Haunting Questions of Liberation Theology
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Dave Says ‘Don’t Worry’
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Lived Mission in 21st Century Britain
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The People’s Celebration of the Eucharist
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The Hodder Bible Commentary: Matthew
The Hodder Bible Commentary: Matthew
Author Ben Cooper
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton £22.99
Format hbk
ISBN 9781473695030
Another hefty commentary in this recently published series. Ben Cooper has previously written on the Discipleship of Matthew and Key Biblical Texts. Unlike nearly all other commentaries, this one provides a comprehensive and very accessible analysis of the Gospel and within a useful chronological framework; this is supported by clear titles, subtitles and references. I found some helpful new insights and approaches into Matthew’s interpretation but no obvious major omissions or conflicts with other commentaries. The primary use of this book will be for undergraduate or Masters students in theology and/or in preparation of a thesis of the comparative discipleship of the Gospel writers. It would probably find a space in my library as a reference book as and when I wanted to interrogate this Gospel in more detail, or in preparation for a Lent or Advent course. It is a ‘good read’. The elephant in the room is just how many of these Bible commentaries should one buy?
Reviewed by RICHARD APPLETON
New Testament commentary
A Joyful Noise
A Joyful Noise
Author Charles Moseley
Publisher DLT £16.99
Format hbk
ISBN 9781915412157
This is a quite light-hearted book, which describes in brief chapters the lives of 24 hymn writers whose works are to be found in The New English Hymnal and Hymns Ancient and Modern. The author’s aim is to provide a little historical context to the words we sing, and, occasionally, the tunes used. The chapters are of varying length and detail, of course, and cover from St Ambrose (339–397) to Sydney Carter (1915–2004). There are some parts which surprised me. For example, the Church of England only authorised hymns in 1821; new works had to claim to be settings of Psalms before then, although of course the Methodists developed a strong musical tradition which is well represented here. It is also remarkable how many of today’s hymns started out as poems (for example, by George Herbert). If you have ever wondered about the back story of some of the names credited as authors in our hymn books, this is a good place to start. There is surely scope for a second volume.
Reviewed by DAVID HEADING
Hymnody
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