Through Old Testament Eyes

Review: Galatians and Ephesians Through Old Testament Eyes

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Cover image of "Galatians and Ephesians" by Gary M. Burge

Galatians and Ephesians Through Old Testament Eyes, Gary M. Burge. Kregel Academic (ISBN: 9780825445187) 2025.

Summary: A commentary drawing out the Old Testament allusions and references Paul makes.

Galatians and Ephesians sit side by side in our Bibles. But they are so different. Galatians begins harshly. Ephesians glows with a marvelous prayer and thanksgiving. Galatians is unanimously attributed to Paul. The authorship of Ephesians is disputed. But we treasure them both.

Gary M. Burge sees these books as written by an author or authors (he opts for Paul as author for both) steeped in the Jewish scriptures and in his commentary on these two books notes the references and illusions that inform the writing. This is one of the distinctive features of the Through Old Testament Eyes series. In addition to the running commentary, “Through Old Testament Eyes” insertions explain references and allusions in the text. There are also periodic insertions on “What the Structure Means” and “Going Deeper.” The latter unpacks implications of the text for present day readers.

Befitting this series, I will focus on some of the Old Testament material discussed in the commentary for each book. In Galatians, the discussions of circumcision, meals, Gentiles and separation, and the material on Abraham and his seed. What is most striking is that Burge sees the promises made to Abraham as applying to all who, by faith are children of Abraham. And the land promise? It is no longer limited to a strip of land on the eastern Mediterranean but extends to the whole world. In Going Deeper discussions, Burge elaborates the significance of this for present day Israel

Turning to Ephesians, Burge first elaborates the Old Testament concept of “blessing,” so much a part of the opening prayer. Several articles elaborate Ephesians 2:11-22, discussing relations of Jews and Gentiles, and the dividing wall of the temple (and Christ’s new temple. In Ephesians 4:20-21, he contrasts Old Testament codes and learning Christ. Then, he sets the household codes not only in their Gentile context but also in terms of Old Testament teaching on marriage and slavery.

In addition, the “Going Deeper: sections move from commentary to challenging implications. He challenges racism and sexism in the church on the basis of Galatians 3:28. Instead of allegiance to an earthly Jerusalem, he calls for allegiance to Christian Israelis and Palestinians and our expectation of the New Jerusalem. His words on our use of words and anger from Ephesians 4:29-32 are much needed as is his calling out of marital abuse and the misuse of Ephesians 5:21-33.

In addition, Burge offers helpful background and timeline material based on and including a well-argued southern Galatia hypothesis. He offers helpful structural observations of Paul’s argument in both books and background on letter-writing conventions, so important given Paul’s breech of those conventions in Galatians. In conclusion, this is a valuable commentary for devotional study, teaching, and preaching.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.

Reviews of other commentaries in this series:

Matthew: https://bobonbooks.com/2024/06/11/review-matthew-through-old-testament-eyes/

Mark: https://bobonbooks.com/2017/12/04/review-mark-through-old-testament-eyes/

John: https://bobonbooks.com/2023/12/18/review-john-through-old-testament-eyes/

Revelation: https://bobonbooks.com/2022/11/28/review-revelation-through-old-testament-eyes/

Review: Matthew Through Old Testament Eyes

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Cover image of "Matthew Through Old Testament Eyes" by David B Capes

Matthew Through Old Testament Eyes, David B. Capes. Kregel Academic (ISBN: 9780825444784), 2024.

Summary: A commentary on the Gospel of Matthew showing both obvious and subtle references to the Old Testament of how the life and ministry of Jesus fulfilled the plan of God articulated in these passages.

The Gospel of Matthew would seem the ideal book to look at “through Old Testament eyes.” Matthew wrote for a primarily Jewish audience and cites numerous OT passages and alludes to others. This commentary draws all that out, including a very helpful chart on the twelve fulfillment quotations (yes, the number is significant) (pp. 136-137). Through inline verse by verse commentary, sections on the structure, passage overviews “through Old Testament Eyes” and “Going Deeper” discussions on particular passages, David Capes helps the reader of Matthew understand how Jesus, in his life and ministry, fulfilled the redemptive purposes of God, glimpsed by the writers of the former Testament.

In my review, I want to highlight some of the fresh insights I gained from this study:

  • Capes notes the chiastic structure of the genealogy that highlights Jesus as Messiah, son of David and Son of Abraham.
  • He ties Herod into the bad shepherds of Micah.
  • He notes the connection of the servant song (Isaiah 42) to the Father’s “with him I am well pleased” at the baptism of Jesus.
  • The beatitude form is one found throughout the Old Testament.
  • The idea of the Two Ways restates themes found in Deuteronomy and elsewhere.
  • The three clusters of three miracles in Mt. 8-9 each end with teaching on some aspect of discipleship
  • The promise of rest in Matthew 11:28-30 sounds much like that in Jeremiah 6:16.
  • Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is intentional, even premeditated, and not accidental.
  • Capes sees parallels between King Ahasuerus and his oaths to Esther and Herod’s oath to his daughter at the banquet. A fascinating comparison!
  • Only Matthew uses the term “church” in the “on this rock” promise to Peter.
  • The elevation of children as models of discipleship is highlighted.
  • Jesus arrival in Jerusalem on a donkey harks to Zechariah 9:9 and signifies the kind of king he is.
  • Jesus is clear about his identity as the cornerstone, his rejection, and its consequences.
  • Capes offers a helpful outline of the apocalyptic discourse of Matthew 24-25.
  • It was not blasphemy for Jesus to claim he was Messiah, but rather to sit at God’s right hand and come on the clouds.
  • Psalm 22 underlies the account of the torture, humiliation, and crucifixion, and Jesus cry of dereliction.
  • Jesus Great Commission recapitulates his whole ministry–he exemplified what he commands.

This is only a selection. Capes helps us see the large structure of the five sermons and the bookends of Matthew as well as smaller details, such as parable or miracle groupings and their significance. Most of all, he helps us recognize in the story of Jesus the realization of the story of God’s history with Israel. Capes also helps us see how this gospel is a manual of discipleship, both for the first followers of Jesus and those of us coming along centuries later.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.

Review: John Through Old Testament Eyes

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John Through Old Testament Eyes, Karen H. Jobes, series editor Andrew T. LePeau. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2023.

Summary: A commentary focused on the Old Testament backgrounds of “history, images, metaphors, and symbols” found in John’s gospel, along with applicatory reflections.

This is the third commentary published in this series from Kregel and I have found them uniformly to be of exceptional quality. Each book in the series provides a running commentary on the New Testament texts providing relevant Old Testament background and specific O.T. references. Three types of insets are also offered: “Through Old Testament Eyes” offering chapter or section overviews noting Old Testament themes and motifs; “What the Structure Means” which notes the structure of passages and how the authors convey meaning through the passage structure; and “Going Deeper” which explores both implications of the text for early readers but also contemporary applications. One overall observation: using a lighter shade of grayscale for these insets would enhance readability.

Jobes breaks John into four parts: Prologue (1:1-18), Book of Signs (1:19-12:50). Book of Glory (13-20), and Epilogue (21). She affirms the purpose of the gospel stated in John 20:30-31 and shows how this gospel reveals him as the long awaited Messiah and the Son of God Incarnate. She provides a helpful discussion of authorship and the relation of John to :the beloved disciple.

Jobes highlights the echoes of the creation account, the theme of light, and the backgrounds of the rejection of Jesus in the Prologue. She offers helpful background on John’s use of “signs” and the seven signs that make up the Book of Signs. In John 3, Jobes proposes on the basis of OT backgrounds that “water and Spirit” together refer to God’s restoration of right relation as a single concept, not two separate things, Her treatment of Jesus sheliach or “sent one” emphasizes his plenipotentiary power of speaking for God.

Throughout she shows the importance of the Feasts as signifiers of his ministry, particularly the Passover, which he would fulfill on the cross. She shows how the extended debates of John 5-10 laid the groundwork for his execution. In John 9 she develops the theme of Jesus as both the light by which men see and the division between those receiving light and life versus spiritual blindness and death. John 10 reveals Jesus as the good shepherd king of Messianic expectation. She helps us see how the resuscitation of Lazarus and the anointing of Jesus are a pivot into the passion narrative of John.

Her coverage of the upper room discourses focus on the call of the disciples to love, serve, and abide, and what the hope of a “place prepared for them” means. I appreciated the very helpful material on the gift of the Spirit as well as the concise explanation of the filioque controversy as it relates to these verses. Finally, she shows Jesus consciousness of how he would reveal God’s glory in the cross and how the disciples would glorify him as they believe and obey. Her Going Deeper on The Resurrection as New Creation is a must read! Finally, in the Epilogue she deals with both the restoration of Peter and speculates on possible tensions between Peter and John reflected in Peter’s “what about him?”

I hope this sampling of insights demonstrates the usefulness of this commentary for both personal study and for teaching and preaching. Jobes offers both granular detail in the running commentary and larger perspective on how particular sections fit into the overall book and its themes. I’m delighted to add John to the volumes on Mark (review) and Revelation (review) already in my library!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.

Review: Revelation Through Old Testament Eyes

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Revelation Through Old Testament Eyes (A Background and Application Commentary) Tremper Longman III, series editor Andrew T. LePeau. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2022.

Summary: A running commentary of the book of Revelation that focuses on the Old Testament background running through the book, along with material that goes deeper on the Old Testament material relating to different themes and the structure of the book as well as its contemporary application.

There is a school of thought that tries to read the book of Revelation and relate it to the events of the present day, a trend I’ve observed for fifty years, requiring many revisions in interpretation. This commentary, part of the “Through Old Testament Eyes” series, looks back, providing a running commentary of the Old Testament texts to which many of images and metaphors allude or draw upon. There is probably no New Testament book where this kind of commentary is more necessary, and Tremper Longman III admirably fills this need.

First of all, Longman offers a running, verse-by-verse commentary, offering Old Testament background on references in the text. The commentary is scholarly but not technical, accessible for a lay reader. Just one example, from “Look, he is coming with the clouds” (Revelation 1:7). Longman recalls the ancient Near East background of cloud riding deities, particularly storm clouds, which he believes in view here (cf. Psalm 18:9; 104:3). He cites the prophesy of Isaiah against Egypt in Isaiah 19:1-2 of God coming against them on a swift cloud, and similarly toward Nineveh in Nahum 1:3. He then focuses attention on the vision recorded in Daniel 7:13, where we have God both as Ancient of Days and coming “like a son of man” on the clouds.

These commentaries also incorporate sections called “Through Old Testament Eyes,” stepping back from the text. Following the above commentary, Longman offers an extended discussion of Daniel, as the other instance of extended apocalyptic writing in scripture. He observes that parallels in both where present evil will be overcome with God’s final victory. Where Revelation differs is that it reflects the already and not yet experience of the church having witnessed the resurrection of the son of God yet awaiting his final victory.

There are a number of “What the Structure Means” articles throughout the text as well. One of the most helpful was his discussion on the Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls, noting Bauckham’s observation that “the seventh-seal opening includes the seven trumpets and the seventh trumpet includes the seven bowls.” He argues that they are not sequential, but spiraling cycles moving toward the end. He notes the interludes and the significance of the seventh in each series–silence followed by earthquakes and lightning after the seventh seal, a vision of the heavenly temple and the ark along with more lightning, thunder, and earthquakes, and after the seventh bowl all of these with a severe earthquake.

Finally the commentary offers “Going Deeper” sections connection the commentary to application. For example, on “Perseverance of the Church: Revelation 11” focuses on the faithful testimony of the two witnesses who represent the church. They are killed by the beast from the Abyss but raised by God to heaven. Later, the pregnant woman, also representing the church is pursued by Satan but twice escapes harm. Finally, in Revelation 19, we have the vision of the wedding supper of the Lamb after the fall of Babylon (Rome). Longman notes how the churches to which John wrote faced persecution, and these words have encouraged the church whenever she has faced oppression, marginalization, and adversity.

One comes away from studying this commentary aware afresh of the seamless garment that is scripture. The Old Testament illumines so much of Revelation, furnishing the stock of metaphors John draws upon in relating his visions, while uniquely expanding upon them. Rather than getting caught up in prophecy chart, Longman invites us to get caught up in the Lamb who was worthy, the victory of God, the defeat of evil, and the enduring hope this offers the people of God of John’s day and throughout the ages down to our own.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.