Please, can someone comment about the "Interpretation Commentary series"? I would appreciate your responses. Thank you.
I have the complete series- but I have not used it very much- its one of those that I have looked at, but hyave not been impressed by it.
It is a very fine commentary series, more on the theological side/practical ministry. Some volumes like Psalms are pure gold others can be weaker. It often times has great insight.
Here is the series prefrace.
SERIES PREFACE
This series of commentaries offers an interpretation of the books of the Bible. It is designed to meet the need of students, teachers, ministers, and priests for a contemporary expository commentary. These volumes will not replace the historical critical commentary or homiletical aids to preaching. The purpose of this series is rather to provide a third kind of resource, a commentary which presents the integrated result of historical and theological work with the biblical text.An interpretation in the full sense of the term involves a text, an interpreter, and someone for whom the interpretation is made. Here, the text is what stands written in the Bible in its full identity as literature from the time of “the prophets and apostles,” the literature which is read to inform, inspire, and guide the life of faith. The interpreters are scholars who seek to create an interpretation which is both faithful to the text and useful to the church. The series is written for those who teach, preach, and study the Bible in the community of faith.The comment generally takes the form of expository essays. It is planned and written in the light of the needs and questions which arise in the use of the Bible as Holy Scripture. The insights and results of contemporary scholarly research are used for the sake of the exposition. The commentators write as exegetes and theologians. The task which they undertake is both to deal with what the texts say and to discern their meaning for faith and life. The exposition is the unified work of one interpreter.The text on which the comment is based is the Revised Standard Version of the Bible and, since its appearance, the New Revised Standard Version. The general availability of these translations makes the printing of a text in the commentary unnecessary. The commentators have also had other current versions in view as they worked and refer to their readings where it is helpful. The text is divided into sections appropriate to the particular book; comment deals with passages as a whole, rather than proceeding word by word, or verse by verse.Writers have planned their volumes in light of the requirements set by the exposition of the book assigned to them. Biblical books differ in character, content, and arrangement. They also differ in the way they have been and are used in the liturgy, thought, and devotion of the church. The distinctiveness and use of particular books have been taken into account in decisions about the approach, emphasis, and use of space in the commentaries. The goal has been to allow writers to develop the format that provides for the best presentation of their interpretation.The result, writers and editors hope, is a commentary that both explains and applies, an interpretation that deals with both the meaning and the significance of biblical texts. Each commentary reflects, of course, the writer’s own approach and perception of the church and world. It could and should not be otherwise. Every interpretation of any kind is individual in that sense; it is one reading of the text. But all who work at the interpretation of the Scripture in the church need the help and stimulation of a colleague’s reading and understanding of the text. If these volumes serve and encourage interpretation in that way, their preparation and publication will realize their purpose.
The Editors
The series is a bit different than other sets. It doesn't go verse by verse, but one thought unit at a time. As Dan indicated, the emphasis is on theological content rather than, for example, textual or philological concerns. In my view, it offers a helpful complement to traditional commentaries. I can only think of a few volumes that haven't been helpful (John, for one). ON the other hand, I can think of many standout volumes (Exodus, Job, Psalms, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Revelation, et al). Not that I have used all volumes in the series. Use the Book Preview option to read samples.
0284.Sample.pdf
Here is a sample of passages based on the RCL
-Dan
Thank you Wyndell, Dan and Paul for your comments. Dan, thank you for the sample. It was very helpful.
Blessings.
