The Narnia 3 Book Review Blog

D. A. Carson. New Testament Commentary Survey (fifth edition). Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 2001. 142 pp. $9.95 (paper).

Solomon declared that of the “writing of many books is endless” (Ecc 12:12) and in the genre of biblical commentaries, endless is perhaps too meek a term. An unscientific survey by this reviewer of the catalogues which come into his office showed that there are several dozen commentary series’ in process, several more are in the planning stages, and several long finished series have been or are being revised. The individual or stand-alone commentary titles currently in print number in the thousands. With all of these works available from every possible theological, denominational and methodological angle it is a daunting task to even make an effort to keep up with the literature, much less make informed recommendations.

Several bibliographies specializing in biblical commentaries are available. The one bibliographic series that has attempted to maintain a level of currency is the 5th edition of New Testament Commentary Survey. Continuing the work in the first two editions by Anthony C Thiselton, D. A. Carson, the long-time professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, has now produced three editions of this eminently useful commentary survey of New Testament commentaries. The author has stated as his purpose to provide theological students and ministers with a handy survey of the resources, especially commentaries, that are available in English to facilitate an understanding of the NT” (p. 8).

The work is divided into four sections (1) Introductory Notes; (2) Supplements to Commentaries; (3) Individual Commentaries; and (4) Best Buys. There is also an author index and a listing of abbreviations of commentary set titles. In the introductory section the author briefly details the purpose of commentaries and the relative strength and weaknesses of various types. He ably discusses the oft-asked question by students whether or not to buy a particular set of commentaries or individual works. He covers both current and older sets dividing them up by multiple author and single author. In the section he briefly lists works of New Testament introduction and New Testament theology. The author’s “Best Buy” section is a listing of two or three individual commentaries on each book of the New Testament

The bulk of this work centers on the listing of individual commentaries on each New Testament book. Instead of a simple listing of each work with comments, the author has developed a running narrative approach which is refreshing and much more readable than the traditional bibliographic method. He lists title, publisher name and the list price (per the information which he had available). The strength of this work is the brief comments on each title. Carson readily admits that he is rightly accused of being “trenchant” in his comments. “I have tried to be careful, but in a survey this condensed I prefer to be a shade too trenchant than too bland” (p. 9). The comments are interesting, provocative and occasionally acerbic. He has taken the same tact as Charles Spurgeon did in his Commenting and Commentaries (London: Passmore and Alabaster, 1876) as far as the comments are concerned and he upholds that tradition well.

The author does not take a middle road and makes his views quite evident. He has little use, bordering on distain, for dispensationalism and commentaries of that position. He also has little use for “popular” commentaries. Works that are simply edited sermon series often come in for rather critical comments; which will certainly upset some readers whose favorites fall into that category. Occasionally there are ad hominem comments and his references to “poorly trained preachers,” “the mythical well-read layman,” and “unsophisticated Sunday School teacher” seem unnecessarily peevish.

That aside this work is highly recommended for both its informative value and the unique accomplishment for a bibliography, it is interesting and entertaining to read.