Wish Granted! Introducing the BYU New Testament Commentary Project

Back around Christmas time, I created a wish list for things I wished were available, but simply were not. Among other things, I wished for “a good, scholarly edition of the Bible translated by LDS scholars.” Well, it appears that I am about to have my wish granted, at least in part, along with much more. Just today, BYU has unveiled a New Testament Commentary Project. It will involve multiple scholars and will provide a new translation and also offer extensive commentary.

A group of Latter-day Saint scholars has joined forces to produce a multi-volume commentary on the New Testament along with a new rendition of the Greek New Testament texts. Planned to take several years to complete, this  series will combine the best of ancient linguistic and historical scholarship with Latter-day Saint doctrinal perspectives.

The first volume to be published is, perhaps strangely, on the last book in the New Testament, The Apocalypse of St. John, by Richard Draper and Michael Rhodes. It is currently slated to be available in ebook form within a few months.

This promises to make comprehensive use of both New Testament scholarship and Mormon scripture.

This commentary will be the first to combine such a breadth of scholarly expertise in the New Testament coupled with Mormon scripture.  The series will examine each book in the New Testament almost word by word, exploring relationships between the New Testament and the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

A Conference is slated for May 15 at BYU where several participants will present and discuss the project.

It looks to be a promising new enterprise. Any Latter-day Saints interested in New Testament studies will surely want to keep an eye on this project.