theology are quite strong, however.

Christopher Morgan and Dale Ellenburg’s James: Wisdom for the Community (CFP; pb., 267 pp.)is a good, popular-level commentary, focusing rightly on how the book is addressed primarily to the community, not just individuals.

Ben Witherington’s Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians, Vol. 2: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1-2 Peter (IVP; hb., 416 pp) continues his approach which has become known with its strengths and weaknesses. I am not convinced of some of the rhetorical analysis but good observations are made.

In The First Letter of Peter (Baylor; pb., 317 pp.) Reinhard Feldmeier’s commentary appears for the first time in English. He comments on the Greek text, and is also concerned with theology and application. His introduction may be particularly helpful as he discusses the theological setting of the letter.

David Helm’s 1&2 Peter and Jude: Sharing Christ’s Sufferings (Crossway; hb., 414 pp.) are series of sermons through each of these books. The exposition of each book also begins with a brief nicely done overview of the point of the letter. The exposition is well done, readable, exegetically and theologically rooted and well applied.

Mark Wilson’s Charts on the Book of Revelation (Kregel, pb., 134 pp.) contains helpful charts, not of dispensations but of interpretive approaches, OT quotations, etc. This is a helpful tool.