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Out Of Touch Conservative Wants Recommendations On Current Views In OT, NT Studies


JohnABarnett

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I have been out of touch in OT and NT studies for so long that I simply could not recognize what resources are best that are up to date with current knowledge. Those who are "in touch" are welcome to make helpful recommendations, knowing full well that consensus is difficult in such matters.

 

As a conservative who tends to Reformed views but not slavishly, quality conservative resources are key, but so are general resources that reflect prevailing current views among critical scholars so long as they are not "out there."  Some synonymic phrases for "out there" : needlessly tendentious, hopelessly innovative, uselessly speculative, etc., etc. I assume there are scholars on both sides of the aisle who are more interested in contributing to solid progress rather than creating the latest fad or repeating the mantras of past generations, of building on and advancing the theological traditions they have inherited rather than endlessly reenacting old battles. 

 

Hopefully the previous paragraph gives you a feel for the kind of resource recommendations sought. At this point I am looking for resources general to Biblical studies, for example, introductions for both Old Testament and New Testament, one for each. If, however, the best resources are to be found in books of lesser scope, for example, Pentateuch, Monarchy, Pre-exilic, Post-exilic, Gospels, or Pauline studies, quality is more important to me. My primary interest is in history, general views on composition and literary matters, broad brush strokes of interpretation, matters of canon, etc. 

 

I seek to build an updated context from which to approach studies.  

 

If an Accordance version exists that is helpful though not necessary. If you want to recommend authors rather than specific books, that is helpful too. Thanks in advance for any responses.

 

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Edited to add:

 

With appreciation to Daniel Francis, I realized that I should mention that I am retired and on a very limited budget. Multi-volume works costing $500-plus dollars are pretty much out of my league. I'd like to stay under $100 for each Testament. For the right resource(s) I might go a bit higher.

Edited by JohnABarnett
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I am not 100% sure if I am going to be helpful at all but I would like to possibly suggest the New Interpreter's Bible.... This series has contributor's from conservative to more liberal... but they try to be fair with different views. Here are 3 samples:

 

 

 
LEVITICUS 22:17–33, HOLINESS IN SACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS
 
COMMENTARY
 
While there is some connection between this section and the preceding five sections in 21:1–22:16 in that all six sections conclude with the closing formula, or colophon, “I am the LORD, who makes you/him/them holy,” this sixth section is addressed to all Israel (22:17–18a) and the priests, whereas the previous five are addressed exclusively to the priests (21:1). Therefore, treating it separately is best.
The concern in this section is for a jealous maintenance of the holiness of God in the quality of the offerings brought to God’s house. The first requirement is that they are to be “without defect” (vv. 19–21; see 1:3, 10; 3:1, 6; 4:3, 23, 28; cf. Mal 1:8, 13). Only for a freewill offering is an exception to this rule allowed: An animal can be brought that is not altogether perfect but is “deformed or stunted” (v. 23). But such an imperfect victim is not acceptable in making a vow to God. The prophet Malachi alludes to this very exclusion for the vow offerings when he sharply denounces the “cheats” who have an acceptable male in their flocks and who vow to give it to the Lord, “but then [sacrifice] a blemished animal to the LORD” (Mal 1:14 NIV). Can this be the way a great king ought to be treated? asks Malachi.
 
This unblemished animal has to be a male (see 1:3). It has to come from the cattle, sheep, or goats, not from the wild animals, which belong to no single offerer in particular. There can be no defect in the animals, such as “warts or festering or running sores” (v. 22). The sacrificial animal cannot be a gelding, i.e., castrated in any one of the four ways mentioned in v. 24: bruised, crushed, broken, or cut. Some have taken the clause here in v. 24 to mean that one was not to castrate any animal in the land for any purpose, but our versions are probably correct in taking it to apply only to sacrificial animals.
The second requirement is that this law about not offering blemished animals must be enforced when foreigners make sacrifices to the Lord (v. 25). Offering discount bargains where the holiness of God is involved is to be strictly forbidden; otherwise the offering will not be accepted by the Lord.
The third requirement sets a minimal limit on the age of a sacrificial animal. It has to be no less than eight days old (v. 27), and the mother and its young are not to be slaughtered for sacrifice on the same day (v. 28). One reason why the eighth day is chosen is that an animal is not fit for eating before the eighth day, hence its inappropriateness for sacrifice.
This section closes (vv. 29–30) by repeating the command already given in 7:15 that the meat of the thank offering is to be eaten on the same day in which it is offered.
A concluding admonition is given in vv. 31–33. Israel is urged, once again, to keep God’s commands and to obey them. Doing anything less amounts to profaning the name of the Lord. The word חלל (ḥillēl [piel]) means to “demean,” “degrade the sacred to the level of the חל (ḥōl), the profane, or secular.” Over against the human tendency to degrade God stand God’s holiness, lordship, and gracious act of redeeming Israel from Egypt.
 
 
 
REFLECTIONS
 
1. Offering God the leftovers and scraps of our time, energies, funds, and talents is akin to vowing to give to God our best and then coming with whatever we can spare.
2. The ceremonial law has been repealed in its outward form, since the final and perfect sacrifice of Christ has been offered, yet it abides in its spirit and intention in that we profane the name or sanctuary of God by unholy lives or by lawless worship that fails to acknowledge that God is a great king, priest, and prophet after the orders of David, Aaron-Melchizedek, and Moses, respectively.
 
 
 
Walter C., Jr. Kaiser, “The Book of Leviticus,” in General Articles; Genesis-Leviticus, vol. 1 of The New Interpreter’s Bible. Accordance electronic ed. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994), 1150-1152.
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PSALM 23:1–6, LIKE A CHILD AT HOME
 
COMMENTARY
 
Certainly the most familiar psalm, and perhaps the most familiar passage in the whole Bible, Psalm 23 is a challenge for the interpreter. On the one hand, its familiarity and obvious power seem to make commentary superfluous. On the other hand, its very familiarity invites the attempt to hear it in a fresh way. The challenge in this regard is the fact that Psalm 23 has become what William L. Holladay calls “an American Secular Icon,”122 and it is almost exclusively associated with a particular contemporary setting: the funeral service. To be sure, it is appropriate that Psalm 23 be read and heard in the midst of death and dying. It may be more important, however, that this psalm be read and heard as a psalm about living, for it puts daily activities, such as eating, drinking, and seeking security, in a radically God-centered perspective that challenges our usual way of thinking. Furthermore, it calls us not simply to claim individual assurance but also to take our place with others in the household of God.
23:1–3. The psalm begins with a simple profession. In the ancient world, kings were known as shepherds of their people. Thus to profess “The LORD is my shepherd” is to declare one’s loyalty to God and intention to live under God’s reign. It was the responsibility of kings to provide for and protect the people, but they frequently failed to do so (see Jer 23:1–4; Ezek 34:1–10). In contrast to the failure of earthly kings, God does what a shepherd is supposed to do: provide life and security for the people (see Ezek 34:11–16). Thus the psalmist affirms, “I shall lack nothing,” as v. 1b is better translated (see Deut 2:7; Neh 9:21). The rest of the psalm explains how God fulfills the role of a good shepherd (see also Gen 49:24; Pss 28:9; 74:1; 79:13; 80:1; 95:7; 100:3; Isa 40:11; Jer 31:10; Mic 7:14).
Contrary to the usual understanding, the imagery in vv. 2–3 is not aimed primarily at communicating a sense of peace and tranquility. It does this, to be sure, but its primary intent is to say that God keeps the psalmist alive. For a sheep, to be able to “lie down in green pastures” means to have food; to be led “beside still waters” means to have something to drink; to be led “in right paths” means that danger is avoided and proper shelter is attained (see Pss 5:8; 27:11). In short, God “restores my soul,” or, better translated, God “keeps me alive.” The sheep lack nothing, because the shepherd provides the basic necessities of life—food, drink, shelter. Thus the psalmist professes that his or her life depends solely on God and that God keeps the psalmist alive “for his name’s sake” (v. 3b)—that is, in keeping with God’s fundamental character.
By alluding to God’s character, v. 3b anticipates the mention of “goodness and mercy,” two fundamental attributes of God (see below on v. 6). Not surprisingly, the vocabulary of vv. 2–3 occurs elsewhere in relation to key events that reveal God’s character. For instance, the two Hebrew verbs translated “leads” in vv. 2–3 occur together in Exod 15:13 in the song that celebrates the exodus. The verb in v. 2 also occurs in Isa 40:11, where God is also portrayed as a shepherd who leads the people home from exile (see also Isa 49:10–11). Although the psalmist’s personal address to God as “my shepherd” is unique, the way the psalmist experiences God is entirely in keeping with God’s character and historic deeds.
23:4. This is the structural and theological center of Psalm 23. Even in the most life-threatening situation, God’s provision is sufficient. The word that the NIV translates “the shadow of death” elsewhere seems to mean simply “darkness” or “deep darkness” (see Job 3:5; 10:22; 12:22; 16:16; Pss 44:19; 107:10; Amos 5:8). The word, however, is unusual. It appears to be a compounding of words meaning “shadow” and “death,” and in Job 10:22 it describes the realm of the dead. Thus the traditional translation seems appropriate (see v. 4 NIV). The similarity between the Hebrew words for “evil” (רע raʿ) and “my shepherd” (‏רעי rōʿı̂) is striking, and the effect is to pit dramatically the shepherd against the threatening evil. The threat is real, but it is not to be feared, for the shepherd’s provision is sufficient. The expression “fear no evil” is reminiscent of the central feature of the prophetic salvation oracle, which is particularly prominent in Isaiah 40–55 (see Isa 41:11–13, 14–16; 43:1–7; 44:6–8; 54:4–8). The word “comfort” (נחם nḥm) is also thematic in Isaiah 40–55 (see Isa 40:1–2; 49:13; 51:3, 12, 19; 52:9). The historical setting of Isaiah 40–55 is that of exile, Israel’s “darkest valley.” The message of the prophet is that even in exile, God will provide. Indeed, the introductory oracle concludes that God “will feed his flock like a shepherd” (Isa 40:11 NRSV).
The central affirmation, “you are with me,” is made even more emphatic by the shift from third to second person in referring to God and by the presence of the Hebrew pronoun for “you.” The direct address heightens the expression of the intimacy of God’s presence. As Brueggemann points out, the only two occurrences of the personal name for God, Yahweh (LORD), occur in vv. 1 and 6, as if to indicate that Yahweh’s presence is all-surrounding.123
The “rod” in v. 4 makes sense as a shepherd’s implement; however, the word even more frequently signifies royal authority and rule (see “scepter” in Gen 49:10; Ps 45:6; Isa 14:5). What is ultimately comforting is the assurance that God is sovereign and that God’s powerful presence provides for our lives.
23:5–6. While some interpreters discern the sheep/shepherd imagery in these verses, it is more likely that God is here portrayed as a gracious host. In any case, whether the metaphor shifts is not crucial. The gracious host does for the guest exactly what the shepherd did for the sheep—provides food (“You prepare a table”), drink (“my cup overflows”), and shelter/protection (v. 6).
Like vv. 1–4, vv. 5–6 suggest that it is God’s very character to provide for God’s people. The clue in vv. 1–4 is the phrase “for his name’s sake.” The primary indication in vv. 5–6 is the Hebrew word חסד (ḥesed), which the NRSV translates as “mercy” and the NIV as “love.” God’s ḥesed lies at the very heart of God’s character, as suggested by the fact that the word occurs twice in God’s self-revelation to Moses in Exod 34:6–7 (see the Introduction). The word “goodness” (טוב ṭôB) is also reminiscent of God’s self-revelation to Moses, for God’s “goodness” passes before Moses in Exod 33:19 (see Pss 100:5; 106:1; 107:1; 118:1, where “goodness” and ḥesed are paired as reasons for praising God).
Most translations suggest that God’s goodness and ḥesed will “follow” the psalmist, but the Hebrew verb (רדף rādap) has the more active sense of “pursue.” God is in active pursuit of the psalmist! This affirmation is particularly noteworthy in view of “the presence of my enemies.” Ordinarily in the psalms, it is precisely the enemies who “pursue” the psalmist (see 7:5; 71:11; 109:16). Here the enemies are present but have been rendered harmless, while God is in active pursuit.
The mention of “the house of the LORD” in v. 6 may indicate the Temple and, along with the mention of “a table” in v. 5, may be a clue to the psalm’s original cultic setting. It is possible that the psalm was used at a meal sponsored by a worshiper as part of his or her thanksgiving offering (see Commentary on Ps 22:22–26), perhaps in gratitude for deliverance from enemies (v. 5). Other scholars take v. 6b very literally and conclude that the psalmist was one of the temple personnel or that she or he spent the night in the Temple during a distressing time to await a reassuring oracle. It is more likely, however, that the “stay in the sanctuary is probably metaphorical for keeping close contact with the personal God.”124
In any case, the mention of “the house of the LORD” is significant. To be in “the house of the LORD,” literally or metaphorically, provides a communal dimension to this psalm that is usually heard exclusively individualistically. This communal dimension is reinforced when Psalm 23 is heard in conjunction with Psalm 22, as the editors of the psalter may have intended. Not only can the depth of trust expressed in Psalm 23 be appreciated more fully after reading Psalm 22, but also the conclusion of Psalm 22 (vv. 22–31) seems to anticipate the ending of Psalm 23 (vv. 5–6). Psalm 22 ends with the psalmist in the “congregation” (vv. 22, 25), which would have been found in the house of the Lord (23:6). Thus the personal assurance articulated by the psalmist is finally experienced in the community of God’s people.
 
 
 
REFLECTIONS
 
1. In a consumer-oriented society, it is extremely difficult to hear the simple but radical message of Psalm 23: God is the only necessity of life! While v. 1 is best translated “I shall lack nothing,” the traditional translation preserved by the NIV and the NRSV is particularly appropriate in a culture that teaches people to want everything. Driven by greed rather than need, we can hardly imagine having only the necessities of life—food, drink, shelter/protection. Clever advertisers have succeeded in convincing us that what former generations considered incredible luxuries are now basic necessities. To say in our prosperous context that God is the only necessity of life sounds hopelessly quaint and naive. Then again, the words of Jesus also strike us as naive:
 
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. . . . But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt 6:25, 33 NRSV)
 
In effect, to make Psalm 23 our words is to affirm that we do not need to worry about our lives (or our deaths). God will provide, and God’s provision is grounded in the reality of God’s reign. The proper response to the simple good news of Psalm 23 and Jesus Christ is to trust God. But this is precisely the rub. In a secular society, we are encouraged to trust first ourselves and to work first to secure our own lives and futures. Psalm 23 thus challenges us to affirm with the psalmist: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.” To say that means to live humbly and gratefully as a child of God.
The third stanza of Isaac Watts’s beautiful metrical version of Psalm 23 expresses eloquently the simple trust that Psalm 23 communicates and commends to us:
 
The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Your House be my abode,
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
 
While others go and come;
No more a stranger or a guest,
But like a child at home.125
 
Not only does Watts’s paraphrase capture the childlike trust articulated by Psalm 23, recalling Jesus’ words about entering the reign of God “like a little child” (Mark 10:15 NIV), but also it calls to our attention the communal dimension of Psalm 23.
To be a child at home means inevitably to be part of a family, to share community around a table (see v. 5). Thus we are led to reflect on what it means to be a part of God’s household (see v. 6). The implications are profound and radical: We are not our own! We belong to God and to one another! In his book God the Economist, M. Douglas Meeks recognizes the radical implications of Psalm 23. He quotes Aubrey R. Johnson’s rendering of Psalm 23:6:
 
Yea, I shall be pursued in unfailing kindness every day of my life,
finding a home in the Household of Yahweh for many a long year.
 
Meeks understands Psalm 23 to be an articulation of the same message ultimately embodied in the Lord’s Supper, which also has to do with God’s gracious provision of food, drink, and security within God’s household. Meeks puts it as follows:
 
The celebration of the Lord’s Supper is under orders from God the Economist and is a concrete instance of God’s providential oikonomia [the Greek word from which our word economy is derived; it means literally “law of the household”] with implications for all eating and drinking everywhere. For this reason, the disciples of Jesus should pray boldly for daily bread (Luke 11:3). They should keep the command to eat and drink, recognizing that it includes the command that they should share daily bread with all of God’s people.
. . . Psalm 23 depicts the work of God’s economy overcoming scarcity in God’s household.126
 
Because, as Psalm 23 affirms, God is the source of all food and drink and security, because we belong first and forever to God’s household, our lives are transformed. Daily realities are not to be taken for granted and certainly not to be treated as rewards we have earned. Psalm 23, like the Lord’s Supper, becomes finally an invitation to live under God’s rule and in solidarity with all God’s children. Thus to make Psalm 23 our own is a profoundly radical affirmation of faith that transforms our lives and our world. To be sure, Psalm 23 is to be heard in the midst of death and dying, but it is also to be heard amid the ordinary daily activities of living. And it gives these daily activities an extraordinary significance, for it invites us to share daily bread with all of God’s people.
2. It is inevitable that Christians hear in Psalm 23 testimony to Jesus Christ. Jesus became the gracious host who prepares a table that reconciles enemies and offers life (see Mark 14:22–25; interestingly, Mark 14:27 alludes to Zech 13:7, a passage about sheep and shepherds). In a story with obvious eucharistic overtones (Mark 6:30–44, esp. vv. 41–42), Jesus feeds people. The crowd is to “sit down . . . on the green grass” (Mark 6:39 NRSV), a detail that recalls Ps 23:2. That the allusion is not coincidental is suggested by Mark’s description of Jesus’ motivation for having compassion on the crowd: “they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34 NRSV). Jesus serves as both host and shepherd, acting out the two metaphors of Psalm 23.
Jesus is cast even more clearly in the role of shepherd in John 10:1–17. As in Psalm 23, the shepherd leads the sheep (John 10:3), providing food (John 10:9) and protection (John 10:12–13) for the purpose of sustaining life itself (John 10:10). And Jesus says specifically, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14 NRSV). Interesting too in John 10 is the enigmatic mention of “other sheep that do not belong to this fold” (v. 16 NRSV). Does this refer to Christians beyond the Johannine community? Does this refer more broadly to adherents of other world religions? The solution is unclear, but in the light of the communal conclusion to Psalm 23 (especially in view of the conclusion of Psalm 22, where “all the ends of the earth” and “all the families of the nations” are to “turn to the LORD” and “worship before him” [22:27]); it is worthy of note that John 10 envisions God’s household in very open terms, with room perhaps for “enemies” (Ps 23:5) and even for “all the families of the nations” (Ps 22:27).
This thrust toward universality is present too in the relationship between Jesus and Ps 23:4, “you are with me.” According to Matthew, Jesus is to be named “Emmanuel . . . ‘God is with us’ ” (Matt 1:23 NRSV). This affirmation provides a frame for the Gospel, the final words of which are “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20 NRSV). This final affirmation of Emmanuel is in the context of Jesus’ commission to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19 NRSV). God intends for God’s household to include “the ends of the earth” (Ps 22:27).
In short, in NT terms, Jesus is shepherd, host, Emmanuel. When Psalm 23 is heard in the context of Psalm 22 and of Jesus Christ, its profoundly radical implications are even clearer: God is with us, but God is not ours to own; the God who shepherds us to life also gives life to the world; the table at which we are hosted is one to which the whole world is invited.
 
 
 
J. Clinton, Jr. McCann, “The Book of Psalms,” in 1 Maccabees-Psalms, vol. 4 of The New Interpreter’s Bible. Accordance electronic ed. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), 766-771.
accord://read/NIB-OT#31195
 
 
 
LUKE 3:1–6, THE SETTING OF JOHN’S MINISTRY
 
COMMENTARY
 
The introduction to John’s prophetic ministry blends patterns from Greco-Roman historiography (chronology) and the Hebrew prophets (call). The date of John’s call is fixed (vv. 1–2a), and the call is described in a manner reminiscent of the prophets (v. 2b). The location and essence of John’s ministry are recorded (v. 3), and its fulfillment of the Scriptures is noted with a quotation from Isaiah (vv. 4–6). The chronological data given here are more detailed than earlier references in 1:5 and 2:1–2, signaling that John’s ministry of preaching and baptizing marks the real beginning of the period of Jesus’ ministry.
In the days before events were dated according to the years of the Christian era (which was initiated in 533 CE by Dionysius Exiguus), events were dated in relation to the rulers of the period or the number of years since the founding of Rome. Luke follows the former method, fixing the date of John’s call by six chronological vectors. Even taken together, however, they do not provide a precise date because of the uncertainties that surround ancient calendars and systems of reckoning. “The fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius” is the most promising vector, but it does not furnish us with a reliable date because we do not know which calendar Luke was using or the event from which he counted the years. The Julian, Jewish, Syrian-Macedonian, and Egyptian calendars each reckoned the years differently. Neither is the date of the beginning of Tiberius’s reign clearly established. Tiberius’s co-regency with Augustus began in 11 or 12 CE; Augustus died in 14 CE; and we do not know whether Luke counted the year of Tiberius’s accession as one of the years of his reign. Counting from 14 CE, and counting part of a year as a whole year, brings us to about 28 CE, which accords well with Luke’s later note that Jesus was “about thirty years old when he began his work” (3:23; see Commentary on v. 23).
The five other references are less helpful. Procurators governed Judea following the removal of Archelaus from office in 6 CE. Pontius Pilate was procurator from 26 to 36 CE. Herod Antipas remained tetrarch over Galilee, serving the Romans from the death of Herod the Great (4 BCE) until 39 CE, while Herod Philip governed his territories east of the Jordan until 34 CE. Luke’s reference to “Lysanias ruler of Abilene [in Syria]” cannot be identified with any known tetrarch and therefore provides no further chronological information.
This detailed correlation of the events of John’s ministry with the political events of the period reflects Luke’s attention to the form of historical writing, but it also resonates with his emphasis that through Jesus God brought salvation for all persons. The coming of the kingdom of God is set in relation to the events of the reign of human rulers. The reference to “the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas” (v. 2) also sets the inauguration of the work of John and Jesus in opposition to the priestly hierarchy. The ambiguous references to both Annas and Caiaphas reflect the continued influence of Annas and his family. Annas was high priest from 6 to 15 CE, and his son-in-law, Caiaphas, was high priest from 18 to 36 CE (see John 11:49; 18:13, 19; Acts 4:6). Pilate, Herod Antipas, and the high priest are also important later in the Gospel. Jesus is brought before the high priest and is tried by Pilate. Herod Antipas, similarly, plays a greater role in Luke than in any of the other Gospels: He imprisoned John (3:19–20), speculated that Jesus was John redivivus (9:7, 9), sought to kill Jesus (13:31), and questioned Jesus before his death (23:7–8, 11–12, 15).
If the chronological data of vv. 1–2 reflect the conventions of Greco-Roman historiography, the call of John echoes the call of a prophet. (The parallels are especially clear in Jer 1:1–5, but see also Isa 6:1; Ezek 1:1–3; and Hos 1:1.) Typically the call of a prophet records that (a) “the word of the Lord came” to or upon (B) the prophet; © the son of (the name of his father) is recorded; (d) it occurred in a certain location; and that (e) it came “in the days of” a certain king. The last element is expanded and placed first in Luke 3:1–2a. The remaining elements of the story of the call of a prophet follow in v. 2b. The reference to Zechariah serves also to recall the earlier account of John’s annunciation and birth, and the note that John was in the wilderness ties his call to the last previous reference to John in 1:80. It also sets the scene for the events that follow. Here for the first time Luke’s account employs traditional material found in the other Gospels. The account of John’s ministry and preaching weaves together material from the Gospel of Mark and Q, a collection of the teachings of Jesus used by both Matthew and Luke. At various points Luke’s handling of his source material sets his thematic and theological interests in relief.
The wilderness was a desolate area. Some scholars have speculated that John may have lived with the Essenes for a period of time and that his practice of baptizing those who responded to his call for repentance was drawn from the Essene initiation ceremonies and repeated washings. John’s baptism predates by fifty years the first reference in Jewish writings to a baptism of proselytes to Judaism, nevertheless a connection with Essene practices cannot be taken for granted. Like the Essenes, John called Israelites to repentance in the wilderness and subjected converts to a ceremony of water cleansing that either expressed their repentance or conveyed God’s cleansing to the convert. The water ritual was not effective apart from genuine repentance. In both cases, the washing was probably also understood as a fulfillment of the levitical requirements for purification (see Leviticus 15) and metaphorical references to washing in the OT (see Ps 51:7; Isa 1:16; Jer 4:14).
The Gospel of Mark begins with a quotation from Isaiah 40 and a description of John’s baptizing ministry. Luke sets the quotation in the context of the infancy material and the preceding account of John’s call. Luke also extends the quotation from Isaiah and deletes the description of John’s clothing and diet, while adding an extended account of John’s preaching. The effect is to emphasize three Lukan themes: (1) John’s role as a prophet, (2) the call for an ethical renewal in Israel, and (3) the extension of the work of salvation to all peoples.
Luke’s omission of the description of John as “clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey” (Mark 1:6 NRSV; cf. Lev 11:21–22; 2 Kgs 1:8) is puzzling because it would have served to further characterize John as a prophet. The association of John with the role of Elijah has been affirmed from even before John’s birth, however: “With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (1:17). The quotation of Isaiah 40 repeats not only v. 3 but the next two verses as well. Although Isa 40:3 is quoted in Matt 3:3; Mark 1:3; and John 1:23, only Luke quotes Isa 40:4–5 with its universalizing allusions to “every valley,” “every mountain and hill,” and “all flesh.” The quotation follows the Septuagint text with minor changes. Luke changes “make our God’s paths straight” to “make his paths straight” so that it can apply to Jesus more easily, and omits the following clause from v. 6: “and the glory of the Lord will be seen” (cf. Luke 2:9). The last phrase, “the salvation of God,” also appears in Acts 28:28 (see also Luke 2:30).
The introduction to this chapter, therefore, fixes the call of John to a prophetic ministry chronologically and describes that ministry as both the fulfillment of the prophets and the preparation for Jesus’ ministry. John’s preaching was an important part of God’s plan for Israel.
 
 
REFLECTIONS
1. The first several verses fix the time and political circumstances of John’s call. The story begins with a roll call of important persons: governors and kings, even the high priest. In surprising contrast, however, “the word of God” comes not to any of these but to an unknown prophet out in the wilderness. The redemptive work of which Mary sang in the Magnificat is under way: “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,/ and lifted up the lowly” (1:52). In all ages, God’s work proceeds among the poor and the dispossessed. A middle-class church in a nominally Christian society that enjoys religious liberty will have a hard time grasping the fact that Luke does not use these terms in a merely metaphorical or spiritual sense.
2. Moreover, the redemptive events that began with John in a remote corner of Judea were, by God’s design, the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s concern for the salvation of “all flesh.” Repeatedly in Luke we find this theme underscored. Our human tendency is to circumscribe God’s activity and limit it to our own kind of people and the causes that are socially and ethically important to us. But God’s concern for all continually pushes us to break across the boundaries that we set for it. In many respects, the story of the ministry of Jesus in Luke and the spread of the early church in Acts is the story of God’s challenge to social, ethnic, economic, and racial barriers to the spread of the gospel. “All flesh” always includes precisely those groups who are not present in our religious assemblies, either because we have not allowed them to be there or because we have maintained cultural patterns that have excluded them.
3. Because God’s redemptive work is still unfinished—the salvation of “all flesh” has not yet been realized—John serves as a role model for the church. The Gospel announces not only what God has done through Jesus but also what God is still in the process of doing. All who hear “the word of God” (v. 2) are called to declare what God is doing in our midst and to point ahead to the fulfillment of God’s reign as king. John was a forerunner, announcing the great things of God that are yet to come, a vision of a society redeemed and renewed by the vision of the prophets. As John’s preaching (in the next section) shows, he held the vision before others, issued a challenge for them, and called for repentance. He is, therefore, an appropriate model for the church as it seeks to recover its vocation as a prophetic voice in a secular culture.
 
 
 
R. Alan Culpepper, “The Gospel of Luke,” in The Gospel of Luke-The Gospel of John, vol. 9 of The New Interpreter’s Bible. Accordance electronic ed. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), 79-82.
accord://read/NIB-NT#8017
 
This series will touch in reflections in particular on modern issues but it may fulfill your needs.
 
-Dan
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Thanks Dan. The extended quotes are quite helpful. 

 

***

 

Edited to add:

 

Upon review this looks like a valuable resource that's simply priced beyond my means. I did originally neglect to mention my budget, so I have added comments to my original post.

 

Also, though an update of the older Interpreter's Bible, it's most recent volume is 14 years old, and many are more than 20 years old.

 

Great recommendation, though. 

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Raymond Brown's Introduction to the New Testament, which just came to Accordance, was first published in 1997 but is still the default NT textbook for historical-critical scholarship. Brown is a believing Christian, a Catholc priest, who is interested in reading the NT charitably, not tearing it down.

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There are so many great resources in accordance but For a snaphotbackground, i typically go to study bibles and really recommend the jewish study bible with excellent essays and introductions to each book and well within your budget.

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Raymond Brown's Introduction to the New Testament, which just came to Accordance, was first published in 1997 but is still the default NT textbook for historical-critical scholarship. Brown is a believing Christian, a Catholc priest, who is interested in reading the NT charitably, not tearing it down.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, gbjohnston.

 

Back in the day I had Brown's two-volume commentary on the Gospel of John as well as his "The Birth of the Messiah." I'll take a look at his NTI.

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There are so many great resources in accordance but For a snaphotbackground, i typically go to study bibles and really recommend the jewish study bible with excellent essays and introductions to each book and well within your budget.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, Fraser.

 

I'm not sure that I'll go the study bible route-- they are usually designed for a more general audience. I'm looking for a generalized treatment of both OT and NT, but not materiel designed for a generalized audience. I want more of an academic-level discussion of whatever is treated. This is another thing I failed to make clear in my original post, which, alas, no longer offers me an editing function.

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Below are two resources that I find academic but approachable, mostly conservative and affordable. If you want a commentary of the OT and NT that meets your budget and conservative perspective I would suggest the Tyndale series. I find the OT stronger than the NT, but it is a solid commentary of both the OT and NT.

 

Carson & Moo’s NT Introduction

 
An Introduction to the New Testament — Second Edition (Carson et al.-NT Intro)
 
D. A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo
Copyright © 1992, 2005 by D. A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo
 
Dillard & Longman’s OT Introduction
 
An Introduction to the Old Testament (Dillard et al.-OT Intro)
 
Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III
Copyright © 1994 by Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III
 
 
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Thanks, John. I have my eye on both volumes as my conservative introductions, and I think both are available within Accordance.

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Knowing the price range the New Interperter's Study Bible and Fortress Bible commentary might fit the bill (I do think a better pairing with the NISB for your desires might be Eerdmans Bible Commentary but that is not yet available in Accordance, I say yet but have no idea if it is even the horizon just hopeful it may come along):

 

Samples:

 

Chapter 22

 
22:1–33 Holy things and priestly responsibility. A continuation of the preceding chapter, which discusses temporary priestly uncleanness (vv. 2–9), protection of sacred food from the laity (vv. 10–16), and regulations concerning sacrificial animals (vv. 17–30).
 
22:1–9 Priests became unclean like everyone else from tsara’at, genital discharge, corpse contamination, semen discharge, touching carcasses of dead swarming things (like mice and rats), or touching some human uncleanness (vv. 4–5). Such temporary uncleanness required bathing (v. 6) and the passage of time (when the sun sets, v. 7). The sacred donations included any grain or animal offering that had been transferred, as sacrifice or gift, across the boundary between the holy and common—that is, presented to God. In v. 8, priests are totally forbidden to eat any animal that had died or been killed by wild animals (cf. 17:5, which assumes these might be consumed).
 
22:10–16 A layperson (lit., “unholy one,” zar; see notes on 10:1) could not eat from any sacred food (v. 10a). Since priestly portions of well-being sacrifices could be taken home for family food (see 10:14–15), who might or might not eat had to be clarified. Hired laborers were excluded (v. 10b), but family members, purchased slaves and their offspring (born in his house), as well as the childless, widowed, or divorced daughter returned to her father’s home, could eat so long as they were clean (vv. 11–13).
 
22:14–16 If a layperson accidentally consumed some sacred donation, the value of the item plus one-fifth had to be given to make replacement (v. 14). The priests (No one, v. 15) must be careful to prevent laypersons from defiling sacred food since a reparation offering (see 7:1–10) was also required.
 
22:17–30 So far in Leviticus, the only specified requirement for sacrificial animals was that they should be “without blemish.” This section explains this idea in detail using certain sacrifices (mainly well-being offerings) as examples.
 
22:17–20 H here states that votive (in payment of a vow) and freewill offerings could be made as burnt sacrifices (vv. 18b–19; see 3:1–17), thus expressing the fact that the latter could be expressions of joy and celebration.
 
22:21–25 Sacrificial animals had to be unblemished, complete (perfect), thus one could not offer an animal that was blind, injured, maimed, or afflicted (vv. 21–22). A limb too long or too short made an animal unfit for a votive offering, but it could be used as a freewill offering (v. 23); such a limb still functioned. The votive offering, made to fulfill a vow, was presented after a delay of time allowing one to acquire an unblemished animal. Freewill offerings were made on the spur-of-the-moment, thus one could use any animal immediately at hand.
 
22:24–25 In the same way that genital imperfections prevented a priest from fulfilling his priestly duties (see 21:20; Deut 23:1), genital blemishes, including castration, rendered an animal unusable for sacrifice. Gelded animals could be acquired from foreigners but not for use as sacrifice.
 
22:26–30 Newborn animals had to remain with their mothers for seven days; as early as the eighth day they could be offered as sacrifice (v. 27).
 
22:28 An animal and its offspring were not to be sacrificed on the same day, perhaps for humanitarian concerns or the pure vulgarity of such an act.
 
22:29–30 The thanksgiving well-being offering is mentioned here because of the time reference.
 
22:31–32 This closing exhortation stresses the divine command for holiness and has God declare that sanctification (“holification”) of Israel (“you”) is the work of the divine.
 
 
Walter J. Harrelson, eds. The New Interpreter’s Study Bible. Accordance electronic ed. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), paragraph 2585.
accord://read/NISB#2585
 
 
 
Leviticus 21:1–22:33: Priestly Holiness and Offerings
 
  THE TEXT IN ITS ANCIENT CONTEXT
This long section addresses the consequences of holiness for the priesthood and for the offerings of Israel. Leviticus 21 makes (remarkably strong) prescriptions regarding all priests: because they are holy to God and make God’s offerings, they should only have limited contact with the dead; they should not mar their bodies or cut away facial or cranial hair unnecessarily; and they should not marry women who are unclean by prostitution, divorce, or other defilement. Laypeople should treat them with the respect owed to the sanctified, and their daughters who profane their line by acts of prostitution should be executed by fire. The chapter further lays out the standards to which the anointed (high) priest is held: he should not make a mess of his hair, tear his garments, have any contact with the dead, or even go outside of the sanctuary lest he defile it, and he can only marry a virgin of his own kin. The rest of the chapter then lists a range of physical blemishes that would disqualify someone of the priestly line from service in the sanctuary, allowing them nonetheless access to the proceeds of the offerings. Leviticus 22 then commands that priests who have somehow incurred any kind of impurity may not approach the sanctified foodstuffs provided to the priests through the people’s offerings, and decrees that no layperson may eat of the sacred portions (excepting only those who are of the priest’s household by purchase, or by birth and still within the household). Additional detail is added to the general claim that a layperson’s animal offering must be without blemish, naming a broad range of circumstances that can render a beast unfit, and there are instructions on how a newly born animal may be offered as a sacrifice. The section closes with another passage remarking on God’s holiness as the motivation for keeping the commandments laid out in the preceding section.
Within the framework and agenda of the Holiness Code as a whole, this section seems intended to point out the consequences of intensifying God’s holiness in Israel for the priests and the things they deal with. And just as the legislation for the laity in the preceding section makes clear that the chief significance of making all experience holy is to render things possible under the Priestly system impossible—at least without serious consequences coming to bear—the same holds true here. Priests who might have qualified for service and all of its benefits in the Priestly world—and certainly did, if we are to believe the level of corruption that Malachi and Third Isaiah identified—would be summarily dismissed from contact with the sacred offerings and precincts under the Holiness Code’s stipulations. Similarly, the rules on how prebends might be handled were more limiting, as were the norms for everything from whom a priest might marry to how he might groom himself. On the reading of the Holiness Code promoted in this commentary, at least, this section is thus a wily indictment of the priestly abuses which might have been allowed by the Priestly perspective achieved precisely by taking with utmost seriousness the P tradition’s own view that the priests, the sanctified offerings of Israel, and the space they worked in were the locus of God’s holiness.
 
  THE TEXT IN THE INTERPRETIVE TRADITION
Because of the Qumran community’s intense interest in the purity (or better, impurity) of the priesthood and temple practice in Jerusalem and in creating their own alternatives to those, portions of this passage in Leviticus were frequently commented on by the Essene tradents. Two examples from 4QMMT, a legal document that lays out a number of the group’s (early?) legal positions, demonstrate this.
The first instance involves a reading of Lev. 22:28, which prohibits slaughtering an offspring with its parent on the same day. 4QMMT B 36–38 seems to rely on an expansive reading of that rule in answering the question of what one does if an animal brought for sacrifice proves to be pregnant: the text seems to read the “slaughter” of Leviticus as “sacrifice” and “parent” and “offspring” as “mother” and “fetus” to decree that both may not be counted as an offering to God. The second instance is 4QMMT B 75–82, a much-discussed passage, that in any case agrees with and seems to intensify the sharp limitations on who might be acceptable as a wife for a priest (Lev. 21:7, 14).
Interestingly, the Essene use of this section of Leviticus grows out of the same sort of concerns this commentary assumes provoked the author(s) of the Holiness Code to create their utopian, corrective, critical vision of what the Priestly work wrought. The Essenes, however, distinguished themselves sharply from the Holiness school, using H’s extension of holiness to all Israel and all of its experience not merely as a utopian corrective but also as a guide for rules they wanted to be implemented in real time, in the real world.
 
  THE TEXT IN CONTEMPORARY DISCUSSION
In a somewhat embarrassing contemporary use of the same regulations regarding priests and marriage in Leviticus 21, one does not have to search far on the Internet to discover American right-wing fundamentalist readers of the Bible who cite Lev. 21:13 (in a selective and decidedly nonliteralist way!) to argue that the prohibition on married clergy in the Roman Catholic communion is antibiblical. And searching just a little further turns up those among the latter group who will go so far as to suggest, ignorantly, that the sex abuse scandals that plagued Catholicism in recent decades would have been avoided if only marriage had been permitted. That it is difficult to find much from this portion of Leviticus in contemporary discussion may say more about the sensible allergy to getting caught up in such nonsense than about the availability of this section of text for thoughtful reflections on contemporary pastoral and priestly leadership across Christian and Jewish denominations.
 
Robert Kugler, Leviticus, ed. Gale A. Yee, Hugh R. Page Jr., and Matthew J.M. Coomber, Fortress Commentary on the Bible. Accordance electronic ed. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2014), 202-204.
accord://read/Fortress_Commentary#2231
 
Chapter 23
 
23:1–6 God is with me Certainty of God’s protection and providence and exceptional intimacy with God combine in an individual’s prayer of trust. Text divisions are: vv. 1–3, declaration of faith in and obedience to the ways of God’s shepherding; v. 4, assertion, at the psalm’s midpoint, that God’s presence and guidance bring comfort; vv. 5–6, portrayal of God as a gracious host who sustains life. From green pastures (v. 2) to the house of the LORD (v. 6), every verse expresses trust and thanksgiving for what God does for this person. God’s salvific leadership, goodness, and mercy are constant (v. 6). The divine name YHWH forms an inclusio around this psalm and the psalmist (cf. vv. 1 and 6). At its center, 26 words in Hebrew from the first and last word of the text (excluding the superscription), appears the phrase for you are with me (v. 4), which sums up the heart of the matter. Although often used in funeral services, this psalm is more about God-centered living than it is about death. Its unmistakable depiction of intimacy with God is effected by its basic image: God and a single sheep, not a flock; God the host and a single guest.
 
23:1 Shepherd The claim that God is my shepherd is unparalleled in Scripture. This familiar metaphoric title for God actually appears in only two other psalms (28:9; 80:1). God’s care for people as sheep is more frequent (cf. 44:11, 22; 74:1; 78:52; 95:7; 100:3; 119:176). “Shepherd” is only once a political substitute for an earthly king in the psalms (78:71). References to real sheep appear only in 8:7; 144:13.
 
23:4 Darkest valley (Heb. slmwt) is an image for a very deep shadow or total darkness. In Job 10:21–22, the expression conveys death.
 
23:6 Mercy (Heb. khsd) introduces the language of the exodus and wilderness covenant, thereby extending the prayer of an individual to wider contexts. Follow is the more active “pursue” (rdp) in Hebrew. House of the LORD may refer to the Temple or may suggest metaphorical closeness to God.
 
Walter J. Harrelson, eds. The New Interpreter’s Study Bible. Accordance electronic ed. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), paragraph 7842.
accord://read/NISB#7842
 
Psalms 23–33: Trust in God’s Steadfast Love
 
  THE TEXT IN ITS ANCIENT CONTEXT
The pastoral imagery of Psalm 23 may be the most familiar of the Psalms, speaking about rather than to God throughout. Beyond the link to David’s childhood, “shepherd” was a term used for royalty in the ancient Near East, so that “the LORD is my shepherd” resonates with describing God as king (Pss. 10:16; 47:7–8; 93:1). “Setting a table” reflects hospitality and casts God as a gracious host committed to the guests’ welfare (Anderson and Bishop, 183); where elsewhere enemies pursue the psalmist, here it is “goodness and mercy [hesed]” that do so.
Psalm 24, which begins with a cosmic description of YHWH as creator (24:1–2; cf. Psalms 74, 104), contains an entrance liturgy with a call and response among different voices (cf. Psalm 15). The psalm moves from liturgical and ethical motifs to military ones, with the concluding reference to “YHWH of hosts/armies [yhwh tsebaʾoth]” highlighting a divine-warrior motif (cf. Psalm 84). Psalm 24 also illustrates the difficulty of determining a psalm’s “ancient context,” with proposed settings including the ark of the covenant entering the temple during the preexilic period (Gunkel 1998, 316–17), pilgrims coming to Jerusalem for a religious festival (Sarna, 103), and worshipers approaching the Second Temple or a synagogue after exile (Gerstenberger 1988, 119).
 
Psalm 25 is an acrostic poem that incorporates aspects of lament alongside statements of confidence (cf. Psalms 34; 119). It declares the psalmist’s trust in God, appeals to divine steadfast love, asks for God’s guidance, and seeks forgiveness. In Psalm 26, the psalmist claims innocence grounded in his integrity (26:1, 11; 37:37; cf. Job 1:1, 8; 9:20–22). Oriented by God’s steadfast love and truth (v. 2), the psalmist does not associate with the wicked but loves the temple (26:4–5, 8; cf. 1:1; 141).
Psalm 27 again reflects confidence and links a fulfilled life to the temple (27:4; 26:8), while also appealing for divine intervention and teaching (27:7–12). The concluding dual call to a social audience to “wait for the LORD” reaffirms the psalmist’s confidence, even though the situation has not changed.
Psalm 28 begins with a lament to God that turns into thanksgiving for answered prayer addressed to a social audience. A concluding assertion of God’s support for “his anointed” (meshiho) leading to a final appeal on behalf of the people may reflect a later broadening of material beyond an individual supplicant (cf. 3:8; Gerstenberger 1988, 129).
Psalm 29 begins by addressing the “sons of gods” (bene ʾelim), a divine council common within ancient literature and assumed elsewhere in Scripture (82:1; Gen. 1:26; Job 1; Jer. 23:18). The sevenfold repetition of the “voice/sound of YHWH [qol yhwh]” punctuates the psalm and underscores the cosmic power of this deity, while the concluding description of YHWH as king directly counters Canaanite mythology, which used the same description for Baal. In effect, Psalm 29 redeploys language and imagery used to describe the rival storm god Baal within Canaanite mythology to affirm YHWH’s sovereignty instead.
Psalm 30 again gives thanks for answered prayer, describing the psalmist’s prior state, his own cry, and YHWH’s response. Reference to God’s anger and the psalmist’s impending death suggests the psalm arises from a setting of illness (cf. Psalm 6), while the exhortation for a social audience to join the psalmist in praise reflects the public setting key to thanksgiving (cf. Psalm 116).
Psalm 31 intermingles lament and calls for respite from enemies with confident praise for answered prayer, concluding with “blessed be the LORD” and a call for broad social recognition (31:21–23). Once again, this response reflects the psalmist’s “taking refuge” and trusting in God. The social appeal to “Love the LORD, all you his saints [hasidayw]” reflects the mutuality of covenant commitment (31:23; cf. 30:4), since both God and the saints/faithful ones demonstrate “steadfast love” (hesed). The final exhortation to “be strong” and “take courage” broadens the call familiar from Joshua to the community (see Josh. 1:6–9).
Psalm 32 begins with a description of distress, confession, and forgiveness that broadens to a social exhortation for each of the faithful to pray (v. 6). The divine voice describes God’s commitment to teach and guide (32:8; cf. 25:4) before contrasting the wicked with the righteous who trust in YHWH and whom steadfast love surrounds. In effect, this psalm gives thanks for having experienced the forgiveness requested earlier (32:5; cf. Psalm 25).
Psalm 33 concludes this section with a communal hymn celebrating God’s steadfast love shown in creation and to Israel, reiterating the major emphases of the preceding psalms and calling for joyful response. YHWH’s role as cosmic king makes human military preparation useless (33:14–17), while the community affirms its trust and hope in God’s hesed (33:20–22).
 
 THE TEXT IN THE INTERPRETIVE TRADITION
Both Jewish and Christian medieval interpreters contrast the “praise of God’s loud voice” in Psalm 29 with the “still, small voice” found in 1 Kgs. 19:12. However, where Rashi connects “wilderness of Kadesh” to Sinai and so sees God’s voice giving torah (29:8), the Glossa Ordinaria, a medieval collation of biblical notations from the church fathers, identifies the same phrase with “the Jews, who do not have the sanctity of the law, that is spiritual understanding” (S. Davis, 73). Jewish interpreters Rashbam and David Kimch.i link the divine voice to creation and the Messiah respectively, while Bruno de Segni ties it to inspired teaching that leads to baptism (S. Davis, 69–73).
While very different from Western or academic readings, David Adamo argues against portraying indigenous African interpretation as “fetish, magical, unchristian and uncritical.” Rather, he describes how contemporary African Independent Churches recognize the “power in names” and so interpret Psalm 29 as a psalm of “protection . . . defense, liberation, healing, and success” (Adamo, 141, 135).
Jesus’ final words on the cross in Luke’s Gospel are: “into your hand I commit my spirit” (Ps. 31:5; Luke 23:46). While this statement contrasts with Mark and Matthew’s “My God . . . why have you forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1; Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34), in both cases Jesus embodies the suffering of lament rather than a militaristic messiah (Psalms 2, 18, 72, 89a).
Psalm 23 has long been a liturgical resource, functioning as a “funeral psalm” alongside Psalm 22 and 116 as early as the fourth century (Gillingham, 55).
 
  THE TEXT IN CONTEMPORARY DISCUSSION
Psalms 29 and 19 draw on broader Canaanite mythology and so raise the issue of how previous traditions and understandings can be appropriately incorporated into the tradition. Missionary movements have often insisted that new adherents break from all aspects of prior culture. For instance, church-run residential schools sought to “assimilate” Native American peoples into (European) Canadian culture by systematically eliminating their indigenous language, traditions, and religious perspectives, with grave ongoing consequences. Postcolonial critics have also drawn attention to “marks of colonial hermeneutics” amid links between Christian evangelization and Western imperialism (Sugirtharajah, 61–73).
Psalms 29 and 19 reflect the ongoing dynamic of religious contextualization or syncretism whereby ancient traditions are adapted and transformed, in these cases shifting their significance to emphatically underscore that it is YHWH’s “voice” (not that of Baal) that thunders (29) and YHWH (not the sun) who orients their lives through torah (19). This has been a long-standing issue, as attested in the “Christianization” of the winter equinox as a celebration of Jesus’ birth (Christmas) and the transformation of spring fertility celebrations into a commemoration of the resurrection (Easter).
 
W. Derek Suderman, Psalms, ed. Gale A. Yee, Hugh R. Page Jr., and Matthew J.M. Coomber, Fortress Commentary on the Bible. Accordance electronic ed. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2014), paragraph 4950.
 
Chapter 3
 
3:1–4:13 Although initially focused on the public ministry of John, this major section of the Gospel of Luke is oriented to preparing for Jesus’ ministry. Luke’s account of the ministry of John is carefully interwoven with what was anticipated of him in chap. 1. He is the prophet who anticipates and prepares for the coming of the Lord. The two storylines—one concerning John, the other concerning Jesus—intertwine again at Jesus’ baptism, which marks the shift from the proclamation of John to a concern with the identity and credentials of Jesus. At the end of this section, Jesus has been introduced as Son of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, sanctioned by God, taken up the mantle of God’s agent of restoration on behalf of Israel, and determined to embrace fully the aims of God. This section of the Gospel contains two subunits: the ministry of John (3:1–20) and the introduction of Jesus, Son of God (3:21–4:13).
 
3:1–20 John’s importance to the Gospel of Luke is accentuated by the sheer amount of space Luke allots to him. As “prophet of God Most High” (1:76), he paves the way for Jesus’ ministry by provoking a crisis around the nature of faithfulness to and identity before God and by directing popular hopes to the coming of a Messiah. And he attracts hostility from the people, just as Israel’s prophets had done before him.
 
3:1–6 Luke situates John in both a sociopolitical and a salvation-historical context.
 
3:1–2 The Roman and Jewish figures he lists speak to the universal reach of the prophetic message, but they also serve to contrast sharply those inhabiting ancient centers of power and privilege over against what is happening in the wilderness. Reference to the wilderness is a poignant reminder of Israel’s formation as a people in the exodus and hopes for restoration in a new exodus.
 
3:3 Whether the baptism of John draws on Jewish practices for the inclusion of proselytes or more simply is rooted in the long-standing relation of washing and ethical demeanor (cf. Isa 1:16–17; Ezek 36:25–26) is not clear. What is clear is that baptism signaled one’s submission to God, profession of new or renewed allegiance to God’s will, and inclusion within the restored people of God.
 
3:4–6 Luke draws the narrative to a halt so as to interpret John’s ministry within the horizons of Isaiah’s proclamation of Israel’s restoration (Isa 40).
 
3:7–18 Luke illustrates the substance of John’s message—delivered to people who have temporarily departed their normal lives, who have expressed anew their allegiance to God, and who will now return home to live transformed lives in keeping with their status as Abraham’s children. What is at stake, then, is not a paternity test by which one proves that Abraham is one’s blood ancestor, but a test of character and behavior consistent with that of Abraham. Important for the portrait of faithfulness Luke will paint, Abraham’s own faithfulness was articulated in Israel’s literature, especially in terms of hospitality to strangers.
 
3:19–20 Luke concludes his account of John’s ministry with reference to the opposition he attracted, emphasizing especially in this short summary the character of Herod as an evildoer. Here the Gospel writer anticipates the fate of the one for whom John’s ministry prepares, Jesus (see 9:7–9; 23:6–12).
 
3:21–4:13 With John’s having been deftly removed from the scene, the narrative shifts to a series of transitions: from the ministry of John (3:1–20) to the ministry of Jesus (beginning with 4:14). At stake in this interim is the preparation and readiness of Jesus for his Spirit-anointed mission as Son of God.
 
3:21–22 Prayer in the Gospel of Luke is regularly the context of divine revelation, and this is the case here, where the act of Jesus’ baptism fades into the background so that the light shines the more brightly on his endowment with the Spirit and God’s affirmation of Jesus’ sonship. See esp. 4:18–19 and Acts 10:37, where Jesus’ baptism is interpreted as his anointing for divine service. Cf. Ps 2:7; Isa 42:1.
 
3:23–38 In traditional cultures, genealogies identify the status of people in relation to their ancestry. In such settings, genealogies may be adjusted (e.g., by deleting insignificant or problematic ancestors) in order to fulfill social requirements. It is not surprising, then, that biblical genealogies such as this one are hardly ever in exact agreement with other ancestral lists. The aim of this genealogy seems to be threefold: (1) to identify Jesus as having achieved the age of public service (cf. Gen 41:46; Num 4:3, 23; 2 Sam 5:4); (2) to ensure that Luke’s readers know what characters within the narrative do not—namely, that Jesus is not Joseph’s son (3:23); and (3) to designate Jesus further as Son of God (3:22, 38). The net effect is to provide for Jesus a form of legitimation appropriate to Luke’s world.
 
Walter J. Harrelson, eds. The New Interpreter’s Study Bible. Accordance electronic ed. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), paragraph 16773.
accord://read/NISB#16773
 
 
 
Luke 1:5–3:20: Divine Promises, Infancy Narratives, Global 
and Local Settings
 
  THE TEXT IN ITS ANCIENT CONTEXT
 
Immediately after the prologue, Luke establishes a setting before Herod’s death (4 BCE). But more than establish chronology, the narrator starts with a local personal story that is set in global systems of social order, religion, and politics. Zechariah and Elizabeth belong to a priestly order of low status that contrasts with high-priestly elites. Piety makes them exemplary, but in an ethos where children manifest God’s blessings, childlessness blemishes them. Sterility before menopause and advanced age are characteristic of biblical stories of extraordinary births. Their privacy cannot escape the foreground of imperial systems (see also 2:1–2; 3:1–2). Systems involving an imperial client king (1:5) and high-priestly collaborators (implied by Zechariah’s status under a priestly hierarchy, 1:5, 8) affect their lives.
The setting jumps inside the Jerusalem sanctuary (1:8). Outside, a multitude prays; inside, incense goes up like prayers. Gabriel has to do with both. Inside, he promises God’s remedy for the couple’s childlessness. For the outside, his promise is for Israel. Zechariah’s question “how will I know” encompasses both sides, and his inability to speak until the child’s birth is a sign that validates God’s promises for Israel as well as for him and Elizabeth.
Dramatically the narrative becomes gendered. It shifts from masculine characters to women. Elizabeth celebrates her pregnancy as God’s inversion of disgrace, and the term of her pregnancy links her to Mary in Galilee. Gabriel speaks to Mary, and aside from overarching imperial systems, her impending marriage is the context. Promises to her are also both private and communal—a child for her; restoration of David’s commonwealth for Israel. In keeping with 2 Samuel 7, the restoration is everlasting—with a twist. In 2 Samuel, David’s “seed” is a collective noun for David’s dynasty. Gabriel makes it literally singular. Gabriel promises Jesus’ everlasting enthronement (1:32–33).
Like Zechariah, Mary asks “how” (1:34). Gabriel’s response makes her conception a matter of divine initiative and correlates it with Elizabeth’s pregnancy by means of an astounding claim: “Any prediction [thing] will not be impossible with God” (1:37). Mary avows remarkable consonance with Gabriel’s announcement: “[i am] the Lord’s servant; may it be with me according to your prediction” (1:38).
When Mary journeys to Elizabeth, they join forces. In contrast to mute Zechariah, women deliver the first speeches of consequence. By concealing herself, Elizabeth occupies the social margin but transforms it into creative space by playing a prophet’s role. She blesses Mary and Mary’s child, and affirms her own place in God’s eyes in something greater than themselves.
Mary adds the antiphonal voice of another prophet from the margins. She identifies with the low social class and affirms God’s power to bless. This takes the shape of God’s “class conversion.” Against powerful thrones (implicating imperial systems), God manifests mercy to generations of those who have inadequate access to the earth’s resources. Her references to Abrahamic promises also supplement Gabriel’s allusions to David’s commonwealth (1:46–55).
Then a male prophesies creatively from the margins (the Judean backcountry, 1:68–79). Zechariah reiterates Gabriel’s allusions to Davidic promises, synthesizes them with Abrahamic promises, and views God’s fidelity to the promises as liberation from oppression. John and Jesus are ways God keeps ancient promises. When Zechariah calls this “forgiveness of sins,” he means corporate consequences beyond individual transgressions: in context, complicity in Israel’s subjugation. John’s role as preparing the way of the Lord, recalling prophecies of Israel’s restoration from captivity, likewise embraces liberation from oppression.
Luke 2:1 fills in the foreground of imperial systems. Emperor Augustus and Governor Quirinius in Syria complement the picture of King Herod and an implicit priestly hierarchy in chapter 1. Another imperial agent in Bethlehem, an unmentioned local clerk, awaits Joseph’s enrollment. Geographical horizons reflect the interplay between local and global—Herod’s Judea (1:5), all the world (2:1) (Wolter, 121). Distinctions in political status between Judea and Galilee also affect the setting, as does the village atmosphere reflected in a manger and shepherds. Augustus’s might, contrasted with peasants caught homeless at childbirth, is full of pathos. Irony snags imperial powers, who force a journey that matches divine purposes for Jesus to be born in David’s city. Like Mary, shepherds measure low culturally and are unanticipated recipients of the message that a Savior-Messiah is born to them. The inauspicious becomes auspicious, and out of character for their marginal status, shepherds become witnesses to others.
Joseph and Mary comply with cultic expectations of circumcision and purification. Offering two turtledoves underlines their peasant status (Lev. 12:8). But the inauspicious is also confirmed in the temple by sagacity, commitment, and hope. This also is gendered. First, venerable Simeon anticipates peace through God’s restoration of Israel. He labels Jesus a light of revelation for the nations and for the glory of Israel, but also predicts the falling and rising of many in Israel (Luke 2:34). This reiterates Mary’s prophecy about the downfall of the powerful and exaltation of the lowly (1:52) and anticipates conflict between elites and the oppressed. Second, venerable Anna witnesses to God’s promises to deliver Jerusalem from oppression.
Most interpreters present 3:1–20 as a new literary unit. A reference to Tiberius’s fifteenth year (c. 29 CE) lures many commentators to focus on chronology. But 3:1–2 elaborates and extends the local and global political and economic setting of chapters 1–2 and depicts how Jewish people experienced imperial systems from the emperor to local collaborators. Furthermore, like Elizabeth, Mary, Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna, the Baptizer plays a prophet’s role within this imperial setting. His baptism for forgiveness has implications for individuals (3:10–14) but is also tied to Isaiah’s message of national restoration (Isa. 40:3; Luke 3:3–6). Individual behavior has communal consequences for Israel in imperial contexts in both Isaiah and Luke. When John deals with instances of behavior in 3:14, they have to do with covenant values of equitable access to resources, economics, and the power of the strong over the weak. By contrast, 3:18–20 portrays another imperial client ruler, Herod Antipas, suppressing covenant values by imprisoning John.
Abraham, who figures in Mary’s and Zechariah’s prophecies, reappears in John’s. First, he challenges Abrahamic descent unless it bears fruit in covenant ethics (3:8). Simultaneously, he espouses God’s ability to raise up children of Abraham. Most interpreters take the metaphor of raising up children from stones as devaluing Abrahamic descent. But does it not also, like 1:37, affirm God’s power (see 19:40)? In Luke, does God (metaphorically) raise up children of Abraham from stones?
 
  THE TEXT IN THE INTERPRETIVE TRADITION
 
Most interpreters underplay the context of imperial systems and social struggles among the elite and the oppressed and focus instead on chronology (1:5; 2:1; 3:1–2). From the beginning of the second Christian millennium, Elizabeth’s prophecy concerning Mary and her child became a liturgical prayer, with emphasis on Mary’s roles as the mother of the Lord and mediatrix. This reduced the complementarity of the prophecies of Elizabeth, Mary, and Zechariah. The virginal conception also dominated interpretation and eclipsed scriptural traditions of divine initiative in birth wonders; indeed, it overshadowed parallels between Elizabeth’s conception and Mary’s, and diverted emphasis from God’s initiative to Mary’s character.
Moreover, emphasis on John as a forerunner and Jesus as Savior tended to write off antecedents in Israel’s history and neglected continuity with Israel in portrayals of John and Jesus in the traditions of Elijah, David, and Abraham.
 
  THE TEXT IN CONTEMPORARY DISCUSSION
 
Debates persist over the virginal conception. The narrative lacks specificity about how conception occurred. When Gabriel predicts that Mary will bear a son, her engagement implies conception in her impending marriage (see Fitzmyer 1973, 566–67). However, Mary presumes not her marriage but her virginal condition (Brown 1979, 298–309). In addition, some deduce that Luke conceals Mary’s pregnancy outside marriage. This too can be intensely theological if one assumes pregnancy due to rape or abuse. This intensifies God’s inversion of shame among the marginalized (Schaberg). Either option underscores God’s initiative in the births of Jesus and John. Such divine initiative, however, remains mysterious. Karl Barth once remarked that the virginal conception is “inconceivable.”
Luke’s use of sources leads interpreters to emphasize individual episodes, but increasingly, narrative continuity is also accented. Speeches of Gabriel, Elizabeth, Mary, and Zechariah fit together in one story. The context of imperial systems is also overarching.
Mid-twentieth-century interpretations made a sharp break between Jesus’ proclamation of God’s commonwealth and Israel’s heritage (Conzelmann), sharpened even into “anti-Judaism” (J. Sanders). This will come under consideration again, but continuity with God’s promises to Israel is undeniable.
Similarly, some interpreters judge Luke deficient in neglecting significant roles for women (Reid). Elizabeth and Mary are prominent exceptions. Interpreters often read the silence imposed on Zechariah as punishment for failing to believe Gabriel and contrast this with Mary’s assertion of conformity to divine purposes. Actually, both ask “how?” Further, when it is clear that Gabriel’s promises are for Israel as well as for Zechariah and Elizabeth, rather than punishing Zechariah, Gabriel declares that the inability to speak is a sign that confirms predictions both to him and to Israel.
How does the serene and contemplative Mary as the servant of the Lord (1:38) in popular piety and art fit her role as a prophet in 1:46–55? As with servants of the Lord in Israel’s traditions such as Moses and the prophets, in her role as God’s servant she also confronts oppressive powers and correlates God’s mercy and promises to the plight of poverty, hunger, and oppressive powers. Today the Virgin of Guadalupe has been used as just such a prophet among the disadvantaged in Mexico, especially among indigenous populations. An image of her accompanied César Chávez and the striking United Farm Workers in the 1960s, and some feminists have adopted her as an advocate of liberation.
 
Robert L. Brawley, Luke, ed. Gale A. Yee, Hugh R. Page Jr., and Matthew J.M. Coomber, Fortress Commentary on the Bible. Accordance electronic ed. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2014), 219-222.
accord://read/Fortress_Commentary#11856
 
-dan
PS: I will place the New Interperter's One Volume (note this is not an abridgement of the NIB but a fresh work in the spirit of the multivolume set) samples below as they make a good compliment for the NISB, just feel that fortress is a stronger companion.
 
E. Requirements and Disqualifications for Holy Persons and Sacrificial Animals (21–22)
 
God now addresses the issue of holiness in the tabernacle cult (chs. 21–22). All persons and objects that have become “holy,” that is, have the status of belonging to the Lord, are subject to desecration, either through contact with impurity, by disqualifying blemish, or by unauthorized use; these must therefore be avoided so that Yahweh’s earthly abode and holy name are not desecrated in turn.
 
The first topic is the holiness of the priesthood (21:1–15); priests are charged with preserving the boundaries between holy and profane (see 10:10). Since they enter the sacred precincts and must handle and eat sacrificial flesh, they must avoid impurity and refrain from approaching the sacred when they do become impure. Lay Israelites are not subject to the former prohibition, but they too must observe the latter. The priests must also abstain from observing the rituals of mourning detailed here (see 10:6–7), as they too are considered to desecrate their bodies (in 19:27–28, similar acts are also forbidden to lay Israelites). Further, since the holiness of the priests is genetically transmitted, they may marry only women about whom there is no suspicion of the presence of another man’s seed. And while lay Israelites too are forbidden to allow their daughters to engage in harlotry (19:29), the priest’s daughter’s prostitution is a capital case, since her father’s sanctity—and through it, God’s—would thereby be desecrated.
 
The high priest is subject to even greater restrictions: he must refrain even from benign expressions of grief, must avoid contact with the corpse of even his closest relations, and must marry a virgin: even a widow is off-limits.
 
The next topic is the prevention of desecration resulting from priests (21:16–24) who have disqualifying physical defects. The priest, as God’s palace servant, profanes the abode of the deity if he cannot adequately embody the divine form in whose image humans are made (Gen 1:26–27; 5:1). The absence, or permanent malformation, of external characteristics distinctive of the human species thus disqualifies a person born into the priesthood from officiating. He, of course, remains a priest and is, therefore, entitled to eat the priestly portions of the sacrificial flesh.
 
Another measure to be taken in order to avoid desecrating the sanctuary and the sacred offerings is to prevent their coming into contact with impure priests and, in the case of the offerings, their consumption by ineligible persons (22:1–16). Allowing impurities, even minor ones, to come into contact with the sacred profanes the divine name, since Yahweh’s abode and the gifts presented to him are thereby treated as though they were common. The specifics, including the procedures required for cleansing and disposal of each type of impurity, are treated in chs. 11–15. Sacrificial portions that may only be consumed by priests are “most sacred” (see 6:24–29); contact between them and a lay person leads to their desecration. Non-priests who are formally a part of the priest’s household may however share in them. On unwitting desecration of the sacred (v. 14) see also 5:14–16.
 
The physical defects that render animals unfit for the altar (vv. 17–25) are analogous to those that disqualify priests from officiating, but deformed animals do not cause desecration; they are simply not accepted (see 1:3–4; 7:18; 19:5–8) and the person’s sacrifice is deemed not to have been offered. What is placed on God’s table must be without defect (cf. Mal 1:6–14). From vv. 21–23 it may be deduced that the offering made in fulfillment of a vow is of a greater sanctity than the freewill offering, since the deformities mentioned in v. 23 are acceptable in the latter case. Together with 7:12–18, whence it is learned that the thanksgiving offering is the most sacred of the three, these verses thus confirm the hierarchy of the three classes of well-being offering.
 
The final section (vv. 26–30) deals with offerings that are not accepted due to time factors. The law in vv. 26–27 is based on the idea that an animal is not considered fit for the divine table until it is viable, i.e., has safely gotten beyond the stage of a newborn and is a creature in its own right. The law in v. 28, in contrast, seems to be motivated by humane concerns (see Exod 23:19; 34:26; Deut 14:21; 22:6–7). The law in vv. 29–30 must be read along with that in 19:5–8; together they restate the law in 7:12–15.
 
This passage concludes with a general exhortation (22:31–33). Just as compliance with the commandments enables the Israelites to absorb the holiness of God (19:3, 37; 20:7–8), failure to obey the commandments desecrates the name of God. In Priestly thought, Israel exists in order to sanctify God’s name, and their failure to do so has the opposite effect: God’s name is profaned, that is, God’s fame is diminished and his reputation tarnished.
 
 
Baruch J. Schwartz, Leviticus, The New Interpreter’s Bible: One-Volume Commentary. Accordance electronic ed. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010), 75-76.
accord://read/NIB_One_Volume#970
 
Psalm 23
 
One of the most loved passages in all of Scripture, this poem draws on the metaphors of shepherd and table host to express trust and confidence in the Lord. The psalm combines two movements—one movement from the metaphor of shepherd to that of host, and a second from third-person creedal language spoken about God to second-person prayer language spoken to God.
 
In the ancient world, the shepherd metaphor always carried royal connotations (see 1 Kgs 22:17–18; Jer 23:1–4). Thus, far from being a bucolic image, the shepherd of Ps 23 is a royal figure. The metaphor confesses the faithfulness with which God provides food, safety, and guidance. In v. 4, when the psalmist is “in the darkest valley,” the divine pronouns shift from third-person to first-person. This reflects the reality that creedal information one memorizes about God quickens into a second-person relationship when one experiences the paradox that God’s care becomes known in suffering.
 
The image of God setting a table in the midst of violent pursuers draws on the social values of honor and shame. Although the enemies desire the psalmist’s shame, God provides a place of honor. God’s faithfulness is not merely passive acceptance of the psalmist, but active pursuit. Normally, in the psalms the enemies “pursue” the psalmist to do violence, but here, God’s “goodness and mercy” pursue (v. 6; NRSV, follow) the psalmist. The original meaning of v. 6b was that the psalmist was promising to return to God’s Temple throughout life. The later Christian interpretation of this verse as confidence of eternal life in God’s heavenly house is a faithful expansion of this image.
 
Rolf A. Jacobson, Psalms, The New Interpreter’s Bible: One-Volume Commentary. Accordance electronic ed. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010), 316.
accord://read/NIB_One_Volume#3595
 
B. Preparation for the Ministry of the Messiah (3:1–4:13)
 
Fast-forward nearly two decades: John the baptizing prophet steps back into the story to begin his ministry. So the narrative preparation for Jesus’ own career gains momentum.
 
3:1–20. John’s Prophetic Ministry. The passage begins with a list of political leaders, notably the emperor Tiberius; the tetrarch of Galilee, Herod Antipas; the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate; and the high priestly duo of Annas and (his son-in-law) Caiaphas. By linking the prophet’s call to the reign of particular rulers, and by employing the phrasing “the word of God came to John” (3:2), Luke recalls the prophetic books of the OT (e.g., Jer 1:2–3; Hos 1:1; Mic 1:1). The question again arises: How and with what outcome will political power and prophetic message authorized by God collide?
 
John receives his prophetic call while in the wilderness near the Jordan (where Jesus’ messianic call will soon be validated) and conducts his ministry there. Through a purifying ritual bath in the river, John baptizes all who are willing to reorder their lives (“repent”), orienting commitments and actions toward the coming reign of God—a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (3:3), thus fulfilling his father Zechariah’s prophecy (1:77). John’s message, drawing from Isa 40:3–5, pictures him as the wilderness herald who prepares the way of the Lord (cf. Luke 1:76), a way that extends salvation to all people. John joins Simeon as a prophetic witness to the universal scope of salvation.
 
Verses 7–14 expand John’s proclamation, first with an urgent summons to repentance in view of imminent judgment, then through moral instruction that accents generous, just, and honest handling of material goods, anticipating a theme Jesus will develop in radical terms in his teaching (e.g., 12:13–21; 14:33; 16:13, 19–31; 18:18–30). Finally, John distinguishes his role from that of Messiah, the more powerful one still to come. Despite the austerity and urgent tenor of John’s message, the narrator characterizes it as “good news” (or “gospel,” v. 18). For John, and later for Jesus in Luke’s Gospel, good news of salvation and moral seriousness are two sides of one coin.
 
Luke brings John’s ministry to a sudden end, reporting his arrest by Herod Antipas. Such is the destiny of a prophet who not only admonishes soldiers but also dares to rebuke a powerful ruler (for Herod’s decision to marry his brother’s wife). This is the outcome of the first direct collision between prophet and “king” in Luke’s story. Opposition to the agents of God’s deliverance is real—and potent. Luke keeps the stage uncluttered; one character (John) exits the story before another (Jesus) takes his place (cf. 1:56 for a similar departure by Mary before Elizabeth gives birth to John). This narrative sequence reinforces the image of John as the precursor who goes before the Lord (Jesus) to prepare his way; their ministries do not overlap. Nevertheless, in a temporal flashback, one significant baptism remains to be narrated.
 
3:21–4:13. Jesus’ Identity and Vocation: Baptism, Genealogy, and Testing. This section of the Gospel brings into focus the identity and vocation of Jesus as Messiah, Son of God. At his baptism he receives direct divine confirmation of his status as Son of God, and the Spirit anoints him for the work that lies ahead. Then a genealogy ascribes honor to Jesus as “son of Adam, son of God.” Finally, Jesus demonstrates, against demonic opposition, his resolve to accept his vocation as Messiah, Son of God.
 
3:21–22. In the course of John’s baptizing ministry, Jesus, too, received baptism—presumably by John, though this is only implicit. What matters is not John’s role in the event (after all, Jesus is the “greater one” of the two) but heaven’s. The Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) descends upon Jesus (tangibly, as a dove). Luke will not often mention the Spirit during the ministry of Jesus; however, a cluster of references at the outset (also 4:1, 14, 18) supplies the divine signature on Jesus’ activity. He speaks and acts under the direction and empowerment of God’s Spirit (cf. Acts 10:38). The Spirit is not alone in bearing witness to Jesus; a voice from heaven addresses Jesus: “You are my beloved Son; I take delight in you” (Luke 3:22; author’s trans.). In God’s authoritative voice, the baptism seals Jesus’ identity as Son of God.
 
3:23–38. Genealogies serve various interests, including ascription of honor through recall of one’s ancestors. Luke does this and more, as he presents a genealogy (substantially different from the one in Matt 1:1–17) that locates Jesus on a family tree that, proceeding backward in time, includes King David; patriarchs Judah, Jacob, and Abraham; and Adam, “son of God.” By tracing Jesus’ roots to Adam, Luke again affirms that Jesus brings God’s salvation not only to Israel but also to all people (cf. 2:32; 3:6). Mention of Adam as “son of God” (3:38) prepares for resumption of the theme of Jesus’ divine sonship, the implications of which will be probed in the next scene.
 
4:1–13. At Jesus’ baptism, the divine voice marked Jesus as beloved Son of God, confirming Jesus’ self-understanding and the Lukan audience’s previous information, and God’s Spirit came to rest upon Jesus. Yet neither knowledge of divine sonship nor anointing by the Holy Spirit sets Jesus on an easy path. In fact, the devil—chief enemy of God’s purpose and architect of evil opposition to its accomplishment—seizes the opportunity to challenge Jesus’ fidelity to his vocation as God’s Son. (To dramatic effect, the narrative presents as a dialogue with an external entity what one might today describe as an internal struggle to discern and embrace God’s will.)
 
Like Matt 4:1–11, Luke narrates a threefold test in which both the devil and Jesus appeal to Scripture (OT). The devil, with support from Ps 91:11–12, prods Jesus to tap divine power to make a splash in the world: (1) breaking his 40–day fast in the wilderness—replication in miniature of Israel’s 40–year wilderness ordeal?—by turning stone into bread (Jesus will later speak of stones acclaiming God’s royal Messiah, Luke 19:40); (2) seizing power over the nations (though at the cost of abandoning loyalty to God); and (3) claiming angelic protection from destruction at the Temple mount. Jesus counters this “scriptural paradigm” for his messianic vocation by appealing to texts from Deuteronomy (8:3; 6:13 and 10:20; 6:16): (1) not bread but God’s word sustains (though Jesus will interpret reliance upon divine nourishment as a practice that calls for robust response to human hunger, Luke 9:10–17); (2) worship and loyalty are due God alone (from whom the Son of God does receive “the ends of the earth [as] your possession,” according to Ps 2:8); and (3) not even God’s Son should presume to place a demand upon God, inverting the testing scenario by putting God to the test. Jesus’ ensuing ministry will reject the flashy, power-centered ministry urged by the devil, but neither he nor his followers will neglect the physical needs of people. Indeed, he will feed a large crowd and restore health to the sick. The focus is instead on the temptation to use power to serve self-interest. By the story’s conclusion, Jesus’ radical rejection of that approach will be evident. The one who saves others will not save himself from the cross, even if he does ask to be spared the ordeal (see 22:42; 23:35, 37, 39).
 
The unit closes on a foreboding note; the devil, though bested by Jesus, will at “an opportune time” again challenge Jesus’ fidelity to his messianic vocation (4:13; cf. 22:3). For the time being, however, Jesus—Spirit-empowered, his mission in sharp focus—is ready to launch his ministry. Where better to begin than at home?
 
John T. Carroll, Luke, The New Interpreter’s Bible: One-Volume Commentary. Accordance electronic ed. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010), 684-685.
accord://read/NIB_One_Volume#8154
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My apologies if conservative only is your goal, the way I read your original post was a desire to have a broader look but with nothing too radical or going to far off the path of traditional scholarship (Ford's unique Revelation commentary in Anchor in my mind fits the bill of what you most certainly did not want).

 

-Dan

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Perhaps it would help clarify what I am looking for now if I gave an example of the sort of books I used years ago. 

 

 

 

NT critical:

 

Kummel, Introduction To The New Testament

https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-New-Testament-Revised-English/dp/0687195756/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

 

NT conservative:

 

Donald Guthrie, version extant in the 1970's.

 

 

OT Intro: 

 

critical-fairly conservative:

 

Brevard Childs https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Old-Testament-as-Scripture/dp/0800605322/ref=sr_1_21?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480871425&sr=1-21&keywords=old+testament+introduction

 

 

 

 

I'm curious what people think of:

 

NT:

 

Koestenberger 

https://www.amazon.com/Cradle-Cross-Crown-Introduction-Testament/dp/1433684004/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480870813&sr=1-16&keywords=introduction+to+the+new+testament

 

Kee:

https://www.amazon.com/Beginnings-Christianity-Introduction-New-Testament/dp/0567027317/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1480870917&sr=1-72

 

 

OT:

 

Harrison

https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Old-Testament-R-Harrison/dp/1619707497/ref=sr_1_31?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480871740&sr=1-31&keywords=old+testament+introduction

 

 

Ugh! I've got to finish this post later, have to leave home for several hours!

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My apologies if conservative only is your goal, the way I read your original post was a desire to have a broader look but with nothing too radical or going to far off the path of traditional scholarship (Ford's unique Revelation commentary in Anchor in my mind fits the bill of what you most certainly did not want).

 

-Dan

 

Thanks, Dan. Ideally I would get the best academic-level up-to-date resources I can find for each testament, one conservative and one from a constructive critical point of view. I am a conservative, but I want to be aware of what critical scholarship is actually saying dread directly.

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I am unable to "dread" from the previous post. I was surprised to see it there...I do not dread reading responsible critical scholars.

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Not a major complaint, but several times in this thread I wish the capability of editing my posts did not disappear after awhile. Also, soon after my first post I was unable to modify the title to make it more clear.

 

Lesson to John: Be more clear the FIRST time!

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Below are two resources that I find academic but approachable, mostly conservative and affordable. If you want a commentary of the OT and NT that meets your budget and conservative perspective I would suggest the Tyndale series. I find the OT stronger than the NT, but it is a solid commentary of both the OT and NT.

 

Carson & Moo’s NT Introduction

 
An Introduction to the New Testament — Second Edition (Carson et al.-NT Intro)
 
D. A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo
Copyright © 1992, 2005 by D. A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo
 
Dillard & Longman’s OT Introduction
 
An Introduction to the Old Testament (Dillard et al.-OT Intro)
 
Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III
Copyright © 1994 by Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III
 
 

 

 

I use these heavily as well. Kostenberger's Cradle, Cross, and Crown is also a good NT introduction.

 

If you're interested in Greek studies, Campbell's book on Advances in the Study of New Testament Greek is interesting to read as well. I have a printed copy of it I have just finished and willing to donate to someone interested in it, so if you wanted my copy, that could be arranged. :-)

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I use these heavily as well. Kostenberger's Cradle, Cross, and Crown is also a good NT introduction.

 

If you're interested in Greek studies, Campbell's book on Advances in the Study of New Testament Greek is interesting to read as well. I have a printed copy of it I have just finished and willing to donate to someone interested in it, so if you wanted my copy, that could be arranged. :-)

 

Thanks, Nathan. I am looking at Kostenberger. 

 

Re: Campbell, what level of Greek is required for it to be beneficial? 

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More up-to-date than this would be:

 

Udo Schnelle, The History and Theology of the New Testament Writings.

 

It's very much like Kummel, but with more recent research.

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Thanks, Nick. I'll look into Schnelle. 

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  • 5 weeks later...

Back from a period of holiday obligations and doctors appointments., missed the 20% off sale by a single day. Oh well. I'll have to wait until the next such sale.

 

I have begun to focus on the  IVP Dictionaries Set  as the best option for me to address the question I originally posed in this thread. It's a bit over my original budget, but would give me a comprehensive reference work that will serve well as a foundational tool. Evangelical point of view, yet as I understand it does not shy away from dealing with critical issues. 

 

Any comments by those who own and use this set?

Edited by JohnABarnett
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Thanks for the heads up, Rick. The extended quotations in that thread give me a great idea of the type and level of material to be expected. Looks like a great resource. I'll just have to be patient for another sale.

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Thanks for the heads up, my friend. I have added them to my cart for purchase later today. 

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