More questions about Romans commentaries

[Ploutos]

Two more questions about Romans commentaries. First, are the online CCEL editions of Calvin's commentaries adequate (i.e. no translational / textual oddities)?

Second - I am reading that Bullinger, Bucer, and Vermigli also wrote Romans commentaries. Do any of them have merit compared to Calvin's?

For a bit of context (in case anybody is wondering why I am creating all these commentary threads), my pastor is beginning a series on Romans, and a couple of other church members and I are discussing the possibility of reading through some commentaries as he preaches through it.

 

[CasualWestminsterEnjoyer]

Two more questions about Romans commentaries. First, are the online CCEL editions of Calvin's commentaries adequate (i.e. no translational / textual oddities)?

They are the same 19th century translation (most by John Owen) as is available anywhere.

Second - I am reading that Bullinger, Bucer, and Vermigli also wrote Romans commentaries. Do any of them have merit compared to Calvin's?

Bullinger is an excellent commentator. Very practical, and his interpretations are often more solid than Calvin's. His commentaries are sermons.

Vermigli's are lectures, and he gets into a lot of scholastic questions. "What about this? What about that?"

The other Reformation commentaries that are often worth consulting are Melanchthon (more or less the first Reformation commentator), and Piscator (analyzes grammar, figures of speech, the logical connections between arguments, and applications). Poole is always solid as well.

If I had to pick one, it'd be Piscator.

 

[Ploutos]

Charles, you are a wealth of information. Thank you! You said you'd pick Piscator - why?

 

[Ploutos]

Also, is Bullinger's commentary on Romans even available in English? I don't see it on CCEL and every time I've tried to look online, all I can find is some E.W. Bullinger guy who I know nothing about but whose beard is apparently as inferior to Heinrich's as his theology.

 

[jhcampbell]

Also, is Bullinger's commentary on Romans even available in English? I don't see it on CCEL and every time I've tried to look online, all I can find is some E.W. Bullinger guy who I know nothing about but whose beard is apparently as inferior to Heinrich's as his theology.

Search for

In sanctissimam Pauli ad Romanos epistolam Heinrychi Bullingeri commentarius

on this page:

https://www.prdl.org/author_view.php?a_id=175&s=0&limit=500

you'll find it.


I believe the answer to your question, "Is Bullinger's commentary on Romans even available in English?" is no.

 

[CasualWestminsterEnjoyer]

Charles, you are a wealth of information. Thank you! You said you'd pick Piscator - why?

He's pretty good at outlining the flow of Paul's arguments and pointing out the connection between the various ideas and things he mentions, which is the hardest part about understanding Paul. His arguments are layered and complex.

And he gives solid applications.

Also, is Bullinger's commentary on Romans even available in English?

No.

 

[SolaScriptura]

Search for

In sanctissimam Pauli ad Romanos epistolam Heinrychi Bullingeri commentarius

on this page:

https://www.prdl.org/author_view.php?a_id=175&s=0&limit=500

you'll find it.


I believe the answer to your question, "Is Bullinger's commentary on Romans even available in English?" is no.

Sounds like low hanging fruit for some aspiring PhD....

 

[CasualWestminsterEnjoyer]

Sounds like low hanging fruit for some aspiring PhD....

Or casual reading for a bored latinist...

 

[darrellmaurina]

Second - I am reading that Bullinger, Bucer, and Vermigli also wrote Romans commentaries. Do any of them have merit compared to Calvin's?

Always good to see Vermigli mentioned. The "Lost Italian Reformers" lack a built-in group of advocates but they were VERY well known in their day in Reformed circles all over Europe because the wrote in Latin, the international language of their day. If things had gone differently in Italy, their books, which were widely circulated among Italian merchants and academics, could have been the foundation of an Italian Reformation.

For a bit of context (in case anybody is wondering why I am creating all these commentary threads), my pastor is beginning a series on Romans, and a couple of other church members and I are discussing the possibility of reading through some commentaries as he preaches through it.

Good for you. Reading what your pastor is reading helps.