Customer Reviews

Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

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As a pastor, I have used many commentaries on Romans in my preaching and teaching. This volume by Schreiner is now the best single volume commentary on Romans. This may surprise many, since Moo's NICNT is also a recent release. However, while Moo is also outstanding in many ways, I prefer Schreiner both exegetically and theologically. While Moo's book is a little larger and more detailed, he sometimes loses the forest by focusing on the trees. Schreiner never loses the narrative progress of the the letter, and thus his discussions of the individual passages is always consciously contextual. Additionally, Schreiner is more nuanced in linguistics and semantics, and thus his exegetical decisions are more discerning. When Moo and Schreiner disagreed, I usually found Schreiner's arguments more compelling. My first pick is Scheiner, but I would not want to be without Moo either. My advice is to consult both (along with Cranfield and Murray) for any in depth teaching or preaching in Romans.

Schreiner's work is excellent as the other reviews have suggested. A few comments before you buy it:

First, Schreiner examines Romans section by section, not verse by verse. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but if you wish to lookup a specific verse you have to read through several paragraphs (or pages!) to find the discussion on the verse. Individual verses are not marked in the text.

Second, a knowledge of Greek is most helpful. When beginning a discussion on a phrase or sentence, Schreiner writes it in Greek and then provides the transliteration and the English in parentheses. For the rest of his discussion, however, he only uses the Greek letters. Often his discussion will go on for a few pages which makes it difficult for non-Greek readers to figure out which words he is talking about. I found myself frequently flipping pages trying to find out what the word he was discussing meant. Students with an elementary knowledge of Greek should not have a problem.

Schreiner's commentary is an excellent presentation of the reformed faith. However, if you have no knowledge of Greek you are probably better off using Douglas Moo's commentary.

The Baker Series has proven to be nothing if not exhaustive. (Bock's 2 volume work on Luke is a masterpiece), and Scheiner's work is certainly in keeping with that standard.

This is indeed a commentary you need to read "text-in-hand" and be ready to follow for paragraphs at a time. Schreiner ensures the argument is generally developed in its context.

I would say that Moo's commentary on Romans (the NICNT series) is superior, however. Schreiner's argument in Romans 9-11 seemed to me to be exactly what the Jews would have wanted Paul to say. I am a Calvinist, but I find the normal Calvinist argument (which Schreiner makes) less than satisfying. Moo's argument here is more persuasive, IMHO.

Also, from time to time, Schreiner allows his Reformed Theology to get interpreted INTO the text instead of FROM the text. Although again, I am Reformed in my theology, theology must be Biblical before it is Systemitized. In general, he avoids this. But a couple of the places where he does it are very obvious. (Romans 1:16-17 being a very good example.)

Don't get me wrong, I HIGHLY reccommend this commentary. I depth, in scholarship, and--in most places--exegesis, it is painstaking. Perhaps that is what makes the rare deficiency one sees in it the more glaring. I would just say that Moo's would be the first "advanced" commentary I would get, and THEN this one.

Schreiner's commentary, as the other review notes, is a breath of fresh air. Unlike most other commentaries, one cannot simply look up individual, bold-numbered verses in order to see what one verse alone means. In order to see and understand Schreiner's arguments, one has to get into his text and find it, as Schreiner is more concerned with Paul's flow of thought than a simply verse-by-verse exposition.

Another helpful feature is found in the beginning of each section, wherein the flow of though it laid out, thus enabling the reader to get a bird's-eye view of the lay of the land and the points Paul is trying to develop.

The commentary employs a good deal of Greek, and yet all words are transliterated for those who don't know it.

Theologically, Schreiner makes the case that the whole of this missionary support letter is to proclaim the supremacy of God.

Acquiring Schreiner's commentary (along with Moo's contribution in the NICNT)will have one well set on a fruitful course of study in the book of Romans.

We have been studying Romans in our bible study group, and I have been using Hendriksen, Bruce and Schreiner to help me to understand the text we are trying to come to grips with. The other 2 writers are helpful, but Schreiner is superb. As has been stated before, he is excellent at explaining the flow of the argument.

I find that he nearly always answers the questions I am asking, and very often, makes me see things I would never have noticed without his assistance.

If you already have this work and enjoy it, you may also find his Pauline Theology, "Paul: apostle of God's glory in Christ" very beneficial. I have also greatly appreciated The Race Set Before Us, which he co-authored with Ardel Caneday.

This is the best commentary on Romans I have ever read, and it is one of the best on any book for that matter. Unlike many commentators, Schreiner does not just focus on verses as isolated, independent thought units. He has a strong concern for flow of thought. Schreiner's treatment of theological issues is exemplary. Occasionally, he advocates some idiosyncratic positions, but he argues very well for them.

Schreiner's work is one of the most celebrated commentaries on Romans today. Schreiner's interaction with the Greek text and scholars alike is quite impressive. The author shows familiarity with Second temple literature as well. The work reflects the author's best achievement (See his theology of of paul, Paul, Apostle of God's glory in Christ). This is a commentary that seeks to be faithful to Scripture and ultimately celebrates the glory, majesty and excellency of Christ in the book of Romans.

This commentary on the book of Romans by T. R. Schreiner is one of the best commentaries I have ever read. Better than N. T. Wright and Everett F. Harrison. The author is faithful to the text and respects the text as the Word of God.
It is a big blessing to have this commentary in post-soviet countries (I am from Lithuania) where theology is not popular and people are lacking commentaries, books about the Bible even in the libraries.
It is worthy to get this book because the author opens the deep meanings of the text.

Schreiner's Commentary is an excellent work when studying the book of Romans. Amazingly, he manages to retain a contemporary edge on such a difficult book of the Bible. His technical prowess comes forward as he examines significant words in the Greek and helps the reader to explore for the correct understanding. This work coupled with Douglas Moo's commentary on Romans are powerful technical resources for any pastor or theology student.

I love this commentary, it is simply the best commentary on Romans. I had to buy this commentary for a Romans class at Liberty University (also had to buy the Encounter Romans book by Douglas Moo). When I saw the book (800+ pages) I was overwhelmed by the prospect of reading this within a 8 week period. I have never read through a commentary before this but I was pleasantly surprised by the readability of the commentary. I would recommend this to anyone as I would any of the other Baker Exegetical Commentaries. I now have the one on Acts and another on Phillipeans. BUY THIS IT IS WORTH IT!