A panel at the two-day Dean's Colloquium included (l-r): School of Theology and Ministry Assistant Professor of Old Testament Michael Simone, S.J., Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Richard J. Clifford, S.J., and Dean Thomas D. Stegman, S.J., professor of New Testament, all of whom are聽contributors to the newly published Paulist Biblical Commentary. (Peter Julian)
The Boston College School of Theology and Ministry celebrated the publication of The Paulist Biblical Commentary (Paulist Press, 2018), a significant new compendium of the very best in contemporary biblical scholarship, at a Dean鈥檚 Colloquium on October 25 and 26.
The 1,686-page volume, which brings together in collaboration more than 70 international biblical scholars, consists of a commentary on each of the 73 books of the Catholic canon of the Bible along with 12 general articles, written to be accessible to a wide variety of readers, especially those engaged in pastoral ministry. The P亚色影库 is based on classical approaches to Scripture, but the commentaries and articles are not limited to historical-literary issues; they also draw upon relevant theological and pastoral ideas found in the text.
The colloquium, sponsored by STM and Paulist Press with the support of Christine A. Donovan, was held as part of the School of Theology and Ministry 10th anniversary observance.
The book鈥檚 general editors include STM Dean and Professor of New Testament Thomas D. Stegman, S.J., and STM Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Richard J. Clifford, S.J., who served as STM鈥檚 founding dean from 2008-2010.
"The Paulist Biblical Commentary聽makes accessible the best of biblical scholarship for those who are interested in the Bible's theological, spiritual, and pastoral riches,鈥� said Fr. Stegman, who penned the volume鈥檚 commentary on Romans.
Fr. Clifford contributed commentaries on Genesis, Wisdom, and Nahum. He and Fr. Stegman also co-wrote the general article on 鈥淭he Christian Bible.鈥�
The role of the Bible in the life of the church has undergone a resurgence in the last 50 years, according to the book鈥檚 introduction. There is renewed emphasis on the central place of the Scriptures in the church鈥檚 theology and pastoral practices. The Second Vatican Council鈥檚 document Dei Verbum (The Word of God) brought the renewal in a forceful way to the universal church. Dei Verbum includes pastoral directives for preaching to be based on the biblical texts proclaimed at the liturgy, for Sacred Scripture to be widely accessible to the Christian faithful, and for a new generation聽 of Catholic scholars to take up the study of the Scriptures.
This teaching 鈥渄efines the purpose, guiding spirit, and rich content of The Paulist Biblical Commentary,鈥� according to the editors.
鈥淒rawing on excellent Catholic biblical scholarship, The Paulist Biblical Commentary helps readers appreciate the Scriptures for their daily lives,鈥� said Fr. Clifford at the colloquium. 鈥淎lmost 30 years have passed since the publication of The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. This beautifully produced new volume takes account in understandable language of the discoveries and perspectives since that time.鈥�
Several other Boston College faculty members contributed to the