Mellen Biblical Commentary (Intertextual) the Gospel of Matthew, Vol 1
| Author: | Buchanan, George | |
| Year: | 1996 | |
| Pages: | 582 | |
| ISBN: | 0-7734-2373-7 978-0-7734-2373-2 | |
| Price: | $319.95 + shipping | |
| (Click the PayPal button to buy) | ||
The first is the preparation of a set of Bible Commentaries, for all books of the Bible. Each author will show all of the texts used by that particular book. For example, whoever writes a commentary on Second Isaiah would put the text of Second Isaiah in one column and in a parallel column show the sources used in bold face type. The corresponding words from Second Isaiah would take into account the midrashic relationship between the texts as none of the current translations or commentaries does. When these relationships are made visible, new insights will become evident and new hypotheses will be formed.
After the textual work of the commentaries is done, it will be an easy project to prepare a new Hebrew text of the First Testament that looks like the Nestle-Aland New Testament text, with earlier texts in bold face type and documentation in the margins. It is already clear that every book of the Bible contains arguments and sermons based on earlier texts, showing that from the very beginning of our literature there has been a close relationship between the sacred text and the worshiping community. Although these commentaries will demonstrate new scholarly insights, they are also designed to be read and understood by clergy leaders who prepare sermons every week, continuing the time-honored tradition of relating the ancient text to the current church and synagogue.
After the textual work of the commentaries is done, it will be an easy project to prepare a new Hebrew text of the First Testament that looks like the Nestle-Aland New Testament text, with earlier texts in bold face type and documentation in the margins. It is already clear that every book of the Bible contains arguments and sermons based on earlier texts, showing that from the very beginning of our literature there has been a close relationship between the sacred text and the worshiping community. Although these commentaries will demonstrate new scholarly insights, they are also designed to be read and understood by clergy leaders who prepare sermons every week, continuing the time-honored tradition of relating the ancient text to the current church and synagogue.
Reviews
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARLY ENDORSEMENT:
"In the sense that 'Scripture is its own interpreter' and 'Interpret Scripture by Scripture' have been watchwords of biblical study from the beginning, intertextuality is not new. It is new as a developed, independent method or technique of interpretation, and a commentary basin on the development of this method is likely to make an important contribution to the understanding of the Bible. It is welcomed." - Dr. C. K., Barrett, Prof. Emeritus of New Testament, Durham University
"Intertextual interpretation may help to reveal the organic unity of the Bible, the living tradition of the Word of God, the relevance of certain texts of praise, and confession of faith in God's promise. The way these texts were transmitted and re-interpreted, their form, whether oral or written, their agents, setting in life, etc, may be discovered [through intertextual study]." - Dr. Otto Betz, Prof. Emeritus Of New Testament, Yübingen University
"No exegesis is complete that does not identify and explain the presence and function of older traditions in newer text; yet this is an area that is often neglected in modern commentaries. I am pleased the Mellen Intertextual Bible Commentary has been launched. Scholars and non-professionals alike may anticipate interesting and important results that should advance biblical interpretation in significant ways." - Dr. Craig A. Evans, Prof. of Biblical Studies, Trinity Western University, and Director, Graduate Program in Biblical Studies, Dead Sea scrolls Institute, and Editor-in-Chief, Bulletin for Biblical Research
"The Bible is rich in intertextual allusions, and it is good to know that this treasure of theology and interpretation will be taken up by a team of scholars. This work should evoke much productive dialogue and learning." - Prof. Michael Fishbane, Nathan Cummings Professor of Jewish Studies, The University of Chicago
"I am sure Professor Buchanan's commentary project will turn out to constitute an important concrete step forward in the direction of an insightful genetic text analysis and historical exegesis within our discipline, and that every volume, done with a combination of sensitivity and discrimination, will become a valuable asset for all NY scholars." - Dr. Birger Gerhardsson, T.D., D.D, Prof. Emeritus of Exegetical Theology, University of Lund "Time was when monographs were devoted to studying explicitly quotations of one part of Scripture in another part. Then such studies began to include allusions to other parts of Scripture. Now we have in prospect the natural outgrowth of this development: a whole series devoted to the Bibles own interpretations of itself. Given the recent spadework, readers can look forward to a rich harvest of interpretive insights." - Dr. R. H. Gundry, Prof. of New Testament, Westmont College "The idea of interpreting a biblical document through the lens of its use and interpretation of the earlier, revered traditions of a community not only makes excellent sense in itself but also provides a rich understanding of the theological heart of the document in question. The new commentary series will undoubtedly illuminate our biblical texts in new and exciting ways. I am therefore happy to endorse this project with the greatest enthusiasm and highest expectations." - Dr. Donald A. Hagner, George Eldon Ladd Professor of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary "As an exegetical strategy it [intertextuality] has been successfully applied to western literature, but also to near eastern literature, from the cuneiform texts of ancient Mesopotamia to the rabbinic Midrashim of the post-Biblical tradition. It holds particular promise for biblical exegesis, and in the hands of George Wesley Buchanan has already begun to redeem that promise. By aspiring to the total familiarity with every verse and idiom of the Hebrew text which was the hallmark of rabbinic exegesis, he has succeeded in uncovering relationships among disparate Biblical passages to the ultimate elucidation of all of them. The same approach should yield equally fruitful results in the hands of his collaborators." - Dr. William W. Hallo, The William M. Laffan Professor Assyriology and Babylonian Literature, Yale University
"In the course of the study of intertextuality in the entire Bible, the writers are sure to contribute many fresh insights into the respective texts, both the earlier and the later. But they should also help greatly with illuminating the phenomenon of intertextuality as such. . . . Surely, many important and fresh discoveries await us as the series proceeds. - Dr. Walter Harrelson, Prof. Emeritus of Old Testament, Vanderbilt University "I welcome this splendid initiative. The Intertextual Bible Commentaries will undoubtedly be distinctive. They will enable a wide range of readers to see clearly the ways Biblical traditions have been re-used and re-interpreted by later generations. By exploring the richness of the Biblical traditions from this angle, modern readers will be encouraged to appropriate their message for our own generation. An excellent team of scholars is being assembled. I look forward keenly to the fruit of their labours." - Dr. Graham N. Stanton, Professor of New Testament Studies, King's College, University of London "I think that this important interpretive principle has been greatly obscured in the modern translations with their use of the translation procedure called 'dynamic equivalence.' I consider that a a tool whereby a reader is alerted to the inter-relatedness of texts will fill a real need. This projected commentary would be an effective means to demonstrate the extent and significance of intertextuality." - Dr. Emeritus Bastiaan Van Elderen, Prof. Emeritus of New Testament, Faculty of Theology, Vrije Universiteit
"I am sure Professor Buchanan's commentary project will turn out to constitute an important concrete step forward in the direction of an insightful genetic text analysis and historical exegesis within our discipline, and that every volume, done with a combination of sensitivity and discrimination, will become a valuable asset for all NY scholars." - Dr. Birger Gerhardsson, T.D., D.D, Prof. Emeritus of Exegetical Theology, University of Lund "Time was when monographs were devoted to studying explicitly quotations of one part of Scripture in another part. Then such studies began to include allusions to other parts of Scripture. Now we have in prospect the natural outgrowth of this development: a whole series devoted to the Bibles own interpretations of itself. Given the recent spadework, readers can look forward to a rich harvest of interpretive insights." - Dr. R. H. Gundry, Prof. of New Testament, Westmont College "The idea of interpreting a biblical document through the lens of its use and interpretation of the earlier, revered traditions of a community not only makes excellent sense in itself but also provides a rich understanding of the theological heart of the document in question. The new commentary series will undoubtedly illuminate our biblical texts in new and exciting ways. I am therefore happy to endorse this project with the greatest enthusiasm and highest expectations." - Dr. Donald A. Hagner, George Eldon Ladd Professor of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary "As an exegetical strategy it [intertextuality] has been successfully applied to western literature, but also to near eastern literature, from the cuneiform texts of ancient Mesopotamia to the rabbinic Midrashim of the post-Biblical tradition. It holds particular promise for biblical exegesis, and in the hands of George Wesley Buchanan has already begun to redeem that promise. By aspiring to the total familiarity with every verse and idiom of the Hebrew text which was the hallmark of rabbinic exegesis, he has succeeded in uncovering relationships among disparate Biblical passages to the ultimate elucidation of all of them. The same approach should yield equally fruitful results in the hands of his collaborators." - Dr. William W. Hallo, The William M. Laffan Professor Assyriology and Babylonian Literature, Yale University
"In the course of the study of intertextuality in the entire Bible, the writers are sure to contribute many fresh insights into the respective texts, both the earlier and the later. But they should also help greatly with illuminating the phenomenon of intertextuality as such. . . . Surely, many important and fresh discoveries await us as the series proceeds. - Dr. Walter Harrelson, Prof. Emeritus of Old Testament, Vanderbilt University "I welcome this splendid initiative. The Intertextual Bible Commentaries will undoubtedly be distinctive. They will enable a wide range of readers to see clearly the ways Biblical traditions have been re-used and re-interpreted by later generations. By exploring the richness of the Biblical traditions from this angle, modern readers will be encouraged to appropriate their message for our own generation. An excellent team of scholars is being assembled. I look forward keenly to the fruit of their labours." - Dr. Graham N. Stanton, Professor of New Testament Studies, King's College, University of London "I think that this important interpretive principle has been greatly obscured in the modern translations with their use of the translation procedure called 'dynamic equivalence.' I consider that a a tool whereby a reader is alerted to the inter-relatedness of texts will fill a real need. This projected commentary would be an effective means to demonstrate the extent and significance of intertextuality." - Dr. Emeritus Bastiaan Van Elderen, Prof. Emeritus of New Testament, Faculty of Theology, Vrije Universiteit
Table of Contents
Both the introduction and the prophecy are saturated with allusions to Hebrew Scripture which was applied typologically to the situation at the time the documents were composed.