Studies in Matthew: Interpretation Past and Present [Hardcover]

Dale C. Jr. Allison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005

The author of a leading major critical commentary on Matthew here offers further insights into the Gospel and the history of its interpretation. Writing with theological sensitivity and a deft literary touch, he presents thirteen essays--nine previously unpublished and four thoroughly revised--on key passages, on structural features of the Gospel, and on patristic and modern interpretation. Exegetes, preachers, students, and other lovers of biblical narrative will read Studies in Matthew with profit and delight.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dale C. Allison Jr. (Ph.D., Duke University) is the Errett M. Grable Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He is the author (with W. D. Davies) of the three-volume work on Matthew in the International Critical Commentary series. His other works include Jesus of Nazareth: Millenarian Prophet and The Intertextual Jesus.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801027918
• ISBN-13: 978-0801027918
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,080,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Overflow from a Classic, January 11, 2007

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William Varner "dribex" (Newhall, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Studies in Matthew: Interpretation Past and Present (Hardcover)

The three volume work on Matthew that this author along with Davies did in the International Critical Commentary is oftentimes the final court of appeal for just about any exegetical issue that comes up in the Gospel. Evangelicals may have to bite their lip at times, but the experience is worth it to savor all that those volumes say. Now, how would you like to get "the rest of the story" that Dale Allison couldn't include, even in those three volumes? Well, here it is - the overflow of years of thought on this book. Allison learned that the Fathers had something worthwhile to say about this Gospel, and he tells you what that is. His discussion of the "star" of Bethlehem made me want to re-write a chapter in one of my own books! If you are writing on Matthew or preaching through it, you must get this volume. It will stimulate you to fresh thoughts as well as take you down old paths that have been neglected.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid in content and sound exegesis!, December 29, 2007

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Celucien L. Joseph (Fort Worth, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Studies in Matthew: Interpretation Past and Present (Hardcover)

Those who are familiar with Allison's previous works (i.e. whether on the historical Jesus, his 3 volume commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, or his book on NT eschatology,etc) will also enjoy his "Studies in Matthew." This book will get you acquainted with various schools of interpretation on the selected passages and revolutionize your own interpretation and understanding of various Matthean texts (i.e. 1:1, 1:18-25; 2:2, 9-10; 5:8; 5:21-25; 27:45; 28:9, etc) which the author treated in great detail. A gold to be treasured by every student of New Testament.

3.0 out of 5 stars Worthy of Consultation, October 19, 2008

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Trevin Wax - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Studies in Matthew: Interpretation Past and Present (Hardcover)

Writing a scholarly commentary on Matthew must be a very difficult task. Matthew's length (28 chapters) poses a problem for the scholar who wants to keep the commentary to one volume. How much attention should each verse receive? How detailed should the commentary be? How many variant interpretations need to be mentioned?

A single commentary cannot possibly answer all of the questions that the biblical text raises. That's why supplemental books can be helpful and at times necessary for correctly intepreting Scripture.

Dale Allison's Studies in Matthew is a supplemental book that brings together several of Allison's essays on Matthew. The book serves as a resource for the tougher passages of the Gospel, so that one can dig deeper than the average commentary will allow.

In this volume, Allison seeks to answer various questions and problems that surface upon one's reading of Matthew. One chapter deals with the "star" that led the wise men to Jesus. Was it a "star" in the astronomical sense, or is this a biblical allusion to an angel? Allison trots out a handful of early church interpreters in order to make his case for seeing the star as an angel.

Another chapter probes the difficult promise in the Beatitudes that the pure in heart will "see God." What does this mean? How is this possible? How has this verse been interpreted through the centuries?

Later chapters deal with the structure of the Sermon on the Mount, how early chapters in Matthew foreshadow the Passion narrative, and how a variety of church fathers viewed Matthew's Gospel.

Studies in Matthew is a splendid companion piece to any highly-regarded commentary of the Gospel of Matthew. It is worth consulting on a host of exegetical and interpretive issues.