pursuing faithfulness to the Word of God and fullness of the Spirit of God
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Book Review – CBC Jonah (Richard Patterson)
about 5 months ago - No comments
My quest to work my way through the twelve minor prophets with the help of the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary Volume 10 has reached its end with perhaps the best known and loved of the minor prophets. Introduction Patterson briefly defends Jonah against those who charge the author with historical blunders, rejecting the view that the
Book Review – CBC Obadiah (Richard Patterson)
about 5 months ago - No comments
25 pages are devoted to the single chapter book of Obadiah in the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary Volume 10. I have always viewed Obadiah as one of the more difficult books to get anything out of, and so I was looking forward to what is the first commentary I have read on it. Introduction We know
Book Review – CBC Amos (Andrew Hill)
about 5 months ago - 1 comment
Here’s my review of Andrew Hill’s commentary on Amos from Volume 10 of the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. For those of you who are getting fed up of these, there are now just two more minor prophets to go before I move on to studying some longer books of the Bible! Introduction Hill dates Amos’ prophecy
Book Review – CBC Joel (Richard Patterson)
about 6 months ago - No comments
I’ve finished the commentary on Joel from the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary by Richard Patterson, who is also the author of the commentary on Joel in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary series. Introduction The primary theme of Joel is the day of the Lord, with a secondary theme of repentance. Patterson tentatively leans towards a pre-exilic date.
Book Review – CBC Hosea (Richard Patterson)
about 6 months ago - 1 comment
It’s time for another in my series of commentary reviews from Volume 10 of the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary series, this time Hosea. Introduction Hosea was sent with a message of God’s undying love for his people, as well as a declaration of his unwavering standards. He portrays Israel as an unfaithful wife, as a harlot.
Book Review – CBC Malachi (Andrew Hill)
about 6 months ago - 1 comment
Continuing my series of commentary reviews from Volume 10 of the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary series, here’s one for Malachi. Andrew Hill is also the author of a much more detailed commentary on Malachi in the Anchor Bible series, so this present volume is able to benefit from much his prior work. Introduction Malachi writes to
Book Review – CBC Zechariah (Andrew Hill)
about 6 months ago - No comments
It’s time for my another review from volume 10 of the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. Introduction Zechariah is one of the longer minor prophets, and despite being easy to date, offers a number of challenges to commentators due to the variety of hermeneutical approaches that could be taken to the visions and “proto-apocalyptic” material. Hill briefly
Book Review – CBC Zephaniah (Richard Patterson)
about 7 months ago - 2 comments
Next up in my journey through the minor prophets with the aid of the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary Volume 10 is Zephaniah. Introduction Patterson identifies the Day of the Lord as the primary theme of Zephaniah. He dates it early in Josiah’s reign, at a time where there was much syncretism. Zephaniah writes not just to
Book Review – CBC Habakkuk (Richard Patterson)
about 7 months ago - 4 comments
This is another commentary contained within Volume 10 of the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary series, which I am gradually working my way through. For more thoughts on the layout of the series, see my review of Andrew Hill on Micah. Introduction We know very little about Habakkuk. Patterson assumes a pre-exilic date, most likely during the
Book Review – CBC Nahum (Richard Patterson)
about 7 months ago - No comments
This is another commentary contained within Volume 10 of the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. See my review of Andrew Hill’s Commentary on Micah for my thoughts on the layout of this commentary series. Introduction Nahum’s main message is the impending doom of wicked Nineveh. We know very little of who Nahum is, but Patterson tentatively places
Book Review – CBC Haggai (Andrew Hill)
Introduction
One nice feature of Haggai’s ministry is that it can be precisely dated and located in Israel’s history. Haggai was a herald sounding a wake-up call to a community that was spiritually asleep. In particular he wanted to stir them up to rebuild the temple. He emphasised the abiding presence of God’s Spirit. Some key themes of Haggai include:
Commentary
As with all the commentaries in this series, the authors explain the meaning of a section, and then move to some quick, theological reflection, often linking in other parts of Scripture. So for example, Hill offers helpful comments on putting the significance of the temple into its proper place. He highlights how Haggai makes regular use of the name “Lord of Heaven’s Armies” for God.
On the second chapter, Hill shows how Haggai draws on themes from Ezekiel and Jeremiah’s prophecies in previous times, and overturns Jeremiah’s curse on the Davidic line (Jer 22:24-30), rekindling the messianic hopes that had been dashed by the Babylonian exile. He points out that though the second temple did not outstrip the glory of Solomon’s temple in terms of architectural magnificence, the real glory consists of God’s presence in and amongst his people.
Overall, this has been one of my favourite commentaries in this volume so far. Hill has made effective use of the short space available to make this a good companion to those wanting to do a brief study of Haggai.