Customer Reviews

The Gospel According to Luke I-IX: Introduction, Translation, and Notes (The Anchor Bible, Vol. 28)

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Back when I was in Seminary I took a class on the Gospel of Luke where the instructor, instead of assigning a commentary as a textbook, instead had about a half dozen commentaries in the library on reserve. All students rotated between these commentaries before in class discussions on various texts. When reading Fitzmyer I was often frustrated by how long it takes for him to get to the point and how often he doesn't seem to make a firm stand on any meaning for the text. In fact, we had some rather negative things to say about his style...

However, a funny thing happened when I got to class - on the days I had read Fitzmyer, I felt better prepared for the discussion than I was after reading most other commentaries. Fitzmyer communicates clearly most issues and points of view various interpreters have had with the text. He gives the information I needed to feel like I understood what is at issue in the text.

At the end of class I picked his work for my library. He may not be the clearest at times. He may seem overly academic at times. On the other hand, he gives me the tools I need to work it out for myself.

Vol. 1 of a 2 vol. work, Fitzmyer gives the most thorough and well-balanced analysis, explanation, and exegesis of Luke in print. Not a light read, but it will pay continued dividends every time you return to it. Historical and linguistic insights, and very balanced "moderate" criticism. Enoromously valuable footnotes and bibliographical references. There are more recent "Luke" studies, but Fitzmyer will not be "dated" for many years.

I have used this commentary for just over twenty years now, ever since my very first class in seminary. I have never been disappointed with Fitzmyer. Like Raymond Brown's two-volume "John" commentary for this same Anchor Bible series, these volumes by Fitzmyer are simply the best available.

The Anchor Bible format allows for extensive introductions that explore in depth the historical, critical, literary and theological scholarship that surrounds a given book. The introduction in this commentary is first-rate. In the Commentary section, the format offers first a section with a more detailed examination of the text, including language (In this case, Greek, although knowledge of Greek is not a necessity to benefit from this commentary) considerations, followed by a more broad interpretation of the same text. One can read the interpretation section, therefore, without wading through the entire exegetical minutia. Fitzmyer demonstrates his skill as an interpreter in both parts. He is a careful and detailed exegete who can also communicate the meaning of any given text.

There are no perfect commentaries anywhere on any given biblical book, but I still recommend both volumes of Fitzmyer's magnificent exploration of Luke. This is a perfect book for pastors and students who want a deeper understanding of Luke's wonderful book.

The "dean" of traditional, historical critical commentaries. Focuses on determining the form and sources of each passage. In addition to verse by verse commentary, it includes essays on current Lucan studies, Lucan theology, and other topics. This work has a deserved reputation for being careful and thorough. However, it was written before the rise of literary critical approaches, and it can come off now as a bit dry and unsatisfying. It woud be hard to write a sermon, for example, just using this. Use it as the foundation, but add another work. Still belongs in any serious library.

Jospeh Fitzmyer is one of the premier Catholic scholars, and his take on Luke's gospel shows his great scholarship. I am pleased to say I have this on my shelf and I would recommend this to any serious student of the bible. Anchor Bible always produces great works and this is no different.

This volume, together with its companion (Anchor Bible Vol 28A, covering Luke 10-24), is one of the finest commentaries in English on Luke's Gospel. No longer new, but still superb and worth tracking down in the used book sources (Amazon and others). The Anchor Bible series is a bit uneven, but some of the volumes are magisterial -- including Fitzmyer on Luke and Raymond Brown on John and the Johannine Epistles. Very much worth the effort to find.

This is the first of a two-volume set. I have owned both of them for over 20 years. These are primarily reference books of a technical and seasonal nature. They are like a companion that you don't see for a while but reacquaint yourself with periodically. Every three years, when the Catholic Church is in Cycle C of the Lectionary, the readings are primarily from Luke's gospel. These are great for following the Church through the weeks of this cycle. I am not a Biblical Scholar. What's more, I have only a rudimentary working knowledge of Greek and am therefore somewhat limited to the amount of research I can do. As well, I am limited by time. I have a number of other sources to use. Nevertheless, when I need strict Biblical interpretation for weekly writing or teaching, I prefer to use these volumes, before going anywhere else.

I do not regard every volume of the Anchor Bible series to be of equal weight; however, I always find myself returning to Fitzmeyer for exegesis and hermeneutics on the Gospel of Luke. His work in these volumes has stood the test of time. Nothing like them has come along during this time which can compete with them in this regard.

As I look at these volumes within my library, maybe the greatest compliment I can give Fitzmeyer is that the books look used and the dust jackets worn over the years. I have appreciated and valued his scholarship.

I read and very much enjoyed the books of Raymond Brown on John (RIP) - I found him to very humane and humorous at times. Fizymer (sorry, if you are still alive and reading this), as a writer, is, in my view, not in the same league. I also found some of his remarks in the footnotes a bit too smart. The introduction is excellent but I made 2 attempts over the space of 28 months to get through the rest of it and on each occasion I had to give up - I got to about the half way mark. I am sorry to be negative and perhaps the fault is mine -
I am conscious that I am out of sync with the other reviewers. But, so be it.

This two volume set on Luke's Gospel provides a wealth of information. Fitzmyer leaves very few stones unturned in this lengthy commentary. The introduction is lengthy and intorduces the student to the various themes found in the Gospel.

I should say by way of friendly criticism that Fitzmyer is skeptical about the likelihood that some of the stories in this Gospel go back to a situation in the life of the historical Jesus. For example, he believes that Luke is historically inaccurate in some of the things he records in the Christmas story (Luke 2), and although he is stirred by the power of Jesus' extension of forgiveness to the sinful woman of Luke 7:36-50, he states that it is unlikely that this event happened the way it is described.

Nevertheless, if you can get past the occasional bits of historical pessimism, there is much to be garnered by reading this academic work. I should also say that since this set is more than 20 years old, its scholarship is beginning to look dated. Moreover, the two volume work by Darrell Bock is generally more accurate in its exegesis and more helpful to the preacher looking for sermonic material.

The long and short of all this is that this is no longer a first or second choice for Luke commentaries. I would purchase Darrell Bock's two volume set, and perhaps the paperback Life Application commentary on this Gospel.