A Critical Bible commentary is a highly specialized work that focuses in detail on the text and its explication. Using the criteria from Stuart’s “Four Yardsticks”, we can make the following general observations. A critical commentary is almost always:
· Size: One-to-one (or Several-to-one)
· Detail: Detailed to In-depth
· Level: Technical
While research methodology varies, depending upon the interests and specialization of the commentator, critical commentaries generally address the following kinds of issues:
· Integrity of the text
o What is the original form of the text? Attempts to zero in on most authentic (ergo reliable) version of the text in original languages
· Textual and philological issues
o Issues in translation of words or concepts, subtle shades of meaning, determining the most likely authorial/redactional intent for disputed text
· Redactional issues (varies by methodology – most common in Historical/Critical works)
o Theological slant and intent of final editor of biblical book
· Literary and history of tradition issues (varies by methodology– most common in Historical/Critical works)
o Discussion of prehistory of books component parts
· Extensive discussion of background issues
o World behind the text: historical, socio-political, cultural factors of authors/redactors
o World of the text: historical, socio-political, cultural factors of recipients/characters
· History of exegesis (varies by methodology)
· Detailed treatment of text
o Verse by verse or passage by passage treatment
· Detailed analysis of disputed/controversial texts, with in-depth review of alternative scholarly interpretations
o Preferred interpretation supported by cogent argument
· Extensive scholarly bibliographies
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