As much as we may try to be neutral and interpret scripture as it truly is, we all interpret what we read through our own culture, gender, and ethnic backgrounds, experiences and biases. To challenge our own biases, cultural assumptions and blind spots we must listen to voices from others who come from different backgrounds and experiences. Sometimes it is hard to find these voices! This is where "The New Testament in Color", a one-volume commentary on the New Testament written by an ethnically diverse group of orthodox Christian Scholars, comes in. I found the voices ranged from inspiring to challenging and sometimes jarring to my cultural background. I am grateful to have a resource that allows me to hear different orthodox perspectives on Scripture from my own and recommend this commentary.

A good commentary by multiple solid scholars, and no stark disagreements come to mind that causes me to avoid recommending this commentary. However, I am also unclear as to the value add of this book – I understand how restricting one's literature to one perspective can limit our readings of the Bible and our scope of Christianity, but I do not see how The New Testament in Colour specifically brings a new interpretation to the table or sheds light on a biblical passage which people reading from other races/cultures would not have spotted. Personally, I am an Asian writing from Asia, and I often use American and English commentaries. Granted, some of their examples and applications are far removed from my context, but apart from that, I did not find their commentary very detached from my context. The New Testament in Colour is similar to this – I do not see how the authors, by virtue of their writing from a different cultural or racial background, address a blind spot other readers of the same text with the same theological commitments would not otherwise see.

The New Testament in Color offers a fresh and vibrant perspective on the New Testament, bringing together the voices of scholars Esau McCaulley, Janette H. Ok, Osvaldo Padilla, and Amy Peeler. Each contributes unique insights that highlight the diversity of experiences and contexts reflected in the biblical text.

What makes this work stand out is its intentional focus on cultural and contextual interpretation. The authors expertly navigate the intersection of race, identity, and theology, providing readers with a richer, more nuanced understanding of the New Testament. The book invites readers to see how their own cultural lenses shape their reading of Scripture, while also emphasizing the importance of hearing the voices from underrepresented communities. It is a fresh perspective in the sermon that I prepared and a welcome addition to other commentaries.

In addition to its scholarly rigor, The New Testament in Color remains accessible and engaging. It challenges conventional readings without being confrontational, making it a thought-provoking and enlightening resource for anyone interested in deepening their engagement with Scripture.

Overall, this is a beautifully collaborative work that offers a bold, inclusive look at the New Testament. Highly recommended for readers seeking fresh, diverse insights into the Bible.

This was a very interesting book. It gave me a new perspective for studying the Bible and smashed my own White Western bias straight into my face. I posted a longer review on my blog.

This commentary is unique to others I have read and referenced in the past. Its contributors are from various ethnicities and astute scholars. There are essays throughout the commentary that each contributor writes. The essays cover biblical interpretations among different cultures, gender, the pastoral letters, mental health, language and immigration.

Each New Testament book’s commentary section is written by a different scholar. They all have an introduction that includes the fundamentals i.e. author, time period, audience, main themes, basic outline/overview. The commentary is easy to read and understand. At the end of each New Testament book commentary is a selected bibliography. This is invaluable for those serious about the study of the New Testament.

I teach Bible study at my church and this is a Bible Study aid I have wanted for a long time. I look forward to returning to this commentary each time I teach passages from the New Testament.

I was sent an advanced copy of this book from the publisher, InterVarsity Press via NetGalley.

Excellent! A huge volume, these scholars' voices and perspectives are a needed and welcome addition to my reference library. I have been reading this commentary as if it's a book, honestly! Highly recommended.

"The New Testament in Color" offers a refreshing, much-needed perspective on biblical interpretation by bringing together a diverse group of scholars who contribute unique insights, all grounded in their distinct social and cultural backgrounds. This commentary stands out for its commitment to Christian beliefs while embracing a multiethnic approach, effectively bridging historical gaps often left by "traditional" commentaries. Each contributor’s perspective not only enriches the understanding of the New Testament texts but also highlights how different social contexts can illuminate scripture in new and meaningful ways.

This one-volume commentary is a significant addition to both academic and church libraries, offering a timely, inclusive exploration of the New Testament. By integrating various cultural lenses with traditional theology, "The New Testament in Color" provides readers with a fuller, more nuanced interpretation of biblical teachings, making it a valuable resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding of Scripture through the lens of diverse experiences and viewpoints, which is ever more important in today's world.

This is not a new translation of the New Testament but is a commentary on the books within the New Testsment. It gives good introductions to each of the books and gives a good incite into current theological thinking.
It is a commentary written in black and white text and not colour, as the title suggests. That isn’t technically a problem, but the back text is so tiny it cannot be easily read on a phone or a kindle. To be able to read it properly you need to view it on a computer. However, that beside I found the commentary helpful for bible study preparations and for reading before writing talks each week for Sunday worship.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

There are many commentaries out there in the market. Most are written by scholars and theologians who are male, white and live in the North Western Hemisphere. Contributions from women are just becoming more regular. Those from Asian, African, and non-white backgrounds are also appearing. We have all been shaped by commentaries from the Majority-White cultural backgrounds. For all their good intent, there is a danger of mainstream commentaries that lack diversity in biblical interpretation. All commentaries are interpretations from a specific background. They are influenced by culture, historical contexts, and to some extent, ethnic backgrounds. How can we present a more holistic commentary that encompasses a wider representation of the human race? This book is an attempt to do just that. With esteemed scholars from all over the Christian world, this "Multiethnic Bible Commentary" brings together a host of scholars from different ethnic groups. The African-American section interprets from the lens of slavery and the quest for fuller acceptance in society. The Asian-American chapter interprets from an immigrant's perspective while the Hispanic-American views Scriptures from a marginalized position. For the Native-American, they see things from the goodness of their culture. Writing on the White-Majority perspective, the starting point is "repentance, humility, unity, and communion."

Following that are commentaries by a multiethnic community on every book of the New Testament.

My Thoughts
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This is a fresh commentary on the New Testament from the perspectives of different ethnic groups in America, namely, the African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American, Native-American, as well as the Majority-View-White American. Let me offer three thoughts about this book. Firstly, it is a commendable effort to integrate different perspectives from different ethnic groups. Many commentaries we now have are indeed written from a White-Majority perspective. Even those who are non-white have been trained in a typically White-Majority culture, which some might argue, is not natively original from the ethnic standpoint. To be fair, I concede that many honest voices have spoken well on behalf of cultures not their own. Yet, whatever the good intent, there is no escaping questions surrounding the "nature vs nurture" argument. Can a white truly speak on behalf of cultures that are non-white? Can a non-white nurtured in a white environment speak accurately about interpretations from their cultural perspective? Whatever it is, I must say it is a good start to incorporate more awareness that there are different voices that we can learn and benefit from.

Secondly, we should be careful not to generalize any one people group. I cannot imagine the pressure on any one author to write accurately and fairly on behalf of their ethnic group. For within every label, whether Asian, American, African, or Native, many more subgroups could claim different points of view. The danger of such commentaries is the generalization of views based on one chapter. Even if the author has no such intent, there is no preventing some readers from drawing their own conclusions. Thus, I would caution any reader to read these perspectives with an open mind and not to shut the door on other perspectives from groups not explicitly represented. The various contributors may write from their respective cultural and social angles, but that does not necessarily mean they speak for their entire people group. Suffice to say that the purpose of such a commentary is to offer an alternative view on top of the usual commentaries that we have been using.

Finally, there is a common theme for every group. If there is one common theme among all, it is the word marginalized. Throughout history, even today, Christians have been ostracized, marginalized, and persecuted. Every ethnic group has been marginalized in some way. Even the White-Majority Christians are pushed to the margins by atheism and secular society. Looking at the first letter of Peter, regardless of ethnicity, the message is common for all these groups, that we are all resident aliens, minorities in our communities. Peter wrote to the diaspora across five regions of his massive ministry and summarized it as follows: "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you." Peter could very well have addressed the diaspora according to the various ethnic groups: Africans, Asians, Latinos, Natives, Whites, Blacks, etc. Instead of trying to upend one another, why not come together, share perspectives, and agree that the gospel is way bigger than any one interpretation or ethnic group? May this commentary help build better bridges of understanding for all groups.

One problem I have is being distracted by various ethnic interpretive angles rather than examining the Word for what it is saying. Perhaps this is due to the unique focus of this commentary, of being "in color" instead of (for the lack of a better word) "neutral." Of course, no interpretation is neutral. Thus the way forward is to use this commentary to complement the conventional commentaries. The key use of such a commentary is complement, not replacement. Hopefully, this might spur similar works from countries outside North America to expand the range of understanding about how culture and ethnicity affect biblical interpretation.

In summary, this is a useful commentary to cast greater light on the Bible.

Esau McCaulley is associate professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. He is the author of many works including Sharing in the Son’s Inheritance and Reading While Black. He is a contributing opinion writer for the The New York Times, and his writing has also appeared in places such as The Atlantic and The Washington Post.

Janette H. Ok is associate professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary. She is the author of Constructing Ethnic Identity in 1 Peter (T and T Clark). She is currently writing a commentary on the Letters of John (NICNT, Eerdmans) and To Be and Be Seen, coauthored with Jordan J. Cruz Ryan (Baker Academic).

Osvaldo Padilla is professor of New Testament and theology at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, where he has taught for the last fifteen years. He has published on the Acts of the Apostles and Paul. He is a member of the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas.

Amy Peeler is Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College and an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church (USA). She is the author of Women and the Gender of God (Eerdmans) and a commentary on Hebrews (Commentaries for Christian Formation, Eerdmans).
Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of InterVarsity Academic via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

The old New Bible Commentary was the standard 1 volume commentary set. The New Testament in Color may be this generations NBC for the NT. The scholars in both works are respected by their peers and pastors go to their shelves for to reference what they have to say. It's hard to put into words the impact the The New Testament in Color will have. Yes there are different ethnicities purposefully included here but the academic rigor cannot be downplayed. God is showing he can work with his whole church around the globe as Rev 7:9 states there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. God has chosen a people with a range of color. For the new believer, pastor, or longtime pew sitter this will open your eyes to God's color pallet in painting his story of redemption.
A sampling of the authors include:
First Letter to the Corinthians-Gene L. Green
Letter to the Galatians-Eric C. Redmond
Letter to the Ephesians-Esau D. McCaulley
Letter to the Colossians-Dennis R. Edwards
Pastoral Letters-Osvaldo Padilla
Letter to the Hebrews-Madison N. Pierce

Thanks to the publisher and NetGally for letting me preview this title. I read the introductory essays and actually wanted to read the commentary page by page. Instead I glanced through and read commentary on certain passages. As with any volume written by multiple authors, I liked the style of some better than others, but in general I found everything I read very interesting. I hope to get my own copy at some point in the future.

The New Testament in Color is an extensive one-volume commentary that focuses on the voices of people of color and how their experience and tradition informs their interpretation of Scripture. Some might look at this commentary and say that it is a resource for seminarians, academia, or people in multicultural ministry. I would caution against such an assumption. The reality is that this commentary was a necessary addition to the range of commentaries already published because the vast majority of biblical commentaries have come from male, white, European or American contexts or contributors. By utilizing this commentary in preparation for sermons or study in majority white churches or institutions, it is providing the reader with the opportunity to consider a perspective different from there own. God cannot be confined to one culture and by bringing together multiple voices, it then expands and enriches the interpretation of Scripture for study and proclamation.

The way that this commentary is structured is first with introductions to the interpretive traditions of African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, Turtle Island, and Majority-Culture. Then for each book of the New Testament it gives an introduction to the book, context of the contributor, author/date, genre, setting, and critical issues. It then gives a passage-by-passage commentary (i.e Acts: 1:6-11) with asides on things like Pharisees, Sadducees, and leprosy. In addition, it includes important chapters on wider themes such as Gender in the New Testament and Immigrants in the Kingdom of God.

This commentary belongs on the shelf of every pastor and scholar in the United States, if not on an even larger scale. It is comprehensive, well-written, well-researched, and eye-opening. I recommend without reservation.

Thank you IVP Academic and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This collection of essays that feature academics and theologians of colour offers diverse perspective and historical understanding of various racialized groups and their history within the Christian faith. I appreciated the context provided by each author. Additionally, as a person that is not in seminary, and is merely interested in learning more about theology, the writing in the book was extremely high quality and accessible. This book has given me many new ways to consider and read the Bible in its full context and to learn about how the New Testament resonates with POCs.

Perhaps you’ve read a familiar scripture verse or passage and had it mean something new to you—because you’re in a new stage in life like dating, marriage, divorce, widow-hood, being a child of a parent and now a parent, early career versus late career or retirement, migration from rural to urban or vice versa. Similarly, if you have a different familial history or geographic origin than the majority culture, the scripture passages might appear differently to you. Thus we can learn much from the contributors to the “New Testament in Color.” They provide a commentary on each of the books of the New Testament (Greek scriptures) as well as several other essays. The introduction to the Gospel of Mark is worth the price of the whole book. They do not exegete each verse but provide a minority perspective on the theme(s) of a passage throughout the book(s). We get to read insights from Black (African American), Asian American, First Nation, Hispanic (Latino/a), minority female scholars and more.

They acknowledge that they are approaching this as North American residents, some from many generations on the margin, sometimes 2nd generation immigrants or transplants from another country. Thus, their perspective is somewhat limited by the time lapse from their family’s original culture. Still these commentaries are scholarly, personal and insightful. For example, though outside the scope of this work, one contributor illuminates the coldness of First Nations people to embrace easily the Israelites crossing the Jordan—as perhaps an act of colonization—to displace the current inhabitants of Canaan.

There were a few places I thought a more non-European perspective could be expressed but wasn’t: the jailer’s household being baptized because of the patriarch’s experience with Paul and Silas; the silent conflict of Philip (one of the original apostles) warning Paul on his return to Jerusalem because Paul is ignoring the elders of the community; the provoking of anger perhaps when Jesus praises the centurion’s faith over his own disciples’, the crowd’s, his mother Mary’s and the baptized John’s. And there were a few where better insights are given. Such as Peter’s vision in Acts 10 and being told to eat unclean food just before being summoned to a Roman centurion’s household: most interpreters focus purely on the cultural challenge—one Peter has already faced—while this book’s interpreter here focuses on the socioeconomic power clash between Peter, a poor Jew, and Cornelius. Like the power conflict between an urban Black and White metro law enforcement officer, who’s been taught that blacks are criminals and it may be the only portion of that group they’ve interacted with. Both would be totally unfamiliar with each other except as powerful/powerless, oppressive/rebellious stereotypes.. The centurion would have been educated that the Israelites were kicked out of Egypt so many generations ago so that their diseases (aka the plagues) wouldn’t contaminate the Egyptian populace. The centurion then wouldn’t have wanted to engage much with the “slum-dwelling” Jewish inhabitants, and yet kneels contritely before Peter.

If you’ve never been challenged to ask different questions when you read scripture—like you haven’t read this book or “Misreading Scripture Through Western Eyes”—then you really need to pick up this commentary.

I’m thankful for the publisher allowing me to see an early copy.

Description
Historically, Bible commentaries have focused on the particular concerns of a limited segment of the church, all too often missing fresh questions and perspectives that are fruitful for biblical interpretation. Listening to scholars from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities offers us an opportunity to explore the Bible from a wider angle, a better vantage point.

The New Testament in Color is a one-volume commentary on the New Testament written by a multiethnic team of scholars holding orthodox Christian beliefs. Each scholar brings exegetical expertise coupled with a unique interpretive lens to illuminate the ways social location and biblical interpretation work together. Theologically orthodox and multiethnically contextual, The New Testament in Color fills a gap in biblical understanding for both the academy and the church. Who we are and where God placed us—it's all useful for better understanding his Word.

My Take:
This a great resource for people who have the bible on their syllabi or pastor multi-ethnic Christian spaces. As a Black woman who attended many Christian schools, I always wondered where "I" was in the bible. This resource begins to answer this question and illuminates pathways for discussion and future research.

A clever title for a clever book. This is a collection of writings focusing on how different ethnicities read the Bible and how scripture speaks to people in different ways and places, identity is reviewed through the Word and how scripture has been made the word of the white. The book looks at how communities interpret the Bible in different ways depending on their background and colour.
This is an excellent collection of different viewpoints shouting out. It is a complicated book and needs to be in order to properly delve into the thinking. This does mean that it is more of a reference book, or a companion to an essay or piece of theological understanding rather than bedside reading, it isn’t an easy topic, nor is the book written in an easily accessible style.

After reading the first few essays, I immediately pre-ordered this book. It's so important to have and use Bible commentaries from those that aren't just white men. Highly respected contributors make this a must-buy for those serious about understanding the New Testament.

While theological reading is not uncommon for me these days, the truth is that since I finished seminary and I've been outside a formal ministry role for a bit I've seldom delved into the deeper world of academic theological writing and commentary.

This is partly fueled by my frustration at the lack of diverse voices in theology. I've grown weary of the Eurocentric, patriarchal theological lens and thus I've preferred to immerse myself into the writings of diverse voices outside the academic world.

You can likely imagine my excitement then when provided the opportunity to read "The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary" featuring essays from the likes of Lisa Marie Bowens, Mateus F. de Campos, Diane G. Chen, Miguel Echevarria, Dennis R. Edwards, Daniel K. Eng, Rodolfo Galvan Estrada III, Christin J. Fort, Michael J. Gorman, Gene L. Green, T. Christopher Hoklotubbe, Marcus Jerkins, Esau McCaulley, Daniel I. Morrison, Julie Newberry, Janette H. Ok, Osvaldo Padilla, Amy K. Peeler, M. Sydney Park, Madison N. Pierce, Eric C. Redmond, Jordan J. Cruz Ryan, Kay Higuera Smith, Ekaputra Tupamahu, Jarvis J. Williams, and Danny Zacharias.

The journey is electrifying. It's exhausting. It's informative. It's thought-provoking. It's immersive. It's all these wonderful things and so much more. It's more than I could possibly describe within the context of this review and it's more than I can possibly even think about in one sitting.

There's literally no doubt that "The New Testament in Color" is a book I will be reading again and again.

Did I agree with everything? Absolutely not. However, everything made me think and feel and reflect and research and pray and so much more.

If there's a weakness in "The New Testament in Color," it's the lack of a strong disability voice (and yes, I would argue disability is more a culture than a diagnosis).

Reading these diverse voices offers an opportunity to learn, grow, be challenged, and to explore the Bible from a broader perspective.

This is a one-volume commentary on the New Testament, though it runs right around 800 pages, written by a multiethnic team of scholars holding orthodox Christian beliefs. Exegetical expertise is companioned by each scholar's unique interpretive lens that allows a brighter illumination toward biblical interpretation and historicity. "The New Testament in Color" meets a desperate need for a richer and more diverse commentary.

Rather that conflicting with Scripture, these biblical scholars are grounded in a trustworthiness of Scripture that allows for diverse interpretive possibilities enhancing faithful understanding of God's Word and God's World.

Magnificently and very thoroughly researched and resourced, "The New Testament in Color" is ideal for those who want to dig deeper, think more, feel deeply, and enhance one's knowledge and one's faith.

I just finished reading "The New Testament in Color" and I look forward to reading it again.