Customer Reviews
The final volume published... - By: Kurt Messick, 23 Dec 2005 
The New Interpreter's Bible is a twelve-volume series, updating the popular Interpreter's Bible from a few decades ago. There are several key features common to all of the volumes of this series. First, each includes a two-column, double translation of the Biblical text (NIV - New International Version, & NRSV - New Revised Standard Version) arranged by topical unit or story. Then, they provide commentaries that look at the passages as a whole, as well as verse-by-verse. Third, interesting Reflection pieces that relate the passages to each other, to history, & to current concerns occur at the conclusion of each passage. Fourth, introductory articles for each book are provided that discuss transmission, historical background, cultural setting, literary concerns, & current scholarship. Finally, there are general articles about the Bible, each Testament, & various types of literature (Narrative, Gospel, Wisdom Literature, etc.) are provided to give general placement & knowledge about the text overall.
The list of contributors, editors, & consultants on the project is a veritable Who's Who of biblical & theological scholarship, representing all major traditions & schools of thought liberal & conservative. Leander Keck, of the Yale Divinity School, is the primary editor of the series.
The volumes were published individually, & can be purchased individually, which is a good thing, given that they are a bit expensive. But for any serious biblical scholar, preacher, student, or enthusiast, they are invaluable.
--Volume X--
The tenth volume of the New Interpreter's Bible continues the New Testament, containing the books of Acts, Romans & First Corinthians, including an introductory essay on Epistolary Literature (i.e., letters). This was the final volume to be published. The series is now complete.
Robert Wall of Seattle Pacific University provides both the commentary on Acts as well as the essay on Epistolary Literature. The introductory article on Acts includes maps & drawings of archaeological sites, & looks at Acts from the standpoint of composition & conversation. Thus, Acts can serve as a story, as theology, or as historical framework.
In the essay on Epistolary Literature, Wall looks at both the Pauline collection & the letters attributed to other apostles. He examines the issues of dating & sequencing, the controversies over authorship on some letters, & the literary issues & features of letters versus other types of literature.
N. Thomas Wright, theologian of the Church of England, examines the Letter to the Romans. Looking at the structures & the themes of Romans, Wright argues against the idea of pulling out a few verses here & there as representative of the whole. `One might as well try to get the feel of a Beethoven symphony by humming over half a dozen bars from different movements.'
J. Paul Sampley of Boston University looks at First Corinthians. Sampley explores the city of Corinth, the churchin the community there, Paul's relationship with the Corinthians, particular themes that appearin the letter as representative of early Christianity.
High praise goes to the general editorial staff for working with such strong authors/scholars, that their work fits together well as part of this set while retaining the individual characteristics (much like the writers of the Bible itself!).
--Other volumes available--
The following is a list of each volumein this twelve-volume set, & the contents of each.
Volume I: General Articles on the Bible; General Articles on the Old Testament; Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus
Volume II: Numbers; Deuteronomy; Introduction to Narrative Literature; Joshua; Judges; Ruth; I & II Samuel
Volume III: I & II Kings; I & II Chronicles; Ezra, Nehemiah; Esther; Additions to Esther; Tobit; Judith
Volume IV: I & II Maccabees; Introduction to Hebrew Poetry; Job; Psalms
Volume V: Introduction to Wisdom Literature; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs; Book of Wisdom; Sirach
Volume VI: Introduction to Prophetic Literature; Isaiah; Jeremiah; Baruch; Letter of Jeremiah; Lamentations; Ezekiel
Volume VII: Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature; Daniel; Additions to Daniel; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Johan; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi
Volume VIII: General Articles on the New Testament; Matthew; Mark
Volume IX: Luke; John
Volume X: Acts; Introduction to Epistolary Literature; Romans, I Corinthians
Volume XI: II Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; I & II Thessalonians; I & II Timothy; Titus; Philemon
Volume XII: Hebrews; James; I & II Peter; I, II & III John; Jude; Revelation
NT Wright on Romans - By: John Shakespeare, 31 Aug 2002 I purchased the book for Wright's commentary on Romans & have not looked much at the other sections. Wright's material covers, as might be expected, similar ground to thatin his lecture series, 'Romansin a Week' but does soin far greater detail, & with increased clarity.
At the outset he describes what he understands by the phrase 'The righteousness of God' which is the key to the epistle, & argues persuasively for it to be understood as God's covenant faithfulness.
Unlike many expositors, Wright views the epistle as a whole & does not accept that it can be broken up into discrete & hardly related sections.
Wright differs, at times sharply, with the standard traditional Protestant interpretations of Romans, but sets out his position with persuasive faithfulness to the text & scholarly awareness of alternative positions, which he examines thoroughly.
The commentary uses both the NIV & the NRSV as its basic versions, but Wright shows where he differs from these translations, & why. The section on 4:1 is a particularly illuminating example of this.
Romans 7 has puzzled & exasperated readers, leading them to very different, & equally unsatisfying conclusions for many years. Wright's proposed solution is breathtaking. So also is his explanation of the placein Paul's argument of chapters 9 to 11.
If you want to get to grips with Romans, on a technical & practical level, & to be challenged by a fresh, integrated view of the letter, you should read & refer to this book. If you want satisfying solutions to those many parts of Romans you secretly admit you never understood, you may find that Wright provides the answers. The book is expensive, but Wright's contribution alone is worth every penny. Get it.
