Scot McKnight on the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture

Scot McKnight offers praise to both Baker Academic and the authors of a new commentary series written by and for Roman Catholics.  To date four have been published:

Ephesians by Peter S. Williamson
Second Corinthians by Thomas D. Stegman
First and Second Timothy, Titus by George T. Montague
The Gospel of Mark by Mary Healy

Here's some of what McKnight wrote:

"Baker Academic has done something that should lead all of us to a moment of thanksgiving: I could be wrong, but I think Baker is the first evangelical publishing house that has a commentary series on the Bible by and for Roman Catholics."

"There's something about this series that is notable: the authors explain the Bible in theologically orthodox ways and explain the text clearly, succinctly and without a lengthy apparatus of the history of interpretation or discussions of alternative views. Solid exegesis; discussion of the evidence as needed; not much bibliographical reference. Just expounds what the text says and moves on. In other words, this could be the first commentary read by a pastor preparing a text and could be read easily by a Sunday School teacher preparing a text, and it would be an excellent commentary for a college Bible class. Sometimes the passages end with reflection and application. A little more thorough than the Tyndale series, and a bit like Black's NT commenaries (sic), the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture will prove itself to be a reliable, Catholic -- but ecumenically open and respectful -- commentary. Kudos to Baker, but even more to the authors."

McKnight says he has "dipped into and enjoyed two of them" (The Gospel of Mark and Second Corinthians).

Here is an example of a side bar on the issue of "The Brothers and Sisters of Jesus":

"Who are the brothers and sisters of Jesus mentioned here and throughout the New Testament (John 2:12; Acts 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5; Gal. 1:19)?  Some commentators have contended that they refer to Jesus' full siblings.  But the ancient Church unanimously held that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life.  That Mark is not referring to full siblings of Jesus is indicated by his later mention of James and Joses as sons of a different Mary (Mark 6:3; 15:40; see Matt. 27:56).  Moreover, the brothers' authoritative behavior toward Jesus (Mark 3:31-32) suggests that they are older than he, although Jesus is Mary's firstborn (Luke 2:7).  Both Hebrew and Aramaic, lacking a word for 'cousin,' used 'brother' to refer to a range of kinship relationships (See Gen. 13:8; 2 Kings 10:13-14; Rom. 9:3).  The Greek term adelphos also admitted a wider meaning that full-sibling.  Catholics have traditionally interpreted Jesus' brothers to refer either to his cousins, as St. Jerome held, or to children of Joseph by an earlier marriage (see Catechism, 500)."  (The Gospel of Mark, p. 79)

The commentaries are based on the New American Bible and all have the Catholic imprimatur.  They are paperback and sell for $19.99.