Product Description

In this excellent commentary, Nobuyoshi Kiuchi offers in-depth
discussion of the theology and symbolism of Leviticus. Its laws express the
vast distance between sinful people and a holy God, and enable us to
appreciate the grace of God in Christ.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #329112 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-16
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 538 pages

From the Publisher
An outstanding new commentary on Leviticus.

Apollos Old Testament Commentaries are scholarly works written for
preachers and all serious students of the Bible.

From the Inside Flap
LEVITICUS
Nobuyoshi Kiuchi

The Old Testament book of Leviticus is the sequel to Exodus in that it
deals with a deeper dimension of the Sinaitic covenant, giving various
rules for the life of the Israelites, and for the sacrifices and offerings
to be performed in the sanctuary. It addresses the question of how the
Israelites - human beings - can live in proximity to the holy God who has
promised to dwell in their midst.

In this excellent commentary, Nobuyoshi Kiuchi offers in-depth discussion
of the theology and symbolism of Leviticus. He argues that its laws present
an exceedingly high standard, arising from divine holiness, and the giving
of these laws to the Israelites is intended to make them aware of their
sinfulness, lead them to hopelessness, and ultimately to destroy their
egocentric nature.

To be confronted by the laws in Leviticus is to recognize the vast distance
that separates the holy from the unclean and sinful, and so to appreciate
afresh the grace of God, ultimately expressed in the life and work of
Christ.

From the Back Cover
APOLLOS OLD TESTAMENT COMMENTARY

Editors: David W. Baker and Gordon J. Wenham

The Bible is both a divine and a human book. It is the inspired word of God
for his people, whether in biblical times or for the church today. It is
also a fully human book, written by different people in a variety of
cultural settings. Knowledge of biblical language and society is essential
if the meaning of the human writer is to be grasped fully.

The Apollos Old Testament Commentary aims to take with equal seriousness
the divine and human aspects of Scripture. It expounds the books of the Old
Testament in a scholarly manner accessible to non-experts, and shows the
relevance of the Old Testament to modern readers.

Written by an international team of scholars, the commentaries are intended
primarily to serve the needs of those who preach from the Old Testament.
They are equally suitable for use by scholars and all serious students of
the Bible.

Each commentary begins with an Introduction, which gives an overview of the
issues of date, authorship, sources and so on, but which also outlines more
fully than usual the theology of the book, and provides pointers towards
its interpretation and contemporary application.

The annotated Translation of the Hebrew text by the author forms the basis
for the subsequent commentary.

The Form and Structure section examines the context of the passage, its use
of rhetorical devices, and source and form-critical issues.

The Comment section is a thorough, detailed exegesis of the historical and
theological meaning of the passage.

The Explanation - the goal of the commentary - offers a full exposition of
the theological message within the framework of biblical theology, and a
commitment to the inspiration and authority of the Old Testament.

---------------------------------------------------------

'This series rightly insists on rigorous scholarship but always in the
service of the theology and message of the books of the Old Testament. Some
outstanding scholars are signed up for this series and I look forward very
much to having these commentaries on my shelves as they appear.'
Craig Bartholomew
Professor of Philosophy
Redeemer University College, Ontario

`At last! A commentary series that combines the best of biblical
scholarship with a passion for the message of the text. This series by the
finest evangelical scholars is designed for students and pastors who are
serious about understandingthe Old Testament in its context and translating
its message for the church in the twenty-first century.'
Daniel Block
Professor of Old Testament
Wheaton College, Illinois

`What every preacher and student needs is a commentary which makes positive
use of the results of scholarly research while at the same time integrating
them sympathetically into a contemporary Christian world-view. Many series
have set out to achieve this, but few have succeeded. Now at at last the
Apollos series looks set to do so.'
H. G. M. Williamson
Regius Professor of Hebrew
University of Oxford

Customer Reviews

Seriously disappointing
Perhaps I am not the right person to be reviewing this book. However, I feel I should as a warning to others in a similar position.

I am a conservative evangelical who has read just about all IVPs excellent BST series of commentaries and and number of their 'more serious' New Testament commentaries. I was looking for something to give me a deeper insight into what is, let us be honest, the fairly dry book of Leviticus. I had not read any other commentaries in the Apollos OT series but going on IVPs previous reputation I thought I would try this volume.

I think that was a mistake.

Nobuyoshi Kiuchi appears to have all the right credentials for such a volume, but his interpretation seems very speculative to a lay person like me. He seems preoccupied with trying to fit the text around around a particular view of his own. Consequently almost every passage is said to be full of 'hidden meaning'.

I believe that when reading the Bible one needs to put some work into understanding the context, both textually and historically, but Kiuchi's interpretations of passages on skin diseases and bodily discharges just defy belief. If his approach was adopted by other commentators it could make these passages mean almost anything. This is not to say that any of Kiuchi's conclusions are anything but orthodox in themselves, but how they spring from the text is extremely difficult to see.

For scholars already familiar with a wide range of commentary on Leviticus this book may be an interesting read, but for myself I think I will be looking for another guidebook.