Richard T. France (1938–2012)

This is an excellent commentary, one of the best, in fact, I've ever seen, and definitely THE best on the Gospel of Mark (out of the eighteen or twenty that I'm regularly dipping into). It is a commentary on the Greek text, and the Greek is not transliterated or translated, but it is still amazingly readable, lucid, and engaging. France's introduction to the Gospel of Mark is the best intro I've read, and alone worth the price of the book. He views Mark's gospel as a narrative - a drama in show more three acts; yet he resists imposing superficial structures on the book. He writes with a desire to hear Mark's text afresh, and tends to focus in his comments on the unfolding theological narrative itself. Yet he is obviously well-read and conversant with both the primary ancient documents themselves and the relevant literature on Mark (commentaries, monographs, essays in journals, etc.) and engages them frequently when helpful. His theology is generally conservative, with a high Christology. He is cautious with overly novel interpretations. He articulates a partial-preterist position on Mark 13. France would probably be a bit too technical for the purposes of a lay-person, but preachers can hardly afford to be without him. I would recommend reading him along side the commentaries by James Edwards (Pillar), William Lane (NICNT), and David Garland (NIVAC). Excellent! show less

show more 耶穌究竟是誰？十九世紀自由派神學家發明了熱情的耶穌，祂提倡和平、和睦以及社會公義；近代的人道主義者則發明了一個捨己為人的至高楷模；我們當中也有許多人從小聽到的是一個面色清瞿的耶穌，祂是孩童的朋友，從不生氣，更不會做任何使人類分歧不和的事。但，耶穌絕不只是如此！
作者法蘭士博士以深厚的歷史學背景、超卓的文學造詣，鉅細靡遺地將耶穌－－這自始以來最引人爭議的一位－－呈現在讀者面前。任何人讀了本書之後，必定無法再對耶穌抱著不冷不熱的態度。 show less

I found the book to be thought provoking at 3 levels.

First, the challenge to see that many passages my complentarian position are not without unanswered or difficult to answer exegetical issues. I need to remember that my position is the best I can discern, but God is the final answer

second, that many differences are hidden at the hermeneutical or application level, yet are not clearly stated by either side.

third, that many who disagree do so with honest intentions and a desire to please show more God. I must be careful not to label others negatively because they are seeing things differently.

My one critique then is that Dr. France begins not as an objective scholar but as one already holding a position. I believe that this is reflected in his willingness to point out exegetical and hermeneutical weaknesses in the opposing view, but the failure to examine and apply the same principles to his own view. While seeking to defend the trajectory hermeneutics he accepts, he fails to address the substantial exegetical weaknesses in the interpretation of the passages that support the trajectory. In reading in passages where women are praised or mentioned, he fails to address the rather thin basis for claiming the substantial roles played by women in any way violated the 1 Timothy 2 injunction. In fact there is a significant lack of any information at all in the passages themselves which can be used to describe authority as it would have been understood then (without using anachronistic reasoning based on modern definitions of leadership). This provides as shaky or more shaky foundation for claiming a trajectory as he argues belongs to those who see a complementarian position.

His tone is appealing and friendly, not polemical. This book is worth the read. show less

This masterful commentary on Matthew by R.T. France focuses on exegesis of Matthew's text as it stands rather than on the prehistory of the material or details of Synoptic comparison. The exegesis of each section is part of a planned literary whole supplemented, rather than controlled, by verse-by-verse commentary, allowing the text as a complete story to come into focus.