The Paulist Biblical Commentary is an outstanding accomplishment of the more than seventy authors and is a resource of which the editors should be proud. The text is rooted in Dei verbum’s focus and legacy and celebrates the renewal of Catholic biblical scholarship since the Second Vatican Council. The commentary is intended to bring the best of that scholarship to a wide range of readers and to those involved in pastoral ministry, while also providing a depth and theological range that will be meaningful for academics as well. As Senior points out in the introduction its “spirit is not primarily academic, but pastoral and spiritual” and thus aims at a “broad readership” and those involved in ministry in various levels in the church (xiii). The editors successfully maintain a balance of academic and intellectual rigor and a text that will aid all in the “pursuit of holiness” (xiii) with pastoral sensitivity, and from an ecumenical perspective.

As a biblical commentary it follows a typical path by offering a rich analysis of each biblical book and includes supplementary articles on major divisions or genres such as the Pentateuch, Wisdom Literature, Gospels, and Letters, as one would expect. Additionally, the text ends with nine shorter articles that offer valuable insights on The Bible in the Life of the Church, the History of the Biblical Periods I and II, Jewish and Christian Interpretation for example. Each accompanying essay in the general articles section adds exceptional benefit as they are very concise yet include a wealth of information packed into three-to-seven-page expositions.  One example is Flanagin’s essay on Christian Interpretation of the Bible. Broken into three sections: Classical, Modern, and Postmodern, the author fits a commendable depth of content in a three-page essay that dives directly into the materials and packs a summary of this entire period into a user-friendly short article devoid of unnecessary details.

In addition to the focus on the pastoral applications of each biblical commentary, one of the strengths of the essays and general articles is the academic rigor and use of the tools recommended in Dei verbum. Each commentary focuses on author, audience, literary characteristics & genre, theological considerations, social and political background, special issues, ideas important for contemporary readers, and provenance. Then, as expected each author provides a chapter-by-chapter evaluation of the passages for each biblical book. Readers will find that the authors provide a pastoral, deeply theological, and practical evaluation of the background and passages in a very engaging and relevant manner. The essays are profoundly academic while keeping the non-specialist audience in mind. In that sense, the commentaries will satisfy those readers with academic backgrounds, without overwhelming those with a less academic focus with unnecessary notes and references. Additional readings are provided within each essay to assist readers with other great sources.

The Paulist Biblical Commentary is wonderfully done and highly recommended. The scope of the work is commendable and was clearly achieved by the individual authors. Not only is each biblical book analyzed in a pastoral manner for a wide audience the authors all contribute to what ends up as a solid theological and academic resource for those preaching, teaching, and reading for personal edification and holiness. It would be a great text for pastors and educators to have in individual libraries, and a must buy for college and seminary libraries. It’s an outstanding resource for both Catholic and ecumenical readers.