TLDR Impression: “Extraordinary. Wise. Patient.”
Subtitled “A Study Bible of Biblical Allusions & Quotations”, this new New Testament is quite intriguing. Editors Beale and Gladd have assembled a team to color-code, write supporting articles, and craft study notes.
I have not dug into this new book in great detail yet, but am excited by what I have already seen.
- Articles designed to build biblical literacy skills. For example, encouragement is given for the overly-focused, urging a patient reading of the target text within its own context and a consideration pf connections from the source text to a larger target context.
- Exploration of more than direct references. In other words, allusions, parallels, and more are brought into play, or at least, into the sphere of active thought.
- A recognition that allusions can be submerged far below the surface of the text.
- Numerous helpful charts teaching us how to see connections between source and target text.
II expect this volume to generate a lot of attention. While there will undoubtedly be reviews and responses of varying intensity, this is a volume which merits consideration, at the very least. As it is only the New Testament, both the size of the volume and its price place it well within reach for many of us. I think the case could be made, for a premium, to publish this in a combined OT/NT combo. Not having the OT included in the binding does force you to lean on another volume, whether print or digital, to facilitate looking up the allusions, quotations, and parallels.
More will be said later, but for now, get your hands on the Connecting Scripture New Testament..