A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to Saint Matthew (The International Critical Commentary, Vol. 1) [Hardcover]

Dale C., Jr. Allison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0567094812 | ISBN-13: 978-0567094810

'How should this massive work of scholarship be assessed? The three volumes stand as one of the major commentaries on the Gospel of Matthew in which all future interpreters of the Gospel will find a source of fruitful dialogue and helpful ideas. It is a "must have", both in libraries and in footnotes. Davies and Allison are to be thoroughly commended on the fruits of their considerable toil.' Robert K. McIver, Seminary Studies>

Editorial Reviews

Review

'How should this massive work of scholarship be assessed? The three volumes stand as one of the major commentaries on the Gospel of Matthew in which all future interpreters of the Gospel will find a source of fruitful dialogue and helpful ideas. It is a "must have", both in libraries and in footnotes. Davies and Allison are to be thoroughly commended on the fruits of their considerable toil.'
Robert K. McIver, Seminary Studies

About the Author

Dale C. Allison Jr. is Errett M. Grable Professor of New Testament Exegesis and Early Christianity, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and is the author of The Intertextual Jesus and, with the late W.D. Davies, the ICC volumes on Matthew.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 808 pages
• Publisher: T&T Clark Int'l (November 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0567094812
• ISBN-13: 978-0567094810
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #734,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Commentary on Matthew Money Can Buy (But You Better Have A lot of It!, September 8, 2006

By 

Marc Axelrod (Potter, Wi USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Matthew 1-7 (International Critical Commentary) (Paperback)

Matthew 1-7 is an elegantly written exegetical study of Matthew's Gospel. In the introduction, Davies and Allison contend that this gospel was written somewhere between 70-100 AD, and that it cannot be pinned down to a specific genre. They do not stand with the scholars who teach that Matthew is historically all the way through. But neither can they agree with those on the far left who think that Matthew is completely fictional. They observe that Matthew has elements of biography, myth, history, and apocalyptic.

They state that the genealogy in Matthew 1 was deliberately crafted by Matthew to make the theological point that Jesus was of the lineage of David. They also stress forefully that even though the story of Christ's birth in Matthew 1:18-2:20 is powerful and evocative, most of it must be regarded as myth. They think it highly unlikely that the Magi would have known about the birth of the Jewish baby reputed to be a messiah figure.

Instead, Davies and Allison work hard to show that the infancy stories of Jesus incorporate heavily from haggadic stories about the life of Moses.

The Beatitudes in Matthew 5 borrow heavily from Old Testament texts, and the mountain setting of the Sermon on the Mount also recalls the life and ministry of Moses.

I should also say that there are few things related to the book of Matthew that Davies and Allison haven't thought deeply about. I am much more optimistic about the historicity of the material constituting the infancy narratives, and the authors even admit that King Herod's words and deeds in Matthew are consistent with what we know of his character (or lack of thereof).

In the introduction, I was hoping for more of a discussion on the theology of Matthew, but the authors felt strongly about saving much of this discussion for the end of the commentary, after they have hadmore of a chance to grasp Matthew's theology.

Though I might demur at someof the specifics within the body of the commentary. I found it to be so well written and so engrossing that I didn't care. I realize that this is a very expensive three volume commentary set, but this is a good example of getting what you pay for. If you can spring the cash, buy this, because it will repay you again and again over the course of your ministry.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly critical and exegetical commentary., April 3, 2006

By 

Romeo Fulga "Christian Apologist" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to Saint Matthew (The International Critical Commentary, Vol. 1) (Hardcover)

A magnificent commentary on Mathew that students, pastors and scholars will want to add to their libraries. Along with John Noland's and Craig S. Keener's commentaries, this commentary is at the top of all commentaries on Mathew. It offers the best exegetical, hermeneutical, critical, textual, literary and historical commentary, based on the Greek text that is yet available. It is indeed very technical and scholarly but it is aimed at the more advanced students of the word of God.

The commentary is divided into three volumes and treats in detail, verse by verse the gospel of Mathew. The commentary starts with a lengthy introduction that deals with the authorship, general structure, date, sources and literary characteristics of Mathew's gospel. Then the authors continue with a sound systematic commentary on the Greek text, briliantly engaging the current scholarship on many critical issues.

The authors see much of Mathew's message as being eschatological in flavor and present an historical yet apocalyptical Jesus. The commentary is undertaken from a historical-critical perspective and is completed with canon and textual critical insights. Extensive explicatory footnotes are very helpful.

Because of the quality of its scholarship and the many references and quotes about it in many other commentaries and theological texts, I fully recommend this commentary.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Standard Must-Have Work on Matthew, April 25, 2009

By 

Quentin D. Stewart - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Matthew 1-7 (International Critical Commentary) (Paperback)

This is the standard must have resource on the Gospel of Matthew for those who know Greek and want to delve into the text.