Book Reviews: Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentaries by Fortress
Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentaries
( Minneapolis: Fortress Press)
Lectionary based, the new biblical commentary series released by Fortress is an interesting and helpful resource for preachers in that it seeks to bring together both topical/theme inquiry and exegetical treatment of biblical texts. In the forward to the series, Fortress editors define their goals:
“The authors of this series are biblical scholars who offer expositions of the text rooted in detailed study and expressed in straightforward, readable ways. The commentators take a practical approach by identifying (1) what the text invited people in the ancient world to believe about God and the world and (2) what the text encouraged people to do in response. Along the way, the interpreters make us of such things as historical and cultural reconstruction, literary and rhetorical analysis, word studies, and other methods that help us recover how a text was intended to function in antiquity.” Ronald J. Allen, Acts of the Apostles, p. x.
While the new series provides good exegetical analysis, it also engages in hermeneutical conversation that is can be helpful to the preacher. Whether or not one uses the lectionary in planning sermons, this will be an accessible and helpful resource to those of engaged in the art of preaching.
The first two offerings in this series are by scholars well known to most preachers. Ronald J. Allen’s volume is on the Acts of the Apostles and O. Wesley Allen, Jr. is on the gospel of Matthew. Ron Allen has written or coauthored more than 30 books from his position as professor of Preaching, Gospels, and Letters at Christian Theological Seminary. O. Wesley Allen, Jr. is associate professor of Homiletics and Worship at Lexington Theological Seminary and is the author of numerous books focused on bible and preaching.
I welcome a new series that is written by biblical scholars who also are regularly engaged in composition and sermon delivery. It feels like both of these new volumes were written with preachers in mind. I also appreciate the careful attention each volume gives to the lectionary and to sections of the texts that are excluded from the lectionary. Each volume also provides recommendation of other resources that a preacher might want to consult.
For any preacher who is looking for recent, relevant, and accessible biblical resources, I would strongly recommend this new exegetical offering by Fortress Press. I am encouraged by the quality and rigor of these two new volumes.
