The Gospel of Matthew: Commentary, Notes and Study Questions (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible) [Paperback]

Scott Hahn (Author), Curtis Mitch (Author), Dennis Walters (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000

With Commentary, Annotations and Topical Essays by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch Based on the Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition, this volume leads readers through a penetrating study of the Gospel of Matthew, using the biblical text itself and the Church's own guidelines for understanding the Bible. Ample notes accompany each page, providing fresh insights and commentary by renowned Bible teachers Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch, as well as time-tested interpretations from the Fathers of the Church. These helpful study notes make explicit what St. Matthew often assumes. Or they provide rich historical, cultural, geographical or theological information pertinent to the Gospel – information that bridges the distance between the biblical world and our own. The Ignatius Study Bible also includes Topical Essays, Word Studies and Charts. The Topical Essays explore the major themes of Matthew's Gospel, often relating them to the doctrines of the Church. The Word Studies explain the background to important Bible terms, while the Charts summarize crucial biblical information "at a glance". Each page also includes an easy-to-use Cross-Reference Section that runs between the biblical text at the top of the page and the annotations at the bottom. Study Questions are provided for each chapter of the Gospel that can deepen your personal study of God's Holy Word. There is also an introductory essay covering questions of authorship, date, destination, structure and themes. An outline of Matthew's Gospel and several maps are also included.   Contents Introduction to the Ignatius Study Bible Introduction to the Gospel according to Matthew Outline of the Gospel according to Matthew The Gospel according to Matthew Map:  The Journey of Jesus' Birth Topical Essay:  Is Matthew's Infancy Narrative Historical Word Study:  Righteousness

Product Details

• Paperback: 81 pages
• Publisher: Ignatius Press; 2nd edition (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898708176
• ISBN-13: 978-0898708172
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

141 of 143 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect tool for Catholic bible study, October 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Gospel of Matthew: Commentary, Notes and Study Questions (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible) (Paperback)

Finally, a reliable Catholic Study Bible is here. Granted, it's only the first volume, but if Hahn and Mitch can maintain this high quality in future volumes, the Ignatius Study Bible will become a landmark in Catholic Bible publishing for centuries to come.

It has everything: outlines, maps, cross references, and commentary that opens up the doctrinal and spiritual and apologetic significance of key texts. What stands out as the best feature is the constant recourse to Old Testament texts and traditions. The typology reminds me of Jerome and Augustine. The use of patristic interpretations is my favorite part, by far.

While I appreciate the Navarre Bible, the Ignatius Study Bible is MUCH better.

A few criticisms are in order. For one thing, the side margins are way too small. People who use Study Bibles (like me), also write in their Bibles. There's no room. Besides, the layout of the pages looks much too crowded without wider margins. Second, it looks too much like a pamphlet; instead, it ought to be bound like a booklet, with a real spine with title and author. That way, we can know what we're pulling off the shelf. One more thing, the authors' names (Hahn and Mitch) ought to be on the cover, like all other Study Bibles.

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Catholic Bible study series, June 27, 2002

By 

Paul H (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gospel of Matthew: Commentary, Notes and Study Questions (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible) (Paperback)

For the past year or so, I have been searching for a good Catholic Bible study series. The "Ignatius Catholic Study Bible" by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch is the best that I have found. The series contains lots of great information, but does not get bogged down with excessively long footnotes or essays. It is faithful to Catholic teaching, and it includes many references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I found it to be a great guide for someone who is just beginning to study the Bible, and who wants a reliable and trustworthy guide.

The format of the series is as follows: Each volume begins by explaining what the Catholic Church teaches about the Bible -- including the divinely inspired and inerrant nature of the Bible, the four senses of Scripture, and guidelines for Biblical interpretation. Following this general introduction is a brief introduction to the particular book of the Bible (e.g., the Gospel of Matthew). Next comes the actual text, with the Biblical text at the top of each page, study notes at the bottom, and a list of scriptural cross-references sandwiched in the middle. On average, each page consists of roughly half Biblical text and half study notes. In addition there are occasional one-page essays (e.g., "Who Are the Pharisees?"), occasional one-paragraph word studies, and a few relevant maps scattered throughout the volume. Each volume closes with several pages of study questions.

The biggest disadvantage of this series is that it is still a work in progress. As of June 2002, there are only three volumes -- Matthew, Mark, and Luke. (Update, October 2004: Since I wrote this review, the series has expanded, and now includes Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts of the Apostles, Romans, and 1 & 2 Corinthians.)

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Correct Way to Study The Bible, June 4, 2001

By 

Jeffrey A. Lee (Carlsbad, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gospel of Matthew: Commentary, Notes and Study Questions (The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible) (Paperback)

Steeped in the writings of the Church Fathers and the Catechism of the Catholic Church(CCC), Dr. Hahn and Mr. Mitch do an exceptional job at presenting a study of this first Gospel.

Even though I am not Roman Catholic (Anglo-Catholic!), I use this to lead a teen Bible Study. Why? Precisely because this uses the Church Fathers and the CCC as the foundation of understanding the meaning and application of portions of the Gospel. While I may not agree with all that is within the CCC, the vast majority of it is good theology representing reasonable development of basic theological principals found the the early Fathers of the Church.

Why did I not give this a five? First, because I rarely rate anything at its maximum (probably good I don't judge skating competitions), and secondly because of a little bit of frustration at the cross references to portions of the completed Ignatius Study Bible that don't exist yet! I wouldn't have them not issue these studies as they are completed, but I hate running across a reference to a word study in Luke, and that portion hasn't been published yet.