W. Robertson Nicoll (1851–1923)

Even immortal literature can get old.

That is the only defect that can be charged to this Bible commentary set. It includes a Greek text, texual footnotes, and an extensive discussion of the meaning of the Greek. The result, at the time it was written, was simply brilliant. But time has overtaken it.

This is true in several regards. The Greek text adopted is the venerable Textus Receptus, which goes all the way back (with slight modifications) to Erasmus in 1516, and it frankly isn't any good. show more With the sole exception of the New King James Version, no modern editions follow this text any more.

The textual footnotes try to address this, often mentioning the texts of Tischendorf and Westcott and Hort, as well as the manuscript support for each. But even these are now more than a century old, and have been largely displaced in general use by the United Bible Societies text. At minimum, one would wish that the text used had been Westcott and Hort.

And the marginal notes describing the textual variations are also out of date, because they use Tischendorf sigla, and these have now been universally replaced by Gregory symbols. So to actually use the apparatus requires a conversion key.

Plus the commentary on the Greek text is based on what was known of Greek before the papyri revealed the existence of koine Greek. Thus the commentary sometimes goes astray in its interpretation.

Do not misunderstand me. This is an excellent reference work which still deserves its place on any Bible scholar's shelf. Almost all of what it says is correct; it is merely not complete. A modern student needs to supplement it with many resources -- the texts of Nestle-Aland 27, United Bible Societies 4, and perhaps Merk if one truly wishes to examine textual problems; the vocabularies of Moulton-Milligan and Bauer-et-al; a modern commentary or two; a newer concordance; and probably some computer software. With those as supplements and sources of corrections, this series of books will probably be able to serve you well for another century or two. show less

Like Loeb for the Bible (but commentary instead of the translated text). Technical and brilliant.

First Peter, Second Peter, John, Jude, Revelation

This special number is dedicated to Edward Bulwer. Lord Lytton. with editorials by Lewis Melville, Flora Masson and the letters and memorials of Jane Welsh Carlyle; along with regular: Novel Notes, The Bookman's Table, New Books of the Month, and a souvenir card mounted photographic insert of Edward Bulwer. Lord Lytton, ready to frame.