Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.)

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.

This is a great study bible series. It is accessible yet scholarly. The questions in the review section are not just for intellectual understading, but also serious spiritual growth. For instance, the study questions on Christ's baptism include the editors asking us when we have been like the scribes and pharisees challenged by St. John the Baptist.

This little study bible has been awesome for my spiritual growth and I recommend it without reservation.

However, one can always offer criticism. I concur to some degree with an earlier reviewer with my one criticism: only Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch are involved in the project. But I am conflicted about this criticism.

On the one hand a Catholic study bible ought to reflect a broader range of scholarship. As great as Dr. Hahn is, there are orthodox and solid Catholic theologians who disagree with him on some important points.

On the other hadn, a little more than a century ago in the late 1800's, the great Rev. Haydock published his edition of the Douay Rheims with only his (gigantic) commentary and it is one of the greatest Catholic bible commentaries of all time. Therefore an individual Catholic commentary is definitely possible.

There is a diverse and wonderful commentary in English based on the RSV and that is the Navarre bible (outstanding). I don't think Hahn and Mitch envision a volume that will compete with the Navarre, but rather one that is more accessible for bible study and personal spiritual growth for the laity. If one is going to buy a multi-volume Catholic commentary, I think the Navarre is the one to get; but it is expensive, and lacks the great study questions of these little volumes.

In short, I recommend this commentary series highly. While it may lack a breadth of scholarly opinion it is orthodox and helps with spiritual growth.

Hahn has done a wonderful job with the RSV Catholic study bible. Each book study bible features an overview of the book as a whole, a massive amount of commentary, word studies, and side essays on various important topics that continue to come like "Who were the Pharisees?" as well as exposition on major Catholic themes like "Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant." One of the main features of the commentary is that it is very typological in the sense that the authors are always pointing out how certain passages in the New Testament were prefigured in the Old Testament, as well as clear parallels like direct quotes. As I mentioned, this is clear enough when the New Testament authors directly quote the Old Testament and even preface their statement with "as it is written" but there are also many parallels and references to Old Testament events, people, and ideas that are quite subtle. These are pointed out by the authors in the notes, of course referencing book chapter and O.T. verse. There are also many notes about how Church Fathers interpreted certain passages. The author will note that they are about to give an allegorical, analogical, or moral interpretation of the passage (in addition to the literal) and usually cite a Church father's interpretation. The authors also have in mind giving Catholic interpretations of "difficult" verses; ones that seem to say that Jesus was not God, historical problems raised by skeptics, or verses that are popularly used in Protestant apologetics against Catholic doctrines. This is very helpful if you are ever given a New Testament verse which is supposed to "disprove" a Catholic doctrine. Because Hahn is a former Presbyterian minister, he very well knows which verses many non-Catholics use to try and disprove Catholic doctrine. Chances are, the authors have a footnote about it and give an interpretation of it with the Protestant or skeptic objection in mind. All of the Ignatius Study bibles are highly recommended.

I used this booklet in a Bible study on the "New Testament hidden in the Old, and the Old revealed in the New." It was an excellent resource in unlocking the Bible as the One Word - a unified story of God's saving initiative. You are given not only the Old Testament background for Matthew's Gospel, but also teachings of the Church Fathers and how the teachings of the Church come out of and illuminate the Gospel.

The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible is a great tool for small groups seeking to understand the Bible from a Catholic perspective.

This slim, 86-page paperback, is composed of five major sections:
- Introduction to the Ignatius Study Bible
- Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew
- Outline of the Gospel According to Matthew
- Gospel with Commentary by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch
- Study Questions by Dennis Walters

The commentary includes historical background, with maps, and categorized notes. The notes have symbols next to them indicating whether they are:
- content and unity
- living tradition
- analogy of faith

The study questions are grouped by chapter, and then broken down into two sections per chapter: "For understanding" and "For application." The understanding questions are textual analysis questions. " The application questions are pertinent for the spiritual lives of Catholics. However, space was not provided within the questions themselves for notes. There are several notes pages at the end of the book, but white space was not allotted within the questions themselves.

Overall, the organization of this study guide makes it an effective tool for novices, and challenging for for more knowledgeable Catholics.

I am a college student and lead a bible study with guys my age. This book is an excellent resource and is really going to help!!!

As with each guide from this publisher, biblical text is included with study notes and a broad cross reference to other scripture. Study questions and points to ponder are included for each biblical chapter. I have found this series to be very helpful in putting in 15 minutes a day of regular study and review. This has been very helpful in opening up my understanding of the scripture verses I have heard for so many years in Mass. Well worth considering for study throughout the year, but a good idea for study during Lent - give it a try!

This is an outstanding study guide for St. Matthew's Gospel. Full of historical and grammatical background for the passages. A wealth of information on these scriptures. Does an incredible job of putting the passages into there contexts, explains the many Old Testament references made in the Gospels. Explains the Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic in which the scriptures were originally written. Can't wait to get the entire series...