(Part 1)

JBTM Book Reviews
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“right” view. He contends that “the loss of false confidence can be the occasion for new
discovery and, when shared with others, new opportunity for mutual understanding” (390).
Readers would do well to read critically though, as Elliot also reprimands clergy members who
fail to denounce Pauline passages that do not promote egalitarianism. Barbara R. Rossing’s
insightful essay on Revelation also bears mention. She recommends reading the difficult text
through the lens of its original audience, the marginalized. At the same time, she advocates
a “hermeneutic of hope” that is appropriate for both the original audience and for modern
readers.
A congenial tone pervades the book as contributors present conclusions judiciously and
use questions frequently to encourage thought and introspection. For example, in relation to
Mark 7, Raquel S. Lettsome asks, “What are the pollutants that we fear in our contemporary
practice of the faith?” (194), and in relation to Acts 1 Demetrius K. Williams queries, “Should
an ancient narrative be a contemporary imperative?” (331). Regardless of how one answers
such questions, the volume reminds readers that the Bible is still living and active, relevant
and effectual.
To conclude, this resource is an excellent contribution to New Testament scholarship
when evaluated with a critical mindset. Readers are exposed to a multiplicity of perspectives
on the biblical text, both past and present. Moreover, the three-tiered format familiarizes
readers with the interpretive strategies of the early church, patristic scholars, and modern
exegetes. As contributors encourage readers to engage with the texts both lay persons and
clergy will find much to contemplate in Fortress Commentary on the Bible: The New Testament.
- Andrea L. Robinson, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, Louisiana
Fortress Commentary on the Bible: The Old Testament and Apocrypha. Edited by Gale A.
Yee, Hugh R. Page Jr., and Matthew J. M. Coomber. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2015. 1050
pages. Hardcover, $49.00.
The Fortress Commentary on the Bible is a two-volume compendium that “seeks to invite
study and conversation about an ancient text that is both complex and compelling” (1). The
editors share in a desire to help students understand the rich contexts from which the Bible
arose. Therefore, the commentary is intended as a resource to enable general readers to
engage in contemporary discussions about the legacy of the Bible and grapple with possible
meanings “as active interpreters in their own right” (1). The current review will evaluate the
first volume, which treats the Old Testament and Apocrypha.
The structure of the commentary is an outgrowth of its purpose. Following a brief
introduction, the first chapter provides information on the ancient and modern context of
the Bible, as well as an overview of interpretive methodologies. The following two chapters,