Of the publishing of commentaries there is no end — or so it seems. Actually,
contemporary pastors are blessed with a wealth of exegetical and interpretative
resources for the study of Scripture.
Each
year we welcome new additions to some of the outstanding commentary series being
developed. For example, one of the series we have praised year after year is
the Ancient Christian Commentary in Scripture (InterVarsity), for which
Thomas Oden serves as general editor. The ACCS — which is more than half-way
to its ultimately goal of 28-volumes — is a patristic commentary which
draws on seven centuries of early Christian writers, compiled so as to allow
us to explore scripture through the eyes of the early church fathers. This year
saw three new volumes of ACCS released: Hebrews
(NT Vol. X), edited by Eric M. Heen and Philip D.W. Krey, Joshua,
Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel (OT Vol. IV), edited by John R. Franke,
and Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (OT Vol. IX), edited by J. Robert
Wright. The contemporary biblical expositor will profit greatly from the opportunity
to counsel with our brothers of long ago, gaining intriguing insights into the
meaning of scripture.
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Another
excellent series is the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
(ECNT), and there are three new releases in this series in 2005: John
by Andreas J. Köstenberger, Philippians
(2nd edition) by Moises Sílva, and 1
Peter by Karen H. Jobes. The volumes in this series are written
by outstanding evangelical scholars, yet are written in a style that makes them
accessible to most pastors and teachers. This is an excellent series for preachers
who wish to take advantage of the best in recent evangelical scholarship in
their sermon preparation.
Much
as Baker is helping us with outstanding New Testament scholarship, Eerdmans
is providing a superb Old Testament series through The New International
Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT). The most recent release in this
series is Bruce Waltke’s two volume series on Proverbs.
Walter Kaiser says that it is “destined to become the outstanding commentary
on this book of the Bible,” which is testimony enough for me. Waltke offers
helpful insights that emphasize the ongoing relevance of this book for contemporary
Christian living.