The International Bible Commentary: A Catholic and Ecumenical Commentary for the Twenty-First Century

Rating:
Summary: A Catholic & ecumenical commentary for the 21st Century
Review: "Bridge-building" is the major contribution of this unique work. It was written by authors on all 6 major continents, excepting only Antartica. Writers were drawn from Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox traditions. The roster of contributors includes persons from developing countries no less than affluent ones, and Third World scholars quite as significantly as those from this country and Europe.

On one hand, the commentary uses the New Revised Standard Version which was copyrighted by the National Council of Churches in which Protestants figure predominantly. On the other hand, it carries the "Imprimatur" and "Nihil Obstat" of official approval from Rome and from the Bishop of St. Cloud (MN).

Given how culture-bound and language-specific and tradition-shaped all interpretive efforts are, one can easily see the wisdom of this project. Interpretation enjoys enormous benefits by this project's cross-cultural pollination of its work. Between the covers of this one book we see bridges being built between northern and southern hemispheres, between laity and clergy, between Church and academy, even between experts who do not agree.

As a factual matter, this volume is successor to the 1953 Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. But in the meantime we all have experienced the liberating effects of Vatican II, and in a very substantial way the IBC has admirably capitalized on the spirit of Vatican II. Some 120 authors from the various major traditions of Christianity were brought together by the eminent Gospels scholar William R. Farmer and his 3 editorial asssociates. Together they have produced this truly international and ecumenical commentary on the Bible.

The IBC is destined for wide use well into the 21st century.

Rating:
Summary: Solid Ecumenical Catholic Commentary
Review: This commentary tends to be very ecumenical. It isn't as quite as scholarly or apologetic as A New Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. It is more faithful but slightly less scholarly than the New Jerome Biblical Commentary. It is definitively more scholarly and faithful than the Collegeville Bible Commentary. However, in form/text critisism the scholarship is very and up to date and in many instances better then the previously mentioned commentaries.
For example there is a very good section on the origins of the Gospels, which favors Matthew as being the first Gospel. Further, in the commentary on Romans, the form of Paul's argument is described in detail. Then in the commentary on Romans 3 the author notes that Paul uses the word translated as "faith" to mean "fidelity". He then uses a more ecumenical commentary on "faith alone" as "fidelity alone".
I've given it only four stars because lack of apologetical commentary which I think should be in every good Catholic Commentary. However, good apologetic commentary can be found in A New Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture but it is unfortunately out of print and becoming dated.