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WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY NEWS
WWU Scholars Contribute to
Bible Commentary
BRYAN AULICK
When Carl Cosaert,
Walla Walla University
(WWU) biblical studies professor,
was asked to participate
with a group of international
Adventist scholars authorized
to publish a new Adventist Bible
commentary, he expected to be
asked to cover Galatians, the
topic of his most recent book.
To his surprise, he was asked to
prepare commentary on First
and Second Timothy.
“First Timothy is a book full
of controversial issues,” says
Cosaert. “Not only does the
book address the role of women
and the issue of adornment, but
critical scholars do not believe
Paul actually wrote the letter,
claiming it is a later forgery. So,
no matter what a person says
about the book, someone is
bound to strongly disagree.”
Knowing it would be a
difficult project, Cosaert
agreed to its undertaking. One
of his biggest challenges was
interpreting Paul’s comments
about women in First Timothy,
chapter two. What really
helped was gaining a better
understanding of the historical
circumstances that prompted
Paul’s letter in the first place.
“I’m hopeful that my work
will become a helpful reference
for individuals trying to better
understand Paul’s comments
and apply them to life today,”
says Cosaert.
In addition to Cosaert, two
WWU School of Theology professor Carl Cosaert, along with two other WWU
scholars, are contributing to the new Adventist Bible commentary.
other WWU professors are
delving into the challenges of
creating this new commentary.
Pedrito Maynard-Reid,
missiology professor, and
John McVay, biblical studies
professor and WWU presidentelect,
are also contributors.
Having done much research
and his doctoral dissertation
on metaphors for the church in
Ephesians, McVay was a natural
choice for the commentary on
Ephesians.
McVay is also the New
Testament editor for a separate
commentary project, a onevolume
Bible commentary that
is to be a companion volume to
the Andrews Study Bible.
“I have long wished for a
one-volume Adventist Bible
commentary,” says McVay.
“This one will reflect on the
Bible from the standpoint of
those awaiting the return of
Jesus.” He is in the process
of editing initial writing
samples from commentary
contributors — a diverse and
global group of New Testament
scholars.
The Seventh-day Adventist
International Bible Commentary
will be published in five
languages (English, French,
Spanish, Portuguese and
Russian), with the first few
volumes available at the General
Conference Session in 2015.
Becky St. Clair, WWU graduate
28 GLEANER • December 2012