The Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible enlists leading theologians to read and interpret scripture creedally for the twenty-first century, just as the church fathers, the Reformers, and other orthodox Christians did for their times and places.
Leviticus is the fifth volume in the series. This commentary, like each in the series, is designed to serve the church-through aid in preaching, teaching, study groups, and so forth-and demonstrate the continuing intellectual and practical viability of theological interpretation of the Bible.
Marion Taylor, Professor of Old Testament, Wycliffe College, says of the Leviticus volume:
"Radner acknowledges up front that the book of Leviticus is a challenge for Christian readers, but he quickly shows that "there is something divine to be received within its words" (p.18). Radner shows us how to read Leviticus in light of the gospel. He joins a growing number of biblical scholars who are finding that the interpretive methods used by such pre-critical interpreters as Origen, Rashi, Bede and Willet need to be recovered. Radner’s commentary is worth reading not only for the way it opens up a difficult book but for the way it teaches us to read the Scriptures figurally.’s reading of Leviticus "is a hard and narrow way (Matt. 7:14);" it is a kind of discipleship whereby our own hearts are exposed to the world’s edges even as they are challenged and transformed by the world’s redeemer. This is a reading filled with images of becoming, as the encounter of the text with Christ’s world transforms all that is in it, text and world together. Things and objects become new; they do not only stand for one another. Well might we yearn for protection from such an encounter; but in this we would desire wrongly. If in fact "Jesus also suffered outside the gate" (Heb. 13:12), and in this showed forth the meaning of those beasts burnt outside the camp in Lev. 4:21, so in the very act of apprehending such a truth with joy, we too "go forth to him outside the camp" (Heb. 13:13), we too follow" (27-8). So for those of you ready to take up a book that will enrich you spiritually and intellectually, I heartily recommend Radner’s new book."
Further works in this series are forthcoming from George Sumner (Daniel) and Joseph Mangina (Revelation).
