EBTC Daniel

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, Joe M. Sprinkle focuses on how Daniel is a fulcrum for many theological themes in both the OT and NT. Daniel says much about God’s nature, his relationship with history, the heavenly host, the Messiah, the coming kingdom, and the last things.

About the Author:

Joe M. Sprinkle (Ph.D., Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion) is a professor of Old Testament at Crossroads College in Rochester, Minnesota. He is the author of “The Book of the Covenant: A Literary Approach” and “Biblical Law and its Relevance,” as well as articles in journals, dictionaries, and a study Bible.

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 seeking a deeper understanding of the book of Daniel.