Good News Bible Commentary: Mark by L. W. Burtado (Pickering & Inglis, £3.95). Philippian by F. F. Bruce (Pickering & Inglis, £2.95). The Daily Study Bible: Chronicles by J. G. McConville (St Andrew's Press, £2.95). Twelve Prophets Vol. 1 by Peter Craigis (St Andrew's Press, £2.95).
THE EVER INCREASING enthusiasm for Bible studies has had the effect of producing a steady output of serious commentaries which are within the capacities, both intellectual and financial, of the average reader. Earlier this century anyone wishing to study St Mark in detail would have normally had to visit a library and fish out a large volume by Swete.
Now, for £3.95, he can buy a competent commentary by Professor L. W. Hurtado of Manitoba University; or similarly with the Epistle to Philippians, Professor F. F. Bruce of Manchester will suply the need for £2.95.
The Old Testament has another series for the same type of general reader — The Daily Study Bible. The two latest volumes to hand being one on the minor prophets Twelve Prophets Vol I by Peter Craigie, and another on Chronicles by J. G. McConville; both these are only £2.95. When these two series are complete the reader will have quite a pleasant shelf full of paperbacks to keep his studies continuously alive. A shortcoming is that should he wish to extend his studies, through each volume ends with a list "For Further Reading", these bibliographies seem, to lack breadth, confining themselves to a church pattern. No Catholic author seems to have crept into these lists.
Conrad Pepler OP