Monday, November 14, 2011

Review: "Opening Up Haggai"

Opening Up Haggai by Peter Williams is the first commentary I have used in the “Opening Up” series published by Day One, and I look forward to using additional volumes.

The “Opening Up” series is a solid Reformed and biblical commentary series which also functions as a devotional and/or study guide/group study.  Each volume begins with solid contextual introduction, and then, each chapter contains an exposition of a coherent section of the text.  At the end of each chapter, there is a “for further study” section which refers one to relevant scriptural texts to buffet and explain the text being exposited, as well as a “to think about and discuss” section which asks the preacher/reader/group to consider doctrinal, textual, and practical questions about the text and leading from the text.

The author of this volume exposits the text seriously as the Word of God and writes in a language that most lay people will understand.  (However, if one is looking for a commentary/devotional/study that spends much time on the languages and critical studies, one will not find it here.)

I found the Haggai volume a solid help in preparing my sermons on Haggai and in agreement with other Reformed commentaries.

I recommend this volume for preachers, students, private and group study, and for devotional use.  I hope other volumes of the series are equally valuable.

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