Approachable and illuminating
|
This is another in the series of "Guides for Everyone" where Tom Wright attempts to update William Barclay's Daily Bible reading commentaries.
It is a volume small enough to fit into a coat pocket, divided into entries with a short passage of scripture (Wright's own, occasionally idiosyncratic, translation) followed by a couple of pages of reflections on the passage. Typically, these will include both an anecdote from the author's experience or an observation from life today as well as exposition about the context of the times, or description of relevant passages from the rest of the scriptures.
Wright's writing has been aptly described as "smooth as chocolate" and these reflections are immensely readable. They could be good for private bible reading though we have used them successfully in a parish reading group: people of all levels of Christian knowledge (people exploring the Bible for the first time, as well as those who've been reading the scriptures for eight decades) found it worthwhile.
There are occasionally passages where Wright is simply brilliant - illuminating even when the text is murky or complex e.g on aspects of the apocalyptic parts of Matthew - and at other places, he's inspirational. Equally, in my view, there are times when his interpretation is plainly wrong: but then, he's an evangelical and I'm not, so that's to be expected. And who wants to agree with what they read all the time?
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada