THE New International Commentary on the New Testament offers an
expository approach, for pastors, preachers, and teachers. Scot
McKnight's The Letter of James began life in a
teaching context; the ideas are his, though he refers to the work
of other commentators (Wm B. Eerdmans/Alban,
£35.99(£32.40); 978-0-8028-2627-5).
The Bible Speaks Today, a series popular with students, offers
an expository approach. Tim Meadowcroft's The Message of
the Word of God looks at God's communicating: by speaking;
through the written word; in Christ; and today. Each chapter
concentrates on a scriptural passage; study-questions end the book
(IVP, £9.99(£9); 978-1-84474-551-7).
The original Tyndale Old Testament Commentary series is being
replaced by entirely new volumes, updated for the 21st century. The
format has been modernised. Each text is now examined in three
ways: a short note on context is followed by more detailed
commentary, before a third segment looks at the message being
communicated. The author of Deuteronomy is Edward
Woods (IVP, £11.99(£10.80); 978-1-84474-533-3).
The Common English Bible is a translation intended to reflect
how people naturally speak. Holy Bible uses
American spelling. This version is a paperback; other formats are
available (Abingdon/Alban, £10.99(£9.90);
978-1-60926-015-6).
Early Christian Letters for Everyone is
another of Tom Wright's introductions to the New Testament. This
volume covers James, 1 and 2 Peter; 1, 2, and 3 John; and Judah
(Jude). These books are aimed at readers without theological
training, and are anecdotal in style (978-0-281-06465-6).
Revelation for Everyone, Wright's thoughts about
what many regard as the hardest biblical book to understand, is
also published by SPCK at the same price, £9.99
(978-0-281-06463-2). And an accompanying series of study guides for
groups or individuals runs alongside the For Everyone commentaries.
Luke has been written by Wright with Patty Pell
(SPCK, £4.99(£4.50); 978-0-281-06505-9).
What Wright has done for the NT, John Goldingay is providing for
the OT. Similar in style to the books mentioned above is 1
and 2 Kings for Everyone, in which Goldingay aims to help
readers make sense of some of the struggles of the divided kingdoms
of Israel and Judah (SPCK, £9.99(£9);
978-0-281-06130-3).
To answer The Corinthian Question- i.e., why
the church there opposed Paul - Paul Barnet offers a chronological
study of the epistles sent to the Corinthians. He aims to show how,
although the church initially seemed to welcome Paul, the
relationship between them deteriorated, and what went wrong after
Paul had left (IVP, £11.99(£10.80);
978-1-84474-532-6).
Kenneth Bailey seeks to provide a fresh look at 1 Corinthians by
seeing Paul as a product of his Hebrew background and the Roman
Empire. Paul Through Mediterranean Eye
sconcentrates on the apostle's rhetorical style, and particular
reference is made to non-Western ideas, and Syriac, Arabic, and
Hebrew translations (SPCK, £16.99(£15.30);
978-0-281-06455-7).