Product Description

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most familiar passages in the New Testament. In this concise and clearly-written introduction to and commentary on the Sermon, Charles Talbert pays particular attention to its role in character formation and ethical decision making. After introductory chapters on reading the Sermon on the Mount, the book offers a section-by-section commentary. Talbert points out structural highlights, provides illuminating cross-references to Jewish and Greco-Roman literature, and concludes each section with a consideration of how it contributes to character formation and how it can be used with the rest of Scripture for ethical decision-making. The book is packed with insights that will be of great use to students as well as those who preach and teach the Sermon.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #416211 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780801031632
• Condition: USED - LIKE NEW
• Notes:
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From the Inside Flap
"Charles H. Talbert’s expertise regarding the relevant ancient sources, whether Greco-Roman or Jewish, is matched by his thorough familiarity with recent critical study of the Sermon on the Mount. He is also theologically sensitive and hermeneutically sophisticated. The result is a lucid and sure guide to the minefield that is the Sermon on the Mount."—Dale C. Allison, Jr., Errett M. Grable Professor of the New Testament and Early Christianity, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

"Reading the Sermon on the Mount is vintage Talbert: lucid, logical, with mastery of the commentary tradition and intimate knowledge of primary sources. The author’s emphasis on the Sermon’s role in the formation of character is a most welcome gift to specialists and general readers alike."—C. Clifton Black, Otto A. Piper Professor of Biblical Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary, and book editor of Theology Today

"Charles H. Talbert has made a wonderful contribution to the study of the New Testament and ethics. He writes with his characteristic decisiveness and clarity and brightly illumines the Sermon on the Mount from his deep grasp of the pertinent Greco-Roman and Jewish sources, the entire New Testament, and vintage scholarly literature."—Robert J. Karris, The Franciscan Institute, St. Bonaventure University, and author of Prayer and the New Testament

About the Author
Charles H. Talbert (Ph.D., Vanderbilt University) is distinguished professor of religion at Baylor University. He is the author or editor of twenty books, including commentaries on Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Revelation.

Customer Reviews

an important monograph for New Testament ethics
The extended title clearly identifies that this book intends to present a fresh reading of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 with a two-fold emphasis. The primary thesis is that the Sermon is a catalyst for character formation and the secondary thesis is that it contributes to decision making when understood in context (29). These theses are supported by an examination of the sermon itself in its historical context as well as in its literary context in the gospel.

While the front clearly identifies the central issues in this monograph, the back of the book clearly identifies the audience and circles that this book is written for. The author, Charles H. Talbert, teaches at Baylor University. Likewise, all the quips from reviews that are cited on the back are from reviewers from schools such as Princeton Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and St. Bonaventure University. This coincides with the content and scholarship that interacts with mostly with non-evangelical theologians (see Preface).

There is warrant to be concerned about the author's view of Scripture but he appears to approach the bible from a canonical perspective and he does not spend time chopping up the text vis-à-vis higher criticism. This allows him to focus on the text and in doing so he gives many beneficial insights into the text of Matthew. His interpretive decisions also seem to be contrary to the NPP (77).

Several critical issues for interpreting the Sermon on the Mount are engaged. And Talbert often takes a conservative position, for example, finding that the Sermon contains Christology (67) and understanding Jesus' logion about the fulfillment of the law to mean that Jesus' ethic is a recovery of the original OT ethic (61).

In order to bring clarification to hermeneutical difficulties, the author engages a host of Greek authors that sometimes seems to eclipse the Jewish background. He refers to Greek authors such as Plutarch, Epictetus, Cicero, Xenocrates and Plato. He also interacts with documents such as the Testament of Issachar, Apocalypse of Moses, and various Dead Sea Scrolls. It is not always clear that these authors are historically relevant for insight into Matthew's text.

Although the preface states that this monograph is intended to be for both generalists and specialists; it really is for scholars who have a good deal of technical training in biblical studies. This book also would have benefited from interaction with more evangelicals. Positively, the author has short, palatable chapters in addition to an index of modern authors, of scripture and other ancient sources, a bibliography and footnotes. Use of the Koine Greek language is transliterated.

Excellent text for the Sermon on the Mount
Charles Talbet's book on the Sermon on the Mount is highly recommended for understanding the Sermon on the Mount within its context of The Gospel of Matthew and the cultural background of the first century. While not necessarily agreeing with Talbert's view of the development of Christianity he does seem to have a good grasp of how the Sermon fits into Matthew's gospel. I would recommend it for preachers and adult Bible class teachers who want to go a little deeper and can understand an author who goes a little deeper than usual biblical studies. It is not for the average Christian but a good preacher can use the material to shape lessons that will be helpful to the average Christian. It is a book I'm glad is now in my library.