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The Story of God Bible Commentary
Romans (6)
A new commentary for today’s world, The Story of God Bible Commentary explains and illuminates each passage of Scripture in light of the Bible’s grand story. The first commentary series to do so, SGBC offers a clear and compelling exposition of biblical texts, guiding everyday readers in how to creatively and faithfully live out the Bible in their own contexts. Its story-centric approach is ideal for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and laypeople alike.
Three easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God’s story:
LISTEN to the Story: Includes complete NIV text with references to other texts at work in each passage, encouraging the reader to hear it within the Bible’s grand story
EXPLAIN the Story: Explores and illuminates each text as embedded in its canonical and historical setting
LIVE the Story: Reflects on how each text can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustrations to aid preachers, teachers, and students
Praise for SGBC:
“The easy-to-use format and practical guidance brings God’s grand story to modern-day life so anyone can understand how it applies today.”—Andy Stanley
“Opens up the biblical story in ways that move us to act.”—Darrell L. Bock
“It makes the text sing and helps us hear the story afresh.”—John Ortberg
“This commentary breaks new ground.”—Craig L. Blomberg
Three easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God’s story:
LISTEN to the Story: Includes complete NIV text with references to other texts at work in each passage, encouraging the reader to hear it within the Bible’s grand story
EXPLAIN the Story: Explores and illuminates each text as embedded in its canonical and historical setting
LIVE the Story: Reflects on how each text can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustrations to aid preachers, teachers, and students
Praise for SGBC:
“The easy-to-use format and practical guidance brings God’s grand story to modern-day life so anyone can understand how it applies today.”—Andy Stanley
“Opens up the biblical story in ways that move us to act.”—Darrell L. Bock
“It makes the text sing and helps us hear the story afresh.”—John Ortberg
“This commentary breaks new ground.”—Craig L. Blomberg
608 pages, Hardcover
Published February 9, 2016
85 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Michael F. Bird
87 books159 followersDr. Michael Bird (Ph.D University of Queensland) is Lecturer in Theology at Ridley Melbourne College of Mission and Ministry. He is the author of several books including Jesus and the Origins of the Gentile Mission (2006), The Saving Righteousness of God (2007), A Bird’s-Eye View of Paul (2008), Colossians and Philemon (2009), Crossing Over Sea and Land: Jewish Missionary Activity in the Second Temple Period (2009), and Are You the One Who is to Come? The Historical Jesus and the Messianic Question (2009).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 25, 2022
Commentaries are rarely page-turners but I really enjoyed reading this one. It's a kind of middle ground between John Stott's The Bible Speaks Today commentary and something a bit more academic like Moo or Wright. This means there is some great interaction with some of the big academic debates but also some helpful application. Bird doesn't get lost in the weeds but keeps his focus on Paul's purpose in Romans. Paul's aim was to unite the Roman churches around the Lord Jesus - who fulfills the Old Testament in its entirety - therefore, creating a unified, multi-ethnic people of God, who share in his vision to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. I think I'm on board with that.
Bird sees himself as a mediating voice between the New Perspective and Reformed readings of Romans and I think that's pretty helpful. There's some great stuff on Paul's understanding of the big story of the Bible and God's faithfulness to Israel. But he hasn't lost any of the Reformer's vision of God's unconditional grace, which is the beating heart of Paul's theology in Romans.
I didn't agree with his reading of every passage but that's never going to happen. Though right now I think I'm with him on Romans 7! Overall, I would definitely recommend this commentary. If you want to understand probably the most impactful letter ever written this is a great place to start.
Bird sees himself as a mediating voice between the New Perspective and Reformed readings of Romans and I think that's pretty helpful. There's some great stuff on Paul's understanding of the big story of the Bible and God's faithfulness to Israel. But he hasn't lost any of the Reformer's vision of God's unconditional grace, which is the beating heart of Paul's theology in Romans.
I didn't agree with his reading of every passage but that's never going to happen. Though right now I think I'm with him on Romans 7! Overall, I would definitely recommend this commentary. If you want to understand probably the most impactful letter ever written this is a great place to start.
July 4, 2022
The commentary is well done with valuable and scholarly insights. I learned more about Paul's letter to the Romans with this commentary. My only criticism is that the "Live the Story" sections, which are meant to connect the commentary with modern application, come across as forced. Eventually I started skipping those and just stuck with the commentary.
April 2, 2016
Romans, a volume of Zondervan's Story of God Bible Commentary series, is a fresh, engaging commentary that relentlessly sticks to its main point - that God is renewing his creation and is doing this through the person and work of Jesus.
Michael Bird, an early 40's Australian theologian, wants his readers to live and to teach this theology presented here, a vigorous evangelical faith that wants to see the life of the Christian devoted to gospel obedience, freedom and teaching. His writing is warm and inviting, even when making quite serious points. While obviously a serious academic researcher in the New Testament and its world, and able to alude to serious academic discussions that have taken place about this text, he still teaches in a broad, non technical way that should not exclude those outside of the academic world.
His introduction is a solid study in the motivations for why this portion of the Bible was given to the church - both the church in ancient Rome and its uses to the global Christian community. It is precisely this volume's emphasis on how Romans is applicable to so many different people throughout early 21st century global Christianity that gives this work such an empathetic tone. Bird writes with an awareness of the challenges that many pastors and teachers in Latin American, the Pacific Rim and sub Saharan Africa face.
This Zondervan series breaks up passage of the Biblical book (in this case, of course using the NIV translation), into three sections:
Listen to the Story - where the reader will not only focus on a section of Romans (from a couple of verses to nearly a chapter in some cases), but how this portion of Romans relates to other portions of the Bible, so the reader is aware of the greater story of redemption and renewal that the book is pointing the modern reader to
Explain the Story - shows how each portion of Romans is part of its historical context and context within the rest of the Bible
Live the Story - teaching reflections, largely using examples from the last decade or so, that will be of good use to pastors and teacher of the text. Because this section is the most contemporary, it is a weakness and a strength of this form of commentary, meaning it has a sell - by date, and its examples will be of less use even a decade from now. This is fine, particularly as the author is addressing a rapidly changing global audience.
As a non technical commentary of use to pastors and teachers, this is a good one volume story on this very important, Christ centered epis
Michael Bird, an early 40's Australian theologian, wants his readers to live and to teach this theology presented here, a vigorous evangelical faith that wants to see the life of the Christian devoted to gospel obedience, freedom and teaching. His writing is warm and inviting, even when making quite serious points. While obviously a serious academic researcher in the New Testament and its world, and able to alude to serious academic discussions that have taken place about this text, he still teaches in a broad, non technical way that should not exclude those outside of the academic world.
His introduction is a solid study in the motivations for why this portion of the Bible was given to the church - both the church in ancient Rome and its uses to the global Christian community. It is precisely this volume's emphasis on how Romans is applicable to so many different people throughout early 21st century global Christianity that gives this work such an empathetic tone. Bird writes with an awareness of the challenges that many pastors and teachers in Latin American, the Pacific Rim and sub Saharan Africa face.
This Zondervan series breaks up passage of the Biblical book (in this case, of course using the NIV translation), into three sections:
Listen to the Story - where the reader will not only focus on a section of Romans (from a couple of verses to nearly a chapter in some cases), but how this portion of Romans relates to other portions of the Bible, so the reader is aware of the greater story of redemption and renewal that the book is pointing the modern reader to
Explain the Story - shows how each portion of Romans is part of its historical context and context within the rest of the Bible
Live the Story - teaching reflections, largely using examples from the last decade or so, that will be of good use to pastors and teacher of the text. Because this section is the most contemporary, it is a weakness and a strength of this form of commentary, meaning it has a sell - by date, and its examples will be of less use even a decade from now. This is fine, particularly as the author is addressing a rapidly changing global audience.
As a non technical commentary of use to pastors and teachers, this is a good one volume story on this very important, Christ centered epis
December 8, 2016
This commentary has three main sections in each chapter. For each chunk of verses, the author took a couple pages to provide the verses and give an overview of how these verses fit into the teachings of the previous and future verses. Next, he looked at the verses in detail. Much of this was a detailed, academic look at translation issues: should this sentence be translated this way, that way, and does it matter because it could mean both? He also compared it to other verses in Scripture. He sometimes quoted what historical sources (like early church fathers and reformers) said about these verses or briefly compared it to second temple period Jewish literature.
Finally, he chose one or two take-away points from the verses and wrote a sermon based on those points. Or, as he put it on page 336, these are "pastoral illustrations and practical applications." This part took up about 40% of the entire commentary. The sermons turned out to be pretty good, but I didn't realize they would make up so much of the book.
My overall impression was that I'm not his target audience. The author liked to talk in metaphors or analogies. I prefer authors who speak in plain English as I find that easier to understand. He'd even illustrate doctrines using movies, like when he compares "Jesus as the second Adam" to Star Wars and the two Skywalkers. Yet I had no trouble understanding the concept before the comparison. He tended to spend time on things that I felt were obvious or somehow managed to make an issue seem more obscure, so I didn't gain much insight from all of those pages. He may speak in a way that some people really get, but I'm just not one of those people.
I received this review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
Finally, he chose one or two take-away points from the verses and wrote a sermon based on those points. Or, as he put it on page 336, these are "pastoral illustrations and practical applications." This part took up about 40% of the entire commentary. The sermons turned out to be pretty good, but I didn't realize they would make up so much of the book.
My overall impression was that I'm not his target audience. The author liked to talk in metaphors or analogies. I prefer authors who speak in plain English as I find that easier to understand. He'd even illustrate doctrines using movies, like when he compares "Jesus as the second Adam" to Star Wars and the two Skywalkers. Yet I had no trouble understanding the concept before the comparison. He tended to spend time on things that I felt were obvious or somehow managed to make an issue seem more obscure, so I didn't gain much insight from all of those pages. He may speak in a way that some people really get, but I'm just not one of those people.
I received this review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
July 2, 2018
Accessible and heart-warming
This is a commentary to read right through rather than dip into for sermon prep on a specific passage. It’s regular summarises and reinforcing statements keeps the whole thing on track and establishes the coherent story of Romans. There are many memorable phrases and sensitive applications of the material in the ‘live the story’ section. Very helpful indeed if slightly repetitive and over-elaborate in a few places. Overall it helped lead me to worship, surely a major theme of the book
This is a commentary to read right through rather than dip into for sermon prep on a specific passage. It’s regular summarises and reinforcing statements keeps the whole thing on track and establishes the coherent story of Romans. There are many memorable phrases and sensitive applications of the material in the ‘live the story’ section. Very helpful indeed if slightly repetitive and over-elaborate in a few places. Overall it helped lead me to worship, surely a major theme of the book
May 7, 2024
A great pastoral commentary from Bird. He quickly works through the exegetical issues, occasionally pausing for detail but more often just offering his own interpretation (given the scope of the series, that is appropriate). His application in the "Live the Story" section is always great and will supplement your preaching and teaching. And to top it off, it has Bird's characteristic humor, self-deprecation, and jovial irenicism.
February 26, 2018
A great commentary from a great series. Engaging and easily readable from start to finish. Of all the Romans commentaries that regularly supplement their prose with Hamiltonesque musical numbers and frequent references to Downton Abbey, this is the best.
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June 13, 2022Bird brings up to date scholarship as well as a broader perspective to understanding the book of Romans and how it fits in the larger story of the Bible. Read for preaching Romans 12 during Eastertide 2022
March 7, 2016
The Story of God Bible Commentary is an exciting and practical commentary series that seeks to explain the biblical text in light of the grand story of the biblical narrative. The editors and contributors for this series are top-tier scholars with seasoned insight and experience into the world of biblical interpretation and proclamation—making this series an attractive addition to the minister’s library. Most recently, Romans by Michael F. Bird, adds a much anticipated and sizable volume to this growing series.
Bird opens the volume with a brief introduction. Attention is directed towards the standard introductory material, but it is curated in such a way as to position it within the overall theme of the series. As the commentary proper opens the reader is guided passage-by-passage through three major sections: (1) LISTEN to the Story—includes the NIV translation with additional references to encourage the reader to hear the story within its broader biblical context, (2) EXPLAIN the Story—explores and illuminates each passage within its canonical and historical setting, and (3) LIVE the Story—reflects how each passage can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustration to aid teachers, preachers, and beyond.
Despite the possibility of some foreseen theological and interpretive disagreements, I think the reader will find the commentary itself to be extremely useful. Bird is well-informed in regards to the contemporary theological conversations that surround the Book of Romans, and his writing style is fresh and engaging. I found the “Live the Story” section to be helpful, but it was a bit inconsistent in this respect—meaning some passages are better than others. Where I found Bird to really shine was the “Explain the Story” section. Bird is consistently helpful here, and his clever illustrations and humorous wit keep the reader engaged throughout. Theologically, I found Bird to be significantly more sensitive to the issues surrounding the New Perspective on Paul than myself, and I presume the same will be true for other readers as well. Still, his interaction was well worth reading. The reader will sense an unusual acquaintance with Bird while reading his commentary, and I found that his conversational tone really bolstered his intentions therein.
Commentaries on the Book of Romans are almost more plentiful than the sand of the sea. Do we really need to add another commentary to the already mountainous pile? Is there anything worth unearthing that hasn’t already seen the sun? These are good and appropriate questions to ask. But a sufficient answer isn’t as easy as it may seem. The Story of God Bible Commentary: Romans by Michael F. Bird is a unique contribution that offers a unified presentation of one of the most important Pauline epistles within the grand scope of the biblical narrative. Bird is well-informed and easy to read, and any lack of distinctive interpretive contribution is made up for in his keen ability to keep sight of the whole amid the details. Moreover, Bird does well in distilling the technical jargon that plagues much of the preexisting mountain of Romans material into a practical package that almost anyone can enjoy and understand. Do you need another commentary on Romans? I don’t know. But you certainly need this one!
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Bird opens the volume with a brief introduction. Attention is directed towards the standard introductory material, but it is curated in such a way as to position it within the overall theme of the series. As the commentary proper opens the reader is guided passage-by-passage through three major sections: (1) LISTEN to the Story—includes the NIV translation with additional references to encourage the reader to hear the story within its broader biblical context, (2) EXPLAIN the Story—explores and illuminates each passage within its canonical and historical setting, and (3) LIVE the Story—reflects how each passage can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustration to aid teachers, preachers, and beyond.
Despite the possibility of some foreseen theological and interpretive disagreements, I think the reader will find the commentary itself to be extremely useful. Bird is well-informed in regards to the contemporary theological conversations that surround the Book of Romans, and his writing style is fresh and engaging. I found the “Live the Story” section to be helpful, but it was a bit inconsistent in this respect—meaning some passages are better than others. Where I found Bird to really shine was the “Explain the Story” section. Bird is consistently helpful here, and his clever illustrations and humorous wit keep the reader engaged throughout. Theologically, I found Bird to be significantly more sensitive to the issues surrounding the New Perspective on Paul than myself, and I presume the same will be true for other readers as well. Still, his interaction was well worth reading. The reader will sense an unusual acquaintance with Bird while reading his commentary, and I found that his conversational tone really bolstered his intentions therein.
Commentaries on the Book of Romans are almost more plentiful than the sand of the sea. Do we really need to add another commentary to the already mountainous pile? Is there anything worth unearthing that hasn’t already seen the sun? These are good and appropriate questions to ask. But a sufficient answer isn’t as easy as it may seem. The Story of God Bible Commentary: Romans by Michael F. Bird is a unique contribution that offers a unified presentation of one of the most important Pauline epistles within the grand scope of the biblical narrative. Bird is well-informed and easy to read, and any lack of distinctive interpretive contribution is made up for in his keen ability to keep sight of the whole amid the details. Moreover, Bird does well in distilling the technical jargon that plagues much of the preexisting mountain of Romans material into a practical package that almost anyone can enjoy and understand. Do you need another commentary on Romans? I don’t know. But you certainly need this one!
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
February 20, 2017
It is rare for me that I would ever sit down and read through a commentary cover to cover. But that is the case this book. Bird's writing is imminently readable, and the format of the book encourages one to keep reading and not relegate it to the shelves for reference only. The emphasis on living out the theology is a welcome addition compared to most commentary series. This is the first of this particular commentary series I have read, but I have already ordered several others. I commended it and enjoyed it.
January 17, 2024
Very good commentary. I have read a number from this series, and all are well written. However, Michael Bird has a way with words that simplifies the complex themes in Romans in a particularly succinct way, and has an engaging sense of humour that keeps the reading going through what could otherwise be a very slow read. This is one of the best commentaries in this series.
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July 11, 2016If I could only recommend one commentary for anyone teaching or preaching the book of Romans, this would be the one. It's been INCREDIBLY helpful as we've gone through this series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews