Israel & The Nations packs an incredible level of detail into a well flowing and very readable history. I highly recommend it for the Bible student or teacher who is seeking to have a clear chronological context for the events in the Scriptures. The authors' accounts are concise and fact-laden. The account of Nebuchadnezzar's defeat of Pharaoh Necho, the subsequent deportations of Israelis to Babylon, and Zedekiah's revolt is better told than all other the other reference books in my bookcase combined (and I have a lot of books). This is the overview history that I wish I had twenty years ago.

This series combines some of the most exhaustive treatment of each book available with up-to-date scholarship and a generally evangelical point of view. Each volume is close to 1,000 pages, and the treatment is thorough. Most if not all commentaries were written or revised in the 90's or 2000's, and a knowledge of issues such as narrative theology, literary genre and rhetorical criticism are reflected in the text (unlike many other evangelical commentary series). If you are looking to invest in a more exhaustive series, this is the one to invest in .... ...

This is by far the most authorative and comprehensive commentary on the Greek text of Act I have ever seen. As we are told in his autobiography, Bruce completed the book for nearly two decades. Indeed this work represents F. F. Bruce's gift as a world-class scholar in recent memory. In some ways, he is the equivalent of America's Bruce Manning Metzger, only the better in regards to hermaneutics, if I may suggest. a Formosan

I have drunk deeply from Bruce's well since I was an undergraduate. I have every one of his books including his autobiography. In my opinion, this is his best work, embodying his classical scholarship, his exegetical insight, his mastery of the literature, and his pastoral heart. Readers familiar with his commentary in the New International Commentary will also welcome this work that is more directly based on the Greek text. Although this was one of his earlier efforts, this revised edition reflects his more mature thinking on many issues. Bruce never abandoned, however, his high view of the reliability of the Biblical text and the doctrine it communicates. We are indebted to Wipf and Stock for reprinting this out of print treasure. While Barrett's work is also a masterpiece of scholarship, it is hard to beat Bruce for "having it all."

I would recommend this book to anyone. It would be useful for the layperson who has question or the Sunday School teacher preparing a lesson or a pator or even a seminary student. Bruce takes many of the hardest sayings of Christ and gives a good interpertaion in just a few pages. If you want in depth coverage of a text then look somewhere else, but if you want a quick overview and solid answer this is the book to do it. If nothing else its a good reference book to have on your self, especially since its so affordable.

F.F. Bruce is very often quoted by some of my favourite authors; now I know why. I found this book to be most helpful to me in gaining a deeper understanding of many of the things that Jesus said......and as a result am able to apply them to my life in the appropriate way. There are 70 short chapters in this book!! A couple of examples: "Taking Up The Cross" and "Not Peace But A Sword". Excellent.

This is an informative commentary, done by one of the foremost evangelical scholars. Good for academic and non-academic use. However, the exegetical conclusions of work Bruce's work is hardly impressive. There are quite a few misinterpretations of some key passages passages of Hebrews, though many will not probably see it because of the veil that has been created in many evangelical circles. A more critical commentary is needed, but you probably will not find any. So, could there be any better?

FF Bruce does no injustice to the author of Hebrews. This commentary is very thorough and exhaustive. However, to fully understand this book one needs a firm grasp of both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Nevertheless, this book shows the superiority of Jesus Christ.

Bruce has carefully and thoroughly digested the scholarship of the Book to the Hebrews. The novice might find some portions difficult or even beyond them but any Bible College student will benefit from the text and footnotes. I am using this book as the textbook for a course I am teaching in Hebrews.

This is an 880 page volume published by Eerdmans, hence the binding is a cheap glue injection, the book lies open only in the middle section. The paper is a cheap non-ANSI certified stock. The page layout is neat and easy to read.

This is a valuable commentary in that it is a defense for the charismatic position (or interpretation) for this great epistle. Fee himself, declares that he is a person of the holiness persuasion (which declaration in the preface, is appreciated).

He does a fine job in arguing for his position and the meaning of the texts discussed. At times he really brings out some nice details. For example: on pages 562ff, he declares that the "body" discussed in chapter 11, is the group of believers at the supper, which is very valid. He presents this insight after he discloses other options.

Aternatively, he can miss valuable points: for example, at I Corinthians 7:37, he could have noted that this text concerns a man who PROVIDES for the care of his mature, and virgin, unmarried daughter, should she decide to remain single for the Lord (though many commentators miss this).

Probably Fee's greatest flaw in this work is his failure to first utilize a sound Greek text. His commentary is based upon a text which has a number of errors in it (the UBS and or Nestle/Aland Greek New Testaments). One example: on page 462 in note number 3, he copies the Nestle/Aland apparatus showing, among others, manuscript number 945; however 945 does NOT omit the passage here!! Fee was known years ago as a capable textual critic of the Greek New Testament. Unfortunately, he failed to examine his Greek text here, and thus numerous errors exist in this commentary. Odd behavior for a former textual critic! However, he does show all bibliographic references, and poses many challenges to non-charismatic interpretations. Recommended for Christians who desire to examine the charismatic view of I Corinthians. But not very useful for Christians who need a dependable commentary on the Greek text and its English translation of I Corinthians..

This is about as good a commentary on 1 Corinthians as you will find. That does not mean it is without flaws however. It only means that 1 Corinthians has not been as adequately explained yet as we would like.

If you are committed to the cessation of the gifts, seeing his interpretation in 1 Cor 12-14 is going to get you annoyed. However, I would say he is largely right. (And I am not a charismatic.)

The biggest issues for me in the commentary are the problematic ways he takes the passages rgarding the role of the women in the Church at Corinth. Most notorious is his conclusion, on textual critical grounds, that 1 Cor 14:34 does not belong in the text. This is despite the fact that evidence FOR the passage is overwhelming. Otherwise, this is a good commentary, but one with flaws.

After spending time in the new NIGTC commentary on 1 Corinthians by Anthony Thiselton, I must revise my brief review of this NICNT commentary by Fee. Before Thiselton's work, the NICNT by Fee was simply the best commentary available on 1 Corinthians. But the sweep of Thiselton's work is breathtaking and has really surpassed Fee's work. One must remember, however, that Thiselton has built on the great work of many others, including that of Gordon Fee. In fact, even though Thiselton's work is more detailed and up-to-date, I still prefer Fee's work simply because it is so lucid. Fee always challenges me to think contextually through the exegesis, rather than trying to cram verses into a catagorical framework.

Please do not be put off by those who try to pigeon-hole Fee's work as a "charismatic approach." Fee does not take charismatic presuppositions to the text. Chapters 12-14 do contain arguments against cessation of the sign gifts, but I assure you that you will find it nothing less than challenging and thought provoking. His exegesis throughout this commentary is profound and lucid. His arguments are careful and takes other scholarly work into account. Since Fee is a textual scholar of the highest order, his considerations of textual issues are far more thorough than most other work on this epistle. Fee ends each section with wonderful practical insights and application. However, I must mention that there are times when Fee goes off the deep end. The prime example is his insistence that 14:34-35 is a very early interpolation.

I definitely recommend you get the NIGTC commentary by Thiselton, but please do not neglect Fee. The NICNT on 1 Corinthians by Gordon Fee is a goldmine of lucid, well-reasoned and thorough exegesis of 1 Corinthians.

This reissue of Bruce's classic work does what the title says it will do: address the work of Christ in the past, present, and future. Although Bruce grounds his work in Scripture citing text after text, it is odd how scarce the word "love" appears. What more central work did Jesus do than to reveal the love of God? Although the book was apparently designed for helping laity study the Bible, this book has the feel of a courtroom rather than a dynamic, love relationship. It is useful for dotting "i"s and crossing "t"s but not so much for melting, healing, or inspiring hearts.

This book is an excellent look at the work of Christ. Bruce's strength is that he deals with the text and let's the text speak for itself.

F.F. Bruce offers the best of the spate of books on the topic of "how we got our Bible." Erudite but clear -- should please masters and journeymen alike.

Given the reputation of F.F.Bruce for scholarship in NT studies, I was surprised when this book arrived to find that it was more of a picture book than one of biblical content. While it is certainly more than just a picture book with captions, it did not have the academic content that I was anticipating. The material provided on the various places that Paul traveled and planted churches was of the highest quality...as one would expect from Bruce. However, it did not provide me with the depth of material for which I was searching.