MIQRA Institute of Biblical Studies
Reading Scripture, Hearing God
Childs, B. S. The Book of Exodus. OTL. Westminster, 1974 (659 pp.). “The purpose of this commentary is unabashedly theological” (from the preface). Moves section by section through Exodus providing a six-part treatment of each section. Well-labeled and extremely easy to use. The reader is simply invited to skip whatever parts of each section’s treatment are not helpful. This allows Childs to engage every level of reader, from lay to technical (though the final comments about Wenham, above, apply here). The six-part engagement includes a careful translation with textual and philological notes, literary and form-critical analysis, Old Testament context, New Testament context (!), history of exegesis, and theological reflection. Extremely useful for preaching and teaching—due in no small amount to the author’s deep commitment to the church.
Enns, P. Exodus. NIVAC. Zondervan, 2000 (620 pp.). Insightfully critical of the misguided approach of the very series (NIV Application Commentary) of which it is a part (!), but follows the expected format. Enns locates the “Original Meaning” in the text rather than the ancient world, offering many insights in the process. “Bridging Contexts” further develops the textual meaning as Enns fleshes out his Christological reading, showing how theological themes unfold in both testaments. “Contemporary Significance” offers application of the themes found under the preceding two headings. Lacks the quick accessibility to individual verses of verse-by-verse commentaries. Contains outlines, charts, diagrams, annotated bibliography, plus Scripture, subject, and author indices.
Fretheim, T. E. Exodus. Interpretation. John Knox, 1991 (321 pp.). Lucid treatment by a veteran Lutheran scholar. Accessible for biblical scholar, pastor, and lay people alike. Following a helpful Introduction, Fretheim divides Exodus into nine structural units, each with introductory and passage-specific comments, all of which seek “to draw out the theology inherent within each text that is being considered, and in such a way as to honor the type of literature and the concern of the text to address a word of God to its audience” (12). Lacks the quick accessibility to individual verses of verse-by-verse commentaries, but more than makes up for it with strong compositional and theological considerations. Contains lengthy excursus on the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, charts, and bibliography.
Oden, T. C., and J. T. Lienhard, eds. “Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.” ACCS. OT Vol. 3. IVP, 2001 (382 pp.). Finally. A commentary series dedicated solely to early patristic exegesis. Each volume represents a collection of ancient voices receiving and handling the Scriptures as the voice of God. The editors have compiled the worshipful work of our ancestors into brief, readable, passage-by-passage expositions. The list of works consulted is extensive: Ambrose, John of Damascus, Eusebius, Justin Martyr, etc. Be forewarned. There is little interest in questions of historical background—these are the original readers! This is a series which befits first and foremost, the pastor’s library, the church library, and the churchgoer’s bookshelf.
