Overall, I would conclude that
The author is to be
Prior has made a valiant try, but he
has not established his case. He has
overlooked too many factors on the
other side.
E. Glenn Hinson
1 Peter, by J. Ramsey Michaels. Waco:
Word, 1988. 337 pp. $24.95 ISBN 0-
8499-0248-7.
J. Ramsey Michaels has written a
very fine, if not outstanding, com-
mentary on 1 Peter. The work follows
the Word Commentary format, with
extensive exegesis on the Greek text,
followed by a more general pastoral
or theological explanation. Michaels'
approach is careful and conservative,
while interacting with a broad range
of viewpoints. Generally, he follows
the direction of the commentaries by
Kelly and Selwyn, and the more
focused monographs by W. J. Dalton
(l Peter 3:18-4:6) and David Balch (l
Peter 3:1-7).
Michaels argues for Petrine author-
ship, but most interestingly, following
the paths of Sir William Ramsey,
suggests a date in the mid-70's for the
time of writing. At this time in my
thinking, while finding this sugges-
tion intriguing, I remain unconvinced
of this dating. His arguments in favor
of Petrine authorship can be main-
tained apart from the post A.D. 70
date. With insights from Dalton, he
interprets 3:19-22 as Christ's post-
resurrection proclamation, while 4:6
points to the evangelization of those
who have died. With the work of
Michaels, the study of 1 Peter has
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been enhanced.
commended for this first rate contri-
bution.
David Dockery
Romans 1-8 and Romans 9-16, by James
D. G. Dunn. Dallas: Word, 1988. pp.
513 and 514-976. $24.99 each. ISBN 0-
8499-0252-5.
James Dunn, one of the leading
New Testament scholars of our day,
has given us another major commen-
tary on Paul's epistle to the Romans.
Following the usual format of the
Word Commentary series, each
section includes a fresh translation,
textual and grammatical notes,
comments dealing with form and
structure, comment (exegesis),
explanation (exposition), and an
extensive bibliography. Dunn care-
fully leads the reader through Paul's
main line of thought as the commen-
tary unfolds. The detailed exegesis
focuses on significant aspects, big and
small, of the Greek text. The main
argument is found in the Explanation
sections. Thus, a busy pastor can still
use the commentary profitably
without use of Greek. Dunn even
suggests that the reader first work
through the Explanation Section.
Dunn, following E. P. Sanders, opts
for a "covenantal nomism" for the
background of Romans. Rejecting the
idea that Judaism had become
legalistic, instead, he stresses God's
choice of Israel on the basis of grace.
Dunn differs with Sanders over the
point of conversion, however. Sand-
ers suggests that Paul rejected [uda-

ism to embrace Christianity. Dunn,
following W. D. Davies, posits that
Paul did not think of conversion, but
only of a special call and divine
commissioning. Paul's relationship
with Christ and his commitment to
Judaism are the presuppositional
issues that dominate Dunn's com-
mentary.
The result is a thought-provoking
and provocative commentary that
points beyond the Reformed tradi-
tion. Dunn's work, while outstanding
and insightful at many places, like
most of the volumes in the Word
commentary, still falls short of the
brilliance of C. E. B. Cranfield's ICC
volumes. There is much to learn from
Dunn, but the final word on Romans
has not yet been said. Dunn has
raised new issues and, therefore, new
work remains to be done. With that,
we look forward to Robert Sloan's
volume in the NAC.
David Dockery
The Canon of Scripture, by F. F. Bruce.
Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity,
1988.349 pp. $19.95. ISBN 0-8308-
12S8-x.
F. F. Bruce, dean of the evangelical
New Testament world, has once again
contributed a major volume to biblical
studies. In formulating his position in
this volume, Bruce rejects the recent
suggestions by A. C. Sundberg in
favor of traditional positions regard-
ing the canon. While focusing on the
New Testament canon, Bruce also
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Book Reviews
Review and Expositor, 87 (1990)
gives attention to the Old Testament
as well. What the volume lacks in
creativity, it compensates for in
comprehensiveness and reliability.
While interacting with a wide range
of scholarship, the book is written in
an understandable style so that it can
be used as a textbook as well as by
church groups.
Bruce surveys the history of the
process of canonization in the early
church, the debates at the time of the
Reformation, and concludes with a
discussion of the canonical hermeneu-
tics of Brevard Childs. Perhaps the
most provocative aspect of the book is
the dedication page. The book is
dedicated "to the Departments of
Humanity and Greek in the Univer-
sity of Aberdeen, founded 1497 and
axed 1987, with gratitude for the past
and with hope of their early and
vigorous resurrection." This book is
another major accomplishment from
the pen of Professor Bruce.
David Dockery
Hidden Wisdom and the Easy Yoke:
Wisdom, Torah and Discipleship in
Matthew 11:25-30, by Celia Deutsch
Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1987. 204 pp.
$13.50. ISBN 85075-057-2.
This published dissertation differs
from previous studies of the yoke
passage in Matthew, in that it ana-
lyzes it within the literary context of
11:2-13:58. The author also draws
extensively on the comparative
materials from Jewish literature from
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