Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Volume 23)

Tyndale Old Testament Commentary #23

by Paul R. House, David G. Firth (Series Editor), Tremper Longman III (Consultant Editor)

Daniel asserts that the meaning of history is that God's kingdom is coming. As it does, faithful people persevere in their work for God. Believers can rely on the certainties the book God is sovereign over human affairs and is effectively bringing in his eternal kingdom, which will encompass all nations. In this Tyndale commentary, Paul House shows how Daniel rewards readers who embrace its historical, literary, and theological features as key means of personal and community formation. The Tyndale Commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. The Introduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting, and purpose. Following a structural Analysis , the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties. In the new Old Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three Context , Comment , and Meaning . The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.

Genres: Reference

208 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2018

About the author

Paul R. House teaches at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University (Birmingham, Alabama). An Old Testament scholar, he has taught previously at Taylor University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Wheaton College.

Reviews

[Jonas Reif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insgesamt guter Kommentar.
Ausgezeichnete literarische Analyse (Plot, Figuren…), klassischere exegetische Diskussionen (Semantik, Syntax, Diachronie) könnten stellenweise ausführlicher geführt werden.
In Datierungsfragen durchweg konservativ.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tyndale Old Testament Commentary (TOTC) series scores again. This latest title is at least the tenth release in this current revision of the venerable series (current writers used earlier editions as young Christians in many cases!) and they are all a success—keeping the winning format and scope with more up-to-date scholarship and good writing. Snagging Paul House was a coup for the series too as he has already produced a much-used Old Testament Theology as well as coauthored an Old Testament Survey. To my mind, he worked within the established TOTC format as if it fit him like a glove.

Any commentary on Daniel bears the additional weight of the varying prophetic outlook of the reader. While that’s not an issue in many other books of the Bible, Daniel is second only to Revelation in that dynamic. Many will unfairly rate any commentary on these two books on this issue alone before they read the first paragraph. For the record, the TOTC series has always been amillennial. Though that is not my viewpoint, I’ve always found great insight in these volumes. This volume, too, delivers on many levels in my judgment even though that differentiation of perspective exists.

The Introduction gets to the point as this series demands yet delivers the goods. Some of the more perverse scholarly train wrecks on Daniel that dominate much literature is happily not the focus here. Let’s call it a clear conservative presentation. History is carefully unfolded. Literary, genre, and textual issues are all concisely unpacked. Daniel’s role in the canon is probed before theological themes are presented. Structure gets one paragraph called “Analysis” and a detailed outline.

The commentary itself is well done, again, in the TOTC style. Its best contributions are historical and theological. You will be able to trace easily the flow of the text. A few passages will have the drama of a prophetic outlook that may not match your own, but you will still learn much in the commentary.

I really like this book and am happy to have it at hand for future studies. Highly recommended.

I received this book free from the publisher. 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.

[Philip Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really solid and trustworthy short commentary from a renowned OT expert. Some excellent turns of phrase and searching application.

[Kelsi Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very helpful commentary on the book Daniel. I found it was a great compilation of many studies on Daniel, that held a ton of information without being so detailed that it was hard to absorb and process. I highly recommend the Tyndale commentaries as a support to personal Bible study.

[Ryan Linkous · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great commentary to read to accompany your personal devotions, Bible study preparation, or sermon prep.

A very clear, straightforward commentary that doesn't get bogged down in the strange details about Daniel. The prose is unlike any commentary I've ever read. House does the standard analysis: language, history, canonical context, etc. Yet, no commentary I've ever read cites Wendell Berry and the New York Times as a part of its analysis. House uses insights from literary sources few commentaries harness.

House also draws out implications for lifelong faithfulness.

The main disappointments are the lack of an index and the lack of a summary/conclusion (which isn't too unusual for commentaries).