The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sunday's Texts, The First Readings:: The Old Testament and Acts

by Roger E. Van Harn (Editor)

Preaching pastors, ministers, and priests know how quickly Sundays come and go.  The Lectionary Commentary  will not slow the pace of the weekly calendar, but it will help assure that sermon preparation begins with a solid engagement with Scripture. Designed to "jump start" the difficult task of sermon preparation, this indispensable three-volume work gathers exegetical essays on biblical texts from the Revised Common Lectionary. Covering every Sunday of the three-year liturgical cycle, as well as Christmas Day, Epiphany, and Ascension Day, the readings are arranged in canonical order so as to be of use to all preachers.

Seventy-eight pastors, priests, and teachers from a variety of Christian traditions have contributed their insights to  The Lectionary Commentary . Designed to answer the question  What does the preacher need to know about this text in order to preach a faithful sermon from it? , each of their essays closely considers its specific biblical text, all the while remaining alert to the contemporary context in which the sermon will be spoken and heard. The result is an invaluable resource that will aid in the difficult task of facilitating a meaningful encounter between Holy Scripture and our modern world.

This volume,  The First Old Testament and Acts , provides exegetical commentary on the lectionary readings from Genesis to Malachi, and from the first seventeen chapters of Acts. Also unique to this volume is an excellent essay by Hughes Oliphant Old on preaching as worship.

Consulting

Richard A. Burridge
Thomas W. Gillespie
Colin E. Gunton
Robert W. Jenson
James F. Kay
Hughes Oliphant Old
Fleming Rutledge
Marguerite Shuster

643 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2001