Romans: Chapters 1-16 : Combined Repr of 1980 Exposition of Paul's Epistle to the Romans (New Testament Commentary)

Rating:
Summary: Your Run-of-the-Mill Romans
Review: William Hendriksen writes from a self-consciously and unapologetically Reformed perspective. In and of itself that fact recommends his book(s). For those new to the Reformed faith Hendriksen is a decent place to go to reinforce one's Reformed affirmations. Building off of Calvin and Luther Hendriksen underscores the apostle's doctrine of justification by faith throughout. Though at times showing hints of breaking free of the dogmatic tradition, Hendriksen fails to move beyond where the tradition has taken him. And the epistle of Romans, if any, is a text which ought to do just that. Hendriksen shows little sensitivity to the redemptive-historical movement and eschatological character of Paul's thought, and for that reason, he fails to plumb the depths of the richness of the gospel of God expounded by Paul. At times Hendriksen's language moves into the devotional mode--not necessarily wrong, but certainly out-of-place in a scholarly commentary. All in all, Hendriksen's Romans is a good review of standard ordo-salutis approach with minor variations/improvements, but it is diluted by devotional mush and the lack of a thoroughgoing eschatological outlook. If you are looking for a more solid Reformed commentary on Romans, John Murray's is still the best available.

Rating:
Summary: Your Run-of-the-Mill Romans
Review: William Hendriksen writes from a self-consciously and unapologetically Reformed perspective. In and of itself that fact recommends his book(s). For those new to the Reformed faith Hendriksen is a decent place to go to reinforce one's Reformed affirmations. Building off of Calvin and Luther Hendriksen underscores the apostle's doctrine of justification by faith throughout. Though at times showing hints of breaking free of the dogmatic tradition, Hendriksen fails to move beyond where the tradition has taken him. And the epistle of Romans, if any, is a text which ought to do just that. Hendriksen shows little sensitivity to the redemptive-historical movement and eschatological character of Paul's thought, and for that reason, he fails to plumb the depths of the richness of the gospel of God expounded by Paul. At times Hendriksen's language moves into the devotional mode--not necessarily wrong, but certainly out-of-place in a scholarly commentary. All in all, Hendriksen's Romans is a good review of standard ordo-salutis approach with minor variations/improvements, but it is diluted by devotional mush and the lack of a thoroughgoing eschatological outlook. If you are looking for a more solid Reformed commentary on Romans, John Murray's is still the best available.