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Forum Commentary Review: Introduction and Matthew

Preface: Alain and Pastor John are compiling an annotated listing of the commentaries which they believe are the most helpful guides to the Scripture. They intend to share their thoughts on each of the 66 books of the Canon. We expect that the forum members will then share their own experiences in studying the Word. We hope that this will create a helpful resource for our members. Our goal is to enable others to have a better understanding of the Bible and also to practice good stewardship in the buying of commentaries.

Evaluation: Commentaries will be evaluated under 3 criteria. (All is our opinion of course!)

1. Intended Audience:

a. Technical, those which comment upon and require use of the original languages.
b. Pastoral, those commentaries which keep the technical discussion in the footnotes.
c. General, those which may be used by all students with some profit.
d. Inspirational, sermons and devotions. (There will be only a few of this last category.)

2. Doctrinal Perspective (see note 2 below)

a. Those which seem to uphold the inerrancy of Scripture.
b. Those which seem to hold to the infallibility of Scripture in doctrine.
c. Those that seem to have an evangelical view of Salvation.
d. Every body else.

3. Usefulness for Pastors, Teachers, and other students of the Word.

a. The most essential.
b. Those you should seriously consider.
c. Profitable if you enjoy this author, perspective, or style.
d. Some people like it.

Note 1: There are helpful works which we left out. We made a decision to include the books that would be most helpful to pastors, theological students, and others with that kind of hunger for the Word.

Note 2: The definition of inerrancy is found here: http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=679. The concept of infallibility maintains that the Scripture does not err with regard to spiritual or doctrinal matters, but may err concerning geography, history, etcetera.

Note 3: Pastor John has been reading books on books for many years and he is grateful to his both seminary professors and authors D. A. Carson, Tremper Longman, James Rosscup, John Glynn, John Evans and all the others from whom he has benefited. He has not intentionally "stolen" from any of them, but he has undoubtedly been influenced by all of them.

The Gospel Of Matthew

Blomberg, Craig, in the NAC, Broadman and Holman.
John likes to read this one first to place the passage in context. Blomberg teaches at Denver and he has written on the parables.




Carson, D. A., in volume 8 of the EBC, Zondervan
This is the standard work for many Evangelical pastors - including Pastor John. He is Pre-millennial, but post-tribulational. He teaches at TEDS. (It is being revised)




Daviess, W. D. & Allison, Dale, ICC, T and T Clark
It is the best, most comprehensive, and really expensive choice that you can make. It is not conservative. Pastor John has decided not to buy it. Alain says that it is only useful for academic/seminary work




France. Richard, NICNT, Eerdmans
This book is generally theological conservative commentary – with I believe the same general take on the Olivet Discourse as his Tyndale volume. Except for that note, it should be a very good resource. Since I have recently received Turner and expect to get the updated Carson, I may not purchase this volume unless I am preaching on Matthew and have the money – both at the same time!


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France, Richard. In the TNTC, Eerdmans
It is concise, helpful, and worth the time and money. Many disagree with him on the Olivet Discourse. (See Turner)

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Garland, David A, Reading Matthew, A Literary and Theological Commentary on the First Gospel, Smyth & Helwys
I have enjoyed his work so much that I have included this even though I have not used it. I may raise its ratings after I actually get to review it.


?

Hagner, Donald, WBC, Nelson (2 Volumes)
Moderately Evangelical, Pastor John is waiting for Turner in the BECNT, but would otherwise buy these 2 books.




Keener, Craig, A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Eerdmans
Not terribly helpful with sermon preparation, but it has info that you do not find in other commentaries. You would need to have access to this for class work in seminary especially for the historical, religious and cultural background. Pastor John recommends his smaller IVPNTC volume for pastors.




Luz, Ulrich, Hermeneia, Fortress, (2 Volumes)
It is critical, but could be useful for its interaction with the Greek text. It is more user-friendly
than the ICC volumes.




Morris, Leon, PNTC, Eerdmans
He is solid and a Preacher could do much worse, but if you have Carson and Wilkins, you could probably get along without him. A-millennial




Mounce, Robert, NIBC, Hendriksen This is an accessible and helpful commentary on the NIV text. I would pick Turner.




Nolland, John, NIGTC, Eerdmans
This may be on John's next years Christmas list. He has not seen a review yet.




Turner, David, BECNT, Baker
This is very good – I love it. Yes, we come from the same progressive dispensational perspective, but He can help any exegete/expositor. If you have had a year or two of Greek – it helps, but I think that a serious English Bible student could make good use of the volume.




Turner, David, in the new Cornerstone Commentary, Tyndale
It is on the NLT, but he is very good. He teaches at Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary. He is a progressive dispensationalist. He was one of John's professors at Grace.




Wilkins, Michael, NIVAC, Zondervan
He is helpful all the way through, but if you lean towards pre-mill and pre-trib - you will like him even more! He does expend much effort at application. John

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Witherington III, Ben, Smyth & Helwys
I have not used this work, but every source that I have read says that it is overpriced. Those reviews have also generally indicated that this is not his best work.




Recommendations on Matthew

Pastor John's Picks for pastors and learners:

1. Turner, BECNT
2. Carson and or France
3. Wilkins
4. Blomberg and/or Morris

Alain's Picks for Student Scholars:

1. Keener, Craig (1st Century background)
2. Hagner, Donald (Greek, Critical Methodologies)
3. Davies (Greek)
4. Nolland (Greek and huge bibliography for research on Matthew)

R.T. France's NICNT commentary on Matthew is due out this August. It's supposed to be about 1150 pages, which suggests to me that it might be two volumes (given that the longest volumes in the series are more like 800 pages). I expect this to become the evangelical standard. David Turner's BECNT is going to be more like 600 pages. Those who want less depth will prefer it, but there isn't really a conservative evangelical work on Matthew on the same level as Hagner, Nolland, Davies/Allison, or Luz. France now provides that.

Since Dr Turner was one of my my professors and I know that I will much prefer his take on the Olivet Discourse - I will probably purchase his volume first.

I have also found France's volume on Mark to be less helpful that I had hoped. It is good and perhaps I am reflecting the pressures of a bivocational ministry, but I often felt that He usually did not add anything helpful to my primary tools, Edwards and Lane.

John

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"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Gal 5:6b

Pastor John C. Blackburn

I am not a preacher but have strong leanings towards a pre-mil, pre-trib position so really don't want to study from someone who believes otherwise -- have heard most of the arguments & found them without merit -- life's too short to spend more time reading something that allegorizes end times... I appreciate that, where appropriate, you've included the end times view of the auther

I've noticed in my dealings with preterism supporters that they always cite Luke 21 whereas futurists bring up Matt 24 -- clearly it appears Luke is speaking partially to 70AD's destruction of Israel whereas Matthew isn't -- this was always a dilemma as both positions couldn't be correct -- finally heard an explanation that passes muster to me:

if you examine the Text it's revealed that the 2 sermons take place @ diff locations & so may not be the same -- they begin in harmony with future stuff but then Luke writes in v12 "But before all this..." -- here, he divirges from Matthew & goes back to when Jerusalem gets jacked up (thru v24) whereas Matthew (& Mark) don't -- this explains much & answers the Q of why preterists love Luke 21

So am very curious if any of the above address this as the Olivet Discourse is a big topic

Am also curious if any of the authors address the view that Matthew was 1st written in Hebrew..?

Thanks again for these reviews!

I am not aware of an Evangelical whoe belives that Matthew was written in Aramaic - though I believe that Matthew Black may have in the NCB.

I am also pre-mill and pre-trib and would strongly reccomend the BECNT volume that eill be released in the next few months - written by David Turner. Michael Wilckock teaches at Talbot so I think that you would also apreciate his work. Carson is not pre-trib, but that has not stopped me from making excellent use of his commentary - and I have not made it a priority to dissect his view, but to benefit from his study.

John

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"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Gal 5:6b

Pastor John C. Blackburn

If I recall my review of the New Testament survey textbook from Bob Jones University from the early 1970s, it described Matthew as being originally written in Aramaic about 37 AD.

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Cobra (the car, not the poisonous reptile)
all scripture is NRSV unless otherwise noted

I found the text. I must remember the 37 from another source.

The text is "New Testament Survey" by Merrill C. Tenney, Dean of the Graduate School, Wheaton College. He did not definitely say it was written in Aramaic, but the textbook reads like that is the case. A couple of quotes that sum it up, after giving the evidence that Eusebius, Papias (100 AD) and Irenaus all stated the original was in Aramaic:
"...the tradition that this Gospel was originally written in Aramaic does not preclude the possibility that the author may have published later a Greek edition which quickly superseded the older writing..." (page 142)
and
"In any case, the existing Greek text is early and should probably be regarded as an edition rather than as a translation from the Aramaic." (page 143)

As to whether the Aramaic text is lost, the introduction to my translation of the Peshitta, the Aramaic Bible, says "Amid persecutions, the ancient Church of the East, through God's help and protection, was able to keep these sacred writings of the Old and New Testaments in the Biblical lands in Persia and India..." So, maybe it was and maybe it wasn't. Those Eastern texts may not have been available to Tenney, who first published his survey in 1953.

_________________
Cobra (the car, not the poisonous reptile)
all scripture is NRSV unless otherwise noted

Matthew - as we have it- gives little indication of being translated from an Aramaic original. The idea of an aramaic original comes from Eusebius, but there are several words in his statement that are open to interpretation - and Eusebius is considered reliable, but not infallible!

I believe Blomberg holds that Eusebius is referring to writing other than the Gospel. (Sayings? early form of the gospel?) Matthew probably spoke at least 2 languages reaonably well. I believe Turner understands it as referring to "style" as opposed to language - Greek written by a person whose first language was Aramaic - and therefore having many of the characterisitcs of that language.

Right now Carson is packed in anticipation of our upcoming move, but if memory serves, he also believes that the gospel was written in Greek. Dr Wallace agrees:
http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=969

John

_________________
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Gal 5:6b

Pastor John C. Blackburn

I didn't mean to be arguing the point that it was written in Aramaic originally, I was only hoping to provide "an Evangelical" to help you fill the void described in:

or at least an evangelical who implies in his writings that this is the most plausible view.

For clarity, Eusebius did not write that Matthew wrote his gospel in Aramaic. He wrote that Papias and Irenaeus stated the gospel was written in Aramaic.

_________________
Cobra (the car, not the poisonous reptile)
all scripture is NRSV unless otherwise noted

check!

_________________
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Gal 5:6b

Pastor John C. Blackburn

France's commentary is out now, of course, and it's one volume. I still don't think it comes close to Davies/Allison's monstrous work in 3 volumes, nor Luz's. It has some good reading in it, but I haven't digested it all yet.

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Chris Weimer, student
University of Memphis
Latin and Greek Major
Judaic Studies Minor

links removed by adminsitrator

has anyone tried Witherington on Matthew? Any thoughts?

If one who has not read it may offer a thought - well, I suppose that I will - The Smyth & Helwys series is in general overpriced and less substantial that the price would expect one to believe. I enjoyed Witherington on Mark - and if you can afford to have a third or 4th commentary that is that expensive - go for it.

Dave Turner's BECNT volume is now out - one of my former professors - and I can recommend the author as well as the book. France in the NICNT and Nolland in the NIGTC are now published from a moderate evangelical perspective. It is my opinion that Wilkins in the NIVAC is one of the best volumes in the series, but if you really like Witherington - I am sure that you would find some worthwhile material.

John

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"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Gal 5:6b

Pastor John C. Blackburn

Has anyone else used France in the NICNT? I think that I have decided to keep Carson, Turner, Wilkins, and Blomberg as my core commentaries. I usually read Morris as well and I intend to purchase the revision by Carson when it appears.

If anyone thinks that France really adds much to those 5 - please let me know of yur opinion. I have been known to change my mind from time to time.

John

_________________
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Gal 5:6b

Pastor John C. Blackburn

I have added a couple and adjusted the ratings accordingly. John

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"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Gal 5:6b

Pastor John C. Blackburn