Ephesians (Shepherd's Notes)

Rating:
Summary: "Easy" and "quick" are not always good
Review: "Ephesians" is part of the Shepherd's Notes series. Dana Gould is credited as editor of this book, which is basically a short study guide to the New Testament epistle of Paul to the Ephesians. The book includes a supplement on the life and ministry of Paul, a map of Paul's world, a 2-page bibliography, and pages at the end of the book in which the reader can write his or her own notes. The text is enlivened by sidebar notes with icon keys.

The "How to Use This Book" section boasts that this volume should make study of Ephesians "time-saving," "easy," "quick," etc. And that may be part of the problem of this book; it oversimplifies many of the complex issues that I feel surround this text. Rather than challenge the reader to struggle with complexity and ambiguity, this book spoon-feeds the reader predigested mush.

Although there is some interesting information along the way, much of the text feels like I've seen or heard it dozens of times before. At times the book is painfully obvious. Example: "Shoes are important to the foot soldier."

The author goes for the easiest and most literal interpretations regarding such complex issues as slavery and husband-wife relationships. I found the section on slavery particularly shallow; the book really glosses over an issue of biblical interpretation that challenged the Christian world for a long and divisive time. Overall, a disappointing book. For a better perspective on Christianity and slavery in particular, I recommend two essential primary texts: "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" and Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl."

Rating:
Summary: "Easy" and "quick" are not always good
Review: "Ephesians" is part of the Shepherd's Notes series. Dana Gould is credited as editor of this book, which is basically a short study guide to the New Testament epistle of Paul to the Ephesians. The book includes a supplement on the life and ministry of Paul, a map of Paul's world, a 2-page bibliography, and pages at the end of the book in which the reader can write his or her own notes. The text is enlivened by sidebar notes with icon keys.

The "How to Use This Book" section boasts that this volume should make study of Ephesians "time-saving," "easy," "quick," etc. And that may be part of the problem of this book; it oversimplifies many of the complex issues that I feel surround this text. Rather than challenge the reader to struggle with complexity and ambiguity, this book spoon-feeds the reader predigested mush.

Although there is some interesting information along the way, much of the text feels like I've seen or heard it dozens of times before. At times the book is painfully obvious. Example: "Shoes are important to the foot soldier."

The author goes for the easiest and most literal interpretations regarding such complex issues as slavery and husband-wife relationships. I found the section on slavery particularly shallow; the book really glosses over an issue of biblical interpretation that challenged the Christian world for a long and divisive time. Overall, a disappointing book. For a better perspective on Christianity and slavery in particular, I recommend two essential primary texts: "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" and Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl."