You know, it all depends what you’re looking for. If you don’t like the excesses of historical criticism, DON"T buy the New Jerome Biblical Commentary.
NJBC is not, to me, an inspirational type commentary. It seems to be more of a technical and critical commentary.
The Pope’s new book, Jesus of Nazareth, is a theological study about Jesus, and it gives a really outstanding commentary about the prophecy and fulfillment about Jesus, to put things one way.
He’s working on Part II of this book this summer.
I’m almost finished with my second, more intensive, reading, with my RSV bible nearby.
There is so much in this book, it should give you a very, very comfortable feeling about the Bible, because he has so much to say about it.
What might be helpful here, is that he says that all scripture points to Jesus and is eagerly waiting for its own fulfillment in Him.
I’m picking up a lot, the second time around the book. He talks about the use of ‘bread’ in the Bible. From his own study and from works that he copiously cites, he tells you most, if not all, the important stuff about bread.
You know, Jesus said that if a grain of wheat falls in the ground and dies, then it produces abundant fruit. The Pope shows how this refers to the Incarnation of Jesus Himself. His incarnation in the flesh is like a grain of wheat that falls in the ground. And, this Incarnation is linked to the Cross and Resurrection, because the grain of wheat is resurrected, you can say, in the abundant fruit that it produces – just like Jesus. Bread is the ultimate fruit of the grain, and it is the best thing to be transformed into the Body of Christ who is our living bread.
See? this is just a feeble attempt for me to show you how Benedict is writing. He has an ax to grind with historical criticism, and you won’t miss that, with a careful reading. But, he is soaring with theology that you shouldn’t miss. Better that you dive into that book sooner rather than later. He SO gets to the point, that you won’t be disappointed. He is a master teacher, and he tells you everything you need to know, short of looking up some of the Bible verses that he doesn’t fully quote.
This book will change your life. I don’t think a commentary will do that. Benedict says we should get reacquainted with Jesus over and over in our lives. THAT is what this book is, in spades.
