This, the second volume of The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, is edited by Dr Gerald Bray, a patristic scholar well known on this side of the Atlantic, who now is professor of Anglican Studies at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama. The format is the standard one for the series. The text of the Epistle, in the RSV translation, is set out in short paragraphs each followed by an overview survey and by quotations from patristic commentary on the individual verses.
Dr Bray’s introduction provides both a comprehensive summary of the Epistle to the Romans itself and the theological issues it raises and an excellent survey of the patristic literature it inspired. His treatment of predestination will have resonance for students of theology of all periods. The selection of passages draws from the major figures of both Greek and Latin traditions to give readers as representative a selection of comment as possible. The range is extended to include more obscure writers to enable coverage of Syrian and Coptic sources.
In the main body of the commentary Dr Bray’s overviews provide a clear outline of patristic thinking on each passage. Indeed they, taken together with the introduction, provide in themselves a valuable text. The translations are either adapted from academic translations to suit the general reader or are the editor’s own. Sometimes bridging material has been added to make sense of what is being presented in the form of short extracts. All this has been carefully and sensitively done. References to scripture and the sources of the commentary are carefully annotated. Scholars will appreciate the appendix giving guidance to sources of patristic texts on CD‐ROM and there is a valuable subject index.
This volume will be a valuable resource for students of theology, biblical studies and patristics. Preachers faced with the daunting task of preaching on Romans will also find it useful. A high standard has been set for the future volumes in the series.
