Customer Reviews

The Pastoral Epistles (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries)

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This commentary shows Guthrie as a superb scholar. It is well written, insightful and never boring. His work on the authorship of the pastorals (it was Paul contra liberals)shows his deep commitment to conservative scholarship. I recommend it highly.

I am very disappointed with this commentary. I purchased only the PASTORAL EPISTLES revised edition [used] not the entire set of New Testament commenentaries. My purpose for that was to read and see what Donald Guthrie had to say about deacons having only one wife. Donald Guthrie states on page 92; "Yet no Christian, whether an overseer or not, would have been allowed to practice polygamy (cf. Bernard)." What about the man who became a Christian after already being married to more than one wife? You cannot tell me that there were not men who already had multiple wives that were not saved afterward. There were also divorced men who had just heard the gospel and were ready to accept the message of Christ. They were ready to be pastors and deacons. Most Baptists, especially Southern and Independant Baptist, are not letting divorced men serve as deacons or pastors, no matter what the circumstance of the divorce. That is legalism! No earthly man can tell another man he cannot serve the Lord God. It is between the man who has the calling and God! The Bible says; "husband of one wife." Period. Any time Jesus spoke of divorce in the New Testament He always used the term divorced not "husband of one wife." If you are divorced, the woman whom you were married to is not still your wife. It is illegal to have two wives in the United States. No where in the Bible does it say that she is still your wife. This is strictly a man made opinion and yet the Baptist [and probably other demoninations] wonder why their churches are declining in membership. I hear them say "we do not have enough deacons or people who want to serve." Duh! Over 60% of the population of this country is divorced. Wake up people!
If you want an excellent commentary buy THRU THE BIBLE with J. Vernon McGee or Charles Swindoll's new commentaries. Both of these men [plus others] have the "guts" to tell you where they stand. Author Donald Guthrie does not take a stand on this and other issues.