Proclaimer Blog
Bock on Luke
Our Cornhill students are currently doing some practice classes with evangelistic messages – not easy. This week they're using Luke's gospel and I've been doing some prep using Darrell Bock's excellent resources. Some authors are clearly specialists in one particular book, and Bock's is clearly Luke. Bock is professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and a great evangelical scholar. What I love about his work is that it is written at different levels which means that whatever your budget, you can access some of his work on Luke. This variety is good, because as you are about to see, a deep wallet is needed to own and read some of his work.
- Top of the pile is the two volume Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. These will set you back £72!! (If you have Logos and you buy them as ebooks you will pay even more – $120 which is equivalent to about £74). But these are cracking resources which will pay off in the long run. An alternative is to search around for second hand volumes – Amazon has some from £27 per volume. (BTW, Bock has also contributed the Acts volume in this series).
- More accessible and in one volume is the IVP New Testament Commentary. I find these of variable quality, but this one is good. It's yours for £12.99, newly out in paperback.
- Bock has also written the Zondervan NIV Application Commentary for Luke. Again, these are of variable quality, but Bock's volume on Luke is mostly very helpful indeed. RRP £17.99.
There's something for every preacher of Luke from his pen. All helpful. Here's what Carson has to say:
The Gospel of Luke is now well served by several major commentaries. Pride of place goes to the two volumes of Darrell Bock. it is recent, comprehensive, well written and intelligent. If you buy this one by Bock you do not need the other two commentaries on Luke that he has written….Bock's entry to the NIV Application series is one of the stronger volumes… (New Testament Commentary Survey Fifth Edition)
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