The appearance in 1953 of A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture was a significant event for English-speaking Catholics for its interpretation of the Bible in the light of contemporary research. However, since then great strides have been made in the study ofthe Bible, and fresh insight has been given by recent archaeological discoveries and by the study of new manuscripts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Great changes have also been fostered by the Second Vatican Council and the World Council of Churches.
The spread of these new developmente has made a new edition of the Commentary urgently necessary. The editors and contributors have kept to the original aim of unfolding the sense of the Scriptures, but A New Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture is an entirely recast edition ofthe earlier work, making the fullest use of modern Biblical research. The word 'Catholic' has been retained in the title, not to indicate the differences, but to emphasize that this is a contribution by Roman Catholic scholars to the spread of knowledge of the Word of God. Far from stressing the differences, A New Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture shows how much common gtound there now is in the field of Bible study between all denominations.
In addition to detailed commentaries on all canonical and deutero-canonical books in the Bible; there are general articles covering such diverse topics as: 'Archaeology and the Bible'; 'The History of Israel', 'The Pagan World in New Testament Times', 'The Life of . St. Paul', and 'Measures: Weights, Money and Time'. The maps at the end of the volume embody the results ofrecent excavations and show all the archaeological sites.
A New Catholic Commentaty on Holy Scripture is a reference book not only for Roman Catholics but for readers of widely differing denominations or of none. It represents a great advance in the field of Biblical studies and a significant contribution to the ecumenical movement in the Church today.