Related Subjects: Author Index
Book reviews for "Nelson,_Peter_N." sorted by average review score:
Marry Like a Man: The Essential Guide for Grooms
Published in Paperback by Plume (February, 1992)
Author: Peter N. Nelson
Amazon base price: $10.00
Used price: $2.30
Buy one from zShops for: $11.99
Average review score:

Manly ways to have a girly wedding.

The author has a Dave Barry writing-style which made this book a relaxing read while planning our wedding. However, he actually brought up relevant, but obscure, issues like checking out the site for potential construction on your wedding day, handling the parking situation, etc. Few wedding planners actually go over this sort of stuff except in retrospect, and it's nice to see it suggested.

However, these suggestions are presented as something the groom can do while control of the rest of his wedding day is being handled by the women. While the defeatist attitude is amusing in that it goes with the writing-style, it's rather shaking to see in an actual wedding planner.

I recommend this book highly: just be preapred for the overall theme.

The Orthodox Study Bible: New Testament and Psalms
Published in Hardcover by Thomas Nelson (April, 1993)
Authors: Peter E. Gillquist, Alan Wallerstedt, Joseph Allen, Calif.) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy (Santa Barbara, Thomas Nelson Publishers, and Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy
Amazon base price: $24.99
Used price: $29.00
Collectible price: $29.95
Average review score:

a good place to start, but not THE Orthodox guide to Bible
I applaud the efforts of those who contributed to the creation of this study. There are many helpful notes, introductions, and topical studies that elucidate themes central, or at least unique, to Eastern Orthodoxy. In particular I found helpful the notes in the Epistle to the Romans. At the same time, I was very disappointed to find that in many places the notes were quite dumbed-down. To make it worse, in the section of morning and evening prayers, which, by the way, are very handy, there is no mention of Mary!! This has lead me to conclude two things. Firstly, this production is intended to convinve Portestants that we Orthodox do indeed love the Scriptures and it is a tool to draw them into our fold (which isn't a bad thing!). Secondly, the claim that it is THE Orthodox Study Bible leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Perhaps I'm a nit-pick, but to neglect the Mother of God in the prayers is wrong when it's touted as THE OSB. Perhaps in its second printing it could be modified to say AN OSB.

Although there are many differences between the Orthodox and the Catholics which I in no way dismiss as superficial, I still find the Jerusalem Bible's notes helpful. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, my former home, has published through Concordia Publishing a helpful study Bible which an Orthodox could read with profit, although there will be obvious differences in parts (i.e., Romans and James). I recommend these titles since they are more scholarly than the OSB in most respects. Nonetheless, everything they say cannot be endorsed as Orthodox and, depending on the subject in question, caution must me used.

Very Helpful
Up until this century it was taboo to put commentary into a Bible for fear that folk would take the notes and interpretations as if they were part of the Bible itself. Well, they were right! However, now everyone and his brother puts footnotes and explanations in their texts of the Scriptures, so now the Orthodox do as well. This is not THE Orthodox Study Bible (as reviewer Matt asserts above - and, yes Matt, you are nit-picking!), nor does it pretend to be. The articles and notes are intended to help elucidate the Scriptures and provide some introductory articles on Orthodox topics, but this is not a full-blown Bible commentary, nor a course in New Testament theology. The complaints of the critics tend to be essentially that it isn't enough. Well, then they need to write a multi-volume commentary to suit their needs. However, for the average layperson who's lucky to crack open the Bible occasionally, this fits the bill just fine. Remember, there is no "official" Orthodox translation of the Bible except for the original Greek. Thus, the NKJV is one of the better texts and the footnotes are there to make occasional comments as to translation problems and errors. No, they don't cover all the issues, but as I said before, to do that you would need a multi-volume Orthodox commentary that takes up half your bookshelf. Hopefully, at some future date, such a work will be undertaken. For now, this is a modest and well-needed starting point. +Fr. William Christ

Outstanding Intro into Orthodox View, Good Commentary Notes
This book does a good job in providing commentary notes on Bibilcal passages with an Easern Orthodox viewpoint. The right amount of information is given. It assumes the reader has no or very little knowledge so as not to confuse potential readers, including new converts, curiosity seekers, or cradle Orthodox who have never really studied their faith.

It is filled with iconograpgy throughout and the end of the book has special sections in regards to Orthodox views, prayers, and doctrines. It is done in an easy fomat to spark one for further study and research.

This study Bible should be in any serious Bible students libarary regardless of religion. The views of the East have been often neglected by the West and the East has a rich tradition the West can learn and enjoy.

Gilbert N. Haugen: Norwegian-American Farm Politician (Iowa Biographical Series)
Published in Hardcover by State Historical Society Iowa (December, 1992)
Authors: Peter T. Harstad and Bonnie Lindemann
Amazon base price: $17.95
Used price: $8.50
Average review score:
No reviews found.
Leadership and Discipleship: A Study of Luke 22:24 30
Published in Hardcover by Society of Biblical Literature (1994)
Author: Peter K. Nelson
Amazon base price: $39.95
Average review score:
No reviews found.

Related Subjects: Author Index

Reviews are from readers at Amazon.com. To add a review, follow the Amazon buy link above.