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NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES: ROMANS-EPHESIANS

No NT epistle has received more attention throughout the history of the church than the epistle to the Romans. Fascination with Paul’s longest epistle continues unabated as commentators proceed to faithfully interpret this important work. Still considered a standard resource and known for its penetrating and clear discussion of the text is J.A. Fitzmyer’s commentary in the Anchor Bible (Doubleday, 1993). Building on this fine foundation, one will find the more recent work of B. Byrne in the Sacra Pagina series (Liturgical, 1996) particularly helpful. Byrne’s literary-rhetorical approach enables the reader to probe the intricacies of Paul’s persuasive argumentation with an eye towards its theological punch.

If one is looking for a more traditional, exegetical treatment of the epistle, coupled with a detailed evaluation of differing viewpoints on its message at specific points, then the work of D.J. Moo in the New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT; Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1996) is the place to turn. Moo’s commentary is not limited as much by space requirements (941 pages) as is Byrne’s (464 pages), and this frees him to explore not only the theological contributions of the epistle but also its contemporary significance. Most recently, T. Schreiner has delivered a solid contribution to the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (BECNT; Baker, 1998) by producing a commentary that carefully examines the flow of the text and wrestles with the theological import of the epistle’s message. This commentary creatively blends the tasks of exegesis and exposition within the framework of a reader-friendly presentation as it seeks to uncover the epistle’s focal theme, the glory of God.

The market for commentaries on First Corinthians has exploded in recent years. Still worthy of one’s attention is the work of G. Fee in the NICNT (1987). Fee’s pivotal work has been the first place to turn for a complete and energizing treatment of this epistle over the last thirteen years. At the present time, though, one has two additional commentaries to consider. First is the work of R. Collins in the Sacra Pagina series (1999). Collins seeks to highlight Paul’s rhetorical skills while grounding his work in the literary and cultural context of the Greco-Roman world. Numerous points of contact with Paul’s Hellenistic culture (esp. rhetorical conventions and moral philosophy) are illumined throughout his work; and to his credit, Collins does not allow this assessment to overshadow Paul’s kerygmatic concerns.

Equaling, if not surpassing the significant work of Fee in detail, is the much-anticipated completion of A.C. Thiselton’s tome (1400+ pages!) in the New International Greek Testament Commentary (The First Epistle to the Corinthians [Wm.B. Eerdmans, 2000]). Known for his hermeneutical acumen, Thiselton brings his skills to bear in his treatment of 1 Corinthians while exploring the theological and ethical implications of the text within the sociohistorical context of the first century world. A comprehensive bibliography accompanies his thoughtful exegesis and, as always, he attempts to show how the epistle’s message comes into contact with the life of the contemporary church. Although one-fifth the size of Thiselton’s commentary, one will not want to overlook the masterful work of R.B. Hays in his contribution to Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (John Knox, 1997). Hays splendidly and imaginatively models the move from text to sermon/teaching, a process shaped by his unwavering commitment to the exegetical task.

For Second Corinthians, two recent commentaries that argue for the integrity of the letter as a whole are worth noting. Paul Barnett utilizes his expertise in the history of the first century (Roman and Jewish) in The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT; 1997), and provides the reader with an extensive bibliography. As an Anglican bishop, Barnett is not only sensitive to theological aspects within the letter, but also picks up on the letter’s pastoral concerns. Although considerably shorter in length, Second Corinthians (1999), by J. Lambrecht, explores the theological import of the letter while giving attention to the epistle’s argumentation in typical Sacra Pagina style.

In the midst of a plethora of commentaries on Paul’s epistle to the Galatians, the proven value of R.N. Longenecker’s contribution to the Word Biblical Commentary (WBC; Word, 1990) continues to provide the reader with useful information (history of interpretation, historical background, rhetorical structure, philology, thematic development, and application). A substantial contribution to the study of Galatians as a first century document is the work of J.L. Martyn in the Anchor Bible (1997). This learned scholar attempts to illumine the identity of the “players” in this forceful letter and seeks to enable the reader to enter into the details of their dialogue. While Martyn is to be commended for his critical analysis of historical/linguistic concerns and for providing the reader with an exhaustive bibliography, one should not look to his commentary for a “bridging of the gap” between the first and the twenty-first centuries.

Even though a number of commentaries dedicated to charting the rhetorical shape of Galatians have surfaced over the last thirty years, the socio-rhetorical work of B. Witherington III in Grace in Galatia (Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1998) provides a fresh understanding of Paul’s deliberative rhetorical approach within the social confines of his day. Witherington’s well-written commentary will shed light onto the rhetorical structure of the text and will illumine the meaning of a number of key passages. Operating with a limited amount of space, S.K. Williams (Abingdon NTC; Abingdon, 1997) provides a commendable treatment of the epistle’s message by situating the text within the historical and sociological world of the first century, and also leading the reader in discovering the significance of its message for the modern-day church.

Two fine commentaries have already been discussed in an earlier issue of Catalyst for Ephesians and are still considered to be helpful for the interpretation of this epistle (A.T. Lincoln in Ephesians [WBC; Word, 1990]; R. Schnackenburg in The Epistle to the Ephesians [T. & T. Clark, 1991]). Lincoln’s careful examination of the literary, cultural, and theological concerns of Ephesians continues to be the standard against which more recent commentaries are judged and evaluated (in typical WBC style, bibliographical data abounds!). For a technical (and pricey!) discussion of the text, one will want to consult the notable work of Ernest Best in A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Ephesians (ICC; T. & T. Clark, 1998). For a theologically astute handling of the message of Ephesians that consistently exhibits exegetical and expositional rigor while maintaining readability, one will want to consult the work of P.T. O’Brien in the Pillar New Testament Commentary series (The Letter to the Ephesians [Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1999]). Representing the concerns of a long-time teacher and pastor, O’Brien’s verse-by-verse exposition is sensitive to the concerns of students, pastors, and scholars.

J. Christian Stratton is the Teaching Minister at St. Luke UMC in Lexington, KY, and the Associate Editor of Catalyst.