Ecclesiastes / Song of Songs

NIV Application Commentary, Old Testament

by Iain W. Provan

The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today's context. To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today's world, each passage is treated in three This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today's preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.

Genres: Reference, Biblical Studies, Christian, Christianity

400 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2001

About the author

Marshall Sheppard Professor of
Biblical Studies (OT) at Regent College (Vancouver) and formerly senior lecturer in Hebrew and Old Testament Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provan has good insights in both commentaries. However he frequently drifts into the passive voice which makes his digressions into aggressive social-political commentary far more shrill. It is one thing to be confrontational with unrepentant sinners (Amen!). It is another to approach Ecclesiastes 12:12 like the commentary itself should not have been written (ha!). It is yet another to passive-aggressively liken ancient patriarchal abuses of women to modern-day non-egalitarians. It is one thing to call out the idolatry of Mammon that is so common in capitalism (if you can’t say “Amen”, say “Ouch”). It is another to wink at Marxists with the assertion that he was motivated by Judeo-Christian values.

[Chris Funkhouser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used the Ecclesiastes portion as I was preaching through the text. I was regularly encouraged and challenged by Provan's bridging/application setting. It was often a help in thinking through how to apply the text for God's people. But first and foremost I was convicted and my faith in Christ strengthened. Many commentaries on Ecclesiastes are skeptical and hopeless but Provan rightly points the reader to hope in God through Jesus Christ.

[Andrzej Stelmasiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is just for his comments on Ecclesiastes:

Second best after Seow.

Sometimes a hit, sometimes a miss. Still - definitely much better that most of it's available out there. Sometimes found his exegetical reasoning to be superior to Cl Seow's, and when he defends Masoretic Text (which he doesn't always do), it's masterful.

[Iris Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read the actual biblical niv version of Song of Songs.
Not applicable to my teen life, although i can prolly translate it to be. it's all about commitment and how-to do a romantic, marriage-related relationship.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

By far, the best general purpose commentary on the book that I've come across. It was recommended by a friend, and though I had my doubts and suspicions at the onset, from it's layout to it's publishing series, decided to trust his opinion and look through it anyways. Excellent, it has depth yet accessible; it's exegetical, yet the three part setup I had previously scoffed at, allowed the commentator to make profound social critiques and discuss it in light of a wider Christian Biblical canon. I'm positive the folks at NIV didn't read it.

Note: I only read the section on Ecclesiastics.

[Toby Neal · Rating 2 out of 5]

On Song of Songs Provan pushes a strong egalitarian agenda which regularly overwhelms his exegesis. He's a great writer and has insightful comments on both text and society but his agenda leaves the text behind and at points rejects the wisdom of Old Testament texts (especially law).

[Joe Haack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many good exegetical nuggets in this. Didn't read it entirely, but was helped here and there.

[Zach Waldis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't read all of the Ecclesiastes part, but did for the Song. Provan is one of my favorite Old Testament interpreters and his theological and practical insight here are top notch.