Customer Reviews

NIV Application Commentary : Daniel

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Longman has produced the first Old Testament volume in the NIV Application series which combines exegesis with practical applications. The book is well written and moves through the book of Daniel at an even pace. Longman is no stranger to critical issues and interpretive problems but does not dwell on them. He writes from a reformed position citing Calvin throughout the book. He takes an amillennial perspective and his discussion of the latter half of Daniel places an emphasis upon historical fulfillment and symbolical interpretation. Even the 70 years of captivity (a number Daniel was reading from the scroll of Jeremiah; Dan 9) are taken symbolically though many would see this as the 70 years Israel was without a temple: 586-615 BC). The book makes frequent reference to New Testament passages and frequently challenges Christians to apply their faith to current situations. Longman provides examples of application and discusses biblical background for helping the process of application move along a clear path. The author's identification of Israel with the Church supports him in his position that Christians "should be working to keep prayer out of public schools," p. 170. Nevertheless, the book provides a balance of exposition and practical application seasoned with the author's methodology throughout and is recommended for those seeking to learn more about this great Old Testament prophet.

This book is part of a series of NIV bible studies written by various authors. The author of this volume, Tremper Longman III, is a professor at Westmont College in California and was previously on the faculty of Westminster Seminary.

The commentary is arranged by chapters and contains sections on the original meaning of the text, the context in relation to the whole Bible, and contemporary significance of the text. His writing is easy to comprehend and pleasant to read. The book would work equally well as reference or as a group Bible study.

Longman is solidly reformed. He resists the temptation to use the prophesy in Daniel to set specific dates for the end-times. In fact, he has publicly debated Harold Camping on just this issue. Although not directly addressed, his traditional approach effectively answers the error promoted by dispensationalists.

Tremper Longman provides here a very enjoyable book on the meaning and application of the book of Daniel. Like many others, I was familiar with the first half of Daniel (the Lion's Den, etc.), but found it very difficult to understand and apply the second half (Daniel's dreams and visions). This book really explained it well for me. Once started, I couldn't put this book away until I had read it all. Outstanding work; thankyou Mr. Longman.

My favorite of 7 commentaries on Daniel. Judiciously and succinctly focuses issues. My congregation of 60-98 year olds were looking for sparks to fly when we got to Daniel 9. They'd heard candy stick sermons about the math. They'd seen the powerpoint charts and tagboard posters prior to the modern projection era.
Then, Longman's approach transformed our entire study. It was wonderful. My top-notch Bible student (98) thanked me literally with tears in his eyes, "I've studied this a hundred times, and you got it right. Thank you."
No, thanks Professor Longman. His exegesis of the first half of that chapter transforms everything.
BTW, the reviewer from Florida who wants more depth and breadth on the second half of the chapter and the rest of Daniel--and the OT--will want to get that (and MUCH more) by reading "God Is a Warrior," Longman's outstanding treatment of that motif through the whole Bible--with Dan Reid. I'm sure that's a plenary approach the reviewer would entirely appreciate. My humble suggestion.

I have twice taught the book of Daniel and am familiar with the various views both liberal and conservative. I have enjoyed the many practical comments that Dr Longman has made but find myself very disappointed on his lack of willingness to deal with the prophetic parts of the book. His chapter on Daniel Nine is a case in point. He does a great job in helping understand the powerful prayer of Daniel but then completely cops out with the prophecy of the 70 weeks. He says for instance that there are "many" decree's to choose from when deciding when the prophecy timetable starts -- yet he would obviously know there are only 4 decrees. He neither mentions them nor deal with them. After saying he will comment on the 70 weeks he completely ignors any attempt to explain why he believes they are not accurate forward history -- not a word! This is dishonest scholarship. I don't care if he agrees with my exegisis but I would like to at least be able to struggle with some sort of explanation from him.

If you want to know what the Word of God means and how it applies to you, the NIV Application Commentaries are essential to your library of books. I first read the commentary on the Gospel of Mark and appreciated the sound and practical instruction put forth in it. These commentaries are true to the exegetical and expository approach to studying Scripture, but are written in an easy-to-understand dialogue so that the average person can grasp what is being said without having to first interpret the commentary's interpretation. The practical help that these commentaries give is highlighted in the stated intention of taking the readers back in time to the original meaning and then bringing them back to the here and now with applicable truths for today. I will definitely be keeping these commentaries on my bookshelf for years to come!

I gained a lot from this commentary of Daniel. It may go over the head of many who are just beginning to study Daniel, so if you are choosing a commentary to help your first study, there are other, better choices. But if you have spent a lot of time in Daniel, this is an excellent way to gain more insight.

This Book is attributed to Saint John, but was probably written by his followers after his death on the basis of his oral teaching. It is an essential piece of Christian fantastique litterature.

The story is perfectly gripping and inspiring. The symbols are very complex. The numerology is fundamental.

God is heavily defined as binary : the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, He-is-and-He-was. In only one instance is he ternary, when he is defined as « He who is, who was and who is to come ».

The second figure that is essential is seven : it is the symbol of God's power, God's punishment, God's cleansing of the world with the seven angels, the seven trumpets, the second set of seven angels and the seven bowls containing the seven plagues.

Yet God is not only 2. He is also the multiples 4 and 8. And what is important too is the definition of the New Jerusalem as being square with three doors on each side, hence twelve doors. 12 is the figure of perfection, the absolute perfection of the City of God on earth.

When we read this book with these simple ideas in mind we find that the story is thrilling, with the pregnant woman chased by the dragon, and then again the woman representing God, pregnant again, confronted to a second dragon. This symbolic image is fundamental. This « woman adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown » is the representation of perfect knowledge, of the solar year and calendar, of the lunar year and calendar and of the twelve signs of the Zodiac. The dragon represents the negation of knowledge (idolatry), wisdom (fornication) and perfection (Babylon/Rome sitting on its seven hills).

To conclude we must understand that this vision is the basis of all romanesque art and especially romanesque churches that will join under the influence of the Benedictines, the knowledge/wisdom/ science of old from the ancient Egyptians to the modern Greeks or Romans via le linking Celtic tradition. And then we understand why these churches are situated facing the East, with a North-South transept, and why these churches are the pilgrimage of the faithful from the West, the world, to the East, God, crossing the transept to enter the realm of God himself. These romanesque artists will only add Solomon's symbol, the two cups, one receiving (man's), one pouring (God's) God's light, the two triangles building a star, hence 3x2=6.

Please, if you don't believe this Book of Revelation is the whole Christian wisdom in twenty pages, please visit the Benedictine abbey-church for women in Lavaudieu, France, and you will understand how this Book became the acme of Christian inspiration. It is so true that the leaves of the tree of knowledge that grow along the river that crosses the New Jerusalem is the cure for pagans (and not their punishment).

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

This book is very important because it is one essential prophetic book about Jesus, one essential source for the Book of Revelation. It also contains a well-known passage about Daniel in Babylonia and his confrontation to the lions. Daniel is able to interpret dreams and visions and he is thus prophesying the future. His confrontation with the lions in the lions' pit follows the miracle of three other deported jews surviving a furnace in which they are thrown. The first section is the basis of a church opera, Ludus Danielis, performed in Beauvais, France's cathedral in the XII-XIIIth centuries. A recording of it is available.

But Daniel is also a model of fair justice against wicked injustice. That is how he saves Susanna from death, by logically revealing the two wicked lying elders. This is how he proves to Cyrus that Bel is an idol and not a God, and that the priests are cheating him, and all that only with logical means and devices. This is how he kills the dragon and reveals it is no God.

We will note that the episode of Daniel in the lions' pit is given in two different versions. As a matter of fact the second version is merged into the first version for the church opera.

This book is a good adventure book. It uses miracles only in extreme situations and it demonstrates that reason and logic are the fundamental tools of good government whereas deceiving and lying are the basic tools of profiteers and wicked people who detain power and want to retain it.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

What is this trite, I want my money back. Pretentious "Bible Bashing " from a collection of boring writers, give it a miss.