Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah

NIV Application Commentary, Old Testament

by James Bruckner

The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today's context.

To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today's world, each passage is treated in three sections:



Original Meaning. Concise exegesis to help readers understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context.

Bridging Contexts. A bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of today, built by discerning what is timeless in the timely pages of the Bible.

Contemporary Significance. This section identifies comparable situations to those faced in the Bible and explores relevant application of the biblical messages. The author alerts the readers of problems they may encounter when seeking to apply the passage and helps them think through the issues involved.
This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today's preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.

Genres: Reference, Christian

356 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the sections of books to preach through is the minor prophets. For many these books run contrary to that of our own current cultural trends. It is therefore extremely helpful that Zondervan Publications has put out a commentary on the Books of Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah in the NIV application Commentary series. This commentary is well-known and respected in both popular and scholarly circles. For the NIV application Commentary series truly helps the exegete understand the original context of the text as well as its contemporary significance.
This commentary is written by James Bruckner who is an competent Old Testament Scholar. With regard to the introductory section to both of the books inside this work I found the introductory section on the Jonah comparable to most mid-level commentaries diving into both composition purpose as well as a few biblical theological components. On the other hand the introduction to the Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah sections were a little more than a few pages and did not die deeply into authorship or structure.
In dealing with the commentary proper in all of the sections, the textual commentary is written in pericope sections rather than dealing with a verse by verse exegetical study. This is the form at which the NIV application study commentary, is exclusivity written init was therefore not a surprise, but it is something that a reader should expect. This does not negate in any way this commentaries usefulness rather it enhances a preacher’s focus on seeing the forest through the trees. I therefore recommend this commentary wholeheartedly as a useful tool to both the preacher, teacher, uneducated laymen, and Sunday school teacher. I do suggest though that this commentary be paired with a more solid one that deals exegetically with each verse.
These books was provided to me free of charge from Zondervan Press in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

[Charles Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I can only comment on the Jonah part of this book. I'm sure the rest of it is good too, at least I'm betting it would be since this seems like a decent commentary series and I know the Jonah part was really good. At first blush it seemed...odd, but I quickly warmed up to it. (Odd, because of Disney's Pinocchio, read it for yourself to find out more.)

[Sean McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this commentary was good. Some good application.

[Kerry Rayner]

Such an insightful read on the minor prophets!

[Laurel Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful commentary.

[Erik Engström · Rating 4 out of 5]

Proud of my uncle for writing this comprehensive commentary.

[Greg Baughman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. Very basic, and, as one would expect from this series, more geared to the non-academic preacher. As easy as TOTC's volume on Jonah is to read, this is not quite as useful as it could have been. That said, it's not without value, and worth consulting if you are preaching through the book.

[Becca]

Read with John Miller for Elevation's summer series on Jonah.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Habakkuk in December 2014

Read Jonah in August 2018