Customer Reviews

Luke 1 1thru 9 50 Hermeneia Se (Hermeneia: A Critical & Historical Commentary on the Bible) (Hermeneia: a Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible)

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Francois Bovon's Luke Commentary is exceptional in every way, save one, which is that is has yet to be completed in its English translation! Thus far we have only this first volume, published in 2002, which takes us from chapter 1 into chapter 9 (though we do have in English his separate survey of Lukan theology). As with other volumes in this series, the author uses the original Greek at will, but translations are provided throughout. Bovon is also committed to discussing the Gospel as it informs his own faith, a sometimes-rare effort in academically oriented commentaries. So we may sit-in on his own struggle to consider Jesus' demand to love one's enemies (Luke 6:27-38), for example, while yet living in a world used to exercising war as a means of executing state policy, often with Christian endorsement (pp. 243-245).

So, what to use for the rest of Luke while waiting for Bovon's remaining volumes to be translated? Nolland's three-volume Word Biblical Commentary is probably closest in terms of its exegetical detail and engagement with modern scholarship. Fitzmyer's two-volume Anchor Bible commentary is now available in paperback, and volume one contains a more extensive section on Lukan theology (130 pp.) than do most. Luke Timothy Johnson's Sacra Pagina commentaries on Luke and Acts have helpful, verse-by-verse technical notes and section comments. Joel Green's insightful NICNT is almost more a narrative study than traditional commentary, declining as it does to draw on texts such as Mark and Matthew to understand Luke. Finally, Judith Lieu's slender Epworth commentary on Luke provides a nice overview, as does Brendan Byrne's reading of Luke, The Hospitality of God.

The Mermeneia commentary of Francois Bovon, Luke 1, stands out as a remarkable work on the Gospel according to Luke. The first part of the series makes a highly scholarly basis for the further study on Luke. Its beauty is in its lucidity of expressions and depth of information with clarifications of Greek terms and bibliography on pracially every pericope, For the students and researchers it is highly recommendable and for the preachers for depth knowledge of the Gospel according to Luke. Although a heavily scholarly work with detailed researched commentary it is easy reading and earnestly recommendable.

This volume is quite simply the new gold standard in scholarship on the Gospel of Luke.

D. A. Carson believes that Bovon is as deep exegetically and more seminal theologically than any other commentary on Luke (New Testament Commentary Survey, page 54. However, Bovon holds that Luke represents a specific form of the Pauline school in the third generation of churches, thus dating it rather late."