I’m frequently asked what resources are available for the Revised English Bible, especially if it’s available electronically (sadly, as far as I know, it is only available as an optional module for the Mac-only Accordance Bible software program; none of the Windows software titles appear to support it).
However, thanks to Andrew Dunning, my attention was brought to a commentary series from Epworth Press that bears the REB icon on the covers and uses the translation as its base text. The bulk of titles appear to have published in the decade or so after the REB’s release in 1989.
This series of biblical commentaries is the first to be based on the Revised English Bible, and incorporates the most recent research into both Old and New Testament books. Written by experienced scholars for the use of ministers, preachers, teachers, students and church leaders, they relate the texts in their ancient settings to the needs of Christians in a multi-racial and multi-faith society. [Methodist Publishing House]
This series appears to be a revision or an update to an Epworth Preacher’s Commentaries series published in the 1950s and ’60s. I’m hoping someone can shed some light on this set and/or the authors listed below:
Clare Amos [Genesis]- Charles R. Biggs [Ezekiel]
- R. E. Clements [Deuteronomy]
- Richard Coggins [Exodus]
- Adrian H. W. Curtis [Psalms]
- Margaret Davies [Timothy I/II/ Titus]
- James D. G. Dunn [Acts]
- Paul Ellingworth [Hebrews]
- Kenneth Grayston [Romans, John]
- David G. Horrell [Letters by Peter, Jude]
- Mark Howcroft and Kenneth G. Howcroft [Mark]
- Ivor H. Jones [Thessalonians I/II, Apocrypha, Matthew]
- Larry Kreitzer [Ephesians]
- Judith Lieu [Luke]
- William Loader [Letters by John]
- Howard Marshall [Philippians]
- Henry McKeating [Jeremiah]
- Harry Mowvley [Amos, Hosea]
- Jack Partain and Richard Deutsch [Isaiah 1-39]
- Roy Rayes [Colossians]
- Cyril S. Rodd [Job]
- Christopher Rowland [Revelation]
- Michael E. W. Thompson [Isaiah 40-66]
- Michael J. Townsend [James]
- Nigel Watson [II Corinthians]
- John Ziesler [Galatians]
Evidently some titles might have also been published in the United States by Trinity Press International under the “Narrative Bible Commentaries” label.
2 Comments
I remember running across a few reviews of them in the Expository Times. The reviews I’ve read generally have been quite positive, though I haven’t purchased any of the books themselves. The articles are subscription-only, so I’ll send you the PDFs.
Thanks for sending those, Andrew. I agree, the reviews seem generally positive, though the commentary format is inconsistent from one edition to the next and several noted that the authors did not agree with the REB text.