R.K. Harrison

R. K. Harrison was a British evangelical Old Testament scholar of the twentieth century, known for his conservative theological convictions and his defence of the historical reliability of Scripture.

Harrison continues to be valued for his intellectual seriousness and his refusal to concede the ground of Scripture to sceptical approaches. He wrote with clarity and restraint, aiming to strengthen confidence in the Bible rather than unsettle it. While some of his academic positions reflect debates of his own era, his overall posture remains one of careful scholarship in service of the church.

Notable works include Introduction to the Old Testament, Old Testament Times, and his contributions to The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary.

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

R.K. Harrison

R. K. Harrison was a British evangelical Old Testament scholar of the twentieth century, known for his conservative theological convictions and his defence of the historical reliability of Scripture.

Harrison continues to be valued for his intellectual seriousness and his refusal to concede the ground of Scripture to sceptical approaches. He wrote with clarity and restraint, aiming to strengthen confidence in the Bible rather than unsettle it. While some of his academic positions reflect debates of his own era, his overall posture remains one of careful scholarship in service of the church.

Notable works include Introduction to the Old Testament, Old Testament Times, and his contributions to The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary.

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

R.K. Harrison

R.K. Harrison

R. K. Harrison was a British evangelical Old Testament scholar of the twentieth century, known for his conservative theological convictions and his defence of the historical reliability of Scripture.

Harrison continues to be valued for his intellectual seriousness and his refusal to concede the ground of Scripture to sceptical approaches. He wrote with clarity and restraint, aiming to strengthen confidence in the Bible rather than unsettle it. While some of his academic positions reflect debates of his own era, his overall posture remains one of careful scholarship in service of the church.

Notable works include Introduction to the Old Testament, Old Testament Times, and his contributions to The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary.

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

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Jeremiah & Lamentations

Mid-levelBusy pastors, General readers, Pastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation
8.0
Author: R.K. Harrison
Bible Book: Jeremiah Lamentations
Series: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries
Type: Expository (Mid-Level)
Publisher: IVP
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

We find R. K. Harrison’s Jeremiah & Lamentations in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries a serious attempt to help us grasp Jeremiah’s long ministry and Lamentations’ grief soaked poetry. He keeps the historical setting in view, and he gives careful guidance through difficult sections.

The commentary is at its best when it helps us hear the prophetic burden clearly. We are reminded that Jeremiah is not only a book of judgment, it is also a book of covenant faithfulness, tears, and stubborn hope.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this commentary when we need a steady orientation for teaching Jeremiah without getting lost in detail. Harrison helps us track the big movements, he explains key images, and he offers sensible help on structure.

We also benefit from having Jeremiah and Lamentations handled together. It supports preaching that faces sin and sorrow honestly, and it helps us show the people of God how to lament without despair.

For pastoral ministry, this volume strengthens our ability to preach hard texts with tenderness, and to hold out the Lord’s mercy in the midst of ruin.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this as a useful mid level guide for preaching and teaching Jeremiah, and as a helpful companion for Lamentations. It will not replace the largest technical works, but it gives us firm footing and keeps our eyes on the theological heart of the message.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.


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Leviticus

Mid-levelBusy pastors, General readers, Pastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation
8.4
Author: R.K. Harrison
Bible Book: Leviticus
Series: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries
Type: Expository (Mid-Level)
Publisher: IVP
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

We find Harrison’s work on Leviticus in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series a steady guide for understanding what the text says and what it means. It keeps the main line of the book clear, while still slowing down over the points that often trip us up in preaching and teaching.

The best of this kind of commentary is its balance. We are given enough orientation to read Leviticus responsibly, then we are brought back to the passage itself, section by section, with an eye on the theological stakes and the shape of the argument.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we need a clear mid level guide that is both teachable and usable. It supports our movement from careful exegesis toward proclamation, and it helps us avoid both thin readings and needless complexity.

We especially appreciate the way it highlights recurring themes and repeated words, helping us preach paragraphs rather than isolated phrases. It also tends to keep application tethered to the text, which is a gift when Leviticus is familiar and we are tempted toward shortcuts.

In practice, it sits well alongside a more technical commentary. We can do our heavier lifting elsewhere when needed, then return here for clarity, theological orientation, and a steady sense of what we should say to the church from Leviticus.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this as a strong mid level commentary for preaching and teaching Leviticus. It will not answer every specialist question, but it consistently helps us handle the text with integrity and bring its truth to bear on the people entrusted to us.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.


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The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary

Mid-levelBusy pastors, General readersStrong recommendation
8.3
Author: Merrill F. Unger R.K. Harrison
Type: Specialised
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Bible Dictionary

Summary

We find The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary to be a substantial, conservative reference work that has served pastors for decades. It offers a wide range of entries on people, places, customs, doctrines, and key biblical terms, often giving more than a brief definition, and regularly supplying the kind of background that helps us read a passage with clearer eyes.

We also appreciate its steady confidence in the reliability of Scripture. The tone is not speculative, and it generally aims to clarify rather than impress. For day to day ministry, that matters. When we are pressed for time and need quick orientation on a name, a place, or a theme, this dictionary usually gets us moving in the right direction.

Why Should I Own This Resource?

We should own this dictionary because it is built for practical use. The entries are typically direct, the cross referencing is helpful, and the scope is broad enough that we can consult it for both ordinary reading questions and sermon preparation.

We also find it useful for giving context without pushing us away from the text. Geography, ancient practice, and biblical history are treated as servants to interpretation, not substitutes for it. That makes it a good companion for pastors who want background help while keeping exegesis central.

We do want to use it with the same discernment we apply to any single volume reference work. Some entries, especially where interpretive frameworks come into play, may lean in a more conservative evangelical direction that will not always match every Reformed instinct. Even so, the overall stance is pastorally safe and the utility is real.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary as a strong, workmanlike tool for pastors and serious readers who want reliable definitions and helpful background in one substantial volume. It is not the only dictionary we should own, but it is a worthwhile one.

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