SEEKING to build a bridge between academic biblical scholarship and the faith of the RC Church in particular, Francis Moloney’s Reading the New Testament in the Church: A primer for pastors, religious educators and believers has chapters on the challenge of scripture in the Catholic tradition, and the NT’s historical context and origins, before looking at Jesus, St Paul, and the different NT writings (Baker Academic, £13.99 (£12.60); 978-0-8010-4980-4).
The Gift of Years is a booklet of 20 short Bible reflections for older people. David Winter has written half of them under the title “Hope is the promise”; the rest are written by Lin Ball “Of life and loss”. There is also a short interview with Debbie Thrower, who heads BRF’s ministry with older people (Bible Reading Fellowship, £2.50 (£2.25); 978-0-85746-413-2).
Seven Bible studies (with brief leaders’ notes) by Antony Billington and Mark Greene constitute The Whole Life for Christ: Enriching everyday discipleship: the themes are gospel, wisdom, purpose, fruitfulness, mission, hope, and worship (IVP, £4.99 (£4.50); 978-1-78359-361-3).
An Introduction to the Old Testament: Exploring text, approaches and issues by John Goldingay is not a book that gives all the answers. Rather, he hopes to engage readers in offering the basics and outlining the main issues, then leaving them to draw their own conclusions (SPCK, £17.99 (£16.20); 978-0-281-07535-5).
Psalms for Everyone: Part II covers Psalms 73 to 150. John Goldingay uses his own translation to accompany his commentary, which includes anecdotes as well as theology for the general reader (SPCK, £9.99 (£9); 978-0-281-06134-1). Goldingay’s Lamentations and Ezekiel for Everyone is another volume in this well-known series (SPCK, £9.99 (£9); 978-0-281-06139-6).
The Acts of the Apostles: Interpretation, history and theology is an in-depth introduction by Osvaldo Padilla, who takes account of recent research (Apollos, £17.99 (£16.20); 978-1-78359-427-6).
The Holy Bible: New International Version now has a pocket-sized edition, for use by Street Pastors out on their patrols (Hodder & Stoughton, £7.99; 978-1-444-79654-4).
God’s Justice: The flourishing of creation and the destruction of evil is an NIV Bible presented thematically through introductions to the books, questions for reflection, footnotes, and so on, by contributors from around the world (Hodder & Stoughton, £28.99 (£26.10); 978-1-473-62590-7).
Robert Alter’s Strong as Death is Love is a translation of the Song of Songs, Ruth, Esther, Jonah and Daniel, with commentary (W. W. Norton, £10.99 (£9.90); 978-0-393-35225-2).
A large commentary by John Christopher Thomas and Frank Macchia on Revelation is in The Two Horizons New Testament Commentary series, which offers theological exegesis and reflection (Wm B. Eerdmans, £23.99 (£21.60); 978-0-8028-2554-4).
Anthony Thiselton’s Discovering Romans: Content, interpretation, reception is an in-depth study of Paul’s epistle. The subtitle points to what the author sees as complementary methods of approaching the text (SPCK, £19.99 (£18); 978-0-281-07376-4).
Also on The Epistle to the Romans is Richard Longenecker’s commentary on the Greek text, which is more than 1000 pages long, and for the serious scholar (Wm B. Eerdmans, £61.99 (£55.80); 978-0-8028-2448-6).
H. A. G. Houghton has written The Latin New Testament: A guide to its early history, texts and manuscripts. Part One gives a chronological history from the end of the second century to the tenth. The second part addresses the texts themselves and the final section (appendices excepted) looks at the features and the catalogue of early manuscripts (OUP, £25 (£22.50); 978-0-19-874473-3).
The Abbey of St Victor, in Paris, was a centre of biblical interpretation in the 12th century. Interpretation of Scripture: Theory has brought together translations of some of its texts, each with an introduction. The set has been edited by Franklin Harkins and Frans van Liere (New City Press, £27.50 (£24.75); 978-1-56548-478-8).
What was the relationship between Paul and Jesus? Gerry Schoenberg explores his theme in depth in Perspectives of Jesus in the Writings of Paul (James Clarke & Co., £30.75; 978-0-227-17405-0).
Daniel Block has a particular interest in Ezekiel. His Beyond the River Chebar is a collection of studies on the kingship and eschatology in the prophet’s writing (James Clarke & Co., £23.00; 978-0-227-17440-1).
Robert Chisholm’s A Commentary on Judges and Ruth is aimed at preachers and teachers. He uses a three-step approach: what did the text mean in its original context, what theological principles emerge from it, and how is its message relevant today (Kregel Publications, £30.99 (£27.80); 978-0-8254-2556-1)?
Contemporary scholars survey the implications, limitations, and developments arising from a ground-breaking publication of 1963: Historical Tradition in the Fourth Gospel. Engaging with C. H. Dodd on the Gospel of John: Sixty years of tradition and interpretation is edited by Tom Thatcher and Catrin Williams (CUP, £67 (£60.30); 978-1-107-03566-9).
The series The Bible Speaks Today is widely used by Evangelical preachers in preparing their sermons. The aim is threefold: to expound the text, relate it to contemporary life, and do so readably. The Message of the Person of Christ by Robert Letham has five sections that go from the promises of the OT to the ascension (IVP, £12.99 (£11.70); 978-1-84474-926-3). The Message of Daniel is by Dale Ralph Davis (IVP, £9.99 (£9); 978-1-84474-801-3). The Message of Jeremiah is the work of Christopher Wright (IVP, £14.99 (£13.50); 978-1-78359-032-2).