I am thinking about this commentary series. Some comments? Thanks
I have it and love it. Witherington comes at the text with the idea that the writer is using the Roman Rhetorical devices of the day. This gives insight as to what the writer is trying to accomplish with the particular device. His insights on the meaning of the text is almost always helpful and concise.
Guess I have a different take on it. I rarely gain anything of much value from this commentary series. The rhetorical thing is overdone in my opinion. (There are NT scholars who feel the same way.) There are better choices in Logos. If you want a recommendation, let us know what you have and what you are looking for in a commentary.
I am thinking about this commentary series. Some comments?
Largely, I'm with Mark on this one. I have the series, but don't find it providing much of what I'm looking for very often.
BW3 is a good writer, and I have several of his other books too. The most useful contribution he makes in these commentaries for me is the structure of the letters (e.g. identifying where blocks such as the exordium, narratio, etc start/end and why) though the outcome is usually similar to other commentaries. At times he has some really useful comments on the social setting that help us understand the text (e.g. women praying/prophesying with head covered in 1 Cor).
The rhetorical structure and social setting are important to understanding the text. It's just that other good commentators generally recognise this too, so BW3's approach feels like it's harping on a couple of aspects of our approach to Scripture that is actually much more multi-faceted. He certainly is aware of the other facets (e.g. he's a very good scholar of Greek language), but you still feel he's harping on about these 2 facets in this series.
In summary, the S/R commentary series has a place, but it is not one of the first ones you reach for.
I like this series and the Reading the New Testament series specifically because they give you a focus on the social and rhetorical in a quick, readable manner. They are both great for a quick overview so that you have a good grasp of the big picture before diving into the more thorough and technical commentaries that are the "bread and butter" of pericope study.
The series is not my go to series, but I do like the series.
Thanks all of you for your comments. It was very helpful. Blessings!
I've had it for a test period and it was not what I was looking for so I returned it. I do have to say that his outlines are great though, but other than that he does over do the rhetoric part too much.
DAL
Sorry, I can't resist [6]
he does over do the rhetoric part too much
Isn't that what the titles tell us to expect him to do? Isn't that a bit like saying the Smucker's brand over does the jam & jelly part?[:D]
I do agree that if rhetoric is not what you are looking for, then you may well find him one you go to infrequently.
Good point! [:D]
I seldom disagree with Mark Smith, but I do on the value of this set. What makes this set valuable is that Ben Witherington thinks outside the box. Nearly all commentaries tell you the same things, and usually reveal the obvious. Ben Witherington is brilliantly creative in his thinking. At times he has amazing insights that are extremely helpful.
Thinking outside the box is Ben's greatest strength, and at times his greatest weakness, too. Sometimes the answer is inside the box, and Ben seems determined to be outside the box regardless. I do not always agree with Ben, but I do not always agree with any commentator. He will make you think. He will show you some insight that you will not find elsewhere.
As with all sets, some volumes of the set are better than others. The commentary on Acts is generally rated as one of the very best commentaries on that book.
True, if I had to choose one set it would not be this one. It would be the NICOT/NT or Word or Pillar. But this is a very good and valuable set. Definitely worth the price.
Sorry, I can't resist he does over do the rhetoric part too much Isn't that what the titles tell us to expect him to do? Isn't that a bit like saying the Smucker's brand over does the jam & jelly part? I do agree that if rhetoric is not what you are looking for, then you may well find him one you go to infrequently.
Sorry, I can't resist
Isn't that what the titles tell us to expect him to do? Isn't that a bit like saying the Smucker's brand over does the jam & jelly part?
Mark also said it was over done in his opinion. And yes, the titles tell us to expect him to use rhetoric, but don't over do it to the point that it seems forced. It reminds me of my trip to Argentina. They like "Dulce de Leche" (Dulce de leche (IPA: [ˈdulse ðe ˈletʃe]; Portuguese: doce de leite, IPA: [ˈdosi dʒi ˈlejtʃi]) is a confection prepared by slowly heating sweetened milk to create a product that derives its taste from caramelised sugar. Literally translated, it means "candy of milk" or "candy [made] of milk", "milk candy", or "milk jam" in the same way that "dulce de frutilla" is strawberry jam. It is popular in South America, notably in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay.)
Anyway, back to the over doing it, in my trip to Argentina every body wanted "Dulce de Leche" on everything. Cookies, pies, cakes. It doesn't matter what cake or pie or cheese cake or what pudding or dessert, it always has to have "dulce de leche." Even cooking shows for dessert guess what was the main ingredient (dulce de leche)... LOL Same with Ben Witherington, there are certain passages of Scripture that don't really need him to use it, but he uses it anyway because that's his "dulce de leche." LOL
Anyway MJ, I couldn't resist either [A] and don't worry, I'm not arguing so I hope you don't take it as me being argumentative, but an answer to your post came to mind as I was having a coffee and my toast with guess what? "Dulce de leche" [;)]
Blessings!
"Dulce de leche"
My son brought home some exquisite Dulce de leche two weeks ago. I'll allow any fan the last word.[:D][C]
I like this series and the Reading the New Testament series specifically because they give you a focus on the social and rhetorical in a quick, readable manner
[Y] Yesterday I used this resource for the first time since upgrading to L5 and I was I found it extremely helpful. First impression is that it is one of those gems that I didn't know I was getting when I upgraded.
To give BW3 a right of reply as to why he considers the SR commentary style important, see his recent address to SBL, titled:The Importance of Greco-Roman Rhetoric for the Understanding of the Text and Context of the NT at:http://www.patheos.com/blogs/bibleandculture/2012/12/19/the-sbl-in-chicago-a-potpourri-of-things-part-one/
For the price, it's an unbelievable resource.
Dulce de leche
… and I always thought that it was a mildly alcoholic drink that Sky Masterson persuaded Sarah Brown to drink when they flew to Havana for dinner in Guys and Dolls. [:S]
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