Daniel: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary (EBTC)
Daniel
The book of Daniel presents a God who is there and is not silent.
Joe M. Sprinkle connects Daniel with the biblical story. Debates rage around Daniel’s dating, historicity, and referents. With this focus on historical context, Daniel’s canonical context is often lost. While arguing for conservative dating and historicity, Sprinkle focuses on how Daniel is a fulcrum for many theological themes in both the Old and New Testaments. Daniel says much about God’s nature, his relationship with history, the heavenly host, the Messiah, the coming kingdom, and the last things.
Praise for Daniel
Joe Sprinkle's commentary presents the best of evangelical scholarship on Daniel: an even-handed evaluation of the most recent thought on both individual passages and the theology of the book as a whole. While he strives to present his own view of the theological questions raised by Daniel, he also respectfully interacts with other scholars, allowing readers to grasp his method while also evaluating what others have to say.
—Andrew Steinmann, Distinguished Professor of Theology and Hebrew, Concordia University Chicago
Dr. Sprinkle has produced a clear, well-researched commentary on a very difficult book. The introduction lays out the important issues necessary for understanding the book of Daniel, and the difficult issues are handled fairly while maintaining a conservative, evangelical perspective for the book. His attempt to provide a biblical-theological commentary that pulls together almost one hundred pages of biblical themes found in the book of Daniel may prove to be its greatest asset. Also, his discussion on Daniel 9:24–27 is even-handed and well-researched. I highly recommend this commentary from a very able scholar.
—Paul D. Wegner, Distinguished Professor of the Old Testament, Gateway Seminary
Top Highlights
“the description of the king of vv. 37–38 does not fit Antiochus IV” (Pages 321–322)
“the story of Daniel covers a period of almost seventy years” (Page 1)
“What exactly is the 1,290 days? How does it differ from the ‘time, times, and half a time’ of v. 7, if at all? If this and Revelation 12 both are eschatological, what distinction is there between Daniel’s 1,290 days and Revelation’s 1,260 days (Rev 12:6)? What does the interval between the 1,290 days and the 1,335 days in Daniel 12 signify? The fact that a blessing or happiness is attached to the 1,335 number (v. 12) suggests that to reach that number is to have passed beyond the time of trial.” (Page 338)
“Lions play a prominent role in Neo-Babylonian iconography. Lions along Babylon’s Processional Way are often taken as a symbol of the goddess Ishtar, but since the lions are male they may instead be a symbol of the king6 and speak of his predatory fierceness.” (Page 173)
“That in turn suggests that Daniel 7 should be interpreted in light of Revelation 13 and 19.” (Page 196)
Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary series
The Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary (EBTC) series locates each biblical book within redemptive history and illuminates its unique theological contributions. All EBTC volumes feature informed exegetical treatment of the biblical book and thorough discussion of its most important theological themes in relation to the canon—all in a style that is useful and accessible to students of Scripture and preachers of the word.
Learn more about the other titles in this series.
- Title: Daniel: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary (EBTC)
- Author: Joe M. Sprinkle
- Series: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary (EBTC)
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2020
- Pages: 504
- Format: Logos Digital, Hardcover
- Trim Size: 5.5x8.5
- ISBN: 9781683594246
Joe M. Sprinkle (PhD, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion) is retired professor of Old Testament at Crossroads College (2003–2016) and previously taught at Toccoa Falls College (1988-2003). He is the author of Leviticus and Numbers (Teach the Text) and The Book of the Covenant: A Literary Approach and Biblical Law and Its Relevance.
Reviews
1 rating
Bella Schroeder
7/22/2023
Joe M. Sprinkle's commentary on Daniel offers the reader an accessible resource for understanding this complex book of the Bible. Through the course of this commentary, Sprinkle provides a comprehensive guide that is suitable for both scholars and new believers striving to understand a God who is there in the midst of immense trials. "God allows his people to endure times of trial, though he is present with them and often works to save his people." The biggest strength of the way Sprinkle handles his commentary is his commitment to providing historical and cultural context. Skillfully through careful diction, Sprinkle navigates the complexities of Daniel's historical background, helping readers to understand the empires, rules, and events mentioned in the book of Daniel. While this commentary is strong, it is lacking when it comes to prophetical emphasis. This commentary focuses more on theology, history, and lessons that you will find from Daniel's narrative. "Daniel in v. 10 was confronted with a stark choice: obey the "law of God" (v. 6) or the irrevocable and unchanging law of the Medes and Persians (v.9). In other words, obey God or man. If he chooses the former, it puts his life at risk, but if he chooses the latter, he betrays God and his own spiritual integrity." Daniel is known for its cryptic vision and symbolic language and Sprinkle guides his readers through this complex theology with clarity and insight. He provides thorough explanations of the symbols and imagery, ensuring that the reader can fully comprehend the intended message of the text without getting lost along the way. He carefully examines the major themes such as God's sovereignty, the coming Messiah, and the hope of future restoration. The theological insight that Sprinkle provides is rooted in solid biblical interpretation and provides the reader with a deeper understanding of spiritual significance. "Although God is the supreme sovereign, his sovereignty falls short of a strict determinism that excludes all freewill and resistance by his creatures." This commentary is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of this fascinating book of the Bible. With its combination of historical context, clear writing, and theological insight, this commentary provides a clear and solid foundation for interpreting the theology that Daniel's book. While there are some areas that Sprinkle could have further developed, this commentary remains a work I recommended for scholars, pastors, and readers