Alec Motyer

Surprisingly, in recent years evangelical exegetical commentaries on Isaiah have been few and far between. Now after over three decades of studying and teaching Isaiah, Alec Motyer presents a wealth of comment and perspective on this book. Although his emphasis is on the grammatical, historical, structural, literary and theological dimensions of the text, Motyer writes with an eye on its meaning for Christians today. Based on the author's knowledge of the Hebrew text, but utilizing the New International Version, the commentary easily accommodates readers without a working knowledge of biblical Hebrew. Preachers, teachers and serious Bible students of all types will find this commentary a wise, winsome and welcome guide to the prophecy of Isaiah. It may easily be the best one-volume evangelical commentary on Isaiah available today.

The Bible is one book, not two separate testaments; so the Old Testament is essential for understanding the New. In this stimulating book on the Old Testament background to Christ, Alec Motyer shows how Jesus is the king expected, who brings in the kingdom looked for in the Old Testament; is both the image and the Word of God; conquers sin and death, and brings the disordered creation to its prefect consummation. To neglect the Old Testament, the author maintains, is to have an impoverished view of the glory of Christ.

Affluence, exploitation and the profit motive were the most notable features of the society which Amos observed and in which he worked ... Standards had gone to pot. Authority and the rule of law were despised, and national leadership, while revelling in the publicity and dignity of position ... seemed to be contributing to the complete breakdown of law and order.' Thus Alec Motyer exposes and explains the astonishingly relevant - but never popular - message of the prophet Amos. Michael Green observes, 'Alec Motyer has clearly got the spirit of Amos in his blood. He loves the prophet from Tekoa, and takes endless pains to give full weight to every syllable of the prophecy. He is, of course, a distinguished scholar, and we are given full value on that front; but you will find here none of the dreary academic deadness which all too often comes through in commentary work.'