The Best Old Testament Commentaries (Pt 1)

As promised, here is the OT commentary list. It was generated the same way as the NT list below (if you want to know the procedure, it is explained at the beginning of that post). Let me know what you think. I’ll post the rest in a couple days.

Genesis
1. Wenham, Gordon. Genesis (WBC)
2. Leupold, Herbert. Exposition of Genesis
3. Hamilton, Victor. The Book of Genesis (NICOT)
HM. Kidner, Derek. Genesis (TOTC)
HM. Davis, John. Paradise to Prison: Studies in Genesis

Exodus
1. Childs, B.S. The Book of Exodus: A ... Commentary (OTL)
2. Davis, John. Moses and the Gods of Egypt
3. Bush, George. Notes, Critical and Practical, on the Book of Exodus

Leviticus
1a. Wenham, Gordon. The Book of Leviticus (NICOT)
1b. Bonar, Andrew. A Commentary on the Book of Leviticus
2. Rooker, Mark. Leviticus (NAC)
3. Ross, Alan. Holiness to the Lord.

Numbers
1. Wenham, Gordon. Numbers (TOTC)
2. Bush, George. Notes, Critical ... Book of Numbers
3. Harrison, R.K. Numbers (WEC)

Deuteronomy
1. Craigie, Peter. The Book of Deuteronomy (NICOT)
2. Merrill, Eugene. Deuteronomy (NAC)
3a. Driver, Samuel. A Critical ... on Deuteronomy (ICC)
3b. Reider, Joseph. The Holy Scriptures: Deuteronomy ...

Joshua
1. Woudstra, Marten. The Book of Joshua (NICOT)
2. Davis, John. Conquest and Crisis

Judges
1. Moore, George. A Critical ... Commentary on Judges (ICC)
2. Cundall & Morris. Judges and Ruth (TOTC)
3. Bush, George. Notes, Critical and Practical on the Book of Judges

Ruth
1. Hubbard, Robert L. The Book of Ruth (NICOT)
2. Campbell, Edward F. Ruth (AB)
3. Atkinson, David. The Message of Ruth (BST)

1 & 2 Samuel
1. Gordon, Robert P. 1 and 2 Samuel: A Commentary
2. Bergen, R.D. 1, 2 Samuel (NAC)
3. Klein, Ralph & Anderson, Arnold. 1 & 2 Samuel (WBC)

1 & 2 Kings
1. Montgomery, James. A Critical ... the Books of Kings (ICC)
2a. Wiseman, Donald. 1 & 2 Kings (TOTC)
2b. House, Paul R. 1, 2 Kings (NAC)

1 & 2 Chronicles
1. Braun, Roddy & Dillard, Ray. 1 & 2 Chronicles (WBC)
2. Wilcock. Michael. The Message of Chronicles (BST)
HM. Selman, Martin. 1 & 2 Chronicles. 2 vols. (TOTC)

Ezra & Nehemiah
1. Kidner, Derek. Ezra and Nehemiah (TOTC)
2. Fensham, F. Charles. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (NIC)
3. Williamson, H.G.M. Ezra-Nehemiah (WBC)

Esther
1. Baldwin, Joyce G. Esther (TOTC)
2. Whitcomb, John. Esther: Triumph of God’s Sovereignty (EBC)
3a. Breneman, Mervin. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (NAC)
3b. Bush, Frederic. Ruth, Esther (WBC).

Women in Pastoral Ministry

I had a private faculty meeting last week to discuss the topic of women in ministry. The school I teach at is egalitarian while I am a complementarian.

While trying to prepare for this meeting, I found this web page to be a complete lifesaver. It helped me clarify my position and answered all the objections I was thrown.

Skim it and tell me what you think and why?

Jesus is NOT your Homeboy

This is another in a long line of examples in our culture that trivialize the least trivial Person, by any standard, who's ever existed. No one needs to debunk Christianity through dialogue and debate anymore. Today, it's simply overlooked as insignificant because it's Founder is no longer seen as the One before whom "every knee should bow" (Phil 2:10) as Lord and King of the Universe. In the minds of most He's become another pop culture icons that have their "day in the sun" before being put on the shelf as they wait to be reinvented. No wonder God rests so inconsequentially upon a Christianity who thinks we honor Him when we market Him like a commodity and consume Him like a product. What happened to witnessing with our lips and our lives, not with our t-shirts and tattoos?

The Best New Testament Commentaries

While reading 5-10 books that survey and recommend NT commentaries (among these 5-10 are books by D.A. Carson, Doug Moo, James Rosscup, John Glynn and Cyril Barber), I wanted to know which were the overall most and highest recommended. So, I gave each commentary a score based on how the surveyer liked/rated it. I have revised this list when other commentary surveys came out, and/or when previous surveys were revised. After tallying up the scores this is a summary of the results (Note: The titles given for the commentary are either full names with the series in parenthesis, or there is enough info to find it at a bookfinder.com type of website):

Matthew
1. Broadus, John. Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew.
2. Carson, D.A. Matthew (in Expositor's Bible series).

Mark
1. Cranfield, C.E.B. The Gospel according to St. Mark
2. Lane, William. The Gospel of Mark (NICNT)
3. Hiebert, D.E. The Gospel of Mark

Luke
1. Marshall, I.H. The Gospel of Luke (NIGTC)
2. Plummer, Alfred. A Critical and Exegetical...Luke (ICC)

John
1a. Brown, Raymond. The Gospel According to John (AB)
1b. Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to John (NICNT)
2. Barrett, C.K. The Gospel According to St. John

Acts
1. Bruce, F.F. The Book of Acts (NICNT)
2. Marshall, I.H. The Acts of the Apostles (TNTC)

Romans
1. Cranfield, C.E.B. Romans, 2 vols (ICC)
2. Murray, John. The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT)
3. Moo, Doug. The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT)

1 Corinthians
1. Robertson & Plummer. A Critical...Corinthians (ICC)
2a. Fee, Gordon. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT)
2b. Barrett, C.K. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (BNTC)

2 Corinthians
1. Hughes, Phillip. Commentary on the Second...Corinthians (NICNT)
2a. Martin, Ralph. 2 Corinthians (WBC)
2b. Barrett, C.K. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (BNTC)

Galatians
1a. Bruce, F.F. A Commentary on...Galatians (NIGTC)
1b. Burton, Ernest. A Critical and Exegetical...Galatians (ICC)
2. Lightfoot, Joseph. The Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians.

Ephesians
1. Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary
2. O'Brien, Peter. The Letter to the Ephesians (PNTC)
3. Lincoln, Andrew. Ephesians (WBC)

Philippians
1a. Hawthorne, Gerald. Philippians (WBC).
1b. Lightfoot, Joseph. St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians.
2. O'Brien, Peter. The Epistle to the Philippians (NIGTC)

Colossians & Philemon
1. O'Brien, Peter. Colossians, Philemon (WBC).
2. Bruce, F.F. The Epistles to the Colossians...Ephesians (NICNT)
3. Lightfoot, Joseph. St. Paul’s Epistles...Colossians...Philemon.

1 & 2 Thessalonians
1. Bruce, F.F. 1 and 2 Thessalonians (WBC)
2a. Hiebert, D.E. 1 & 2 Thessalonians
2b. Best, Ernst. A Commentary on...Thessalonians (BNTC)

1 & 2 Timothy, and Titus
1. Kelly, J.N.D. The Pastoral Epistles (BNTC)
2a. Mounce, William. The Pastoral Epistles (WBC)
2b. Knight, George. The Pastoral Epistles (NIGTC)

Hebrews
1. Bruce, F.F. The Epistle to the Hebrews (NICNT)
2. Westcott, B.F. The Epistle to the Hebrews
3. Hughes, Philip. A Commentary on...Hebrews (NICNT?)

James
1. Davids, Peter. The Epistle of James (NIGTC)
2. Mayor, Joseph. The Epistle of James.

1 Peter
1. Selwyn, Edward. First Epistle of St. Peter.
2. Kelly, J.N.D. A Commentary on ... of Peter and Jude (BNTC)

2 Peter & Jude
1. Bauckham, Richard. Jude, 2 Peter (WBC)
2. Green, Edward. Second Epistle...Jude (TNTC)
3. Mayor, Joseph. The Epistle of St. Jude and...Peter.

1-3 John
1. Stott, John. The Epistles of John (TNTC).
2. Smalley, Stephen. 1, 2, 3 John (WBC)

Revelation
1. Walvoord, John. The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
2. Beale, G.K. The Book of Revelation (NIGTC)
3a. Swete, H.B. The Apocalypse of St. John.
3b. Thomas, Robert. Revelation, 2 vols (WEC)

Let me know if you have questions, comments, disagreements, or want further details.

Alcohol & Hating Truth

In the Confessions, Book VI, chapter 2, Augustine describes the enjoyment of alcohol as a very common barrier to the gospel. While describing his mother's practice of honoring dead saints while drinking wine he commented that her love of wine did not "stimulate her to hate the truth, as it does too many, both male and female." You can read the quote in context by clicking the title of this post above.

His language is so strong, and it even seems he might be shocked by the fact that his mother didn't hate the truth though she loved wine, as if loving wine and hating truth went hand-in-hand in everyone except her. She was an admirable exception to the general rule?

When I think of hindrances to the truth, I think of intellectual or moral barriers (i.e., sex, money, power, etc.), but thanks to Augustine we need to add alcohol to the list of barriers keeping people from embracing the gospel.

As someone who spent many Friday nights out at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica doing street evangelism, I can concur with Augustine. Alcohol, more often than not, seems to have a deadening effect on the spiritual sensitivities of people whom at other times are quite reasonable. This was true of a guy named Mike who I talked to many times. When he was sober, he'd listen and even came very close to embracing the gospel on night, but when he'd been drinking, he wasn't worth talking to.

Do you have any further insights into what Augustine's saying here? Let me know.

Michael J. Fox & Stem Cell Research

Before I start, let me say I love Michael J. Fox. Some of my fondest memories revolve around his body of work, namely, coming home after school to watch Family Ties, and I think some of the most creative movies ever made have been his Back to the Future trilogy.

Also, I am not cold-hearted when it comes to Parkinson's disease. It is a horrifying illness, and I pray for a cure. A very good friend of mine has it, and it is painful watching him try to do the simplest things. I have deep compassion for those with this disease.

With that being said, if you’ve watched or listened to his political ad (click here if you haven’t), please notice first that the benign phrase "stem cell research" is a euphemism for the morally-charged "embryonic stem cell research." This is the same tactic used in another political ad here in California for Jerry Brown.

No one has a moral problem with stem cell research when it’s performed on adults. And, regardless of the moral issues, if you click here or on the title of this post above, you’ll see that it’s only adult stem cell research that is having any scientifically documentable benefits.

The point: Regardless of Mr. Fox's disease, it’s dishonest to accuse people of being against “stem cell research” while leaving out the moral issue regarding that research, namely, killing embryos to harvest their stem cells.

Because the ad's dishonest, it's manipulative too. It makes Democrats look caring and compassionate as they are on the side of science and Parkinson patients when in fact, the science shows ESCR won't help them.

As dishonest and manipulative, the ad ends up being both spiteful, because it uses a sick man to make Republicans look heartless for the benefit of votes, and wicked, because it promises millions of suffering people the fool’s gold of ESCR.

Steps to Evangelistic Victory

Evangelism is often completed in stages, as in the life of Augustine (see Confessions, Book VI, chapter 1).

Augustine's mother Monica (the person the city Santa Monica is named after) is famous for praying that God would save him. When he told her that he had left some false teachings (i.e., the Manicheans), he comments that "though I had not yet grasped the truth, I was rescued from falsehood." She had been assured by God that her son would come to faith, which he says is why she was not "agitated with any violent exultation" upon him leaving that heresy.

This episode illustrates an important principle in evangelism: Victory is not just found when someone embraces the gospel--though, of course, that is the goal we pray and work and reason with them for. Just getting someone to disbelieve a lie that was previously a barrier to their coming to salvation is something to exult over too because it is also proof that God is using you in their life.

So, unless God gives you the kind of insight about the person you're trying to evangelize as He gave St. Monica, thank Him for all of the step-by-step victories He gives before bringing a person all the way to saving faith, just like He did with Augustine.

Creepy Reincarnation Song

I'll be teaching on Eastern religious worldviews and their New Age spawns in the West in a couple weeks, and I like to have songs that illustrate some aspect of the worldview to mix things up for the students.

Well, I heard this song on Coast To Coast AM last weekend and knew it was perfect so I got it on iTunes. The only problem is, I get a deep and creepy feeling every time I listen to it.

Here are the words. The name of the song is "Highwayman," and it was recorded in 1985 by The Highwaymen. I'm sure you'll see why I'll use it in these upcoming classes once you read it.

I was a highwayman. Along the coach roads I did ride
With sword and pistol by my side
Many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade
Many a soldier shed his lifeblood on my blade
The bastards hung me in the spring of twenty-five
But I am still alive.

I was a sailor. I was born upon the tide
And with the sea I did abide.
I sailed a schooner round the Horn to Mexico
I went aloft and furled the mainsail in a blow
And when the yards broke off they said that I got killed
But I am living still.

I was a dam builder across the river deep and wide
Where steel and water did collide
A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado
I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below
They buried me in that great tomb that knows no sound
But I am still around..I'll always be around..and around and around and around and around

I fly a starship across the Universe divide
And when I reach the other side
I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can
Perhaps I may become a highwayman again
Or I may simply be a single drop of rain
But I will remain
And I'll be back again, and again and again and again and again.

What do you think? Is it creepy, or am I just a wuss?

Theopanic

Whether it's pop culture spokesmouths like Bill Maher and Rosie O'Donnell, or authors like Andrew Sullivan, Michelle Goldberg, and James Rubin, a cultural consensus is forming that evangelical Christianity in the US is dangerous.

This is due in large part to misunderstanding biblical Christianity, and to linking psychotic fringe elements--whether those in the past or today--with the mainstream.

However, it also seems stems from the linking of our public policy positions with our view of objective morality--the secularist's whipping boy who has been beaten for decades with the lashes of pluralism and the new tolerance.

In the absense of an objective morality, we are seen as self-righteously and intolerantly forcing our religious views of abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage, Islam, porography and stem-cell research on people (by the way, Christians are opposed to embryonic stem-cell research, not stem-cell research in general--I can't stand it when secularists don't make this distinction when describing Christians).

However, it does not take a genius to see that these secularists end up being the most self-righteous, intolerant, close-minded and bigotted of all in their attempt to keep Christians from freely speaking in the market place of ideas.

With one of their typical techniques, they use an epitaph like "theocracy," or "racist," or "homophob" to avoid all discourse and debate--in effect, shouting down all opposing positions without raising their voice and with a smile on their face.

Click the title above if you want to read a recent article about theopanic, and then tell us what you think.

Making Fun of People

Have you ever thought about what you're really doing when you make fun of someone?

When you mock someone, you're setting yourself over them as a superior, and then talking down to them in judgment as an inferior.

Many would say you're doing that because of an inferiority complex, or because you feel bad about yourself / have low self-esteem so, in order to make yourself feel good, you make others feel bad. Fine, but I think there's an important theological lesson here, too.

When you look down on another person, you have some reason(s) for doing so. There is something good about you that you see as superior, and therefore, these good things give you justifications for elevating yourself above the person you're about to mock.

However, don't forget that every single good thing you can point to, you cannot take even an ounce of credit for because "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17).

In other words, when I mock someone I am robbing God of the glory He deserves for every good thing that I am, I am pridefully taking that glory and giving it to myself, all the while conveniently forgetting that if it weren't for God's grace to me, I would be the person I'm making fun of.

In the end, the only difference between me and the nerd, the dumb jock, the outcast, the slut, the idiot, the punk kid, the fightin' fundy, the jihadist, and the nihilist is God's grace towards me.

I think we forget and disbelieve that precious truth when we make fun of someone, what about you?

The Right Heart for Evangelism

Spurgeon: "...if sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies; and if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay, and not madly to destroy themselves. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

When you encounter the lost--in person, in print, on TV, on radio, etc.--are these your thoughts? Is this your heart?

If you want to read the whole sermon or find the quote in context, click the title above, and then leave a comment.

Postmoderns are really Pre-Modern

In the middle of the last chapter of the Confessions, Book V, I came across this line as Augustine (354-430 AD) is describing his struggle committing to or leaving the Manicheans: "the method of the Academics—doubting everything and fluctuating between all the options" (V.14:25). [If you want to read the quote in context, click the title above.]

The intelligencia of his day both doubted everything and were a shifting shadow "between all options." Hmm.... Doubting everything...? Waffling among all points of view...? These pre-moderns sound awfully, um, post-modern. Maybe postmodernism isn't all that "post" after all.

What do you think? Leave a comment.

Welcome!!!!!!!

The name of this blog is Latin for "Truth is Immortal."

It comes from the life motto of the 16th century Anabaptist theologian and martyr, Balthasar Hubmaier (1480-1528) whose life and thought I will be mixing into this blog as time goes by. If you don't know who this man is, please take a moment to read short bios here and here, with a longer one here.

When he signed his writings with "Truth is Immortal," he did it in German (which I think looks something like Wahrhaftigkeit ist unsterblich). We have it in Latin because a friend of mine said Latin is cool and gives a blog instant credibility.

Regardless of the possible effects of a blog with a Latin name, my hope and prayer is that my interaction with the immortal, divine Truth will begin to reverse the inconsequentiality of God, His gospel, His Son and His Word in every crevice of my life.

As to the sidebar on the right, the ministries listed are those that have helped me most in my short 11 years as a Christian. The books are some of the best I've read, and the mp3s are free download sites that, also, have helped me in my struggle to erase God's inconsequentiality in me.

Finally, please leave comments because we don't grow in solitary confinement, but from and with each other.

So, Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you come back soon!