What do you think?
Rate this book
The Interpreter's Bible, Vol 1: General Articles Genesis Exodus
One of the greatest needs of the Christian ministry has long been a comprehensive Bible commentary that would focus the vast findings of modern scholarship on the meaning of every passage so as to bring out the preaching and teaching values for Christian living today.The Interpreter's Bible is that commentary. It not only gathers together all that reverent scientific studies have discovered about the Bible, but also provides the preacher or teacher with practical stimulus and help in interpreting its truth to those who depend upon him for guidance. It is the most complete and efficient working tool ever devised for the preaching and teaching of God's Word.
1099 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1951
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 26, 2022
Here's a series from Abingdon, a publisher I highly regard, include many top scholars and churchmen from its time.
Much of this volume, at least, is so wrapped up in the Documentary Hypothesis that less than half the book is actually doing the work of interpretation. I did not find it particularly useful. I had a question about the meaning of the text; I looked it up here and read a long explanation about why P had subtracted that phrase and moved it several verses later, but J logically must have written the verses that follow. No answer to the simple interpretive question that would have been handled in much shorter commentaries. You would think the way that this volume clocks in at 700 pages that it would answer a basic question about Adam and Eve.
I also feel that any tripartite apparatus is a nightmare, both for typesetters and for readers! I just wanted to know about a specific verse, but the verse, its "Exposition" (by one author) and its "Exegesis" (by a third author, or sixth, if you follow Documentary Hypothesis) was on yet another page. Additionally, when you hit a page break, it is very difficult to find the continuation of the text. The time spent fighting the apparatus in itself decreases the cost-effectiveness of the series. I can only hope other volumes are more readable.
Much of this volume, at least, is so wrapped up in the Documentary Hypothesis that less than half the book is actually doing the work of interpretation. I did not find it particularly useful. I had a question about the meaning of the text; I looked it up here and read a long explanation about why P had subtracted that phrase and moved it several verses later, but J logically must have written the verses that follow. No answer to the simple interpretive question that would have been handled in much shorter commentaries. You would think the way that this volume clocks in at 700 pages that it would answer a basic question about Adam and Eve.
I also feel that any tripartite apparatus is a nightmare, both for typesetters and for readers! I just wanted to know about a specific verse, but the verse, its "Exposition" (by one author) and its "Exegesis" (by a third author, or sixth, if you follow Documentary Hypothesis) was on yet another page. Additionally, when you hit a page break, it is very difficult to find the continuation of the text. The time spent fighting the apparatus in itself decreases the cost-effectiveness of the series. I can only hope other volumes are more readable.
Displaying 1 of 1 review