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Summer
2006 ,
Vol. 3, No. 1
Book Review
Craig S.
Keener, 1-2 Corinthians [The
New Cambridge Bible Commentary; Ben Witherington
III, gen. ed.]
(Cambridge/New York: Cambridge
University Press, 2005). 297 pages.
Reviewed by Benny
C. Aker ,
Ph.D.,
retired professor of New Testament
and exegesis, Assemblies of God
Theological Seminary.
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Readers will find this commentary a delight
to use in their study of the Pauline letters
to Corinth. Although only four volumes
are completed (others are forthcoming),
the New Cambridge Bible Commentary series
( NCBC ) is an updated revision
of the older CBC series from
the 1960s. Employing excellent scholars
from both sides of the Atlantic who use
current exegetical techniques, this series
holds great promise for pastoral use. Keener’s
volume is exceptionally user-friendly,
easy to read and comparable to William
Barclay’s The Daily Study Bible commentaries
published in the twentieth century, though
far better. The publisher aptly notes, “This
commentary explains 1 and 2 Corinthians [ sic ]
passage by passage, following Paul’s
argument. It uses a variety of ancient
sources to show how Paul’s argument
would have made sense to first-century
readers, drawing from ancient letter-writing,
speaking, and social conventions.”
Let me list a number of valuable assets
this book contains. Not often does one
find both Corinthian letters together in
a one-volume commentary, and both by the
same author. (See, however, Ben Witherington
III, Conflict and Community in Corinth:
A Socio-rhetorical Commentary on 1 and
2 Corinthians [ Grand Rapids, MI:
W.B. Eerdmans; Carlisle: Paternoster Press,
1995]). This means much of Paul’s
life and ministry in Corinth is readily
available to the student.
This book is at once scholarly and down-to-earth.
With a grasp of both primary and secondary
sources, Keener usually furnishes such
an abundance of bibliographical sources
the reader is overwhelmed. However, here
he supplies primary (original language
writings) resources he has not supplied
in other places in such a way as to maintain
commentary’s usefulness without overweighting
it. Where he thinks necessary, he refers
the reader to other sources for fuller
listings. He brings to bear upon every
paragraph a number of first century social-cultural
factors. As usual, he deals delicately
and kindly with all views and arrives at
solid conclusions
His knowledge and command of secondary
sources (what others say) is extraordinary.
He places bibliographical material in front
of the commentary section—note the
categories he supplies for 1 Corinthians:
Paul and Philosophy, Rhetoric and 1 Corinthians,
Politics and 1 Corinthians, Social Setting
of 1 Corinthians, Primary Sources for Corinth,
Studies of the Local Situation in Corinth
or Its Church, Ancient Letters, Paul and
Jewish Tradition, Theology, Major Scholarly
Commentaries, Serious Academic Commentaries,
More Popular or Application-oriented Commentaries
with Academic Interest, and Sample Articles
and Monographs (these in some ten pages).
In the back of the commentary, he has
an Author Index (with page numbers), Scripture
and Apocrypha index (pages where he refers
to these books), Index of Extrabiblical
[ sic ] Jewish and Christian Sources
(Church Fathers, Jewish sources: Pseudepigrapha
and Talmud), Other Greco-Roman Sources,
and a Subject Index. Readers can check
out the references in the commentary and
expand their understanding.
The commentary itself contains various
sections. Foremost, the biblical text (NRSV)
of the passage under consideration is given,
followed by elucidation of that passage.
The passages follow the flow of Paul’s
logic (book outline) and each is given
a descriptive title. Special features occur
as well, like a focused discussion on some
aspect needing further attention (called “A
Closer Look”) and special sections
on application (titled “Bridging
the Horizons”).
For Pentecostals and Charismatics, this
book is much welcomed. Written by someone
who is a passionate and experienced insider
of the Pentecostal tradition, the book
provides rich material on such themes as
the Spirit and His gifts. Anyone’s
library will be enhanced by adding this
volume to existing Pentecostal commentaries,
such as Gordon Fee’s The First
Epistle to the Corinthians ( Grand
Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1987). By contrast, Keener’s
work provides a deeper social and historical
background. As is typical of Keener, he
uses a host of sources, cited or not, to
bring Paul in Corinth alive for the reader.
Here are two examples to give a flavor
to the commentary. The first comes from
the “Bridging the Horizons” section
(120). On 1 Corinthians 12-14, Keener says, “Paul
allows that inspired prayer in a tongue
is a useful gift for private devotion.
Defense mechanisms like rationalism and
projection may obstruct cognitive prayer
by deflecting admission of the genuine
need; affective prayer with one’s
spirit, interpreted only afterward (14:15),
might surmount such obstacles.”
In another “Bridging the Horizons” section
(139) on the collection in 1 Corinthians
16:1-12, he writes: “Early Christian
references to tithing are rare and usually
backward-looking (Matt 23:23; Lk 11:42;
Heb 7:5-9). Apostolic teaching on possessions
is in fact much more demanding than a tithe;
the Gospels demand complete sacrifice,
arguing that Jesus’ followers should
live like people matter more than possessions.” Keener
himself lives this kind of life.
For both private devotional life and for
teaching and preaching material, Keener’s
commentary on the Corinthian epistles is
a gold mine.
Updated:
Friday, July 14, 2006 2:40 PM
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