I received the Baker Academic catalog today and noticed the announcement for a new Commentary from Craig Keener. That Keener might write a commentary on Acts is not a surprise, his commentaries on John (Hendrickson) and Matthew (Eerdmans) are excellent, and I very much look forward to his contribution to Acts.
What surprised me is this: the first volume is 1,080 pages and is sub-titled “Introduction and 1:1-2:47”. Just over 1000 pages and he makes it through chapter 2! The entire project willbe four volumes, so Keener will have about 4,000 pages on the book of Acts before he is finished. By contrast, E. M. Blaiklock’s Tyndale Commentary on Acts was 197 pages for the whole book. Keener’s John commentary is extremely detailed and well-researched, so I am looking forward to watching this massive set develop over the next few years.
Volume one is due July 2012 from Baker. Look for a full review on this blog in the fall.
1,080 just for volume one? OMG !! (Hoping that is not blaspheming!)
saw this a few weeks ago… massive work with massive price. Based on the price of first volume, the set will be around $240…may be worth it, but who will be able to afford it. Not the average Pastor that is for sure. Most of us cannot afford it, no matter how good it will turn out to be.
$60 is of course retail, and there are benefits to living in Grand Rapids! It is worth being a member of ETS or SBl and going to the national meetings just to buy a copy at 40% or 50% off!
Sadly a 1000+ page book is going to be that much or more. (Dunn’s Christianity in the Making was that expensive per volume, I think Beale’s NIGTC was $75 in hardback when it came out.