Herbert Bateman IV is the founder of the Cyber-Center for Biblical Studies, where he also serves as Professor of New Testament and research administrator. Bateman is the author of A Workbook for Intermediate Greek (Kregel, 2008) and editor of Four Views on the Warning Passages in Hebrews (Kregel, 2007). Much of his scholarly work has focused on the general epistles and in particular the book of Hebrews. Bateman’s scholarship and pastoral concern certainly are evident in this volume of the Handbooks for New Testament Exegesis series.

According to Bateman, this book “intends to shape the way people think and go about studying and communicating” the general letters (p. 13). Both the content and design of the book provide the reader with a reproducible model for interpreting a passage as one moves into exegesis and then from exegesis to exposition. The overarching structure, as I see it, is threefold. The first three chapters address the background items of literature, history, and theology. Chapters four through six set forth Bateman’s nine steps for interpreting a general letter. Finally, chapters seven and eight provide helpful tools for moving forward with the approach. The book concludes with a brief, but helpful, glossary.

For the purpose of this review, I will briefly summarize Bateman’s nine steps (chs. 4–6). Steps 1–3 are set under the heading “Preparing to Interpret the General Letters” (ch. 4). Step One is to translate the Greek text. Step Two demonstrates how one can identify interpretive issues with the passage in view (comparing English versions, understanding translation theory, rendering Greek idioms). Step Three is essentially a 20-page primer on textual criticism. Steps 4–6 are grouped as “Interpreting Passages in the General Letters” (ch. 5). These three steps address deeper issues such as developing a structural outline, interpreting the style, syntax, and semantics of the text, and Greek word studies. Steps 7–9 fall under the heading “Communicating the General Letters” (ch. 6), addressing exegetical communication, proclaiming the central idea of the text, and communicating homiletically.

One omission from this installment in the Handbooks for New Testament Exegesis is a series preface. If one were to pick up this book and was not familiar with this series, the intended audience that the editors are trying to reach would not be self-evident. Based on the book’s content (e.g., the depth to which Bateman goes concerning the identification of Greek clauses and the field of textual criticism), the audience seems to be those with at least some advanced theological study. Further, Bateman rightly points out that textual criticism and creating structural outlines are both a science and an art (p. 173), but must one be trained in these areas in order to incorporate them into the exegesis of a text? Bateman does not answer this question but is quick to point to the subjectivity of each area.

Related to the above point, in an attempt to cover many broad areas of NT study, Bateman had to limit his treatment of certain topics. One obvious drawback of this approach comes with his treatment of textual criticism. A twenty-page crash course in this highly specialized field of NT study does not approach a sufficient treatment of the topic. His discussion is detailed and well balanced, but, in my opinion, the reader needs much more than what is provided in order to accomplish the steps expected from this chapter. While I commend Bateman for attempting to make this field more accessible to his audience—and while I do not have any specific critique of the content he does include—I fear that a minimal understanding of this field and its practice could do more harm than good.

A valuable feature of this handbook is that Bateman frequently illustrates the interpretive implications of the method. He does not merely include short, pithy examples along the way but rather deepens the reader’s understanding of the method by supplying extensive examples from texts in the general letters (e.g., five pages on the style of Hebrews, a seven-page exegetical outline of 3 John, and eight pages on the theme of wisdom in James). At every turn of the page, Bateman reinforces the integral role of the literary context as a starting point for interpreting and proclaiming a text. Another valuable portion of the book is the list of resources for further study and Bateman’s “Guide for Choosing Commentaries” (both which are gems for college and seminary students).

If you are looking for a one-stop shop for interpreting the general letters, then this is your book. Overall, Bateman has produced a readable, accessible, and informative handbook. His nine steps are presented in such a way that they can be applied to any passage from the corpus of the general letters (and many of them can be replicated with other passages in the NT). He writes meticulously on every topic, but his approach is also intensely practical. I commend Bateman for his depth and erudition. His contribution to this series should be a welcome addition to the library of a seasoned pastor or seminary student.