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NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES: HEBREWS—REVELATION

William Lane’s two-volume commentary on Hebrews in the Word Biblical Commentary (WBC; Word, 1991) contains an extensive introduction to the epistle. His work on the language and structure of the book is particularly helpful for understanding Hebrews as a whole. His explanations are clear and his comments and analysis of the text extensive. F.F. Bruce’s commentary in the New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT; 2nd ed.; Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1990) treats the themes of Hebrews clearly and compellingly. A recent commentary by D. deSilva approaches the text from a socio-rhetorical perspective and offers the reader a view of the text that is not seen as clearly in the more traditional commentaries (Perseverance in Gratitude; Wm.B. Eerdmans, 2000). These three works compliment each other; consulting them together strengthens the reader’s overall grasp of this epistle.

Luke Timothy Johnson’s commentary on James in the Anchor Bible (Doubleday, 1995) is the outstanding work on the epistle. The extensive introduction and attention to the theological implications of the text are significant contributions to the study of James. His careful analysis opens up new vistas in the text and brings together the whole of the epistle in ways that no other commentary parallels. Also helpful on the book of James is S. Law’s commentary in Black’s New Testament Commentary (BNTC; Hendrickson, 1980), which has a brief but useful introduction and explores the text in a thoroughly approachable manner while still relying on the Greek text. For detailed exposition of the Greek text one can consult R. Martin’s commentary (WBC, Word, 1988) alongside Johnson’s work.

Peter Davids commentary (NICNT; Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1990) is a strong introduction to the themes and concerns of 1 Peter. It is valuable for its expression of complex ideas in easily grasped English and is a good resource with which to begin one’s study of 1 Peter. Paul Achtemeier’s commentary on 1 Peter in Hermeneia (Fortress, 1996) is the place to turn for detailed answers to particular questions. His careful, verse-by-verse work with the Greek text of 1 Peter rewards study and interaction. There are also frequent excursuses covering both historical background and other issues of interest along with a helpful and extensive introduction to the epistle. Both of these commentaries give some attention to the theological themes of 1 Peter and the implications of these themes for understanding the specific texts at hand. Although older, L. Goppelt’s commentary, now available in English, is well worth consulting (Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1993). He is particularly good with the themes of the text and their historical background.

Richard Bauckham’s commentary on Jude and 2 Peter (WBC; 1983) is the standard in the field. The analysis is clear and the historical work is illuminating. However, the reliance on 2 Peter’s supposed reworking of Jude is too strong. Despite this, the commentary is useful for answering numerous questions, especially of the historical nature. In a more recent commentary, J. Neyrey in the Anchor Bible (1993) demonstrates a sociological approach to the text. He shows how categories such as honor and shame, wealth and poverty, and purity and pollution influence the interpretation of Jude and 2 Peter. This commentary helps readers set the epistles firmly in the first century world. Michael Green’s commentary in the Tyndale New Testament Commentary (rev. ed.; TNTC; Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1987) remains a clear and accessible commentary that helpfully addresses the main issues but is not long enough to address either epistle exhaustively.

For the Johannine Epistles, the most exhaustive study in recent years is found in the Anchor Bible by Raymond Brown (1982). This commentary handles all issues in an even-handed fashion. Alongside this we may place the WBC by S. Smalley (1984). By comparison with Brown’s commentary, Smalley’s introduction is brief and the exegesis does not deal exhaustively with all problems or review all options open to the interpreter. It is, however, a solid and reliable commentary.

At a different level is the recent contribution by C. Kruse in the Pillar Series (Wm.B. Eerdmans, 2000). This commentary is concisely and clearly written. It deals with the major problems raised by the text against the background of the schism within the Johannine community evidenced by the text. It also traces the issues raised by the text into the life of the church in the second century. Because of its brevity the reader cannot expect all problems to be handled or difficulties to be worked out in detail.

The reader of Revelation now has the three volumes of the WBC by D. Aune (Nelson, 1997-1999). This work is comprehensive and up to date. With more than 150 pages of introduction, the commentary is a rich resource on all questions. In 20 pages it sets out the case for reading Revelation as an apocalyptic work and the commentary is careful and detailed. Two older and briefer commentaries are worthy of note. First is the commentary by G.B. Caird (BNTC; 1966), and second is the work by J. Sweet (Trinity, 1990). The latter has the virtue of showing how the author of Revelation has not only made use of the resources from Scripture and Jewish apocalypses, but has also drawn on the apocalyptic discourse of Jesus as found in Matthew 24.

By Ruth Anne Reese, author of Writing Jude: The Reader, the Text, and the Author in Constructs of Power and Desire (Brill, 2000), and John Painter, author of The Quest for the Messiah: The History, Literature and Theology of the Johannine Community (T&T Clark, 1999).