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The Hodder Bible Commentary: Matthew

Aug 29, 2025 | 2025 – Autumn – Free, Book Reviews

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

 

Phoebe

Nov 22, 2020 | 2018 - Winter, Book Reviews, Free Winter 2018

Phoebe

Author Paula Gooder
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton  £14.99
Format hbk
ISBN 9781473669727

This is a clever book which delights on two levels. It is first a fictional narrative, based on the imagined but plausible life story of Phoebe, the deaconess named in Romans 16.1 as the emissary who delivered Paul’s great letter to the city of Rome. Gooder, well-known for the excellence of her scholarly biblical studies, reveals herself as an accomplished writer of fiction, producing a charming and entirely believable tale of first century Rome. She brings many names from the New Testament Church into plausible roles. But if the story is good, the commentary is better, and one suspects this is Gooder’s prime purpose. The second half of the book is essentially a companion volume of facts and analysis, providing a thorough grounding in the character of the early Church and the culture of the Roman Empire. It guides us through Paul’s theology, the background to his travels and imprisonments, and shows how Paul’s writings reflected the turbulent society of the first century. I strongly recommend this book, which will both entertain and inform.

ALICE BURDETT

New Testament Commentary, Fiction

 

 

Mark Through Old Testament Eyes

Nov 22, 2020 | 2018 - Autumn, Book Reviews, Free Autumn 2018

Mark Through Old Testament Eyes

Author Andrew T Le Peau
Publisher Kregel  £21.95
Format pbk
ISBN 9780825444111

This is the first of a new series of New Testament commentaries emphasizing the dependence of the New Testament upon the Old. Le Peau has thoroughly found all the important citations of significant NT words, so that there are 25 citations for ‘follow’, for example. The reward for this diligence is a host of ideas for interpretation of this Gospel – material that will be new to many Readers – while taking the opportunity to comment briefly on the OT writings he selects, old ground though that may be for most of us. The book is particularly strong on the chapters from Mark 11 onwards, clarifying many of Christ’s difficult sayings. The writer includes some essays on general topics within Mark. These read like sermon extracts and will appeal most to those who appreciate American Evangelicals. This will make a useful supplement to the standard commentaries we already have, such as writings by Nineham, Wright and Williams.

PETER THORNTON

New Testament Commentary

 

 

Acts – A Commentary (The New Testament Library)

Nov 22, 2020 | 2017 - Summer, Book Reviews, Free Summer 2017

Acts – A Commentary (The New
Testament Library)

Author Carl A. Holladay
Publisher WJK Books £60
Format hbk
ISBN 9780664262815

This is an extensive commentary, over 600 pages long, but quite readable despite its length. It is, however, one that is intended for the theological student rather than the general Christian reader. It considers that the author of Acts, whom Holladay does not consider to be a former companion of Paul, had access to some historical documents of the early church as well as traditions concerning Paul and others. Holladay treats Acts as a historical novel with the text shaped more by the Septuagint, by literary tradition, and by the author’s evangelistic intent than as a historical record. As a result, one ends up with a history of the early church where it is unclear as to what might actually have happened. This is an academic commentary concentrating on literary style over devotional content.

TIM WHITTLE

New Testament Commentary

 

 

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