Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament

Rating:
Summary: Touching on the Meaning of Greek Words
Review: This is a great academic Greek resource even if you can't read Greek. I would personally recommend you learn at least the letters of the Greek alphabet and understand the way Greek is written to actually discern this great semantic work of literature. Vincent's incorporation of sound commentary, Greek grammar and the meaning of the word lost in translation and also the suitable quotes he makes from other writers makes study, whether casual or dense, be that so much more proficient. There are many who use quotes often in their various types of biblical resources, viz. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary. But the individual work he has done to bless others and the wisdom of his writing is probably second only to A.T.Robertson, without trying to judge to much. As many have realised , linguistically, English in recent times has added to its vocabulary a manifold of 'technological and informational' words in comparison to the Greek language which added more 'emotional words'(i.e. the five types of life, the four types of love etc). We take the example of Zoe, which if you do not already know is the life of God's life, the life that is expressed in and through the Son by the Father, and seen in the believer through being in a relational yoke that is both expressed in the individual sense and also the corporate context. The Lord Jesus Christ mixed with the death that he died eternal Spirit, which in turn now gives us oppurtunity firstly to this new covenant of God, made possible through his Son as we die and suffer with him, and also when we participate in this yoke and are lead by his headship ( for He is the great shephard), we can know death, buriel and resurrection life as our 'mandate'. So then, Zoe life is that life that is the full expression of God himself, in and through Christ's ascension administration, the throne administration that is God, which can actually be expressed in this bodily context of the church and of the saints who have come to the conversion of obedience of faith. This is interconnected with the progressive revelation of the 'name' of Yahweh, the throne of 'Yahweh is our God'(Hb.Elohiym). It is the relational dialogue of the Godhead that is in this throne administration, and progressively being revealed but it needed Christ's death and now our death and suffering through laying down of our life to enter boldy but without presumption this new covenant. This progressive revelation has been seen in different epochs of ages of times, 1.) The Angelic administration (we have to realise that the angelic administration is no longer ministering but in a very different realm. We have not, and I say that with boldness of speech, taken the place of angels) 2.) The Garden of Eden (man made in the image of God, but the headship of Adam fell to the 'fallen woman', Eve, and was now corrupt) 3.)The Tabernacle( the nation Israel was chosen and the blessing was upon them until they fell into immorality and idolatry, and a spirit of stupor has since been on them till the fullness of the Gentiles. This is why there will never be peace in Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come which is in the last times and off the subject) 4.) The Church (that time is now, and as I have already stated that God's life can be expressed here and now in the church through Christ, but the glory of God is still being progressively revealed.) 5.) The New Jerusalem ( this will happen after the church's 1000 years in the wilderness and has a stark comparison to the vision given to Ezekiel). Just as Christ died to reveal the Father's glory, we know that we need to die for another in laying down our lives to see another revealed in resurrection life. This is then found to be a relational life and love in death and weakness perfected, and in resurrection life the door opens to eternal life. Eternal life is here and right now but only through the process of resurrection life do we actually live it. We should learn and know that the Godhead are out of the dimension of time and also eternity. So wrapping that subject up, our word for Zoe is only just life, or God's life and many do not realise the deep 'semantic heart' being expressed through these words. We need revelation and illumination by the Holy Spirit and not just books, for as Paul says 'the letter kills but the Spirit makes alive'. Vincent also does not concieve the deep and very real subject of the seven stars in the right hand of Christ, shown throughout Revelations. This is the aggelos or messenger administration, established by the ascension administration of Christ to administer the Holy Spirit, concurrent with the throne administration of the Father. He is uncertain about the topic, but he quotes other writers and comes to the conclusion that the 'angel' is a collective group of overseers and messengers and not an individual. Vincent's Word Studies is a great resource and can be complemented by Robertson Word Pictures and Wuest Word Studies. I hope the Lord will bless those who are willing to lay down their lives in searching the scriptures to bless others.

Rating:
Summary: Different enough from Wuest's to need both.
Review: This is a great New Testament study resource. It is quoted quite frequently by other biblical scholars (see, for example, the many footnoted references to it in the Amplified Bible). If you already have Wuest's Word Studies, Vincent's is different enough to get as well, for two reasons: (1) Wuest opens up the depths of the Greek, but his interpretations can also get rather idiosyncratic (I almost said peculiar, but refrained). (2) More importantly, Wuest does not cover the entire New Testament, while Vincent does. So if you have Wuest already, get Vincent as well--and, to be fair, I'd also say that if you already have Vincent's Word Studies, you really ought to get Wuest's. If your significant other says you don't need to spend the extra money on another New Testament Word Studies series, just show him or her this review.

Rating:
Summary: Different enough from Wuest's to need both.
Review: This is a great New Testament study resource. It is quoted quite frequently by other biblical scholars (see, for example, the many footnoted references to it in the Amplified Bible). If you already have Wuest's Word Studies, Vincent's is different enough to get as well, for two reasons: (1) Wuest opens up the depths of the Greek, but his interpretations can also get rather idiosyncratic (I almost said peculiar, but refrained). (2) More importantly, Wuest does not cover the entire New Testament, while Vincent does. So if you have Wuest already, get Vincent as well--and, to be fair, I'd also say that if you already have Vincent's Word Studies, you really ought to get Wuest's. If your significant other says you don't need to spend the extra money on another New Testament Word Studies series, just show him or her this review.

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent and Extremely Valuable!
Review: This series of studies is indispensible for those of us who can't read the Greek or Hebrew of First Century primary sources. Discovering Marvin Vincent has been like discovering a stratum of pure gold. Because he takes the Gospels seriously as the word of God, he respects their textural integrity and his in depth commentary on key words is brilliant His associations and connections are beautiful. It's refreshing to plunge into this after walking through the valley of the shadow of nihilism with so many specialized modern Biblical scholars who have ripped the gospels to pieces in the name of theories and ideas that don't amount to a footprint in the wet sand. Vincent takes seriously the traditional identity of the evangelists and talks about their individual personalities. This is also extremely important to one who regards all the modern theories about "anonymous authors" and "gospel communities" as of little or no use because the theories don't make sense in light of what we may safely call "the facts." (If the gospels had been anonymously written, nobody would have read them. And in the ancient world at that time communication was sure and fast.) I don't say read Vincent because he believes in legend, you understand. I say believe him because back in the 1880's, his approach yielded more fruit than many modern approaches from those who know little about how society and communication in the First Century really worked. Also the books are full of rich interpretation. And lastly, let me return to the most important aspect: they open up the words for us; they help bridge the gap for us between the translations we've read over and over and what was written in the Greek. Worth it, worth it, worth it. Lobby for a new reprint!

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent and Extremely Valuable!
Review: This series of studies is indispensible for those of us who can't read the Greek or Hebrew of First Century primary sources. Discovering Marvin Vincent has been like discovering a stratum of pure gold. Because he takes the Gospels seriously as the word of God, he respects their textural integrity and his in depth commentary on key words is brilliant His associations and connections are beautiful. It's refreshing to plunge into this after walking through the valley of the shadow of nihilism with so many specialized modern Biblical scholars who have ripped the gospels to pieces in the name of theories and ideas that don't amount to a footprint in the wet sand. Vincent takes seriously the traditional identity of the evangelists and talks about their individual personalities. This is also extremely important to one who regards all the modern theories about "anonymous authors" and "gospel communities" as of little or no use because the theories don't make sense in light of what we may safely call "the facts." (If the gospels had been anonymously written, nobody would have read them. And in the ancient world at that time communication was sure and fast.) I don't say read Vincent because he believes in legend, you understand. I say believe him because back in the 1880's, his approach yielded more fruit than many modern approaches from those who know little about how society and communication in the First Century really worked. Also the books are full of rich interpretation. And lastly, let me return to the most important aspect: they open up the words for us; they help bridge the gap for us between the translations we've read over and over and what was written in the Greek. Worth it, worth it, worth it. Lobby for a new reprint!