Thursday, April 2, 2009

Great new Commmentary Series


InterVarsityPress is releasing a new series of biblical commentaries, from patristic writers. The first volume, for example, is a commentary on Romans and 1-2 Corinthians by Ambrosiaster.
These are fresh English translations by respected scholars. Here is a description from the publisher:

"The commentaries, which serve as important witnesses to pre-Vulgate Latin versions of Paul's epistles, are noteworthy in other respects as well. Ambrosiaster was a careful and thoughtful interpreter, with little use for allegory, though he employed typology judiciously. Writing during the pontificate of Damasus (366-384), he is a witness to Nicene orthodoxy and frequently comments on themes related to the Trinity, the consubstantiality of the Son, the problem of the unbelief of the Jews and the nature of human sinfulness. He had a keen eye for moral issues and often offers comments that reflect his knowledge of how the church had changed from the time of the apostles to his own day."
Each volume in the series:
  • Includes an introduction discussing authorship, text and translation, and the social and theological context of the commentary
  • Provides limited number of notes that identify biblical references or allusions, certain textual difficulties, and explanations of Ambrosiaster?s possible errors
This volume is the first in the "Ancient Christian Texts: series. More full-length commentaries from the pen of the early church fathers will follow. See here for more information.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Interesting brief article on historical-critical Scripture study by Dr. Michael Waldstein, here.

New film on Mary ("Mary, the Mother of Christ" in theaters in 2010. YouTube preview here