David E. Garland

The Christian's Posture Toward Marriage and Celibacy: 1 Corinthians 7

In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul is reacting to specific difficulties and aberrant views concerning marriage that have evolved in Corinth. He is not attempting to offer a complete, systematic guide to marital ethics. The interpreter is at a disadvantage, however, in discovering what the specific difficulties and views were. We can listen in on only one side of the conversation and can only guess from Pauls responses what it was that prompted them. But this must be done in order to understand aright Pauls intentions and to translate them to inform our present experiences.

Book Review: Hidden Wisdom and the Easy Yoke: Wisdom, Torah and Discipleship in Matthew 11:25-30Hidden Wisdom and the Easy Yoke: Wisdom, Torah and Discipleship in Matthew 11:25-30, by CeliaDeutschSheffield: JSOT Press, 1987. 204 pp.

following W. D. Davies, posits that Paul did not think of conversion, but only of a special call and divine commissioning. Pauls relationship with Christ and his commitment to Judaism are the presuppositional issues that dominate Dunns commentary. The result is a thought-provoking and provocative commentary that points beyond the Reformed tradition. Dunns work, while outstanding and insightful at many places, like most of the volumes in the Word commentary, still falls short of the brilliance of C. E. B.Cranfields ICC volumes. There is much to learn from Dunn, but the final word on Romans has not yet been said. Dunn has raised new issues and, therefore, new work remains to be done. With that, we look forward to Robert Sloans volume in the NAC.

13.50. ISBN 85075-057-2.

If people read this who never read the Bible otherwise, then the work was perhaps worthwhile, but I would be reluctant to recommend it. For example, can one understand the great significance of the collection for Paul or realize the deep division in the early church without knowing that he requested the Roman Christians to pray that the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem might accept the collection (Rom. 15:30-33 is omitted)? Is the function of 1 Corinthians 9 clear in Pauls argument when all of chapter 8 is omitted? Surely not!

Book Review: Last Supper and Lord's SupperLast Supper and Lord's Supper, by Howard MarshallI.. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1981.191 pp.

Norman Perrin is a member of the faculty of the University of Chicago. His introductions to the various books are good. Outlines are excellent. Interpretative comment, however, while insightful, is scanty in some places, especially with the more difficult passages where help is most needed, and leading passages where it would be most appreciated (there is no comment at all on 1 Corinthians 13, for example). With unquestioned scholarship, the author uses the work of leading authorities in the field, including both liberal and conservative, while making his own assessments. This reviewer strongly disagrees with the author in his arrangement of material. Historical background, New Testament times, canon, text of the New Testament, and a discussion of New Testament translations, are all in seventy pages of appendices, with the opinion that these matters should be treated only incidentally as the student comes to them or feels himself in need of such knowledge. Also, his treating the books largely in the order in which they were written, thus placing Paul and his letters before the gospels,