International Critical Commentaries: New Testament (30 vols.)

We do not hesitate to commend this as the best commentary on Romans yet written in English. It will do much to popularize this admirable and much needed series, by showing that it is possible to be critical and scholarly and at the same time devout and spiritual, and intelligible to plain Bible readers.

—The Church Standard

A commentary with a very distinct character and purpose of its own, which brings to students and ministers an aid which they cannot obtain elsewhere. . . . There is probably no other commentary in which criticism has been employed so successfully and impartially to bring out the author's thought.

—N. Y. Independent

We have nothing but heartiest praise for the weightier matters of the commentary. It is not only critical, but exegetical, expository, doctrinal, practical, and eminently spiritual. The positive conclusions of the books are very numerous and are stoutly, gloriously evangelical. . . . The commentary does not fail to speak with the utmost reverence of the whole word of God.

—The Congregationalist

It is difficult to praise Margaret E. Thrall's commentary on 2 Corinthians too highly. In my notice of the first volume I called attention to Dr Thrall's immense scholarship, clarity of mind, and lucid writing. These qualities continue through Volume II…Here is everything that could be wished for in a commentary…Throughout, the text is carefully analysed, the views of a wide range of scholars are set out and judicious decisions between them made - all with a beautiful clarity. Even when the reader disagrees with Dr Thrall's conclusions, he or she will have had their understanding enlarged and be given a deeper insight into the epistle. Reading this commentary one wonders why anyone should be satisfied with anything less elegant.

—The Bulletin for the Institute for Reformed Theology (Spring/Summer 2001)

The high standard of meticulously detailed exegesis displayed in the first volume of Dr Thrall's magisterial commentary is continued in its sequel . . . In all respects, this volume and its predecessor surely deserve to be regarded as one of the most impressive contributions to this fine series . . . Historians and theologians alike will find this commentary an indispensable resource for the interpretation both of key passages and of others that might at first sight look innocent of historical or doctrinal significance.

—Journal of Theological Studies, 53.1 (April 2002)

Students and scholars with good Greek skills who are working on 2 Corinthians must engage with this commentary.

—Foundations (May 2002)

Margaret Thrall . . . is the perfect guide to assist the reader through this difficult text. . . . After a lifetime of work on Paul, she commands an awesome familiarity with every aspect of II Corinthians and the forest of literature upon it. The ICC commentaries are renowned for their thoroughness in exegetical detail, and Thrall provides translation, textual notes, linguistic analysis and historical discussion in full . . . Thus this is an ideal commentary for those engaged in serious, detailed engagement with the (Greek) text.

—Anvil, 18:4, 2001

She has completed the first of two volumes of what will become a standard work of detailed exegesis on the Greek text of 2 Corinthians and a model of thorough interaction with current scholarship.

—Scottish Journal of Theology

Few of the canonical books makes such exacting demands on the commentator as 2 Corinthians. Anyone attempting to reconstruct from oblique and allusive references what had actually happened in Corinth faces unusually baffling problems, for the most part excluding all solutions save those with their degree of probability carefully quantified (as is conscientiously done by Thrall). The same is true of the cruces which stud almost every chapter. No wonder that the vast literature on this epistle is particularly taxing to interact with. All the more credit, then, to Thrall for her achievement in giving us so much, in the space available, about a document which has recently been attracting even more attention that before. Dr Thrall manages to combine remarkable conciseness with almost unfailing clarity.

—C. J. A. Hickling, Journal of Theological Studies

A fine accomplishment and an important addition to the commentaries on 2 Corinthians.

—E. Earle Ellis, Southwestern Journal of Theology

This is a magnificently substantial volume, the rich fruit of a super-abounding labour. This large and generous and patient work does not belong on a large shelf, but on the large desk of any who is willing to engage, no holds barred, with the mind and/or imagination of the apostle. Everyone awaits with eager expectation the next enthralling installment.

—Douglas A. Templeton, Epworth Review

It is difficult to praise Margaret E. Thrall's commentary on 2 Corinthians too highly. In my notice of the first volume I called attention to Dr Thrall's immense scholarship, clarity of mind, and lucid writing. These qualities continue through Volume II…Here is everything that could be wished for in a commentary…Throughout, the text is carefully analysed, the views of a wide range of scholars are set out and judicious decisions between them made - all with a beautiful clarity. Even when the reader disagrees with Dr Thrall's conclusions, he or she will have had their understanding enlarged and be given a deeper insight into the epistle. Reading this commentary one wonders why anyone should be satisfied with anything less elegant.

—The Bulletin for the Institute for Reformed Theology (Spring/Summer 2001)

The high standard of meticulously detailed exegesis displayed in the first volume of Dr Thrall's magisterial commentary is continued in its sequel . . . In all respects, this volume and its predecessor surely deserve to be regarded as one of the most impressive contributions to this fine series . . . Historians and theologians alike will find this commentary an indispensable resource for the interpretation both of key passages and of others that might at first sight look innocent of historical or doctrinal significance.

—Journal of Theological Studies, 53.1 (April 2002)

Students and scholars with good Greek skills who are working on 2 Corinthians must engage with this commentary.

—Foundations (May 2002)

Margaret Thrall . . . is the perfect guide to assist the reader through this difficult text. . . . After a lifetime of work on Paul, she commands an awesome familiarity with every aspect of II Corinthians and the forest of literature upon it. The ICC commentaries are renowned for their thoroughness in exegetical detail, and Thrall provides translation, textual notes, linguistic analysis and historical discussion in full . . . Thus this is an ideal commentary for those engaged in serious, detailed engagement with the (Greek) text.

—Anvil, 18:4, 2001

She has completed the first of two volumes of what will become a standard work of detailed exegesis on the Greek text of 2 Corinthians and a model of thorough interaction with current scholarship.

—Scottish Journal of Theology

Few of the canonical books makes such exacting demands on the commentator as 2 Corinthians. Anyone attempting to reconstruct from oblique and allusive references what had actually happened in Corinth faces unusually baffling problems, for the most part excluding all solutions save those with their degree of probability carefully quantified (as is conscientiously done by Thrall). The same is true of the cruces which stud almost every chapter. No wonder that the vast literature on this epistle is particularly taxing to interact with. All the more credit, then, to Thrall for her achievement in giving us so much, in the space available, about a document which has recently been attracting even more attention that before. Dr Thrall manages to combine remarkable conciseness with almost unfailing clarity.

—C. J. A. Hickling, Journal of Theological Studies

A fine accomplishment and an important addition to the commentaries on 2 Corinthians.

—E. Earle Ellis, Southwestern Journal of Theology

This is a magnificently substantial volume, the rich fruit of a super-abounding labour. This large and generous and patient work does not belong on a large shelf, but on the large desk of any who is willing to engage, no holds barred, with the mind and/or imagination of the apostle. Everyone awaits with eager expectation the next enthralling installment.

—Douglas A. Templeton, Epworth Review

When in 1896 I began work upon the Epistle to the Galatians with definite reference to the preparation of this Commentary, it was with a clear conviction that if I was to make any appreciable contribution to the understanding of the epistle, it would be by confining myself to a few of the several lines of study which an interpreter might properly and profitably undertake. I decided not to attempt an exhaustive study of the history of the interpretation of the epistle, or of the rabbinic writings and method of exegesis. Convinced that, despite all that had been done in the study of the vocabulary of the New Testament, much remained still to be done, and strongly inclined to expect that such study would aid materially in the recovery of the primary elements of the thought of the apostle Paul, persuaded also that such lexicographical work would prepare the way for a clearer perception of the course of thought of the epistle, I determined, while not wholly neglecting other lines of study, to give my chief attention, first, to a fresh historical study of the vocabulary of the letter, and then to an endeavour to trace its course of thought with exactness and to state it with clearness.

—Online Reviewer