There are lots of lengthy academic tomes about Gorbachev and his time as Soviet leader, just as there are a fair number of readable but lightweight biographies. It is very refreshing to find a book which manages to be comprehensive and intelligent, but also accessible and even a pleasure to read. Short and sweet!

As the final gospel commentary in this series (Sacra Pagina) this volume will serve as a very helpful commentary to many who are pursuing a study of the Marcan text. This series stands between the highly critical, scholarly commentaries which many find intimidating or excessive and those commentaries which leave many wanting more.
After nearly fifty pages of introductory material, the authors, in following the design of the series, provide commentary and exegesis for each successive pericope in the text. Their information will be helpful to preachers, teachers, students and anyone who wants to do a careful examination of the Marcan text.
I am currently using it as a primary resource for my class notes for an eleventh grade honors course in Scripture Studies and most of the material is accessible to my students.
The scholarship is solid and the bibliographies are very helpful for anyone who wants to pursue a particular topic to a further depth.

Dr. Daryl Schmidt's translation of the Gospel of Mark will be an eye-opener for a person of any background. This Scholar's Bible translation begins with an extensive introduction including conclusions by the Jesus Seminar about the identity of Mark's author and the cultural atmosphere of Mark's "war-time gospel." Then with the inclusion of the original Greek text on each facing page, and extensive foot notes at the bottom of each explaining variances from traditional translations of Mark, Schmidt allows us to see for ourselves how differences in translation may radically shape the conclusions we reach from this first extant record of the historical Jesus. Be warned; careful reading of this Gospel of Mark is likely to cause an intellectual inquiry into the nature of biblical revelation...and I have concluded that with Schmidt the reader is in good hands to conduct it. Schmidt writes as he teaches: lucidly, insightfully, and with evident passion for his field. This book merits taking some time to discover Mark all over again.

This book is an amazing accomplishment. Daring and yet solid in its scholarship, it is a readable account that will change both my scholarly approach to future topics and my personal christology. A wonderful achievement.

I really appreciate this series of socio-rhetorical commentaries. They are extremely helpful in understanding the cultural and sociological background, as well as the use of ancient rhetoric in the New Testament. The commentary is very unique and includes brief yet detailed studies at points throughout the exegesis. These brief sections are called A CLOSER LOOK in his Acts commentary, but they are not identified as such in this work. At any rate, these sections provide lots of information and discussion not found in most commentaries. Witherington closes each section with BRIDGING THE HORIZONS which provides a summary and practical application. Dr. Witherington's work on Mark's gospel is so good that I have to rank it along side the more detailed commentary of William Lane (NICNT). Using the two together will provide you with a clear and detailed understanding of Mark's gospel. We can only hope to be blessed with more volumes in this series.

This is the one that so many have been waiting for! Richard France has far exceeded expectations with this colossal work on the Greek text of Mark. France recognizes the importance of Redaction and Form Criticism, but chooses to focus on the exegesis of the canonical text. France argues for Markan priority (although in a somewhat revised form), but makes it clear that the development of the gospel traditions is too complex to be dogmatic. France thinks that the abrupt ending of Mark's gospel at 16:8 is not what Mark intended, but that vs.9-20 are surely an interpolation. France's commentary is somewhat unique in treating Mark's gospel as a "drama in three acts" **1)Jesus' public ministry in Galilee
**2)Jesus' journey with his disciples to Jerusalem
**3)Jesus' public ministry in Jerusalem which includes everything leading up to and involving his crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection.

You will need to know, to some degree, basic Greek in order to use this commentary. It is gratifying that we now have so many good commentaries on Mark's gospel. **1)France's great commentary
**2)Robert Gundry's excellent commentary **3)Ben Witherington's tremendous socio-rhetorical commentary **4)William Lane's classic commentary **5)James Edwards' practical commentary
**6)Joel Marcus' new detailed Anchor commentary.

This is a thoughtful introduction not only to the Gospel of St. Mark, but to New Testament scholarship in general. It brings the familiar gospel alive by analyzing the manner in which the orignal Greek has been rendered into modern English (RSV translation). In doing so it gives the reader a better sense of the original work in Greek. Likewise, Nineham provides context for better understanding the life and work of Jesus and the role that the gospel of Mark played in the history of early Christianity. As Mark was most likely a source for Luke and Matthew, this study also sheds light on those works as well.

It is among the best works on the New Testament that I have read. I think that it is a shame that it is out of print.

This work is an analysis of the nature of "meaning-talk," and takes a fresh approach to the topic. It draws on the work of Wilfrid Sellars and Robert Brandom, and articulates claims of meaning as normative rather than descriptive. Along the way, and perhaps most important, there is a discussion of the nature of normativity. Although this book requires a background in philosophy in order to understand, it has enormous implications for recent philosophical debate. Taking the Wittgensteinian idea that normativity arises within our practices, the authors develop a perspective that is not merely suggestive (as Wittgenstein often was) but thoroughly discussed and defended. By rights, this book, alongside Brandom's Making it Explicit, should set the parameters for philosophical discussion of language and normativity for years to come.

This book really shows off the beauty of the Grand Canal with all of it's palaces and other buildings. One really gets the feeling of what life was like back during the height of the Serenissima. The interior shots are stunning. And the information given for each building is fascinating. Even the non-descript houses and buildings get page time... A great book.

It's a shame that a book like this is barely available and a poor seller, while giant, impersonal textbooks filled with pages of problems sets continue to be the standard in the classroom. This book operates on the principle that graphing isn't just something you have to get through in order to pass algebra (after which you can safely forget it). Instead, it teaches graphing basics through entertaining, integrated problems. Each problem has several components, including background material, "bonus" portions, and teacher resources. Rather than doing pages and pages of discreet, one-step problems (unlike anything you'd encounter in the real world), students work through multi-step problems, wielding rulers and calculators. The bonus portions invite students to creatively elaborate on the humorous aspects of the problems. Students will feel like they're involved in a rewarding project rather than a dull, repetitive exercise. Highly recommended!