Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 86:1 (Spring 2024)
Article: Short Notices
Author: Anonymous

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Short Notices

Michael Allen, Ephesians. Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2020. Pp. xxii + 182. $28.00, paper.

Michael Allen’s contribution exhibits all the marks readers have come to expect from the Brazos Theological Commentary series. John Webster, who passed away in 2016, was originally slated for this commentary, and Allen honors him throughout by bringing Webster’s insights to bear. Allen, himself a Reformed systematic theologian, does a particularly balanced job of incorporating multiple layers—close exegesis of the text, interaction with critical issues, theological reflection, conversation with the history of interpretation, awareness of recent Pauline scholarship, and a pastoral eye to application. All this still comes in at under 200 pages of readable prose. Some readers may wish that Allen had engaged more contemporary exegetes on debated points, but he does an admirable job of cutting straight to the “meat” of the difficult issues and showing how the exegetical decisions inform various theological viewpoints. Though trading in some critical depth for theological breadth, this approach affords Allen the unique ability to aid pastors and other readers in coming to grips with the immediate implications of Paul’s letter for a full host of theological and practical concerns relevant to today’s churches and the broader culture. This commentary would prove a trusty resource for those engaged in the theological interpretation of Paul, pastors preaching through Ephesians, or Bible study leaders; its lack of technical jargon makes the commentary an excellent choice for a general introduction to the content of Ephesians.

B.A.F.

Richard J. Cassidy, A Roman Commentary on St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. New York: Herder & Herder, 2020. Pp. viii + 219. $38.99, cloth.

This is Cassidy’s latest contribution to the vein of reading the NT firmly against the backdrop of the Roman Empire. An introductory chapter (lengthy relative to the size of the commentary) surveys various features of the Roman Empire and its expressions in Philippi, including titles for the ruling class, the relationship between citizens and their rulers, and the dynamics of slavery. It also briefly covers some matters of critical introduction and suggests that the book contains a subversive Christ-drama that countered the emperor’s claims to divinity and the title of “savior.” Cassidy writes his subsequent commentary with constant reference to the Roman background he establishes in this introduction. Asking how Paul could be read against this background produces creative

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and sometimes unexpected insights. T...