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Daniel
In this volume from the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary, Paul Tanner argues that the book of Daniel is the Old Testament blueprint of the Bible's overarching eschatological narrative. Tanner examines key aspects of the book of Daniel such as the revelation of Israel's future in relation to gentile kingdoms, God's exaltation of Daniel as a channel through whom he reveals his will and God's sovereign control of the nations under whom Israel is being disciplined. Tanner provides exegetical insight to help readers better understand not only how God worked in Israel's history through Daniel, but how he sovereignly directs all of world history - for all time.
832 pages, Hardcover
Published February 17, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 11, 2021
Wow! What a great commentary! I can’t really think of a category where this commentary couldn’t be described with superlatives. It just happens to be the first commentary in the EEC series to be released with this attractive new design. There’s far more than an attractive cover here, however, as this is a first-class commentary. I know the term “instant classic” is cliché, but I’m willing to argue that is the case. If you see some lower ratings out there, ignore them. Unfairly, commentaries on the book of Daniel are often assigned a grade based on the authors prophetic opinions before the book is even opened. I don’t personally see how someone with a different background on prophecy matters would not feel duty-bound to admit what an incredible work we have here.
What I found between these covers was incredible depth, perceptive insight, clear reasoning, and good writing. The scholarship is impeccable, yet isn’t overly dense as is so often the case. I think you will agree with me before you are even halfway through the introduction. Discussions about the text, Aramaic words, and other grammatical and literary questions is all you could hope for and certainly all you would ever need. I find discussions of structure more helpful to pastors and Bible students than some of the other information in these commentaries, and what he presents here could be a clinic on how to discuss structure in a way that enlivens one’s understanding of a biblical book. He not only explains varying opinions on structure, but more importantly he gives cogent analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. You are left with an opportunity to conclude on your own.
The commentary proper is equally commendable. There is the explanation that pastors and Bible students need along with discussions of grammar in the original languages and plenteous bibliographies for scholars.
To put it in perspective, I found this commentary markedly more helpful than, say, the recent revision of Goldingay’s WBC work. That work is more critical than some like to admit while this work is not afraid to believe as it explains. Some might prefer the more straightforward NAC volume, but by design it doesn’t cover everything as this one does.
Force me to only keep one commentary on the book of Daniel, and this is the one you will see in my hands.
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.
What I found between these covers was incredible depth, perceptive insight, clear reasoning, and good writing. The scholarship is impeccable, yet isn’t overly dense as is so often the case. I think you will agree with me before you are even halfway through the introduction. Discussions about the text, Aramaic words, and other grammatical and literary questions is all you could hope for and certainly all you would ever need. I find discussions of structure more helpful to pastors and Bible students than some of the other information in these commentaries, and what he presents here could be a clinic on how to discuss structure in a way that enlivens one’s understanding of a biblical book. He not only explains varying opinions on structure, but more importantly he gives cogent analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. You are left with an opportunity to conclude on your own.
The commentary proper is equally commendable. There is the explanation that pastors and Bible students need along with discussions of grammar in the original languages and plenteous bibliographies for scholars.
To put it in perspective, I found this commentary markedly more helpful than, say, the recent revision of Goldingay’s WBC work. That work is more critical than some like to admit while this work is not afraid to believe as it explains. Some might prefer the more straightforward NAC volume, but by design it doesn’t cover everything as this one does.
Force me to only keep one commentary on the book of Daniel, and this is the one you will see in my hands.
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.
September 20, 2021
A commentary on Daniel that is exhaustive and conservative is not easy to come by, but that is exactly what Tanner has given us and we owe he and Lexham our thanks.
As I preached through Daniel I found far more material here than I needed or could possibly make use of, but I also knew where I could find answers to my most difficult questions about the meaning of the text. This work is thorough, detailed, serious, and sober-minded. It is scholarly with a pastoral eye.
Tanner has written a tour de force and we are in his debt.
Note: I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher but was not required to write a positive review.
As I preached through Daniel I found far more material here than I needed or could possibly make use of, but I also knew where I could find answers to my most difficult questions about the meaning of the text. This work is thorough, detailed, serious, and sober-minded. It is scholarly with a pastoral eye.
Tanner has written a tour de force and we are in his debt.
Note: I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher but was not required to write a positive review.
February 12, 2024
I'm an ardent amillennialist. Tanner is not. He had to work hard then to earn these four stars from me.
Tanner has probably written not only the best commentary from a dispensational perspective, but, though I disagree with his eschatology, he has also simply written a superb commentary that anyone can profit from. Those of other eschatological persuasions will find his commentary on the narrative half most helpful and they may even glean much from his treatment of the four visions when he dealing with that which is uncontestedly historical. There are some dispy-bones and premil-gristle to spit out and toss in the trash, but there is some good eatin' too.
Tanner has probably written not only the best commentary from a dispensational perspective, but, though I disagree with his eschatology, he has also simply written a superb commentary that anyone can profit from. Those of other eschatological persuasions will find his commentary on the narrative half most helpful and they may even glean much from his treatment of the four visions when he dealing with that which is uncontestedly historical. There are some dispy-bones and premil-gristle to spit out and toss in the trash, but there is some good eatin' too.
November 13, 2024
A remarkable commentary. Tanner's work is probably the most expansive and thorough commentary from a conservative evangelical viewpoint available. His introductory remarks on dating, authorship, and identifying "Darius the Mede" alone are excellent. He additionally has an extensive section detailing Daniel's prophecy of 70 weeks. Throughout, I think he is quite fair to other viewpoints, but at the same time points out their flaws before presenting his own view which is always based on careful exegesis of the details of the text. Now, if you are Amillennial, you certainly won't agree with all of Tanner's conclusions, although I think you would be pressed to defend your argument in a better light. I believe Daniel in particular is one of the strongest arguments for a Premillennial interpretation of Rev. 20 and the fulfillment of God's kingdom promises, and I was only further strengthened in that belief by Tanner's work here. The only critique I can offer would be editorial in that some structural features of the book are not consistent (i.e. "Commentary" headings sometimes in bold, sometimes just in italics, etc.). Highly recommended if you are teaching/preaching through Daniel or if you just want a reliable guide to a difficult book.
July 25, 2021
An excellent commentary on the book of Daniel from a dispensational viewpoint. It is very thorough and deals with other viewpoints as well. As a lay person, reading it in combination with listening to the sermon series in the local church, I found that it was a bit too thorough and I skipped sections every here and there, but the Biblical Theology and Application sections I always read through. As it goes into great depth, I believe a scholar, seminary student and pastor would truly enjoy this commentary, and lay people will find much joy in reading it, but may want to choose a shorter commentary.
July 2, 2021
This is a very thorough, perhaps even exhaustive, commentary on the book of Daniel. The author is writing from a conservative, dispensational perspective, and, it seems, from a classic rather than progressive version of dispensationalism. Although this reviewer does not adhere to that hermeneutic for interpreting Scripture, the depth and breadth of effort found in this commentary compels me to recommend this book for anyone interested in study the book of Daniel. This will be required reading for anyone that is seeking to engage Daniel in-depth. Highly recommended.
October 14, 2023
Slightly disappointing book. There's heavy interaction with the original languages. However this volume's size comes from the large amount of material dedicated to arguing for traditional conservative positions like a 6th century date of authorship, a literal Darius the Mede, and a focus on Jesus in Daniel 9. Little attention to DSS or Enoch scholarship. Little attention to big themes of the book.
June 14, 2020
Best commentary on Daniel
January 14, 2026
6 stars!
This is an excellent commentary, and I'm only on chapter one! I'm going to discuss this commentary as I read along so the tl;dr version is: "Mr. Tanner manages to combine a technical, exegetical, and devotional commentary in a way that few commentators writing can do (compare Alec Motyer on Isaiah and Gordon Wenham on Leviticus)."
The introduction of this commentary is 122 pp, so you know Mr. Tanner is going to do a deep dive in matters of author, date, purpose, etc. In the case of the book of Daniel this is especially crucial because critical scholarship has been hammering away at the book, claiming it was written sometime in the 2nd century BC (mainly due to their presupposition that there can be no such thing as predictive prophecy). Mr. Tanner ably defends the traditional view that the book was written about the time of Daniel and most likely by Daniel himself (see all the first person passages). Indeed, in my view he more than ably defends it. He raises all the critical objections and answers them very well, then lays out the case for the traditional date.
Once he gets to the text, Mr. Tanner has a concern for matters of scholarship, incisive commentary, devotional comments and application. He manages to pull this off very well. His concise comment on vv. 1-2 in which Nebuchadnezzar takes the vessels of the temple, along with Daniel and his friends is simply: "The abiding principle of this passage is that God can and does give his children into the hand of someone (or something) on account of rebellion against his authority."
He comments about vv.3-7: "The main point of vv. 3-7 is to show how Daniel and his friends were uniquely chosen and put through a regimen of training that would prepare them for governmental service within the Babylonian Empire. Their training, however, was meant to strip them of their national and religious affections, and to conform them to the pagan worldview of the Babylonians. In essence they were being reprogrammed to think and act like the world."
His application is equally as good: "Satan's plan to mold us according to the 'world's value system.' 1. Elitist attitude; 2. Humanistic aspirations; 3. An ungodly lifestyle."
Well, I finished the commentary and didn't quite get around to commenting it as I read along, but here are my conclusions:
1. This is an excellent commentary, but realize that it is a technical commentary (albeit with some excellent application), if you don't know or care about some technical matters and the Hebrew and Greek text of Daniel, then you'll be wading through a lot of it to get to the actual commentary. For most people I would recommend Daniel Ralph Davis' commentary over this one because it isn't as technical. On the other hand, I thank God for people like Mr. Tanner who do the really painstaking work of technical reading and commentary and are faithful to God and the text. This is why it should get six stars).
2. "As amazing as it is that a prophet living in the sixth century BC could have written in such precise detail of historical events as recorded in 11.2-35, this is not only true but a testimony to the wisdom and greatness of God to whom Daniel bowed the knee." - This is a good example of Mr. Tanner's faithfulness to God and to the text.
3. Here is an example of Mr. Tanner's application: "There is a principle here we would do well to remember: when discouragements come our way, we can let such things defeat us, or we can let them goad us on to a kneeling at the throne of grace where we bow before the Living God who is mighty to act and who has the power to turn things around."
Here is another great example: "Evil still flourishes, and new agents of evil have risen up to terrorize the earth and especially those who would seek to follow Yahweh. Yet we would do well to remember that they have limited time in which to act, whether it be more or less than "2300 mornings and evenings."
This is an excellent commentary, and I'm only on chapter one! I'm going to discuss this commentary as I read along so the tl;dr version is: "Mr. Tanner manages to combine a technical, exegetical, and devotional commentary in a way that few commentators writing can do (compare Alec Motyer on Isaiah and Gordon Wenham on Leviticus)."
The introduction of this commentary is 122 pp, so you know Mr. Tanner is going to do a deep dive in matters of author, date, purpose, etc. In the case of the book of Daniel this is especially crucial because critical scholarship has been hammering away at the book, claiming it was written sometime in the 2nd century BC (mainly due to their presupposition that there can be no such thing as predictive prophecy). Mr. Tanner ably defends the traditional view that the book was written about the time of Daniel and most likely by Daniel himself (see all the first person passages). Indeed, in my view he more than ably defends it. He raises all the critical objections and answers them very well, then lays out the case for the traditional date.
Once he gets to the text, Mr. Tanner has a concern for matters of scholarship, incisive commentary, devotional comments and application. He manages to pull this off very well. His concise comment on vv. 1-2 in which Nebuchadnezzar takes the vessels of the temple, along with Daniel and his friends is simply: "The abiding principle of this passage is that God can and does give his children into the hand of someone (or something) on account of rebellion against his authority."
He comments about vv.3-7: "The main point of vv. 3-7 is to show how Daniel and his friends were uniquely chosen and put through a regimen of training that would prepare them for governmental service within the Babylonian Empire. Their training, however, was meant to strip them of their national and religious affections, and to conform them to the pagan worldview of the Babylonians. In essence they were being reprogrammed to think and act like the world."
His application is equally as good: "Satan's plan to mold us according to the 'world's value system.' 1. Elitist attitude; 2. Humanistic aspirations; 3. An ungodly lifestyle."
Well, I finished the commentary and didn't quite get around to commenting it as I read along, but here are my conclusions:
1. This is an excellent commentary, but realize that it is a technical commentary (albeit with some excellent application), if you don't know or care about some technical matters and the Hebrew and Greek text of Daniel, then you'll be wading through a lot of it to get to the actual commentary. For most people I would recommend Daniel Ralph Davis' commentary over this one because it isn't as technical. On the other hand, I thank God for people like Mr. Tanner who do the really painstaking work of technical reading and commentary and are faithful to God and the text. This is why it should get six stars).
2. "As amazing as it is that a prophet living in the sixth century BC could have written in such precise detail of historical events as recorded in 11.2-35, this is not only true but a testimony to the wisdom and greatness of God to whom Daniel bowed the knee." - This is a good example of Mr. Tanner's faithfulness to God and to the text.
3. Here is an example of Mr. Tanner's application: "There is a principle here we would do well to remember: when discouragements come our way, we can let such things defeat us, or we can let them goad us on to a kneeling at the throne of grace where we bow before the Living God who is mighty to act and who has the power to turn things around."
Here is another great example: "Evil still flourishes, and new agents of evil have risen up to terrorize the earth and especially those who would seek to follow Yahweh. Yet we would do well to remember that they have limited time in which to act, whether it be more or less than "2300 mornings and evenings."
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews