Customer Reviews

1-2 Thessalonians (IVP New Testament Commentary Series)

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Beale is Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School. With His massive effort on the greek text of the book of Revelation and his work with D. A. Carson on the Commentary of the Old Testament in the New Testament we have been wonderfully served.

I have been preaching a series on Thessalonians and I ordered Beal's IVP Commentary to Suppliment the books by Marshall, Morris, Bruce, and Mallerbe. I expected to have a good treatment of the text, background, and eschatology but I thought, with the limitations of the IVP series, I would get brief but important comments. I was totally impressed with Beale's work. I guess I should not be surprised, he is an excellent scholar and his work shows what my Seminary professor used to call "Humiliation to the Text." By this I mean that Beale is always putting himself and his ideas underneath the Text. He is more concerned to present what the text actually says than his assumptions. He follows the text where it leads.

The introduction is not long but excellent in presenting the basic issues. His outlines and pericope divisions are well thought-out and presented. His cultural and historical background explanations are excellent. What I find in this commentary that is so different from others are the exegetical meat and practical applications that Beale presents. The book is not too expensive for this goldmine of exegetical insight and practical information. In my studies and sermons from Thessalonians so far Beale has become my "go to book" right after my own exegesis. If you do your exegesis the way I do then commentaries are far down the list of books you use. But when you get to them you want them to be good advisors regarding the text and background. Gregory Beale is one of the best. I highly recommend this commentary for Pastors, students and teachers. If you just want a good commentary to use in your own personal bible study you will be greatly helped in learning about God's Word from this book.

This is an excellent commentary on the Thessalonian letters. Beale brings technical expertise, theological acumen and pastoral wisdom to bear in this commentary. This combination is what makes this one of the best commentaries available on these letters.