theLAB

The Logos Academic Blog

The Asia Bible Commentary: Interview with The Editors

by 5 Comments

“Every theology is contextual.” So opens the preface in each volume of the Asia Bible Commentary. The commentary series stands on the premise that our “understanding of the Bible is influenced by our historical and social locations.” The momentous task undertaken by the Asia Bible Commentary (ABC) is to give voice to Asian evangelical scholars in whose homelands Christianity is spreading like untempered fire but sound exegesis of the biblical text historically is lacking, where the prosperity gospel and native religion threaten pure doctrine. The ABC bolsters the preaching of the Word in a global context.

I put a number of questions to Rico Villanueva (former General Editor) and Andrew Spurgeon (current General Editor) in a brief interview recounted below. We at Logos are very excited to have a number of volumes in the ABC series now available for your digital library. Stay tuned for more interviews with the authors and editors of Langham Publishing in the coming weeks.

[Read more…]

How to Write a Commentary on Revelation

by 1 Comment

Earlier this month, Ian Paul gave a paper at the annual meeting of the British New Testament Society, in the Revelation seminar group, on his experience of writing a commentary. This is what he said.

[Read more…]

Best Commentaries on Paul with Nijay Gupta: Philemon

by Leave a Comment

Rochester Bible, Walters W18. Source: Wikipedia

Nijay Gupta shares his final post in this helpful series on best commentaries by listing two essential works on Philemon.

[Read more…]

Best Commentaries on Paul with Nijay Gupta: Pastoral Epistles (1-2 Timothy, Titus)

by 4 Comments

Titus, Miniscule 699 GA folio 41v. Image source: wikipedia

The Pastoral Epistles have long been regarded as wise instruction for the benefit of the church. But in the last two centuries these texts have often been sidelined in the academy due to suspicions of pseudepigraphal (false) authorship and seemingly negative sentiments towards women. On the other hand, the 21st century has seen numerous detailed commentaries that are a harbinger of renewed interest.

[Read more…]

Best Commentaries on Paul, with Nijay Gupta: 1-2 Thessalonians

by 2 Comments

Image Source: Vimeo

The Thessalonian correspondence has become of more interest to scholars in recent years for several reasons. First Thessalonians is considered one of the earliest—if not the earliest—extant documents of the New Testament. Also, both letters emphasize early Christian interest in eschatology. Several excellent commentaries on the Thessalonian letters have been produced over the years, but the last decade has seen a notable surge of strong scholarship on these texts.

[Read more…]

Best Commentaries on Paul, with Nijay Gupta: Colossians

by 9 Comments

Title page of the Epistle to the Colossians, Walters Manuscript W.533, fol. 247v

Colossians is an underappreciated jewel in the Pauline corpus, often sidelined from academic conversations because of its debated authorship. It is a beautifully-crafted meditation on the cosmic-and-crucified Christ.

[Read more…]

Best Commentaries on Paul with Nijay Gupta: Philippians

by 3 Comments

This short Pauline epistle has long fascinated scholars, especially the so-called “Christ Hymn” (2:6-11), offering the possibility that Paul embedded here a piece of liturgy or tradition from earliest Christianity (or Paul proves himself here a poet as well as a theologian). More recently, attention has turned to Paul’s shaping of Christian identity, his attitude towards his own Jewish identity and his pre-Christ past, and how he teaches the Philippians to navigate their life together in a potentially hostile context. Exegetical and theological wisdom is widely available in existing commentaries.

[Read more…]

Best Commentaries on Paul, with Nijay Gupta: Ephesians

by 7 Comments

Manuscript leaf with the opening of the epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians. Image source: Wikipedia commons.

Ephesians is widely considered one of the most beautifully composed texts of the New Testament. And yet, because some scholars argue that Paul did not write the letter, it is often left out of academic conversations about Paul, his ministry, and his theology. Since the authorship question is so crucial to how Ephesians is interpreted, we will note where each commentary writer lands on the matter.

[Read more…]

Best Commentaries on Paul, with Nijay Gupta: Galatians

by 7 Comments

Image source: Wikipedia commons

Like Romans, Galatians has been at the center of theological debate concerning Paul’s theology. At the heart of the issue is Paul’s view of the Law. Thankfully, several excellent commentaries are available, a few written in the last year or two.

[Read more…]

Best Commentaries on Paul, with Nijay Gupta: 2 Corinthians

by 6 Comments

Image source: Proclaim

One scholar has referred to 2 Corinthians as the “sleeping giant” of Paul’s letters—often under-appreciated but packing explosive theological power. I wish all Christians would commit themselves to studying this rich text carefully. Nevertheless, even in scholarship it has been widely neglected.

[Read more…]