Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Ezekiel, Daniel (CBC)
Overview
The Cornerstone Biblical Commentary series provides up-to-date, evangelical scholarship on the Old and New Testaments. Each volume is designed to equip pastors and Christian leaders with exegetical and theological knowledge to better understand and apply God’s Word by presenting the message of each passage as well as an overview of other issues surrounding the text. In this volume, Thompson and Carpenter take you passage-by-passage through Ezekiel and Daniel, offering fresh expositions to help you grasp the literary issues and theological message of each book.
- Introductions to the historical and cultural context, the literary style, and the major themes and theological concerns
- Exegetical and textual notes
- Commentary pays special attention to context and major theological themes
Top Highlights
“The book combines history, court tales (historical, but crafted in a certain way), wisdom illustrations, declarations (of the mantic variety as well as practical),1 prophecy (he does foretell the future, 2:28; 10:14; and declare words of judgment to the kings in the present, 4:27 [24]; 5:26–27), and apocalyptic visions and dreams into a powerfully crafted presentation of God’s intentions and interaction with history and history’s response and interaction with the heavenly world. The book speaks theologically and practically to a people that had and would again experience siege, attack, and oppression in order to give them hope.” (Page 287)
“Several reasons for the creation of the book of Daniel can be identified. The primary cause was theological: In his supreme act of judgment, God had sent his people into exile as he had said he would. The cause was therefore also historical and social, for God judged his people by means of the Babylonians in the sixth century bc.” (Page 292)
“Ezekiel was about 14 years old in 609, and was most likely living in Jerusalem at the time Josiah was slain and when these radical shifts in national faith and ethos occurred.” (Page 13)
“The book teaches God’s people how to position themselves in a hostile environment and how they should expect the course of world history to interface with them and their faith and traditions. Those who are truly wise and faithful will learn and will remain faithful to their Lord and traditions in whatever age they live; many will be successfully delivered in this life (chs 3, 6), some may die for their faith, but they will take their allotted place in the end just as Daniel will (12:13). The book is not only for God’s people during the Babylonian exile, the Maccabean period, or the New Testament era—it is for the people of God through all of human history, and it will speak until history and heaven reach the omega point, the Kingdom of God.” (Page 294)
An enormously helpful series for the layperson and pastor alike because it centers on the theological message of each book and ties it directly to the text. This approach has been needed for some time and will be an invaluable supplement to other commentary series.
A treasure house of insight into the biblical text. Written by some of the best scholars working today, it is an essential tool for pastors, students, church leaders, and lay people who want to understand the text and know how it relates to our lives today. Like the New Living Translation text it uses as its base, this commentary series is extremely readable.
- Title: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Ezekiel, Daniel
- Author: David L. Thompson and Eugene Carpenter
- Editor: Philip W. Comfort
- Publisher: Tyndale
- Publication Date: 2010
- Pages: 488
David L. Thompson (Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University) has written scores of popular and professional articles. His books include Bible Study That Worksand God’s Healing for Hurting Families. Dr. Thompson, an ordained elder in The Wesleyan Church, has pastored several churches.
Eugene Carpenter (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) is Scholar in Residence and Professor of Old Testament, Hebrew, and Biblical Theology at Bethel College, Mishawaka, IN. He has authored and contributed to several books including commentaries on Exodus and Deuteronomy.
