Customer Reviews

Luke: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching & Preaching)

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It is always hard to write a commentary about a gospel. The stories we have heard in our youth leave us with one perspective, and the insecurities we have as adults (who cannot read Greek, Hebrew & Aramaic) many times keep us from developing another. But, Craddock makes Luke an accessible gospel despite the fact so many of the stories recorded in this gospel are so difficult to understand. For example, his breakdown of the influential 10th chapter helps provide the reader with a framework to discern how Jesus' misson to his followers was really an effort to help people come to realize that point where earthly knowledge must give way to faith. He does so by providing a context in which the various stories are written, and a suggestion as to why they are written. The Bible can be a difficult book to study for ministers, much less for laymen. But, Craddock opens a door that makes the stories in Luke so much more alive, and therefore, so much more meaningful, for the student. While it is a commentary for preachers and teachers, it is really a framework for anyone who wishes to learn more.

The Interpretation series is a real mixed bag. There are volumes like Willimon on Acts -- not what you'd want for your ONLY commentary on that book, but an ideal 2nd or 3rd one (original, well illustrated, theologically interesting, etc.) Then there are volumes like Craddock's.

I expected alot from this commentary. Craddock is a professor of both homiletics and NT at Emory, one of the leading liberal seminaries in America. He has a long-standing reputation as one of the premier preachers of his generation. And yet, there was nothing worthwhile I could locate in this book. (At least not in the first few chapters -- I gave up after Luke 2).

The problems as I see them:

1. Generally way too brief.

2. Highly idiosyncratic in what he chooses to focus on. For example, on the annuciation to Mary (Luke 1:26f.) Craddock devotes just two pages and wastes most of it digressing on ancient near east views on angels.

3. shockingly, almost no practical application.

4. Spills too much ink exploring highly speculative (and sometimes dated) critical issues that would seem to have very little use for preaching (even if they WERE true). For example, in Zechariah's song at the end of Luke 1, Craddock spends one of the three short paragraphs wondering if this might have originally been a hymn of John the Baptist's followers, with an new ending added by Christians to reshape it.

5. Dry as dust, with an artless use of English (again shocking for one with a reputation for eloquence).

I could go on. For a decent, theologically aware homiletical commentary try R. Kent Hughes' 2 vol. work (1998). The volume in the Bible Speaks Today series (BST) is also better. If you want something theologically creative (if sometimes wrong) and practically oriented, while academically solid, try NT (Tom) Wright instead. That volume is what this Interpretation series entry OUGHT to be.

Craddock is one of the best preachers of the last fifty years. At least in my estimation. He is an excellent instructor of preachers, but I found this commentary to be to short, lacking in access to more substantial resources and at points off topic. It is at its best when used with a few other commentaries on Luke. If you can only purchase one, this is not your commentary.

Part of the Interpretation Series of Bible commentaries, Craddock is well written and covers essentials of the gospel. He suggestes that Luke's narrative presentation of Jesus' life has echoes from the Old Testament and foreshadows Luke's continung narrative in Acts. There are not the exegetical foot notes found is some more comprehensive commentaries, making it, perhaps, more suitable for the lay teacher.

I was surprised by this commentary. I don't like the Interpretation series generally-for its liberal tendencies-but this volumne is quite good. Craddock's interpretations are very illuminating. The commentary is short, but very thought-provoking.

My retort to a review from Pastor who stopped reading Part Two, I find six sermon potentials in Part two of "The Ministry Of Jesus in Galilee!" Stories of Elijah & Elisha restoring life to young men make use of those daring comments: "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people," in the person of Jesus on p.97.

Using these stories was a boost for sermons to prison inmates on the evenings before and after Death-Row Executions of the GD&CC or The GA Diagnostic Center for two years of 1991-1993.

Also the Section of Luke 9:28-36, pp. 133-135.."as brief as it is" includes references to Ex. 24:12-18, Mark 9:2 & Ex 34:29-35. These describe reflections upon the Epiphany stories of the Transfiguration in the Gospels as related to the O.T. accounts of "the face of Moses shone" much like Jesus, as seen praying by the disciples! What appropriate illustrations to LUKE'S accounts of "the Transfiguration, the Baptism and the prayer-life of Jesus."

Another outstanding example of Dr. Craddock's expertise comes in Part Four "The Journey To JERUSAMEM." In Luke 14:1-24 he gathers four disparate units of material by means of the context of a meal. These four stories do not depend on each other for meaning but it is important that they all occur "at table." Thus, "Table Talk was not only a fairly common literary device for gathering and disseminating discussions on a range of topics...provide the occasions for teachers to impart their wisdom."

All of these comes from that Professor of New Testament and Preaching from EMORY UNIVERSITY, "one of the more liberal Seminaries." Joyfully from Retired Chap. Fred W Hood

Along with Green's commentary, Craddock, a master at preaching, makes available to pastors a tool for getting to the heart of Luke's message. While I may not always agree with Craddock's understanding of a text, more often than not he is right on.