The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship.
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Commentaries are written with a variety of audiences in mind. Some are pitched at a "popular" level; they are accessible to Christians who do not have a degree in theology (and they may not be very helpful, since they tend to rehearse familiar ideas). Some are a little meatier, intended to aid preachers in sermon preparation. And some are written at an academic level; they debate the positions of other scholars.
The Word Biblical Commentary series tries to address both of the latter two audiences. The commentaries provide assistance to scholars, preachers, and other serious students of the Bible.
Word imposes a rigid format. Authors must begin each passage with a bibliography, followed by a translation with notes on the Greek manuscripts. Next there is a "form and structure" section which discusses grammatical and thematic links with other passages and calls attention to the literary techniques employed by the biblical author. Next there is a "comment" section which is quite detailed, allowing some room for interaction with other scholars. Finally there is an "explanation" section, which summarizes the message of the text without repeating all the technical details.
Word's format inevitably introduces some repetition. For busy preachers, the trick is to zero in on the explanation section. Preachers will value the other sections of the commentary when there is a theological or textual problem which merits closer examination.
Dunn's commentary succeeds brilliantly at both levels. Dunn is a leading authority in Pauline studies. His "new perspective on Paul" builds on the work of E. P. Sanders and has attracted the attention of scholars including N. T. Wright. He is bound to have his academic audience in mind at points in a commentary on Romans.
But Dunn also put a great deal of thought into the explanation section of this work. He describes his approach in the author's preface. When he began to write, he concentrated on the explanation section of chapters 1-11 for two years. During that time, he restricted himself to only a few technical aids, in order to maintain a focus on the broad message of Romans rather than the technical details primarily of interest to scholars.
The result is a reference book that any serious student of the New Testament will find helpful. Many readers will read only the explanation section most of the time. But the Word commentaries are relatively inexpensive, so Dunn's two volumes on Romans are still good value for the money.
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I am a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages). I preach at least twice a month, in addition to writing one paper per month. This is all in addition to my paying job as an Engineer. Because my time is at such a premium, I am always glad to try different commentaries on the Greek and Hebrew texts. Some of you may use a commentary differently than I do. For me, a commentary is my last stop before I write the sermon (or paper). First comes all my own reading and translating of the text. Then I compare my translation to the main English translations (NASB, NEV, NIV, KJV). After all that work, then comes time to read some commentaries.
This is the first volume of the WBC that I have ever tried. Therefore, I cannot speak for the series. This particular volume is very helpful. The author (James Dunn) does an outstanding job of listing all his references. He provides a survey of the opinions of a multitude of Bible scholars, before offering his own opinion. This is precisely how a commentator should write a commentary. Even though I do not agree with every conclusion that Dunn makes, I very much appreciate the amount of work which went into this volume.
For those of you are familiar with the EBC (Expositor's Bible Commentary), the WBC (Word Biblical Commentary) on Romans has more survey of what other writers have said and less analysis of the Greek words. Both commentaries are useful and both have their shortcomings. If you are a full-time preacher (or professor) and have time to read all the original source materials from commentator throughout the ages, this volume might not be for you. However, for the rest of us, this volume is a wonderful source of (a) seeing what other commentators have said (b) gaining a less linguistically analytical view of the Greek text and (c)being challenged to think about Dunn's comments.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, but only for those people who are going to go read Romans first, and then read this commentary.
This is the first volume of the WBC that I have ever tried. Therefore, I cannot speak for the series. This particular volume is very helpful. The author (James Dunn) does an outstanding job of listing all his references. He provides a survey of the opinions of a multitude of Bible scholars, before offering his own opinion. This is precisely how a commentator should write a commentary. Even though I do not agree with every conclusion that Dunn makes, I very much appreciate the amount of work which went into this volume.
For those of you are familiar with the EBC (Expositor's Bible Commentary), the WBC (Word Biblical Commentary) on Romans has more survey of what other writers have said and less analysis of the Greek words. Both commentaries are useful and both have their shortcomings. If you are a full-time preacher (or professor) and have time to read all the original source materials from commentator throughout the ages, this volume might not be for you. However, for the rest of us, this volume is a wonderful source of (a) seeing what other commentators have said (b) gaining a less linguistically analytical view of the Greek text and (c)being challenged to think about Dunn's comments.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, but only for those people who are going to go read Romans first, and then read this commentary.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The letter falls into the three self-evident sections of almost all communications: beginning (1:1-17), middle (1:18-15:13) and end (15:14-16:27). Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
nomistic service, accordance with the flesh, old epoch, saving outreach, preconversion state, martyr theology, preceding indictment, eschatological tension, covenant righteousness, diatribe style, universal indictment, final acquittal, covenant status, many trespasses, eschatological reservation, fuller phrase, covenantal nomism, creaturely dependence, epochal significance, reckoned righteous, saving righteousness, covenant loyalty, covenant purpose, divine passive, mediatorial role Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Wisd Sol, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, Spirit of God, New Testament, Adam Christology, Spirit of Christ, Paul's Jewish, Day of Atonement, Jewish Christian, Judaism of Paul, Old Testament, Divine Impartiality, God of Israel, Neuen Testament, Saving Event, Hellenistic Jewish, New York, Psychological Aspects, Wisdom of Solomon, Anthropological Terms, Israel's God, Per Christum, God's Spirit, Psalms of Solomon New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The letter falls into the three self-evident sections of almost all communications: beginning (1:1-17), middle (1:18-15:13) and end (15:14-16:27). Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
nomistic service, accordance with the flesh, old epoch, saving outreach, preconversion state, martyr theology, preceding indictment, eschatological tension, covenant righteousness, diatribe style, universal indictment, final acquittal, covenant status, many trespasses, eschatological reservation, fuller phrase, covenantal nomism, creaturely dependence, epochal significance, reckoned righteous, saving righteousness, covenant loyalty, covenant purpose, divine passive, mediatorial role Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Wisd Sol, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, Spirit of God, New Testament, Adam Christology, Spirit of Christ, Paul's Jewish, Day of Atonement, Jewish Christian, Judaism of Paul, Old Testament, Divine Impartiality, God of Israel, Neuen Testament, Saving Event, Hellenistic Jewish, New York, Psychological Aspects, Wisdom of Solomon, Anthropological Terms, Israel's God, Per Christum, God's Spirit, Psalms of Solomon New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 38
books:
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52
books
cite this book:
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- The Glory of Christ in the New Testament: Studies in Christology in Memory of George Bradford Caird by L. D. Hurst in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
- Dio Chrysostom and the New Testament: Collected Parallels (Studia Ad Corpus Hellenisticum Novi Testamenti) by G. Mussies in Front Matter
- The Nag Hammadi Library: A Translation of the Gnostic Scriptures by James M. Robinson in Front Matter
- The Origin of Christology by C. F. D. Moule in Front Matter
- Holy Bible: King James Version: Standard Text Edition by Baker Publishing Group in Front Matter
See all 38 books this book cites
- Paul & the Law: A Contextual Approach by Frank Thielman on 5 pages
- Saint Paul Returns to the Movies: Triumph over Shame by Mr. Robert Jewett on 4 pages
- Cruciformity: Paul's Narrative Spirituality of the Cross by Michael J. Gorman on 4 pages
- Impossible Joy--The Good News for Lust and Sex Addicts and Other Sinners by Ron J. on page 231, page 270, and Back Matter
- Paul and His Letters by John B. Polhill on page 156, page 305, and page 352
See all 52 books citing this book
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