Book Description
Studying the New Testament can be an exciting--and intimidating--experience. This readable survey is designed to make the adventure less daunting and more rewarding. The second edition has been revised throughout, including updated bibliographies and focus boxes addressing contemporary concerns. The CD-ROM has been substantially revised to provide a more helpful and up-to-date interactive learning experience. Other distinguishing features include: abundant illustrations, photographs, tables, and charts-all in full color; sidebars addressing ethical/theological concerns; focus boxes isolating key issues; learning objectives and a chapter outline; end-of-chapter study questions, review questions, and chapter summaries
Customer Reviews:
Lots of study information.......2007-05-13
If you want an indepth study Encountering the New Testament is the one. I have an older PC and cannot get the new CD to come up. I'm not good at this. I need to send this book back and get the older CD if that is possible. The material is excellent and I recommend it to every Bible student.
Simple but Thorough.......2007-05-09
I found this to be a very nice overview of the New Testament. It contains many photographs, maps, and other visuals that break up the text. This was the required textbook for my graduate NT Survey class, but I would consider it more appropriate for undergrad or even high school. If you are looking for something meaty, I would say this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a pleasant, sweeping survey of the NT, then you will likely enjoy this book.
Easy to understand and informative.......2007-04-12
The layout of the chapters and the way the material is written makes this book informative but very easy to understand. The CD wasn't really anything special and I haven't found any use for it.
Overall, I would suggest that this book would be useful for any student or person wanting a good overview of the NT.
Excellent intro to the NT.......2007-02-23
If you're a pastor, seminary student, or a layperson who needs a good, informative, and easy to read introduction to the New Testament then this book will be perfect for you. Many NT introductions/surveys that are out there are either 1) too technical and academic, or 2) liberal/modernist. This introduction is solidly evangelical, easy to understand, and academic enough for even the novice biblical scholar.
The strength of the book is that it does not survey each of the books in the New Testament chapter by chapter but by topics of significance in each book. For instance, when the authors talk about the message of Galatians they do not discuss what each of the 6 chapters discusses but about what Paul says about the nature of the gospel, law and grace, etc. (though Acts is an exception). Pretty much everything is covered regarding each book (authorship, date, place of writing, etc.).
Another feature of the book that will attract more novice pastors and students of the Bible is the colourful pictures that are abundantly printed in the book. Though some may find this comical, I think it added to the charm of this book. Pictures, graphs, maps, etc. help readers understand the background of each of the NT books better.
Finally, one other thing I really liked about this book is that the authors discuss side-issues related to the NT. The chapters on NT criticism (chap. 10), the historical Jesus Christ controversies (chaps. 8 and 12), and the teachings of Paul the Apostle (chap. 17) are well written, informative, and orthodox. I would say that these chapters alone are worth about half of the price of the book alone. Sure, the authors could have written more deeply on these chapters but the intended audience demanded that they do not go too deeply in these matters.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book for those who want a better understanding of the NT books. Though it is not that scholarly and deep, it is still good enough for what it intends and many students of the Bible will find rich information that will greatly help in their personal spiritual growth and ministry.
Good book.......2007-02-14
This book is easy to use, and has a lot of things to make it easier to read and comprehend the material. I haven't found a use for the CD though, its just kinda' neat. I highly recommend this book for anyone studying the history of the New Testament, and learning the facts surrounding it.
Book Description
This book brings unity and chronological sequence to New Testament study by weaving the contents of the books around a central theme - the person of Christ. Divisions are the synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John, the Book of Acts, the Pauline Epistles in chronological order, the General Epistles, and the Book of Revelation.
Customer Reviews:
Good Book.......2005-12-13
I read this book as part of a New Testament Literature course. I was pleased to learn about the archeological and historical facts that contributed to learning about the New Testament in its original context. I am able to study the scriptures and obtain a clearer picture of what is being said.
Excellent New Testament Introduction.......2004-05-18
Without a doubt, Tenney's book does indeed present an evangelical yet scholarly view of the New Testament. Tenney makes no hesitation to say that he does believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God from the beginning. Tenney's work, however, is not a textual commentary on textual criticism. His book is a brief introduction to the New Testament.
Tenney's book does a wonderful job of presenting the historical background of the New Testament and using the book of Acts, he traces the footsteps of the Apostles as they wrote the New Testament Canon. At the end of each chapter he includes a very helpful bibliograpy to help the reader study deeper the various books, archeology, and history of what he has dealt with rather quickly.
I used this book as a freshmen in Bible college and it had a profound influence on my personal understanding of the background and history of the New Testament and the early Church. I highly recommend anyone serious about studying Scripture to purchase and read Tenney's book.
Sorry, I just can't endorse this book........2002-06-05
I used this book as one of several secondary sources when doing academic work on the development of the New Testament Canon. Of the several volumes used (both Catholic and Protestant from a wide variety of theological starting points) this was, by far, the least helpful.
Tenney's work represents the extreme fundamentalist viewpoint; but is unable to justify what it defends. Although presented as one, this is not a serious academic work. Universities or seminaries who use this as a primary text do a great disservice to their students. There is a difference between "disagreeing" with certain "higher critical" interpretations and "ignoring" that higher criticism even exists. This book does the latter.
Not only is this volume virtually useless for Catholic or Orthodox Christians, it is equally problematic for mainline Protestants -- and many Evangelicals as well.
For the Evangelical, try Gundry's text instead. For the Catholic, try Brown's text. For a very conservative Catholic viewpoint (but one which still acknowledges and represents serious scholarship) try Luke Timothy Johnson's text. But unless the reader is at the "my mind is made up, don't confuse me with the facts" stage, give this one a miss.
The Classic New Testament Introduction.......2000-09-20
Don't be fooled by the more recent New Testament Survey books published in the last few years. Tenney's work is still the classic reference work in its field and the best introduction to the New Testament you can buy. To prove the point, this text is still used by most conservative Bible Colleges for their core NTS course. It is thorough, complete, and unparalleled, and builds a firm foundation for future Bible study.
Book Description
This revised edition of Gundry's survey of the New Testament goes beyond providing background information and technical introductory material and leads students to read the New Testament itself. This fourth edition includes full color.
Customer Reviews:
Quick and Cheap.......2007-03-09
I thought I was in trouble when the campus book store was out of copies of the book I needed for my Survey of the New Testament class. I went to amazon.com and to my relief they had exactly what I needed, but I needed the book in two days. I had express delivery and I had my book the next day. My purchase including the Express Mail delivery was still $40.00 cheaper than if I had purchased it from the book store. Amazon.com will be my source for all my purchases.
Poorly written.......2006-08-18
Although Gundry does well in this introductory book to give the reader pronunciation guides for names of persons, his syntax is incredibly poor. Because his sentence structure is lacking, his intended meaning is confusing and requires at times a multiple read in order to make sense of his sentence.
For a book packed with so much info there is no index.......2006-03-26
I am a bit disappointed that the index of this book is three pages long. There is a ton of info but you can't access it easily unless you want to spend countless hours flipping pages or trying to practice your photographic memory skills. The Glossary of Pronunciations is longer!! I realize this is a textbook but I have read other textbooks on the New Testament that were easier to digest. I do like the end of chapter study guides and discussion but you get 5 stars on the snooze factor for the format.
Great.......2006-02-19
This is probably the best one out there on the topic of a general survey of the New Testament. Plus buying it directly from Amazon I saved $15 instead of buying it from my school--& I got free shipping too!
I Just Can't See Myself Giving a "Textbook" 5 Stars . . . .......2006-02-19
As far as "textbooks" go, Gundry shows mercy on students by making a textbook that I actually look forward to reading. I have no problems with the book whatsoever but I just could not bring myself to give a "textbook" 5 stars. First, the pictures he uses -and there are a lot of them- really bring the New Testament-times scenery to life. Especially considering my Old Testament Survey class textbook was all black-and-white...uh, can you say bo-ring? Also, I like the way the chapters begin with study goals so that while you read the chapter, you always have in mind the main points to remember. The chapters all end with a list of the "People [and Terms] to Remember" which is a great study tool as well as the discussion questions. There's also a list of references "For Further Investigation" listed each chapter's end that comes in real handy when searching for sources for a research paper.
Book Description
This intensive guide to the Gospels surveys the largest source of eyewitness information about Jesus' life and ministry--the books of the four apostles who watched Him, spoke with Him, and served Him during his years on earth.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent at charting a faithful course through important questions.......2007-09-15
I confess at the outset that I'm a fan of Blomberg, based on what I've read previously.
This is an excellent introduction to the scholarly study of the gospels. Very helpful at covering the ground raised by questions which may or may not be great, may or may not be being asked for good reasons in the academy, may or may not often have insane answers accepted as common currency. This book doesn't appear to fail to do justice to the issues or to those who raise them, but also appears to engage with the evidence in the gospels from sound presuppositions, as well as engaging with those who have different starting points.
Very edifying, hearteningly confidence-inspiring, educational.
Just about the best book out on the technical side of the Gospels.......2006-11-25
I must say that I really love this book. This is one of those books that you know you are going to keep always in your library, a book that will help you whether you decide to become a minister a teacher or whatnot. You will, years from now, find yourself coming back to this book again and again because it is just that good. I am going through, well, finishing up, my first half of studying the New Testament at the seminary I am going to. Blomberg's book has truly helped me see and understand the concepts and the considerations and the structures and the messages behind the Gospels (which is primarily what I am studying in the first half of NT study). Yes this book is rather academic, it isn't the kind of book that you would just sit down on a Summer's afternoon to read. Instead, this book helps you to fully appreciate the Gospels, and more to the point, appreciate our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and all that He did and still does in the world. Blomberg's book helps you to realize that the Gospels are living works of writing, that they speak volumes of love, mystery, grace, and yes even judgment toward those of us who dare to see the truth, the way, and the life. Blomberg isn't perfect, and you probably wont agree with each and every detail that he speaks of, which is understandable, but still, you will indeed learn a lot about the NT and the Gospels found therein. I suggest that if you are truly interested in learning about the New Testament and that you have the time and the patience to study fully all that there is to know about the New Testament (and not just some garbage that you might find from the liberal left like the Jesus Seminar and people like John Spong), you really need to begin with this book on the Gospels. Yes be prayerful as you study, but have this book (and the sequel to this book, From Pentecost to Patmos) by your side. You wont be sorry, it will truly help you in your journey with Christ Jesus!
excellent and intelligent conservative Jesus study book!.......2006-05-11
this is a very sane and sober comprehensive dig into a wealth of issues surrounding Jesus studies and the four gospels of the new testament. A tremendous amount of issues are put on the table and you will truly learn alot from this book. Well researched, careful scholarship and a well read author who is indeed conservative, but not a fundamentalist. The only quibble I have with this work is that I wish it dealt a bit more with the greco-roman milieu of miralcles, myths and mystery religions. These subjects are included in this book to be sure, but I think more material would have been helpful. This is only a minor quibble though, after all, one volume can only pack so much into it. I also think that on a few rare occasions His conservative bent may get the better of him, but again, I would say this is rare. It is a bit of a tedious read in some ways, but this is to be expected from a work that is not designed to be a fun narrative story. This is not a devotional read, but rather this work seeks to educate readers on the historical issues of Jesus studies as well as the gospels along with the meaning and understanding thereof. This is sorely needed as too much "bible teaching" today is less than grounded in careful sanity. For a very accurate study of Jesus issues with sanity, don't miss this one! Also see N.T. Wright's, The Original Jesus, and Peter Walker's little book by Intervarsity Press, Jesus in His World. These are top notch intro level books helping one to understand Jesus according to His historical and cultural context.
Straight Shot.......2006-03-22
Blomberg wrote an excellent book. This book is a careful study of the context, life and times of Jesus in the first century. This book is not 'light reading,' and probably needs to be done when you are fully engaged. With that said, it will put you in a different zone in your knowledge of the first century and the Gospels than before you read it. JVD
Deserves to be in your library .......2006-03-16
Whether you just have a few questions about the gospels, or whether you are a serious student, this book deserves to be in your library. Blomberg gives thorough overview of all the different aspects of bible study, including the political, religious and socioeconmic background of the gospels, and all the various modern theories and arguments about the gospels, their dates and authors.
And this is simply great: at the end of each chapter he lists the best books on the subject, and he lists them for the novice, intermediate, or advanced students. For each theory about the gospels that Blomberg discusses, he presents the best argument for the theory, say Q, and then gives the weaknesses of the theory. A terrific resource.
Blomberg is a traditional believer, yet this book is very fair to all sides.
Book Description
In Survey of the New Testament, Paul Benware approaches the New Testament in three helpful segments: the anticipation, institution, and fulfillment of the New Covenant. Questions will be addressed such as 'What is the purpose of life?' and 'Can I be freed from guilt and sin?' This handy primer will help any student of the Bible see the content, unity and progression of the New Testament scriptures.
Customer Reviews:
Survey of the NT.......2007-10-10
Excellent book. Very concise. Perfect for the student and nice to have in your library. Fast Shipping and in perfect condition.
Excellent study guide.......2007-05-07
The book is well written and easy to read. It is an excellent companion to the New Testament in a New Testament studies class.
Add to Your Collection.......2007-03-12
This detailed commentary explains a lot of the history of the Old Testament. This was a required text for a Bible class that I took and I fell in love with it. I now own Benware's Survey of the New Testament as well. This book seems to coincide with scripture and give some detailed information while using many good references including the Bible. Each section is outlined so that it is easy to follow giving the reader the dates that each book of the Bible was written, Purpose of each book and Summary. As a student of the Bible, I recommend this book in your collection.
Christian Fobian, Author of Why Christ?
Solid Book.......2007-01-10
Dr Benware was my college professor at the Moody Bible Institute over twenty years ago. He offers a very fundamental view of the Old Testament; coming from a dispensational point of view. The book is a compilation of the notes of his college course, with the added depth and polish of many years teaching experience in addition to his personal study of the Old Testament. The book also has some charts and lists which summarize a significant amount of subject matter into an easy to understand visual presentation. Dr Benware is a talented speaker and the book reads with the ease of being in his classroom. We are currently undertaking an Old Testament survey in an adult Sunday school class and this book provides a great basis to develop the curriculum for that class. In addition to reading the Old Testament, I would recommend this book for those seeking a better understanding of the overall picture of the first 39 books of the Bible.
Recommended for conservative Christians.......2004-05-26
If you are a conservative Christian you will find this an excellent survey of the New Testament books. If you are not then you will probably find difficulty with many portions of the book.
One of the things that I really liked the way the author brings the reader up to speed about the history of the area between the Old and New Testament time periods. He does an excellent job covering the rise of the Greek Period, through the Hasmonean Period, and up to the Roman Period, including the rule of the Ptolemies and Seleucids.
Throughout the book the author includes many photographs and illustrations to help the reader understand the text. He also does a good job of recounting the various theories as to why the synoptic gospels often share not only common themes but also at some points nearly the same wording. On the other hand he does not even mention the fact that there are other places where they disagree with each other. This one-sided treatment is consistent throughout the book.
In addition, some of the pictures belong more in a tourist pamphlet than a serious Bible survey book. (For example, there are pictures of places where the caption reads "traditionally", "probably", "supposed", or "believed" to be a particular site. For most of them there is no evidence of this being the actual location but even in the Middle Ages traders recognized the value of having a religiously significant location within your city. So, many "traditional" sites suddenly sprang up.) Fortunately these sorts of pictures are few in number when compared with the large number that enhances the text.
While mainstream or liberal readers will find little of any value in "Survey of the New Testament", it is recommended for conservative Christian readers who will find it a valuable resource that enhances that belief system.
Average customer rating:
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Panorama del Nuevo Testamento: Survey of the New Testament (Everyman's Bible Commentary)
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ASIN: 0825410614 |
Book Description
Comentarios informativos y muy utiles sobre la Biblia, sin llegar a ser tecnicos, escritos por especialistas y educadores calificados. Debido a que son faciles de leer y comprender, estos libros son excelentes guias para el estudio personal o en groupo. Los dos titulos de Mas venta/Bestseller de la serie Panorama de Antiguo Testamento y Panorama del Nuevo Testamento estan ahora disponibles en una nueva edicion de lujo en tapa dura. Son el complementario perfecto a la biblioteca de cada pastor o estudiante de la Biblia. Disponible por separado o en coleccion a un precio especial. [Designed for laymen, these commentaries deal seriously with the biblical text without being overly technical. Introductory information, doctrinal themes, problem passages and pratical applications are examined. The two bestselling titles from the Everyman's Bible Commentary series, Panorama del Antiguo Testamento and Panorama del Nuevo Testamento, are now available in a deluxe hardback edition. These two durable volumes will be a welcome addition to the library of all Spanish speaking pastors and students of the Bible. Available separately or as a specially priced set.
Book Description
The NRSV stands out among modern translations in being as 'literal as possible' in adhering to the ancient texts and only 'as free as necessary' to make the meaning clear in graceful, understandable English.
Customer Reviews:
Where's the beef?.......2007-04-03
At $14 a pop, it seems like alot of money for what appears to be 20 pages of new comment. Carson would have been much better off culling all the comment on commentaries nobody cares about any more and putting it to good use describing in more detail those that do. Longman does a much better job covering new stuff (though misses some new ones), plus is organized much better.
A Useful and Helpful Resource.......2007-01-19
Buying commentaries is often a difficult proposition. There are so many available and yet so few that are really solid. A good commentary is an invaluable aid in leading the reader to the cross; a poor commentary tends to lead anywhere but. With commentary prices being what they are, it hurts to purchase one only to find that it is a poor choice. New Testament Commentary Survey, edited by D.A. Carson and now in its sixth edition, seeks to provide guidance on the best options available.
Originally written by Anthony C. Thiselton under the title Personal Suggestions About a Minister's Library, the book was revised in 1973 and renamed to New Testament Commentary Survey. In 1976 D.A. Carson assumed authorship and updated it in 1976, 1984, 2001. "They years fly by," writes Carson, "and new commentaries keep appearing--and so we have arrived at the sixth edition" published in 2007 by Baker Academic.
The purpose of this book is "to provide theological students and ministers with a handy survey of the resources, especially commentaries, that are available in English to facilitate an understanding of the NT. The mature scholar is not in view." When writing a book such as this one, it would be easy to give a blanket endorsement of titles written by authors whose theology closely aligns with your own, but I was glad to see that Carson is able to look beyond this. "Theologically I am an evangelical, but many of the positive assessments offered in these notes are in connection with books written from the vantage point of some other theological tradition: the usefulness of a commentary sometimes turns on something other than the theological stance of its author--assuming, of course, that commentaries are read critically, as they should be whatever one's theological heritage. Conversely, just because a commentary stands within the evangelical tradition does not necessarily mean that it is a good book. It may be thoroughly orthodox but poorly written, uninformed, or quick to import from other biblical passages meanings that cannot rightly be found in the texts on which comment is being offered." This book, then, is a guide to commentaries and not necessarily to orthodoxy. Carson offers brief assessments of many works, including comments on "the work's level, general competence, and so forth." He points out the theological slant of a book when he feels this is important.
While the majority of the book deals with suggestions for individual books of the Bible, Carson does spend some time dealing with commentary series, both "series worth noting but not pursuing" and "more substantial series." He also glances at one-volume multi-author commentaries, one-author sets, and older commentaries. A complete chapter is dedicated to "Supplements to Commentaries" and covers resources such as New Testament introductions and New Testament theologies. These sections are followed by suggestions for each book of the Bible.
Because of the vast number of resources available, and because this book is meant to be only a survey, many commentaries receive only a brief paragraph. For example, when discussing MacArthur's commentary on Matthew, Carson writes, "A hybrid difficult to classify--part commentary, part expository sermon--is the work of John MacArthur in 4 vols (/Moody 1985-89, $21.99 per vol.). These books are wordy and often betray too little time and care taken with the text, so that they cannot be read as reliable commentary; but the amount of information goes beyond that of most expositions. Doubtless they will well serve the well-read layperson and the poorly trained preacher." When discussing further commentaries written by MacArthur, Carson tends to provide only a few words and then direct the reader back to these comments for an overview of the series. Some commentaries receive only a few words, such as these dealing with Ryken's commentary on Galatians: "The volume by Phillip Graham Ryken is solid Reformed exposition (/Presbyterian & Reformed 2005, $24.95)." An author index in the back is helpful to lead directly to Carson's assessment of the work of any particular author.
The book concludes with a list of "best buys," which does not necessarily list the best commentary for each of the books of the Bible, but serves as a subjective list that "identifies commentaries that are a good value for the money for the theological student or well-trained preacher who is interested in understanding the Scriptures and who is willing to read commentaries critically." It is a cheat-sheet of sorts, pointing to good books that can be had at a reasonable price.
While the reader's experience with this book will vary depending upon his agreement with Carson and Carson's theology, this volume is a helpful companion to those who wish to have some guidance in the commentaries they purchase. It is a resource that can benefit any pastor, student of theology, or anyone else who cares to purchase commentaries.
Disappointed.......2007-01-12
I anxiously awaited the new version of the survey. In the past it has proved to be invaluable in purchasing commentaries. Unfortunately I was disappointed. Not much new work has been done. Many of the comments will sound annoyingly the same...because they are! If you have a previous version save you money and wait for Glynn, he seems to make an effort to stay on top of the publishing world.
I'm disappointed that Carson's name is on this one, I expect more. Either a grad assistant did most of the work or the publisher needed sales.
On the bright side, if this is the first time you've used this survey it is indispensable.
Very Helpful and an Easy Read.......2006-07-19
So you decide you want to buy some commentaries. But which ones? The choices can be dizzying. Some focus on theology, others on the Greek, others on the cultural context. Some are for profesionals, some for bible students, some for laypersons. And with many commentaries running upwards of $40 or more, you have to be selective.
D.A. Carson's New Testament Commentary Survey is a useful tool for cutting through the commentary clutter. Carson is the well-respected research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and co-author of probably the most popular introduction to the New Testament. In NTCS, he goes through every book in the New Testament and discusses all of the respective serious commentaries. He is candid about what he sees as the qualities and inadequacies of each. He describes their strengths in different areas, such as exegesis, theology, and cultural understanding. He evaluates their usefulness to different audiences, such as bible students, pastors, interested laypersons. The analysis is interesting and well written. The book is an easy read and avoids being dry or boring.
In addition to discussing the commentaries for each book of the New Testament, Carson discusses books that are not technically commentaries (in that they do not provide verse-by-verse discussion), but which focus on aspects of specific NT books. Carson also mentions the prices of each book discussed. Finally, there is a helpful "best buys" guide in the back that offers his admittedly subjective opinion on what the best values are for the "theological student" and "well-trained preacher."
I would have added another star if the there was a more systematic approach to grading the commentaries in different areas (theology, exegesis, etc.) and for level of skill targetted (academics/those proficient in Greek, laypersons, pastors, theology students, etc.). But even without this the survey is very useful.
Helpful.......2006-02-09
In the tradition of C. H. Spurgeon, who penned Commenting and Commentaries over 100 years ago, New Testament scholar Don Carson has produced a resource which is concise, interesting, and immensely user-friendly.
While Carson makes it clear that what is "best" among commentaries "can vary from reader to reader, and that it depends . . . on what kind of information a reader is looking for" [133], his sometimes humorous, often caustic, and always helpful critiques of modern commentaries reflects his belief that "the dominant need is to understand meanings accurately" [15]. His own skill as seasoned exegete of Scripture and his concern for exegetical precision makes this critique of commentaries invaluable.
The book is divided into four sections, the first of which contains "Introductory Notes," in which Carson discusses the need for different types of commentary, followed by brief comments on the merits and demerits of various series of commentaries (comments on individual volumes are in section three), one-volume multi-author commentaries (his highest recommendation being IVP's New Bible Commentary), older commentaries (Lightfoot, Calvin, and Henry are all mentioned positively, with a recommendation that Geoffrey Wilson's Digest of Reformed Comment series published by Banner of Truth be used "in conjunction with major exegetical works" [28]), and one-author sets.
Section two looks very briefly at volumes dealing with New Testament Introduction and New Testament Theology. "Pride of place must go to the mammoth work by Donald Guthrie," according to Carson [33], though he also mentions many others.
Section three is really the meat of the book, in which individual commentaries of every New Testament book are discussed. Carson's method is very helpful and easy to follow. He invariably begins by discussing the most helpful technical commentaries available, pointing out their strengths and weaknesses. Less helpful titles are mentioned briefly, often with strong (and, not unlike Spurgeon, sometimes quite humorous) criticism. Mid-level commentaries are then critiqued, while popular commentaries and sermonic expositions are discussed last. Carson always writes with the preaching pastor in mind and frequently points out factors which will make any given commentary of greater or lesser use in sermon preparation. Section four is a two-page list of "best buys," commentaries that Carson thinks will give you the most out of your money.
Perhaps it would be helpful to give a short digest of Carson's highest recommendations. Among commentaries on Matthew, Carson says that "pride of place should go to the new ICC commentary by W. D. Davies and Dale C. Allison" [42]. Craig Blomberg, Craig Keener, Leon Morris, and R. T. France also receive positive comments, and I can personally attest that Carson himself (in the EBC) has written a very reliable and useful commentary on this gospel. Among mid-level commentaries, Hendriksen is said to be "a useful, if stodgy, guide for the preacher who will wade through" [45].
On the Gospel of Mark, Carson recommends William Lane's contribution to the NICNT and C. E. B. Cranfield, among others. Among sermonic expositions, R. Kent Hughes receives very positive comments. In fact, Carson generally seems to favor Hughes over either MacArthur or Boice. Carson recommends Darrell L. Bock's two volumes in the BECNT on the gospel of Luke. Leon Morris in the Tyndale series is also mentioned positively, as is Hughes (once again), and Fred Craddock, who Carson says is interesting because he is "a fine homiletician" [57].
The fourth gospel, John, "has been well served . . . during the last half century," says Carson [59]. His top choice for commentaries on the Greek text is C. K. Barrett. Once more, Leon Morris is praised. Carson, himself, has also written a substantial work on this gospel, but with unaffected humility and a touch of dry wit, he says: "Carson's work is rather more difficult for me to assess" [60]! On the popular level, F. F. Bruce is highly recommended, along with Bruce Milne in the BST (a series Carson obviously favors). Regarding Acts, C. K. Barrett gets high marks in the technical realm, John Stott in the popular. (I've read the Stott commentary and it is excellent!) Other mentions include Ben Witherington III, I. Howard Marshall, and Richard Longenecker.
There have probably been more commentaries written on Romans than any other New Testament book. Carson devotes six pages to surveying the best that is out there, of which "probably the best . . . in English is the work of Douglas J. Moo" [72] in the NICNT. Moo is recommended over Thomas Schreiner, Charles Cranfield, and James Dunn. Joseph Fitzmyer, a Catholic scholar, is highly praised as having exegesis which "is often magisterial." "In many of the crucial passages, this work sounds far more Reformed than Catholic," Carson writes [73]. Morris, Murray, and others are all mentioned with appropriate notice of their respective strengths and weaknesses. Stott also is mentioned in a good light, as is Martyn Lloyd-Jones. John Piper's The Justification of God is said to be "the best exegetical and theological discussion of Romans 9" [79].
The Corinthian letters are discussed separately with positive remarks given to F. F. Bruce (on both letters), Anthony Thiselton, Gordon Fee, Craig Blomberg (these three on 1 Corinthians), C. K. Barrett, David Garland, Paul Barnett (NICNT recommended over BST), Colin Cruse, and Scott Hafeman (these last five on 2 Corinthians). Top billing goes to F. F. Bruce on Galatians. Timothy George and John Stott are also recommended.
Peter T. O'Brien is hailed as the one of best exegetes of the prison epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians-Philemon). In fact, Carson says (regarding the Ephesians volume in the Pillar series) that O'Brien "has thoughtfully absorbed and filtered the best material from earlier commentaries, but he has made his own contribution by sticking close to the text, tracing the theological argument with care and precision" [93]. This is quite a compliment, especially coming from Carson! Also positively mentioned on these Epistles are Andrew Lincoln and John Stott (Ephesians), Gordon Fee (Philippians), and David Garland and Murray J. Harris (Colossians/Philippians).
On the Thessalonian letters Carson recommends Charles Wanamaker on the Greek text and F. F. Bruce, for something more accessible. Carson prefers the NICNT installment of Leon Morris over the same author's Tyndale commentary. Stott's expositions of these letters are also recommended (I don't remember any negative comments on Stott, which says much!) William Barclay on Philippians, Colossians, and the Thessalonian letters is said to be "one of the best in the DSB series" [103]. George W. Knight III is in Carson's "must" column when it comes to the Pastorals. "It is cautious, conservative, thoughtful" [107]. There are also favorable comments on William Mounce, Thomas Oden, and Donald Guthrie.
For Hebrews, Carson points us to Harold W. Attridge on the Greek text and William Lane (WBC) for those whose "Greek is weak" [111]. Phillip Hughes and F. F. Bruce are said to complement one another, Hughes giving more history on interpretation. On the popular level, William Barclay, Raymond Brown, and Kent Hughes should be noticed. Douglas Moo has contributed a major work on James in the Pillar series (this series gets pretty good marks throughout Carson's Survey - of course, he is also the general editor!). And an out-of-print work by Gareth L. Reese is also recommended (if it can be found), along with Kent Hughes and J. Alec Motyer.
Paul J. Achtemeier is "the fullest commentary in English on the exegetical level" [118] when it comes to 1 Peter. Scot McKnight gets positive remarks (rather rare for the NIV Application series), as do J. N. D. Kelly and Wayne Grudem. On 2 Peter and Jude, Richard J. Bauckham in the WBC gets first place, hands-down, despite his disbelief in Petrine authorship of 2 Peter. Michael Green also gives "admirable treatment of these two short epistles" [122] in the Tyndale series. John Stott's work on the Letters of John is "one of the most useful conservative commentaries . . . so far as the preacher is concerned" [125].
Finally, on Revelation, Carson says that G. K. Beale writes the commentary that "best combines comprehensiveness with biblical fidelity" [127], though many other commentators (representing various eschatological camps) are mentioned with both positive and negative comments. A helpful index of names is included in the back of the book.
I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially to fellow preachers. It is short and easy to read (I read it in less than half a day) and I've no doubt that there are few scholars whose recommendations (or non-recommendations, and there are lots of those too!) could be more reliable. This new edition of Carson's excellent survey is a book that the preacher who is serious about sound exegesis can scarcely afford to be without. If frequently used, this resource will save both time and money.
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Books of the Bible: A Survey of the Old and New Testaments
John H. Hayes , and
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Mere Christianity
ASIN: 0687055199 |
Book Description
Each book of the New Testament is introduced and investigated with scholarship and biblical faithfulness. Includes all the information usually found in a Bible handbook - author, date, historical background, purpose, outline - but it goes much further.
The authors provide an exposition of every passage in the New Testament, written in contemporary, understandable language. Sidebars and inserts offer other valuable reference material such as lists of the parables of Jesus, the miracles of Jesus, and key theological principles.
Customer Reviews:
Masterpiece.......2007-01-13
This book is a very well prepared teaching tool. It is very detailed and provides a wealth of scholarly knowledge. My New Testament class really enjoyed it and looks forward to using it again next quarter.
I hope to see an Old Testament work of its kind soon
Great Book for study.......2005-06-15
This is one of the best commentaries to read for studing the Bible. There is a companion to it for the Old Testament that is just as good. It breaks down everything you need to know to understand the Bible.
Book Description
A single work that surveys both Testaments in the form of a historical survey of the Bible. Four-color throughout.
Books:
- From Sea to Shining Sea
- Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
- God's Plan for Man
- Help for the Struggling Student: Ready-to-Use Strategies and Lessons to Build Attention, Memory, and Organizational Skills
- His Little Princess: Treasured Letters from Your King (His Princess)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
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Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey (Encountering Biblical Studies)
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