Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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108 of 109 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent commentaries-but beware!, August 1, 2000
The revised edition of Barclay's commentaries was issued in 1975 and was prepared not by William Barclay, but by the Rev. James Martin. According to the introduction, the revised edition renews the printer's type, restyles the books, corrects some errors in the text and removes some references which have become outdated. In addition, Biblical quotations in the commentaries use the Revised Standard Version instead of the King James Version (however Barclay's own translation is retained at the beginning of each daily section). The reality of the revised edition is quite different. What the introduction to the revised edition fails to mention is that while the 17 volumes of the previous 2nd edition contains a total of 5,195 pages, the revised edition prepared by Martin has only 4,541 pages, or a reduction of 12.6%. The reduction is most noticeable in the 2 volumes on Revelation, which is reduced from 528 to 415 pages, a reduction of 21.4%. In Ephesians, the revised edition contains 30 fewer pages, a reduction of 19.1% (157/127). The Gospel of John is reduced by 87 pages, a reduction of 13.7% (634/547). In the commentary in Revelation 3:1-6 (Sardis: A Lifeless Church), well over 50% of the material written by Barclay in the 2nd edition is removed by Martin in the revised edition. I first noticed this editing in the commentary in the Gospel of John 13:33-35 in which Jesus speaks of loving one another as he loved us. In the 2nd edition, Barclay so beautifully states the following: "He [Jesus] knew all their [his disciples] weaknesses and yet He still loved them. Those who really love us are the people who know us at our worst and who still love us." However, these two sentences do not appear in Martin's revised edition. Repeatedly, key sentences and phrases are deleted from the revised edition. Therefore, the revised edition is in fact an edited and condensed version of the commentaries actually written by William Barclay. William Barclay's commentaries are the most insightful and meaningful commentaries that I have ever read on the New Testament. However, if you want to read what Barclay actually said instead of what Martin thought was important enough to leave in, then check with a used book store or do a used book search on the internet to get the 2nd editions of these wonderful commentaries.
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding Commentary on the New Testament, November 10, 2001
William Barclay, a Scottish theologian, has written an outstanding 17 volume commentary on the New Testament. (It can be bought as a set or by separate volumes.) He gives a passage, then proceeds with an explanation. Often, he gives four or five interpretations, sometimes following with a statement something like, "The first interpretation probably is not what Paul meant because..., the second is certainly a possibility because...; however, I tend to favor the third explanation because..." Essentially, I respect his work because of the depth of his scholarship, learning, and faith, but almost more because of his honesty. If there are major conflicting views from other scholars on a passage, he gives their reasoning. He gives support (such as translations from the Greek or facts of church history) for his stances and if it is flatly an opinion, he states that it is so. In fact, he is sometimes so fair, that he spends almost too long giving all the possible interpretations of a passage. Our study class has appreciated a source which gives readable scholarly background and presents dissenting views fairly. His work sparks some of the best discussion we've had. It isn't "a hundred pages a sitting" reading, but it is fascinating to read a chapter then discuss and reflect on the ideas he raises. For me, this is the best Bible reference book I have ever used.
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Daily Study Bible Series, May 15, 2000
William Barclay was a master of Classical Greek and he uses his ability masterfully in this classic series on the New Testament. His work is invaluable to pastors, teachers and anyone who wishes to know the New Testament in its cultural setting. I find the etymology of key words particularly helpful. I have worn out three sets in my twenty plus years of pulpit ministry, and even today, I wouldn't go to the pulpit to speak on the New Testament without having read Barclay.
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