Robert Cara is the author of the 1 & 2 Thessalonians commentary in the EP Study Commentary series. This is published by Evangelical Press. Cara is Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. He is definitely one of the greatest NT scholars of our time.
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1 & 2 Thessalonians (EP Study Commentary Series)
I am a big fan of the EP Study Commentary, and I highly recommend it to all. It is written to be an accessible series for anybody wishing to grow in their understanding of the Word of God, and yet it is academic/scholarly enough for the pastor and teacher as well. This volume on 1 & 2 Thessalonians proves to be that case. Robert Cara, who gives his own translation of the original Greek text, deals with technical and critical aspects of the books of 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and yet it is written in such an easy to understand manner. The one downside to this volume is that it uses endnotes instead of footnotes (some of the other volumes in this series use footnotes). I personally enjoy going further into the study by glancing at the footnotes. But this is a very minor weakness.
I really appreciate the format of this commentary. It begins with a concise summary of the passage that will be discussed. Then, verse by verse, Cara provides commentary on those verses. The verse (or verses) are always placed in italics and always double spaced from the surrounding commentary, making it very easy to find specific verses (and this is particularly helpful when utilizing this commentary as a resource). Finally, each chapter concludes with an application section, and it is here that Cara shows his pastoral heart. These sections are rather long as opposed to just a few sentences tacked on to the end of the chapter. These are very helpful sections!
The 1 & 2 Thessalonians volume is divided into ten chapters, the first six chapters being dedicated to 1 Thessalonians, and the last four chapters to 2 Thessalonians. These two letters deal with some key passages on the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and Cara masterfully deals with these passages. Even if one disagrees with his conclusions, you are sure to benefit from his exegesis! Cara is extremely skillful in Greek, and he is also competent in showing how these books relate to the rest of the canon. He surely shows himself to be proficient in handling the Word of God!
Cara’s application sections are a gold-mine! Preachers will benefit from these sections, but any Christian wanting to go deeper into God’s Word will likewise be well fed by these application points.
I can’t recommend this commentary (and this entire series) highly enough! Please consider investing in this great series if you want to grow in your understanding of the Word of God!
Disclaimer: My thanks to Evangelical Press for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Matt became a joyful follower of Jesus at the age of 21. He is very grateful to be a husband to Lindsey, and a father to four boys. He is an ordained minister (teaching elder) in the PCA. He previously served as a pastor of biblical counseling and is currently a corporate chaplain in southern Delaware. Matt received his Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds an advanced certification in biblical counseling from the Association of Biblical Counselors. In his free time, he loves playing with his boys, traveling with his wife, and reading (and buying!) books.
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