A Book Review from Books At A Glance
by Matthew B. Tabke
Philip H. Eveson currently resides in Wrexham, Wales with his wife. He studied Biblical languages and theology at the University of Wales, Cambridge, and the University of London, but no information can be found regarding formally awarded degrees. He served for many years as a pastor at Kensit Evangelical Church, has authored several books, and served as a Resident Tutor in Biblical Exegesis and Theology at London Theological Seminary. After time spent teaching, Eveson became the seminary’s second principle. London Theological Seminary has ties to Banner of Truth and Christian Focus Publications, the latter of which published the title under review. Eveson has since retired from his role at London Theological Seminary and now continues to teach and preach around the world.
There are some fascinating elements connected to this title that set it apart from previous works I have interacted with in review. First, information on Eveson’s education was scarce, suggesting he may not have graduated with any formal degrees; it appears his education may have taken place as a supplement to pastoral ministry. This is significant given the fact that his commentary includes a word for word translation of Chronicles, meaning he has studied the Biblical languages at some level. Second, Eveson’s career as a teacher was at an institution that does not award degrees. London Theological Seminary offers a non-traditional approach to education that brings advanced theological study and pastoral care to those engaged in the work of ministry. One should not be deterred by the lack of accreditation or degrees; however, London Theological Seminary’s highest caliber of study is considered sufficient to earn an accredited ThM degree from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This aspect, along with other relationships they have, such as their connection to Banner of Truth, suggests the institution is to be respected. Finally, 1 & 2 Chronicles was published by Christian Focus Publications. This publishing company has been producing Christian books since the 1970s and operates firmly within the Reformed tradition. The publishing company has produced a number of notable works, such as the 2000 Years of Christ’s Power series and A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, as well as many biographies and theological works.
While the institutions mentioned above have been in operation for decades, they still raise philosophical questions about traditional approaches to education and publishing. We live in an era where many accredited theological institutions and prominent publishing companies have disgraced themselves by bowing their knees to aspects of a worldly agenda. As such, we ought not dismiss any work merely because it comes from sources which are less familiar in name. The institutions mentioned above are firmly committed to Reformed Protestant Orthodoxy and local church ministry in a way that is sometimes absent from those institutions that have name recognition. Eveson’s work in 1 & 2 Chronicles displays the author’s commitment to the production of materials that are highly suitable to pastors who may not have had the opportunity to encounter Biblical studies at the highly technical level offered by traditional institutions.
The preface to 1 & 2 Chronicles brings a bit more clarity to Eveson’s education and background though no formal degrees are mentioned. The author studied with several pastors and professors from the University College of North Wales Bangor and Cambridge University. In addition, he mentions the importance of being brought up in a home where “the Bible was appreciated as God’s inerrant and authoritative word.” This facet is particularly important since the doctrine of inerrancy is often flippantly spoken of and dismissed by Western Evangelical academics outside of the United States. These observations set the stage for the commentary by confirming the author’s commitment to orthodoxy.
From here, the commentary is laid out in traditional format with an introduction followed by the commentary proper, where Eveson works through Chronicles in a section-by-section format. Application sections are offered periodically to help readers understand how to think about the text in their lives and ministries. While recognizing that Chronicles is best “considered…to be one book,” Eveson splits his work into two volumes, with the first covering 1 Chronicles and the second covering 2 Chronicles according to the traditional divisions found in our modern Bibles (15). This aspect aids in the accessibility of the work for those using the commentary as study material to supplement their reading of the Scriptures. In addition, the table of contents offers page numbers for each section of Scripture covered which helps the reader quickly find the particular section of Chronicles they need information on for preaching and teaching.
The introductory matters cover much of the same type of introductory material you would find in other commentaries, such as the author, sources, structure, and main themes. It is clear from the outset that Eveson is familiar with both secular and Evangelical scholarship, though he writes in a clear way that simplifies much of this material, making the commentary an easy read in straightforward yet thorough language. For instance, when discussing the titles given to Chronicles, Eveson uses transliterations rather than writing with the Greek and Hebrew letters. This appears to be the case throughout the commentary since in my reading of it I could find no Greek or Hebrew characters. While this may not suit those who have studied at an advanced academic level, once again the author appears more concerned with the commentary’s use in pastoral ministry and advanced Bible study for the layman. The clarity of writing is a commendable characteristic of the commentary.
The commentary proper is split into three sections: a translation, commentary, and application. The translation attempts a formal equivalence philosophy and italicizes English words added for clarity of the Hebrew text, just as the NASB would. The commentary section offers simple, clear explanations of each section of verses. Each of these sections runs between 2-5 pages and can be studied in short order which again makes the commentary very accessible for those preparing sermons or teachings or the layman who simply wants to engage the text at a deeper level. The application sections provide practical applications of the text and offer a canonical and theological reading of Scripture. These sections are useful for helping readers understand how Chronicles is relevant to their lives and the lives of their congregants. Several passages from all of Scripture are cited in these sections connecting Christ and the church to Chronicles which is a book of the Bible many Christians are less familiar with and perhaps even intimidated by. No formal conclusion is offered by the commentary, but the final lines of the commentary firmly state that “all are now encouraged to trust Jesus of David’s royal line before judgment day, for He is the King of kings and Lord of lords who has been given the name above every name and to whom on that final day every knee shall bow” (337 of vol. 2). There may be no formal conclusion to Eveson’s work, but this is a fitting end to an excellent pastoral commentary.
While I highly recommend this clear and practical commentary for students, laymen, and especially pastors, there are a few critiques that may be set forth. First, there is no purpose statement in the preface or introduction concerning who this commentary is for. That this work is a commentary for pastors and laymen is deduced from the content of the work rather than from any clear explanation. While this is sometimes seen, such as in the case of John Gill’s commentary or Augustine’s Exposition of the Psalms, I have yet to encounter a modern commentary without some explanation of who they are writing for. Even older commentaries such as Calvin’s, Matthew Henry’s, or Matthew Poole’s include some note to the reader. This is a minor gripe, but it would have been helpful to include some note of introduction to those who are considering purchasing this commentary.
A second critique is that the structure is a bit difficult to follow. The divisions in the table of contents provide an excellent outline with page numbers, but at times, it can feel as though the reader is unprepared for the sudden end of a section. Also, some sections of Scripture are divided further than what the outline shows which can throw readers off as the application sections still appear at the end of the larger division.
Third, regarding the personal interest of my own doctoral studies, there is the lack of mention concerning story summaries in the Bible. 1 Chronicles 1-9 and especially 16:8-36 have been recognized for several decades as unique compositions embedded in the text that offer historical and theological overviews of Israel’s history. This is not to say these texts are disconnected from the rest of the content of Chronicles in any way, but as a budding scholar, I would have appreciated some comment on the unique nature of these texts in comparison to other literary formats contained in the Scriptures. Eveson certainly recognizes that genealogical data is meant to give pause to the reader and draw one back to the stories connected to the names mentioned, but there are few if any comments made about the uniqueness of these story summaries (53-54, 59-60 of vol. 1). Again, this is a minor critique since the commentary was written for pastors and laymen, but those hoping for more scholarly specificity may find the commentary lacking in certain respects pertaining to the more acute points they wish to stress for their dissertations.
The critiques offered should not deter any pastor or laymen hoping to understand Chronicles in a deeper manner from purchasing this commentary by Eveson. The author is simple yet thorough in his explanation of the text for the people of God. He has clearly studied at a serious level and desires to aid those engaged in ministry by bringing clarity and practicality to the book of Chronicles. Eveson’s commentary will provide a useful aid to those preaching through the book or to those who desire to study and understand Chronicles at a greater depth. I highly recommend this resource to all.
Matthew B. Tabke
Buy the books
1 & 2 CHRONICLES (2 VOLUMES), by Philip H. Eveson