Dead Sea Scrolls
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 53, No. 1 – Fall 2010
Managing Editor: Malcolm B. Yarnell III
By Ben Witherington III. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007. 382 pages. Paperback, $38.00.
It is typical for a scholar to write a commentary on his or her life’s study of a biblical book, such as James R. Edward’s commentary on Mark for the Pillar series. This person is an expert on that book, and the commentary reflects many insights from possibly decades of study and reflection. Some scholars effectively accomplish the herculean task of writing excellent commentaries on several books, such as F.F. Bruce, Gordon Fee, and others. Yet, how helpful can the writings be of a scholar who writes a commentary on almost every book of the New Testament? If the name is Ben Witherington III, who has written seven socio-rhetorical commentaries on the New Testament in the Eerdmans series, the answer is: quite valuable. In addition to this volume, this prolific scholar has authored commentaries in this series on Mark, Acts, Romans, 1–2 Corinthians, Galatians, and 1–2 Thessalonians. He wrote a socio-rhetorical commentary on Titus, 1–2 Timothy, and 1–3 John for IVP, and he has written commentaries on every New Testament book except for Luke.
Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky, Witherington has a penchant for pushing the scholarly discussion forward in a beneficial manner, especially in regard to ancient rhetoric. His research is judicial, fair, thorough, and thought provoking, and he gives a clear and balanced presentation. (Notice his kind handling of opposing views: e.g., 247, 274, 288, 298, 316–17, although this reviewer would like to have seen Witherington address more opposing views and contrast them with his than he did in this volume).
The vast majority of readers will be unfamiliar with the many Latin terms of Asiatic rhetoric, which Witherington argues Paul used in this trio of Captivity Epistles with an Asian destination (to churches in Asia Minor, called Turkey today; Philippians, the fourth Captivity Epistle, was written to Macedonia, called Greece today). Witherington usually gives a helpful description of each rhetorical term as well as an ancient example when he points out an example in one of these Pauline epistles (e.g., 137–38, 220, 229, 250). However, a short introductory chapter on Asiatic rhetoric would greatly benefit the reader. An appendix of key terms and definitions would also help. Since these helps are absent, consider reading Witherington’s 2009 New Testament Rhetoric.
Witherington’s strength in this commentary is his deft analysis of Asiatic rhetoric that gives a strong underpinning to the argument for Pauline authorship of all three epistles (2–3, 11–19, 25, 30, 239, 252, 355), each one an example of a different level of moral discourse (11, 282). Time after time he decimates the claims that pseudepigraphers wrote these New Testament books, showing they indeed fit Paul’s theology and style as well as the Asiatic style of rhetoric with which these Christian recipients were likely well familiar (223–24). Another asset, the annotated bibliography (37–51), is very helpful, including French and German works as well as pertinent articles.
True gems are abundant in the “Bridging the Horizons” application chapters that follow the exegetical commentary on each book. For instance, here is his answer to a complaining student who questioned the need to do sermon preparation instead of just letting the Holy Spirit use him: “Yes, you can do that, but it is a shame that you are not giving the Spirit more to work with” (210). He replied thus to a person wanting to attend a church who desired to continue living in sin: “[E]veryone is welcome to come as they are into the church, that is meant to be a hospital for sick sinners not a museum for saints. But equally no one is welcome to stay as they are” (211). One wishes these application chapters were longer—Witherington has much wisdom to share from his years in the pastorate.
Deficiencies in this commentary are few. Adding verse divisions in Witherington’s personal translations of the biblical text would make it easier for the reader to find a specific verse, especially in the long sections (152–53, 251–52, 315). Although the indices for authors, Scripture, and other ancient writings are beneficial (366–82), an index of terms is lacking. Of course, this reviewer has disagreements with some interpretations, such as falling from grace (274, 300–02, 308, 360, 364), but he greatly appreciates his emphasis on free will involved in salvation (234). This is an excellent volume that offers much to Bible students, teachers, pastors, and scholars.
