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James (Theodore Beza’s Commentary & Annotations on the New Testament
An Unrivaled Authority of 16th-Century Biblical Exegesis
For centuries, Theodore Beza has been eclipsed by John Calvin and unfairly dismissed as a mere technical logician. Yet, during the Reformation, his Latin
Annotations
served as the preeminent benchmark for biblical scholarship. Now, in a historic first, Davenant Press presents the premiere English translation of Beza’s profound work on the Epistle of James.
Translated and edited by Professor Kirk Summers, this volume reintroduces Beza as a devoted, prayerful, and brilliant student of the Word. Through exhaustive linguistic analysis and rigorous textual criticism, Beza offers a wealth of clarity on the Greek text, connecting the brilliance of the sixteenth century with the modern reader.This translation is more than a scholarly achievement; it is a vital resource for the church. Pastors and students will discover a vibrant spirituality within these pages—most notably in Beza’s celebrated defense of the internal consistency between James and Paul regarding faith and works. As the debut volume in a landmark series from Davenant Press,
James
invites a new generation to recover the legacy of a master and view the New Testament through the eyes of a Reformation giant.
Publication Details
- Publisher: Davenant Press
- ISBN: 978-1-949716-81-8
- Publication Date: March 2, 2026
- Pages: 242
- Editor: Kirk Summers
Endorsements
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“Without doubt this publication is a historical milestone. Not only is it the first English translation of Beza’s valuable comments on James but also the start of a series of edited translations of this so influentials and so underestimated theologian. Beza was not just the successor of Calvin, not the rationalistic scholastic but a diligent, pious student and teacher of Scripture. Kirk Summers deserves praise for this wonderful edition and Davenant for this great initiative.”
— Herman Selderhuis, Professor of Church History, Theological University Apeldoorn, President of Reformation Research Consortium (REFORC)
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“The publication of Theodore Beza’s Commentary & Annotations on the New Testament is another encouraging sign of theological recovery in this generation. The interest in returning once again to look at some of the most foundational documents of the Reformation and to understand the direct relevance of these writings to the church and to Christian responsibility today, is an encouraging development and should be welcomed by all Christians. I am deeply thankful for this volume on James, and I encourage all those who love the Word of God to pay heed.”
— R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
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“Heirs of the Protestant legacy “stand on the shoulders of giants.” In this work, Kirk Summers introduces us to one of those mighty men of the Reformation, Theodore Beza. This introduction comes not by way of biography but by access to Beza’s genius and gift to the church that is his Commentary and Annotations on the New Testament . Summers’ excellent introductory material helps orient the reader to the translated work. While I do not doubt that this volume (and its companions) will benefit scholarship, I am confident that it will be a boon to the church. For here we can carefully study Scripture with Theodore Beza, a man of devotion and erudition. Pastors and preachers of the word will find a treasury of insight into the sacred text. I found this volume on James interesting and helpful. I think you will, too.”
— Jeremiah Bradford, Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church
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“Desiderius Erasmus’ famous edition of the Greek text was in fact a byproduct of his plan to present a new Latin translation of the New Testament. The added Annotations opened up the text for generations of students. Half a century later, Theodore Beza planned a really good Latin translation of the books of the New Testament and devoted great text critical and linguistic work to that cause. It took a lifetime to update and revise this great work of scholarship. It takes a mature scholar like Dr. Kirk Summers to bring Beza out of the shadow of John Calvin and present the Annotations to new generations of students. The professor of Classical languages sets a format of translation which is much needed in all parts of the world where the classical languages lost space in educational programs. After all, Beza’s intended readership were colleagues and students in the Reformed academies of his days.”
— Erik de Boer, Professor Emeritus of Church History Theological University Utrecht (formerly Kampen), the Netherlands
More Endorsements (6)
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“It is an excellent initiative by Davenant Publishing to make Theodore Beza’s commentaries on the New Testament available in English for the first time. These writings clearly show Beza’s mastery of Greek, his meticulous precision, and the deep spirituality from which he translated. As a result, this commentary offers not only historical insight but also a contemporary biblical-theological contribution to understanding the meaning of God’s Word. Highly recommended.”
— Willem van Vlastiun, Chair for Theology and Spirituality of Reformed Protestantism, Free University of Amsterdam
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“Busy pastors tend to work downstream from primary sources like Beza but for pastors willing to wade into Beza’s work, rewards await! Kirk Summers not only provides a readable translation but is an insightful guide, carefully situating Beza’s project in its 16 th century context.”
— Casey Shutt, Pastor of King’s Cross Church (PCA), Oklahoma City
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“Professor Summers claims that Beza’s Herculean efforts to produce a new translation of the Latin Bible, along with notes, represented the meticulous work of one of the foremost Latin and Greek scholars of the Reformation. Likewise, Summers has labored long and hard to present us with an excellent English translation of Beza’s work on the Book of James. I, for one, am grateful for this outstanding contribution and am looking forward to more.”
— Martin I. Klauber, Affiliate Professor of Church History at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Scholar-in-Residence at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
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“Sometimes stereotypes take on a life of their own. While there is inevitably at least some truth in most stereotypes, the fuller reality is long forgotten, and thus, misunderstanding distorts the truth. Theodore Beza sometimes appears a victim of such treatment: reduced to a stereotypical logician and systematizer who cares little for the details and nuances of scripture. Thankfully, this new set of commentaries by Beza allow us to see just how carefully he engaged scripture both at the exegetical and pastoral level.”
— Kelly M. Kapic, Honorary Chair of Theology and Culture at Covenant College
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“Theodore Beza’s contributions as a textual critic, commentator, and theologian are too often neglected. What a gift, then, for Kirk Summers to give us a translation of Beza’s annotations and commentary on the epistle of James. In this day of theological retrieval, we must not forget to retrieve the contribution of those who played such a formative role in the reformation of the church. In this commentary we see Beza’s skills as a philologist, commentator, and theologian. Pastors and scholars will both benefit from this work.”
— Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Associate Dean, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
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“Theodore Beza’s Latin Annotations on the New Testament was the gold standard of reformed Protestant biblical scholarship in the sixteenth century. And yet, surprisingly, Beza’s work as an exegete has received little scholarly attention over the centuries. In this erudite volume, Kirk Summers offers readers a superb English translation (with judicious footnotes) of Beza’s annotations on the epistle of James which displays why the reformer’s philological and theological judgments were so prized (and so debated) by his contemporaries.”
— Scott Manetsch, Chair of the Church History and the History of Christian Thought Department, Professor of Church History, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
