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1 & 2 Timothy
Advice to apprentices
1 & 2 TIMOTHY
By William Barcley
Evangelical Press. 320 pages. £18.95
ISBN 0 85234 588 7
What is a ‘study commentary’? One that provokes further study? One that offers a method of study? One that evidences study on the part of the author? In the present case it is doubtful if the Timothy letters are made interesting enough for the reader to want more, or be clear what to do next.
The method is the ‘start with verse 1 and go on till the end’ with, indeed, little impression of structure or overall movement of thought. Only the last is true — abundantly so — for we are in well-read and very knowledgeable hands. The two letters are divided into sections; each section is handled on a verse by verse, often word by word, basis, and is followed by ‘Application’. This is the least satisfactory part of the commentary.
Occasionally it rises to the heights (as on 2 Timothy 2.14-26); in general it has a worthy dwelling on some salient point, with the odd anecdote thrown in; but essentially it gives the impression that application is something added to rather than intrinsic to the text. The publisher might be better advised to encourage authors to practise ‘applicatory exegesis’ — as Dr. Barcley is well qualified to do. On the matter of ‘women and teaching’ Barcley takes the standard prohibitory view, but without deep exploration of the key passages. In the same way the reader cannot but carry away the impression that we may speak of Timothy being ‘ordained’ as if present norms and ideas were current in apostolic days. But there is abundant positive benefit (as one would expect from a product of the Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson). Word-meanings are illuminated and, within individual sections, the thought is clarified. Readers may not get excited, but they will be informed.
Alec Motyer
© Evangelicals Now - April 2006
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