1 and 2 Thessalonians, Volume 45

Word Biblical Commentary #45

by F.F. Bruce, Bruce M. Metzger (Editor), David Allen Hubbard (Editor)

The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship.

Overview of Commentary Organization

Introduction—covers issues pertaining to the whole book, including context, date, authorship, composition, interpretive issues, purpose, and theology. Each section of the commentary includes: Pericope Bibliography—a helpful resource containing the most important works that pertain to each particular pericope. Translation—the author’s own translation of the biblical text, reflecting the end result of exegesis and attending to Hebrew and Greek idiomatic usage of words, phrases, and tenses, yet in reasonably good English. Notes—the author’s notes to the translation that address any textual variants, grammatical forms, syntactical constructions, basic meanings of words, and problems of translation. Form/Structure/Setting—a discussion of redaction, genre, sources, and tradition as they concern the origin of the pericope, its canonical form, and its relation to the biblical and extra-biblical contexts in order to illuminate the structure and character of the pericope. Rhetorical or compositional features important to understanding the passage are also introduced here. Comment—verse-by-verse interpretation of the text and dialogue with other interpreters, engaging with current opinion and scholarly research. Explanation—brings together all the results of the discussion in previous sections to expose the meaning and intention of the text at several levels: (1) within the context of the book itself; (2) its meaning in the OT or NT; (3) its place in the entire canon; (4) theological relevance to broader OT or NT issues. General Bibliography—occurring at the end of each volume, this extensive bibliographycontains all sources used anywhere in the commentary.

Genres: Reference, Biblical Studies, New Testament, Theology, Christian

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 1982

About the author

Frederick Fyvie Bruce FBA was a Biblical scholar who supported the historical reliability of the New Testament. His first book, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? (1943), was voted by the American evangelical periodical Christianity Today in 2006 as one of the top 50 books "which had shaped evangelicals".

Reviews

[John Waldrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the format of this series and enjoy Bruce's scholarship.

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the most technical and demanding of the commentaries I've read on Thessalonians. For instance, Bruce expects his readers to have a working knowledge of Koine Greek.

Bruce follows a trend. Many Thessalonians commentators are quite comfortable with the idea that Paul may have been wrong about the timing of the parousia. Bruce notes that Paul expected it to happen within his lifetime, and that's it. No lengthy explanations, no cartwheels over the text trying to make sense of it. There's no indication he's disturbed at all.

Maybe I shouldn't be, either. After all, Paul never sets a date (he's careful to underscore that no one could), so it's not as if we've caught the apostle in an error.

The crazy thing about being a Bible student. I've routinely had my expectations shattered. Just when I think I have my arms around something, it's a bar of soap. Perhaps even the great St. Paul could relate to this.

[Andrzej Stelmasiak · Rating 2 out of 5]

oh my, that was just boring. Bruce is widely praised for his mastery of Greco-Roman literature, and yes, he frequently says 'this verse is like what so and so said in...', but I never know why is he using up the word count to say that, he never even hints at what difference does it make? there are other commentators out there who, thankfully, know what to do with stuff like that. He produced A LOT of books, and especially commentaries. One wishes there would be a difference in how quantity relates to quality.

Get Weima (BECNT) and/or Green (PNTC) instead. And if you are preaching through Thessalonians, read Stott as well.

[Sean Meade · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Bruce's commentaries are great.

[Thomas Creedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine commentary on the Thessalonians which has convicted me of the churches need for them today. A bit jumbly (too bitty) on 2 Thess imo but overall good, if aged. 4.5/5 (closer to 4 but a high 4!)

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is F. F. Bruce at this best. This commentary is accessible to the bible student, reliable and helpful to the pastor. This is nothing outlandishly new but solid widely helpful comment on the text that is set in the Pauline corpus.