This will be a joint review, as both are part of a series, and each review would be quite similar.
The first thing that sticks out to me is the layout of the books - it follows the lectionary (revised common lectionary, found here), and goes through each season and Sunday including the relationships of all the lectionary texts for that day (Epistles, Old Testament). There are 4 questions that frame the readings and interpretations of these texts:
1) What is the nature of God? Violent or non-violent?
2) What is the nature of Jesus's message? Inclusive or exclusive?
3) What is faith? Literal belief, or trust in God's realm of distributive justice- compassion?
4) What is deliverance? Salvation from hell or liberation from injustice?
There are so many lenses through which I can read these commentaries and answer these questions that I think it merits a positive review on my part. Any book that can immediately capture me with its thesis and has me thinking (especially this close to graduation) deserves at least that.
I especially enjoy the commentary on the Magnificat provided in Luke - any good commentary brings points together that you hadn't considered before and this commentary does just that, AND pulls in other scholar/author opinions, research, and perspectives. Sea Raven does a good job of pulling resources together to expand understanding, and that is something I enjoy.
Sea Raven's conversational and relaxed style makes this commentary wonderful to read, as seen by the chapter in Matthew called "Baptism-Schmaptism," but should not be judged by that because the insights are amazing. This is a book I could hand to a congregation member and they could easily understand the conversation taking place without the "headiness" of theology pouring through their brain confusing them.
All in all - I got the Year of Luke as an e-book format, and it will definitely be purchased and put on my shelf - that's high praise from me. I enjoy solid voices and different perspectives and this will join my collection.
You can buy the books here.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
The first thing that sticks out to me is the layout of the books - it follows the lectionary (revised common lectionary, found here), and goes through each season and Sunday including the relationships of all the lectionary texts for that day (Epistles, Old Testament). There are 4 questions that frame the readings and interpretations of these texts:
1) What is the nature of God? Violent or non-violent?
2) What is the nature of Jesus's message? Inclusive or exclusive?
3) What is faith? Literal belief, or trust in God's realm of distributive justice- compassion?
4) What is deliverance? Salvation from hell or liberation from injustice?
There are so many lenses through which I can read these commentaries and answer these questions that I think it merits a positive review on my part. Any book that can immediately capture me with its thesis and has me thinking (especially this close to graduation) deserves at least that.
I especially enjoy the commentary on the Magnificat provided in Luke - any good commentary brings points together that you hadn't considered before and this commentary does just that, AND pulls in other scholar/author opinions, research, and perspectives. Sea Raven does a good job of pulling resources together to expand understanding, and that is something I enjoy.
Sea Raven's conversational and relaxed style makes this commentary wonderful to read, as seen by the chapter in Matthew called "Baptism-Schmaptism," but should not be judged by that because the insights are amazing. This is a book I could hand to a congregation member and they could easily understand the conversation taking place without the "headiness" of theology pouring through their brain confusing them.
All in all - I got the Year of Luke as an e-book format, and it will definitely be purchased and put on my shelf - that's high praise from me. I enjoy solid voices and different perspectives and this will join my collection.
You can buy the books here.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
