THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE
(Pillar NT Commentary)
By James R Edwards
APOLLOS / IVP. 859 pages. £44.99
ISBN 978 1 783 592 685
This work on Luke’s Gospel is by James R. Edwards, who is the author of an earlier commentary on Mark’s Gospel in the same series. Like his commentary on Mark, this new book is a fine addition to the excellent Pillar collection.
As expected from a modern commentary, he deals with many technical and scholarly issues. Almost 100 pages of indices and more than 2,800 footnotes testify to the scholarship that underpins this volume. Alongside this weight of scholarship the author proves himself to be a judicious guide on the issues he discusses.
However, the chief virtue of this commentary is its sheer readability. Whilst Edwards does not dodge the technical questions, neither do these dominate the book. Rather, this is a very accessible piece of writing that will be profitable for anyone wanting to gain a greater understanding of Luke.
Edwards’s commentary is further enhanced by the fact that he keeps Jesus central to the gospel. In other words, we are not having our attention continually drawn to matters concerning Luke’s style but rather to his portrayal of Jesus. The result is that our understanding of Luke’s portrait of Jesus is enhanced and we are given fresh perspectives to explore.
Hebrew Gospel?
One of the interesting features of Edwards’s work is his suggestion that Luke, known for having ‘carefully investigated everything from the beginning’, was heavily reliant upon a ‘Hebrew Gospel.’ This Gospel, that was known to the early church and held in high regard (although not regarded as canonical) is now lost, apart from quotations preserved by early Christian writers. Edwards’s suggests that this is ‘the chief source of material in the Gospel that is not dependant on Mark’. This points to another feature of commentary – that Edwards not only draws upon recent scholarship, but also deals with interpretations of Luke from the early church. This is an interesting and refreshing touch in an era where biblical scholarship can be obsessed with the latest views.
This commentary will be a great asset for anyone who is serious about wanting to get to grips with Luke’s gospel and his portrait of our Lord’s life and ministry.
