Abstract
This commentary contains three sections that aid the interpreter: Behind the Text, In the Text, and From the Text. In ‘Behind the Text’, the commentary includes various kinds of background information, including historical context(s), literary context, sociological and cultural issues. The ‘In the Text’ section contains verse-by-verse comments, inclusive of grammatical, syntactical, and lexical details. In the ‘From the Text’ section, the commentary includes theological musings, history of interpretation, the use of the OT in the NT, and thoughts concerning application of the text. Additionally there are sidebars on important topics—e.g., archaeology, historical details, literary concerns—that do not distract from the flow of the commentary proper.
Although quite short (pp. 35–46), the Introduction covers various critical issues that concern interpreters. These include the standard fare—author, audience, date, occasion, purpose, organisation, argumentative logic. One refreshing refrain throughout the introduction is Lyon’s caution that certain matters of interpretation ‘remain uncertain’ (cf. pp. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42). This caution dovetails with the aim of the series, which is to ‘communicate clearly the critical consensus and the full range of other credible voices who have commented on the Scriptures’ (p. 9). Among the ‘other credible voices’ are ancient exegetes (e.g., Chrysostom), important exegetes in the history of Protestantism (e.g., Luther, Wesley), and modern scholars. One finds engagement with the former two categories especially in the section devoted to examining ideas ‘From the Text’.
To provide one example of his exegetical discussions, Lyons argues that Paul’s exegesis/allegory in Gal 4.21–5.1 is less of an interpretation than it is an application (pp. 278, 283). He views the addressees of this section as a small sub-set within the Galatian churches (e.g., certain agitators), but cautions against greater specificity from our perspective (p. 281). Furthermore, contrary to the scholarly consensus, he sees Paul’s allegory as sufficiently discernable within its Jewish milieu, thus alleviating the need to mirror-read this portion of the letter and posit that Paul’s opponents used the same passage about Sarah and Hagar (p. 279). In his section ‘From the Text’, Lyons states that Paul’s approach to this OT use ‘did not take seriously the world behind the text nor the integrity of the biblical text itself’ (p. 298). Rather, Paul simply applied the text to a modern situation. Nevertheless, Lyons claims that ‘[w]e may accept Paul’s conclusions’ even if we disagree with the method because Paul was an apostle (p. 298).
Overall this is a fine commentary that will serve pastors and students well. The bibliography at the opening of the volume is impressive, inclusive of the latest in critical, biblical scholarship and also some older works that have stood the test of time. It is important to say that this volume is beautifully layed out. Each page indicates what verse is being discussed and the text clearly demarcates each of the sections of the commentary in a visually appealing manner. The volume would have benefited by including indices. Finally, readers should not be deterred by the label ‘Wesleyan’ if they do not belong to that tradition. Although all the authors belong to that tradition, it would be a mistake to avoid consulting this volume for that reason.