The inaugural volume of WJK’s new series, Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible, presents what most scholars believe to be the earliest Gospel in a fresh and invigorating way. Placher focuses on what the Gospel reveals about God and God's revelation in Jesus Christ in theological terms. The result is less a focus on the matters traditionally found in biblical commentaries in favor of the theological questions and issues that Mark's text raises. Using the resources of the wide Christian tradition and building gratefully on contemporary scholarship, Placher's work gets to the heart of the matter in Mark's gospel which is about "the good news of Jesus Christ" (Mark 1:1).

William C. Placher† worked with Amy Plantinga Pauw as a general editor for Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible until his untimely death in November 2008. Westminster John Knox Press wishes to dedicate the entire series to his memory with affection and gratitude.

Belief’s general editor, Amy Plantinga Pauw, discusses the background, themes, and purpose of the new series—and Bill Placher’s important contribution to it—on WJK Radio with Dan and Jana. Don’t miss it!