WiseReader

This article first appeared in ChristianWeek (June 6, 2008). 

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Christian bloggers, journalists, authors, pastors and theologians - their single-string harps playing monotonously similar tunes - lament the biblical illiteracy of Christians today. Whether or not biblical illiteracy is at its lowest point in Christian history, I cannot say, but there seems to be ample evidence supporting the contention that today’s Christians are far less biblically informed than they ought to be.

In his stimulating article, “The Poverty of Love” (Christianity Today, May, 2008), Bradley Nassif writes about the early 4^th century Christian community of desert fathers and mothers whose passionate love for God translated into vibrant discipleship. I was surprised at Nassif’s claim that the literacy rate of these desert communities was a mere 4 percent as compared to 75 percent today. Though he does not say, I’m assuming the 75 percent refers to our contemporary Christian community.

Having highlighted this sharp contrast in literacy rates, and I do not know the source of his information, Nassif notes:

There is more Bible knowledge available now than at any other time in human history.

Given the apparent crisis of biblical ignorance among Christians today, Nassif’s observation is startling. But I think the operative word here is available. Without doubt, contemporary Christians - certainly so in North America - have a glut of resources from which to draw. But, are Christians making good use of the best available resources?

Rather than promote the latest formulaic “Five Steps to a Healthy Biblical Literacy” style book, I’m asking Christian pastors and leaders to encourage readers toward something a bit more solid. For example, reading a good Bible commentary series would direct Christians back to the source of spiritual life and health - the living and enduring Word of God.

One particularly good series with its

unqualified commitment to biblical authority, clear exposition of Scripture, readability, and practical application (publisher’s blurb)

is the Preaching the Word series, edited by R. Kent Hughes, Senior Pastor Emeritus of College Church, Wheaton, Illinois and published by Crossway Books.

The newest volume in the series, 1 & 2 Peter and Jude, is written by David Helm, a member of the pastoral staff of Holy Trinity Church in Chicago. Helm has written a warm, pastoral commentary encouraging Christians to “hold fast to their identity in Christ, ground themselves in the truth, live lives worthy or their calling, and vigorously contend for the faith.” Could there be subjects more pertinent to contemporary Christian living than these?

The ongoing series now stands at 24 volumes, covering 8 OT books, 20 NT books and an extended discussion of the Sermon on the Mount. The majority of volumes are written by the series editor, R. Kent Hughes, but among the other contributors are well-known expositors like Philip G. Ryken, Raymond C. Ortland Jr., and Ian M. Duguid, all currently serving in pastoral charges.

Brian Chapell, President of Covenant Theological Seminary (Tennessee), and author of the acclaimed Christ-Centered Preaching (Baker, 1994), says this is one of his favorite commentary series.

The focus upon explaining the text with preaching as its goal makes the series resonate with the priorities of the pulpit. No academic aloofness here, but down to earth, preacher-to-preacher meat for God’s people. (Disclaimer: Chapell wrote one of the commentaries currently published in this series.)

Why would a commentary series focused on the needs of pastors be a wise choice for the average Christian? In my view, any commentary providing good biblical exegesis with solid application in what Chapell describes as “down to earth … meat for God’s people” will be readily accessible to any serious Christian reader. And if sitting under the public ministry of pastors committed to this kind of teaching is helpful, it can only be good if Christians are supplementing their Sunday intake with daily doses of solid Bible teaching through commentaries of this kind.  

There are of course many worthy commentary series, too many to cover in a column of this nature. I recommend Crossway’s Preaching the Word series as a starting point because of Crossway’s demonstrable commitment to publishing biblically sound, evangelical material. Pastors committed to a robust, evangelical theology, sympathetic to reformation truths can confidently recommend this series to their people.

Check out the available volumes in this series at Crossway Books.

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Purchase the books mentioned is this article by clicking on the title(s) below.

1 & 2 Peter and Jude: Preaching the Word Series
By David R. Helm / Crossway Books & Bibles

Christ-Centered Preaching, 2nd Edition
By Bryan Chapell / Baker

Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament
G.K.Beale and D.A. Carson, Editors
Baker Academic & Apollos (imprint of InterVarsity Press), 2007
ISBN: 0-8010-2693-8
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My work with New Covenant House, an evangelistic outreach giving priority to reaching Jewish people, requires a working knowledge of the way the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) anticipate the New Testament. But in the same way that evangelical Christians reject (rightly so in my view) the divine origin and authority of such texts as The Book of Mormon, the Jewish community discounts the divine nature of the New Testament. And though I believe that no one ultimately accepts the authority of the Scriptures (OT & NT) apart from the regenerating and illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, it remains a challenge for me to show Jewish inquirers how deeply connected both the Old and New Testaments are.

In light of this ministry challenge, I was delighted to procure a copy of the Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Nearly ten years in the making, this volume explores every NT text that quotes or alludes to the OT. From the Gospel of Matthew through the book of Revelation, readers discover a unique commentary described by Richard Bauckham as a

“continuous exegetical reading of the way each New Testament book quotes, alludes to, and evokes the Old Testament Scriptures.”

However one might view the books of the Bible, Beale and Carson ask readers to “begin by extending to the writers of the New Testament the courtesy of trying to understand how they saw their task as they cited and explained the documents associated with the old covenant, the documents that they revered as … ‘the Scripture’.”

The eighteen contributors to the commentary, recognized scholars in their fields, approached their discussions of each quotation or allusion by means of six questions:

(1) What is the NT context of the citation or allusion?
(2) What is the OT context from which the quotation or allusion is drawn?
(3) How is the OT quotation or source handled in the literature of Second Temple Judaism or (more broadly yet) of early Judaism?
(4) What textual factors must be borne in mind as one seeks to understand a particular use of the OT?
(5) What is the nature of the connection as the NT writer sees it?
(6) To what theological use does the NT writer put the OT quotation or allusion?

Several features add to the user-friendly approach taken in this commentary. Greek and Hebrew terms are transliterated, making reading smoother and easier for those lacking facility in the original languages. The discussion of each NT book is followed by an extensive bibliography for reading desiring to go deeper in the matter. And finally, readers will find a large Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Writings at the back of the book.

Darrell L. Bock says this commentary is

“thorough yet concise, clear yet detailed. All will be led into helpful reflection on this important area of study. Well done to the editors and authors of the useful and unique commentary.”

This volume is destined to spend more time on my desk than on my shelf.

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Purchase this book now by clicking on the title below.

Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament
By Edited by G.K. Beale & D.A. Carson / Baker Academic

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