I picked this commentary up from a thrift store about 2 months ago for $10. I didn’t know anything about it or its author William MacDonald. The only things I knew about it were a) it was published by Thomas Nelson Publishers (not that a publisher’s name is a 100% guarantee of reliability anymore) b) it had quotes on the back and spine from W.A. Criswell and John MacArthur c) it was a bargain at 1/3 of the list price on the back. It has quickly become one of my favorites. I highly recommend it for your library.
The ‘BBC’ is is theologically sound, conservative, and just plain easy to read. When I want in-depth insight into a passage I enjoy Matthew Henry’s observations very much. The BBC is better than the overly-diced Matthew Henry Concise Commentary that’s out there. It fits smartly between the two, offering helpful verse-by-verse notes that don’t sacrifice content.
Let me share two brief quotations from MacDonald’s treatments of Genesis 1 and 2:
On Genesis 1:1 – “‘In the beginning God…’ These first four words of the Bible form the foundation for faith. Believe these words and you can believe all that follows in the Bible” (page 32).
On Genesis 2:21-23 – “Woman was taken not from Adam’s head to dominate him, nor from his feet to be trodden down, but from under his arm to be protected, and from near his heart to be loved” (page 35).
According his article on Wikipedia Mr. MacDonald was a Navy veteran, Harvard graduate (MBA), faculty and later president of Emmaus Bible College (1959-1965) and had a teaching ministry for many years after that. Although he authored 84 books, he never took book royalties, instead donating them to get the BBC translated into other languages. A few weeks shy of his 91st birthday, he went to be with the Lord Christmas Day 2007. Mr. MacDonald’s life of faithful service to His Lord is as fitting a commentary for any believer as his book. Thank you, Mr. MacDonald.
