Digital Logos Edition
For over one hundred years, the International Critical Commentary series has held a special place among works on the Bible. It has sought to bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis—linguistic and textual no less than archaeological, historical, literary and theological—with a level of comprehension and quality of scholarship unmatched by any other series. No attempt has been made to secure a uniform theological or critical approach to the biblical text: contributors have been invited for their scholarly distinction, not for their adherence to any one school of thought. Editors at the Time of Publication: Samuel Rolles Driver, Alfred Plummer, Charles Augustus Briggs
“But since the woman is represented as the mother of the Messiah, the community which she symbolizes must embrace the true O.T. Israel.” (Volume 1, Page 315)
“Participation in the common meal was for the Oriental a proof of confidence and affection. The intimate fellowship of the faithful with God and the Messiah in the Coming Age was frequently symbolized by such a metaphor.” (Volume 1, Page 101)
“In its present context this woman1 represents the true Israel or the community of believers. This community embraces Jewish and Gentile Christians, all of whom are to undergo the last great tribulation.” (Volume 1, Page 315)
“But though the parallels in diction are indisputable, the thought differs. For whereas in Mark 13:29 (= Matt. 24:33) and Jas. 5:9 we have the final advent of Christ as Judge, in 20 of our text He comes as a Preacher of repentance—an office incompatible with that of Judge. Also in Luke 12:36 the reference to the last coming and the giving of an account is manifest: He comes there to reward the faithful, not to call the careless and indifferent to repentance. Hence the eschatological interpretation is to be rejected.” (Volume 1, Page 101)
“Hence he remodelled its syntax freely, and created a Greek that is absolutely his own” (Volume 1, Page xi)