Commentary on Ephesians: Robert Rollock (1555–1599)

by Robert Rollock

Rollock's commentary on Ephesians earned him the praise not only of Theodore Beza but of the wider world of Reformed communities. This commentary was his first link to Geneva and thereby the broader international Reformed literature. Beza's praise is well 'I pray you, taken it to be spoken without flattery or partiality, that I never read or met with anything in this kind of interpretation more pithily, more elegantly, and so judiciously so as I could not contain myself, but must needs give thanks, as I ought, unto God, for this so necessary and so profitable a work.'

Genres: Theology

277 pages, Hardcover

Published March 15, 2021

Reviews

[Adam Nesmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 16th century commentary is excellent both in its exegesis and its many, many practical applications and implications. I used it for my personal bible study and it was a great balance of explaining the text but then showing how that text should impact your life. It wasn't too technical, although some sections could get dense. In every section there is a concern for truth and accuracy but also a great love for God and a desire that the reader should be conformed more to Christ. Additionally, as an example of a historic Presbyterian commentary on scripture, it shows how Reformed theologians engage with and interpret a text and how they apply it piously to their readers.

It is a true gem which I recommend highly to Pastors for its great pastoral applications, historians for its example of post-Reformation exegesis and pastoring, and to any Christian who wants to work through the book of Ephesians to both understand the book but also to be convicted and challenged by the book

(As a bonus it contains a couple pages in the back of the commentary where Rollock wrestles with God's approval, disapproval, and eternal decrees. This is easily the densist and most intellectual part of teh book, but it shows an example of Rollock's great analytical gifts.)

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got an inexpensive eBook version of this commentary in the recent RHB sale. We definitely need someone to translate more of Robert Rollock's commentaries out of Latin and into English. As you would expect from this Scottish divine, it is a mixture of good exegesis and solid doctrine. Rollock argues for a view of Christ's mediatorial kingship over all creation that was at odds with later Covenanters such as George Gillespie and Alexander Henderson but in line with scripture. Despite his respect for King James VI/I, Rollock takes a Presbyterian view of "bishops" and of church government in general.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite commentary on Ephesians.