Joel, Obadiah, Micah

“Although Joel, Obadiah, and Micah originally addressed an Israel in a very different world from ours, Daniel Epp-Tiessen’s excellent examination of these books brings them to life as a word of God for today. Informed by his own rich personal experience, Epp-Tiessen tackles head-on notoriously knotty questions raised by these books around justice, judgment, and revenge.”

~Gerald Gerbrandt, president emeritus and professor emeritus of Bible, Canadian Mennonite University

“In this skillfull work, Daniel Epp-Tiessen engages three prophets who are part of ‘survival literature’—books written to help the faith community face contexts of oppression, violence, catastrophe, and suffering. Even though these texts proclaim a message of hope, they also raise important questions for the historic peace churches. Epp-Tiessen faces those questions with academic rigor and the authority of his life experience. Excellent material and a fascinating resource for those who listen to and follow the very scriptures that Jesus used as the foundation for his life and ministry.”

~César García, general secretary, Mennonite World Conference

“The themes of justice and hope are critically important for the church and the people of faith. Daniel Epp-Tiessen has provided an exposition of three prophets that in very different ways develop these topics for tumultuous times. This commentary places these prophets within a biblical theology foundational to living the Christian faith. Touching personal experiences illustrate the role of biblical theology in Christian life. This is the commentary pastors and all believers have been waiting for to bring impact in their ministry.”

~August H. Konkel, professor of Old Testament, McMaster Divinity College

“This commentary is an exegetical gem. It explores these prophetic texts within their ancient contexts, highlights their interconnections throughout Scripture, and engages them critically in light of contemporary contexts, all while offering personally profound reflections. In Dr. Epp-Tiessen’s hands, Joel, Obadiah, and Micah come alive with new relevance in a time when God’s justice and mercy are most needed.”

~William P. Brown, William Marcellus McPheeters professor of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary

“Inviting us into a ‘family’ reunion that includes engagement with deeply loved Micah and conversations with beloved but idiosyncratic distant relatives like Joel and Obadiah, Daniel Epp-Tiessen integrates scholarly acumen, international ministry, and personally poignant family history into a contemporary message for Bible readers struggling with chaotic environmental, political, and ecclesiastical crises.”

~Lynn Jost, professor of preaching and Old Testament and director of the Center for Anabaptist Studies, Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary

“There may be nothing more pertinent to our complex modern world than the words of the ancient prophets. And few contemporary interpreters bring as much insight and clarity to their utterances as Daniel Epp-Tiessen. This exegetical rigor is on full display in his commentary on Joel, Obadiah, and Micah, which gives voice to hope and resilience arising from the experience of community trauma and dislocation.”

~Louis Stulman, professor of religious studies, University of Findlay