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101 of 103 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent for students and teachers, March 11, 2003
This review is from: Revelation (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)
More accessible for the student than Beale, he is very readable and lucid and the layout is clear. He compares the views of different commentators (useful because he cites Beale and Aune). He deals with most options on difficult passages before coming to his own conclusion. Despite its size he is not over detailed. His interpretation is eclectic, i.e. he combines preterist, idealist and futurist, with the futurist being primary rather than idealist. Premill on chap 20. Uses his own translation of the Greek, which is better than the NIV. He is very useful on the Greek and Greek text is transliterated. Footnotes are kept to a minimum and textual variants are left to the end of each section. There is a good bibliography and four indexes. The introduction is short (49 p) but adequate for the student. Comments on a paragraph at a time, individual verses are not indicated, which is a pity. He is a little weak on numerology and sometimes fails to see or mention contrasts such as the new Jerusalem the Bride and Babylon the whore. Overall however, a very useful commentary, which I highly recommend for students, teachers and preachers. I found him hard to put down, he reads so well. He bodes well to become the standard evangelical commentary for students. NB. Most seminary students should own Osborne and Mounce. A good starter on Revelation would be Koester Revelation and the End of All Things.
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51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
At the top next to Beale on Revelation, June 12, 2006
This review is from: Revelation (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)
As a pastor who is studying and preaching from the Greek text through Revelation, and who audited Beale at Wheaton on Revelation, I find that this commentary is used on every sermon.
It's a first rate commentary with opinions that true scholars and regular pastors learn to respect even if they do not agree with him on every point. Sometimes when reading Beale there are so many references to apocalyptic literature and other sources that one can get overwhelmed. Osborne doesn't give as many references, but the other reviewer is correct...he's easier to read than Beale or Aune. I have several hundred dollars of the best commentaries I could find on Revelation. This one is one of the few that almost always makes it in my book bag (and it's pretty thick). I am unwilling to go without it when I have the potential of preparing a sermon at home rather than my office.
He sets apart special comments and exegetical points in shaded frames for quick reference. One time when we were discussing a particularly detailed and crucial point in class Dr. Beale excitedly said, I've got to call Osborne about this....which shows that if one of the top scholars in the world on Revelation is excited about calling Osborne...he must be great. And as I've used him, I agree. His stuff is great.
When they diverge, I usually go with Beale, but Osborne makes one think carefully and helps you work through issues in a different way than Beale does. The big differences are that Osborne has smooth reading, fewer references to research on most points, but about as much material in general as Beale.
Any pastor who is preaching from Revelation should refer to Osborne as well as Beale for indepth background on almost every nuance of the text one can imagine. So although I cannot say I agree with every single point in this book...it's easily a five star commentary that you need in your library and open on your desk as you research the textual issues and depths of this incredible grand finale of the bible...the book of Revelation.
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21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best balance commentary on the Revelation, August 21, 2006
This review is from: Revelation (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)
As a Bible teacher I have read many commentaries on the Revelation. I have taught every verse of the Revelation 3 times and have a different view than the one Osborne has. But in saying that I find this particular commentary the best balanced and clearest thinking of any I have read. It is not a technical commentary but I find it as useful as those that major in handling the original language. So read commentaries that agree with whatever view of interpretation you hold to - then sit back and really enjoy and be challenged by this clear writing scholar.
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