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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.
Each volume employs three main, easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God's
LISTEN to the 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 Explores and illuminates each text as embedded in its canonical and historical setting.LIVE the Reflects on how each text can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustrations to aid preachers, teachers, and students.
—Daniel—
The book of Daniel is often read for its contribution to our understanding of end-times events, but sometimes Christians have been so obsessed with this that we have missed its main God is in control, no matter how things look, and his kingdom will one day fill the earth.
Edited by Scot McKnight and Tremper Longman III, and written by a number of top-notch theologians, The Story of God Bible Commentary series will bring relevant, balanced, and clear-minded theological insight to any biblical education or ministry.
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.
Each volume employs three main, easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God's
LISTEN to the 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 Explores and illuminates each text as embedded in its canonical and historical setting.LIVE the Reflects on how each text can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustrations to aid preachers, teachers, and students.
—Daniel—
The book of Daniel is often read for its contribution to our understanding of end-times events, but sometimes Christians have been so obsessed with this that we have missed its main God is in control, no matter how things look, and his kingdom will one day fill the earth.
Edited by Scot McKnight and Tremper Longman III, and written by a number of top-notch theologians, The Story of God Bible Commentary series will bring relevant, balanced, and clear-minded theological insight to any biblical education or ministry.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 13, 2024
An excellent popular level commentary on Daniel. Avoids some of the pitfalls of other conservative evangelical commentaries due to an over-reading of their particular eschatology into the details of the text. Widder instead accepts a Greek reading of the book (more typical of critical readings), but from a conservative standpoint that still believes the unfolding continuum of prophecy is broadly fulfilled in Christ and His Kingdom.
February 15, 2019
I wanted to read a commentary on Daniel that wasn't dispensational neither overly scholarly, and thus I was quite pleased with this choice. This is my first dip into this series of commentaries, and whilst I have no current plans to preach on Daniel, I would say this is an excellent commentary for pastors and preachers.
I did appreciate the Author's arguments for a historic Daniel but with a Greek (rather than a Roman) interpretation as the "immediate" fulfilment of the prophecies. I also appreciated how she did not deny the possibility of the prophecies of being types - such that they were (at least aspects of them) fulfilled with Jesus - both first and his second coming. The Author was respectful of alternate views.
I also liked the approach of this commentary, where a chapter is investigated as a whole - though also broken into passages. Plus the 3 sections for each "chapter" of "Listen", "Explain" and "Live" were well done. With the last section of "Live" giving some good application that fellow pastors should find useful. Also, this approach makes the commentary easy to read rather than just a good reference. There are also good references to other works for further or more in depth study.
If other commentaries in this series are as good I will be aiming to get and read more of them :)
I did appreciate the Author's arguments for a historic Daniel but with a Greek (rather than a Roman) interpretation as the "immediate" fulfilment of the prophecies. I also appreciated how she did not deny the possibility of the prophecies of being types - such that they were (at least aspects of them) fulfilled with Jesus - both first and his second coming. The Author was respectful of alternate views.
I also liked the approach of this commentary, where a chapter is investigated as a whole - though also broken into passages. Plus the 3 sections for each "chapter" of "Listen", "Explain" and "Live" were well done. With the last section of "Live" giving some good application that fellow pastors should find useful. Also, this approach makes the commentary easy to read rather than just a good reference. There are also good references to other works for further or more in depth study.
If other commentaries in this series are as good I will be aiming to get and read more of them :)
May 12, 2021
This is the first book I've read in the Story of God series. The format provides a good exposition of the text without detailed verse-by-verse exposition. The author summarizes the various interpretive positions on Daniel without getting too bogged down. Each chapter ends with a "Live the Story" section giving current day examples of Daniel's message.
The author holds to the "Greek" view of the 4th kingdom but also gives the "Roman" view. Unlike many who hold the Greek view, she does not hold to the pseudonymous authorship view of Daniel.
The author holds to the "Greek" view of the 4th kingdom but also gives the "Roman" view. Unlike many who hold the Greek view, she does not hold to the pseudonymous authorship view of Daniel.
March 21, 2024
Widder has a lot of good points on her mind but I felt that she often struggled to communicate them clearly, speaking around her points rather than addressing them head on. She clearly loves the material and in its best moments, the commentary reflects her deep affection. I don’t think this is a bad commentary, I just think that it could have been better.
July 6, 2022
Why Blomberg says it's groundbreaking is beyond me.
It's good, but nothing which you wouldn't find elsewhere. If you have Longman, Steinmann, and Goldingay, then you don't need this one. She goes for the 'Greek' option but defends 6th century dating.
It's good, but nothing which you wouldn't find elsewhere. If you have Longman, Steinmann, and Goldingay, then you don't need this one. She goes for the 'Greek' option but defends 6th century dating.
July 7, 2021
Excellent!
March 22, 2024
Just slightly to the right of Goldingay. Money is better spent on the commentaries by Sprinkle and Duguid.
April 25, 2023
Widder's strengths are bringing in biblical cross-references and extra-biblical texts to bring meaning to the light of texts of Daniel. She also has good application, which helps for teaching.
March 28, 2017
Wendy L. Widder is a contributing editor at Logos Bible Software and the author of several books, including Living Whole Without a Better Half (Kregel, 2014), A Match Made in Heaven: How Singles and the Church Can Live Happily Ever After (Kregel, 2003), and various publications under Lexham Press. She holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern studies from the University of the Free State, a master of arts in Hebrew and Semitic studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and a master of divinity degree from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Most recently, Widder offers readers a much-anticipated volume on Daniel in the Story of God Bible Commentary.
Daniel by Wendy L. Widder is a unique and welcomed addition to this increasingly popular series. Widder has a clear passion for the local church, and this volume demonstrates that on almost every page. The commentary opens with a brief introduction to the book, including comments surrounding some of the distinctive features of the genre of Daniel, the context and purpose of the book, authorship, date, etc. Widder affirms the events in the book happened to “a real Daniel and his Judean peers in sixth-century BC-Babylonian exile, and that the prophecies are accurate,” but also recognizes the limitations of knowing who compiled the book in its final form (p. 5).
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 illustrations to aid teachers, preachers, and beyond.
Where issues of disagreements are inevitable for the book of Daniel, Widder does an exceptional job directing the concerns back towards the purpose of the book and away from theological traps. In this respect, Widder demonstrates how to handle the text in a corporate setting and allows the reader formulate thoughts in a similar direction. This, in my opinion, is one of the best aspects of Widder’s work here, and it will inevitably prove useful for the target audience of the series. Like I mentioned above, Widder has a clear passion for the local church, and it is evident on almost every page.
The Story of God Bible Commentary: Daniel by Wendy L. Widder is a unique contribution that offers a unified presentation of one of the most theologically significant books of the Old Testament. Widder is well-informed and easy to read, and any lack of distinctive interpretive contribution is made up for in her keen ability to keep sight of the whole amid the details. Widder makes Daniel fun and interesting again for those who may have “heard enough” about its many theological controversies. This is a worthwhile read if you are studying Daniel. It comes highly recommended and will be extremely useful for those teaching the book!
Daniel by Wendy L. Widder is a unique and welcomed addition to this increasingly popular series. Widder has a clear passion for the local church, and this volume demonstrates that on almost every page. The commentary opens with a brief introduction to the book, including comments surrounding some of the distinctive features of the genre of Daniel, the context and purpose of the book, authorship, date, etc. Widder affirms the events in the book happened to “a real Daniel and his Judean peers in sixth-century BC-Babylonian exile, and that the prophecies are accurate,” but also recognizes the limitations of knowing who compiled the book in its final form (p. 5).
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 illustrations to aid teachers, preachers, and beyond.
Where issues of disagreements are inevitable for the book of Daniel, Widder does an exceptional job directing the concerns back towards the purpose of the book and away from theological traps. In this respect, Widder demonstrates how to handle the text in a corporate setting and allows the reader formulate thoughts in a similar direction. This, in my opinion, is one of the best aspects of Widder’s work here, and it will inevitably prove useful for the target audience of the series. Like I mentioned above, Widder has a clear passion for the local church, and it is evident on almost every page.
The Story of God Bible Commentary: Daniel by Wendy L. Widder is a unique contribution that offers a unified presentation of one of the most theologically significant books of the Old Testament. Widder is well-informed and easy to read, and any lack of distinctive interpretive contribution is made up for in her keen ability to keep sight of the whole amid the details. Widder makes Daniel fun and interesting again for those who may have “heard enough” about its many theological controversies. This is a worthwhile read if you are studying Daniel. It comes highly recommended and will be extremely useful for those teaching the book!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews