Recommended New Testament Commentaries for Evangelical Pastors

MATTHEW

• D. A. Carson, EBC: clear first choice for pastors since it is exegetically and theologically rich
• R. T. France, TNTC: a shorter treatment that is helpful
• R. T. France, NICNT: a longer exposition than TNTC and excellent as well
• C. Blomberg, NAC: a shorter but helpful commentary for pastors
• M. Wilkins, NIVAC: a clear exposition that is brief but helpful for application
• • D. Turner, BECNT: a very useful work
• • G. Osborne, ZEC: a helpful exposition of the Greek text
• • D. Hagner, WBC, 2 vols: a helpful commentary on the Greek text, more accessible than Davies and Allison
• • W. D. Davies and D.C. Allison, ICC, 3 vols: massive and technical Greek commentary
• • U. Luz, HERM, 3 vols: a careful and massive commentary, with a focus on history of interpretation

MARK

• R. T. France, NIGTC: a careful exegesis of the Greek text, the most accessible Greek text treatment for pastors
• W. Lane, NICNT: an excellent exegesis of the English text. Highly recommended for the pastor and scholar
• J. Edwards, PNTC: a helpful and clear exposition for pastors
• M. Strauss, ZEC: a very clear exposition of the Greek text, one of the best for pastors
• E. Schnabel, TNTC: helpful for pastors and students
• • M. Hooker, BNTC: a shorter commentary that is accessible to pastors
• • D. Garland, NIVAC: a solid exposition of Mark
• • R. Stein, BECNT: a helpful exegesis of the Greek text
• • R. H. Gundry: a massive commentary for the student engaging in technical research
• • R. Guelich and C. Evans, WBC, 2 vols: a Greek text commentary for technical research
• • A. Collins, HERM: technical Greek text commentary from a critical standpoint
• J. Marcus, AB, 2 vols: technical commentary for scholars from a critical standpoint

LUKE

• R. H. Stein, NAC: a lucid and clear commentary for pastors and scholars
• • D. Bock, BECNT, 2 vols: a massive commentary
• • I. H. Marshall, NIGTC: a careful treatment of the Greek text by a well-known evangelical
• • J. Nolland, WBC, 3 vols: a massive Greek text exposition for those engaged in technical research
• J. Edwards, PNTC: a helpful exposition for pastors
• T. R. Schreiner, ESVEC: one I mainly agree with
• J. Fitzmyer, AB, 2 vols: a careful exegesis that is invaluable for interpreting Luke
• J. Green, NICNT: a useful exposition
• L. Johnson, SP: a clear exposition by a Roman Catholic scholar.
• • D. Garland, ZEC: a very clear exegesis of the Greek text
• • F. Bovon, HERM, 3 vols, technical commentary from a critical standpoint

JOHN

• D. A. Carson, PNTC: the first choice for pastors, exegetically and theologically rich
• L. Morris, NICNT: a thorough and reverent exposition of the English text by a well-known evangelical
• H. N. Ridderbos, Eerdmans: theologically insightful
• C. K. Barrett, Westminster: an excellent exposition by a famous British scholar
• C. Kruse, TNTC: a solid exposition for pastors
• M. Thompson, NTL: a clear exposition
• • G. R. Beasley-Murray, WBC: a fine treatment of the Greek text
• • E. Klink, ZEC: a clear exposition of the Greek text
• R. E. Brown, AB, 2 vols: a careful exposition by the renowned Roman Catholic scholar from a critical standpoint

ACTS

• P. Schreiner, CSC: my favorite Acts commentary
• F. F. Bruce, NICNT: a lucid commentary by a famous NT scholar
• D. Bock, BECNT: an excellent and clear commentary. The best Greek commentary for pastors
• • C. K. Barrett, ICC, 2 vols: a technical commentary for research purposes
• I. Howard Marshall, TNTC: a brief exposition for the pastors and scholars
• D. Peterson, PNTC: an outstanding commentary for pastors and teachers
• A. Fernando, NIVAC: a clear exposition with helpful application to today’s world
• C. Keener, Baker, 4 vols: an amazing piece of work for detailed study
• J. Fitzmyer, AB: a concise and clear commentary from a well-known scholar
• • E. Schnabel, ZEC: a clear exposition of the Greek
• • D. Garland, TTC: always clear and helpful

ROMANS

• D. Moo, 2nd ed, NICNT: a careful and theologically astute exposition
• • T. R. Schreiner, 2nd ed, BECNT: I find myself agreeing with this work often
• J. Murray, published by P & R: Murray’s commentary is still worth reading today, especially for its theological depth
• C. Kruse, PNTC, a clear and lucid exposition.
• • C. E. B. Cranfield, ICC, 2 vols: a technical but outstanding commentary on Romans, with rich theological insights
• J. Stott: a meaty exposition with application to today from a famous preacher
• M. Bird, SOGBC: a very clear and applicable exposition
• D. Peterson, EBTC: a very clear English exposition
• A. Hultgren, Eerdmans: a clear exposition
• • J. D. G. Dunn, WBC, 2 vols: a commentary from an exponent of “the new perspective” on Paul
• J. A. Fitzmyer, AB: a brief commentary, including interaction with the church fathers, by a famous Roman Catholic scholar
• P. Stuhlmacher: a helpful brief exposition of Romans from a famous German NT scholar
• • R. Longenecker, NIGTC: a technical commentary on the Greek text
• • F. Thielman, ZEC: a helpful and clear commentary on the Greek text

1 CORINTHIANS

• G. Fee, NICNT: a good exposition of the letter with attention paid to its relevance for today
• • D. Garland, BECNT: a solid exposition of the Greek text
• • A. Thiselton, NIGTC: a massive and technical commentary for research purposes
• T. R. Schreiner, TNTC: a commentary for pastors and students
• C. Blomberg, NIVAC: a helpful exposition that applies 1 Cor. to today
• • R. Ciampa and B. Rosner, PNTC: a very helpful and clear exposition
• R. Hays, Int: a fine brief exposition
• B. Witherington, Eerdmans: a social scientific and rhetorical commentary
• J. Fitzmyer, AB: excellent scholarship by the well-known Catholic scholar
• • P. Gardner, ZEC: a good commentary on the Greek text

2 CORINTHIANS

• S. Hafemann, NIVAC: exegetically clear with application to today
• P. Barnett, NICNT: a useful exposition of the letter
• D. Garland, CSC: an excellent and lucid commentary on the text
• • M. J. Harris, NIGTC: a technical but excellent commentary on the Greek text
• C. Kruse, TNTC: very clear exposition
• V. Furnish, AB: an insightful and very detailed interpretation of the letter
• P. Hughes, NICNT: this older version of the NICNT is still helpful and insightful
• F. Matera, NTL: a solid commentary by a Roman Catholic scholar
• • R. P. Martin, WBC: a technical but clear exposition of the letter
• • M. Thrall, ICC, 2 vols: a technical commentary for research purposes
• • G. Guthrie: BECNT: an excellent commentary on the Greek text

GALATIANS

• T. George, CSC: an excellent theological exposition, with a focus on the history of interpretation
• • F. F. Bruce, NIGTC: a technical but meaty exposition from a famous scholar
• • R. Longenecker, WBC: a technical Greek commentary on Galatians
• A. Das, CC: a very fine commentary by a conservative Lutheran
• D. deSilva, NICNT: a fine commentary with an English exposition
• C. Keener, Baker: a helpful exposition
• • D. Moo, BECNT: a very fine work of careful scholarship by one of the outstanding commentators today
• • T. R. Schreiner, ZEC: a family favorite
• G. Fee, PC: a fresh and clear exposition
• J. D. G. Dunn, BNTC: an interesting exposition from an advocate of “the new perspective”
• J. L. Martyn, AB: a massive study from a scholar who interprets Galatians from the perspective of “apocalyptic”
• M. DeBoer, NTL: a provocative commentary from an apocalyptic perspective
• • H. D. Betz, HERM: a technical commentary for research purposes

EPHESIANS

• C. Campbell, PNTC: a forthcoming commentary
• • H. Hoehner: a massive and technical commentary that defends Pauline authorship
• • A. Lincoln, WBC: an excellent technical commentary, though he rejects Pauline authorship
• • F. Thielman, BECNT: an excellent commentary on the Greek text
• D. Bock, TNTC: a brief exposition
• L. Cohick, NICNT: a clear exposition
• • E. Best, ICC: a technical commentary that should be consulted, though he rejects Pauline authorship
• • C. Arnold, ZEC: a clear and helpful commentary for pastors
• • S. M. Baugh, EEC: a very helpful commentary on the Greek text
• S. Fowl, NTL: a theological exposition

PHILIPPIANS

• • M. Silva, BECNT: an insightful brief exposition
• G. Fee, NICNT: a clear and excellent commentary from this well-known scholar
• • G. Hawthorne, ed. by R. P. Martin, WBC: helpful Greek exegesis
• F. Thielman, NIVAC: an outstanding exposition for pastors
• M. Bockmuehl, BNTC: a helpful exposition
• L. Cohick, SOGBC: a clear exposition
• J. Reumann, AB: a thorough exposition and technical work for scholars
• • M. Keown, EEC, 2 vols: exposition of the Greek text for technical research
• • P. Holloway, HERM: a technical commentary on the Greek text for research purposes

COLOSSIANS & PHILEMON

• D. Moo, PNTC: an outstanding exposition for pastors
• D. Garland, NIVAC: a fine exposition for pastors
• • J. D. G. Dunn, NIGTC: a technical and helpful interpretation of the letter
• N. T. Wright, TNTC: a brief and insightful commentary from a famous British scholar
• • M. J. Harris, EGGNT: a technical commentary to help students with the Greek text
• • E. Lohse, HERM: a technical and critical commentary from a German NT scholar
• M. Barth and H. Blanke, AB, Colossians: a helpful exposition
• M. Barth and H. Blanke, ECC, Philemon: a fine exposition
• J. Fitzmyer, AB, Philemon: a very fine work
• • D. Pao, ZEC: an excellent exposition of the Greek text
• • R. McL. Wilson, ICC: a critical Greek text commentary on Colossians for research purposes
• S. McKnight, NICNT: a helpful exposition of Philemon and Colossians in two separate volumes
• • G. Beale, BECNT: a careful study of the Greek text
• M. Bird, NCCS: a clear exposition

1 & 2 THESSELONIANS

• G. K. Beale, NTC: the best non-technical commentary for pastors
• G. Green, PNTC: a useful exposition of the letters
• • C. Wanamaker, NIGTC: a technical and helpful exposition
• G. Fee, NICNT: a sparkling and clear exposition of the letters
• I. H. Marshall, NCB: a brief and insightful exposition of the letters
• E. Best, Harper/BNTC: a thorough investigation of various exegetical options
• • S. Kim, WBC: an excellent commentary based on the Greek text
• A. Malherbe, AB: a fine commentary by an expert in Hellenistic literature
• • J. Weima, BECNT: an excellent commentary on the Greek text
• • G. Shogren, ZEC: an exposition of the Greek text
• N. Gupta, NCCS: a clear exposition

PASTORAL EPISTLES

• • W. Mounce, WBC: a technical and conservative exposition of the pastorals
• • G. Knight, NIGTC: a technical commentary of the pastorals from a defender of Pauline authorship
• P. Towner, NICNT: a useful exposition
• R. Yarbrough, PNTC: a very helpful exposition for pastors and students
• A. Köstenberger, EBTC: a clear exposition of the text which is useful for pastors
• G. Fee, NIBC: a brief commentary for the busy pastor
• J. N. D. Kelly, BNTC: a bit longer than Fee, with many insights
• • I. H. Marshall, ICC: a massive and technical commentary that is very learned, though he rejects Pauline authorship
• L. T. Johnson, AB: a helpful commentary from this Roman Catholic scholar who accepts Pauline authorship
• J. Quinn and W. Wacker, ECC, 1 and 2 Timothy: a helpful exposition
• J. Quinn, AB, Titus: a helpful exposition
• R. Collins, NTL: English exposition of the text by a scholar who rejects Pauline authorship

HEBREWS

• • W. Lane, WBC, 2 vols: a technical but helpful commentary on Hebrews
• F. F. Bruce, NICNT: a clear exposition of the letter
• • P. Ellingworth, NIGTC: technical detail is supplied, but it is hard to see the big picture
• G. Guthrie, NIVAC: lucid exposition with application to today’s world
• P. Hughes, Eerdman s: a theologically astute exposition from a Reformed standpoint
• T. R. Schreiner, EBTC: read often in our household
• D. A. Hagner, NIBC: a brief and insightful interpretation for the busy pastor
• G. Cockerill, NICNT: an outstanding and helpful commentary from an Arminian perspective
• L. Johnson, NTL: a stimulating and fresh look
• D. deSilva, Eerdmans: a helpful exposition
• • H. Attridge, HERM: a technical work for research purposes
• C. Koester, AB: a detailed investigation for research purposes

JAMES

• D. Moo, PNTC and TNTC: a careful interpretation with attention to the theology of the letter. The best choice for pastors
• • P. Davids, NIGTC: a technical but helpful interpretation of James by a Roman Catholic scholar
• • C. Blomberg & M. Kammel, ZEC: a fine treatment
• S. Laws, Harper: a lucid exegesis of the letter
• • R. Martin, WBC: a technical exposition of the letter
• • D. McCartney, BECNT: a very fine exposition of the Greek text
• L. T. Johnson, AB: an insightful commentary from a Roman Catholic scholar
• S. McKnight, NICNT: a fine exposition
• • D. Allison, ICC: technical commentary for research purposes

1 PETER

• T. R. Schreiner, CSC: preferred by my grandchildren
• W. Grudem, TNTC: a helpful brief exposition for busy pastors
• P. Davids, NICNT: a brief but useful, lucid exposition of 1 Peter
• • P. Achtemeier, HERM: an outstanding technical interpretation of the letter—the best Greek text commentary in my judgment
• • K. Jobes, BECNT: a solid exposition of the Greek text
• • J. R. Michaels, WBC: a technical and interesting interpretation of the letter
• L. Goppelt, Eerdmans: an insightful and theologically deep commentary
• J. Elliott, AB: a massive but clear and lucid commentary
• R. Feldmeier, Baylor: an interesting treatment
• I. Marshall, NTC: a fine exposition

2 PETER/JUDE

• M. Green, TNTC: a good commentary for the busy pastor
• • R. Bauckham, WBC: a technical but enormously useful commentary—the best on 2 Peter and Jude, though he denies Petrine authorship
• P. Davids, PNTC: exposition of the English text by a Roman Catholic scholar
• T. R. Schreiner, CSC: another one of my favorites
• D. J. Moo, NIVAC: solid exegesis and theology, with application for today
• J. N. D. Kelly, Harper: a very helpful and clear exposition
• • G. Green, BECNT: an interpretation of the Greek text
• J. Neyrey, AB: a social scientific work for research purposes
• • H. Batemann, EEC, Jude: a bit idiosyncratic
• J. Frey, Baylor: a gifted historical critical scholar, for research purposes

JOHANNINE EPISTLES

• C. Kruse, PNTC: a very helpful exposition of the letters
• • R. Yarbrough, BECNT: a very fine exposition of the Greek text. Highly recommended for pastors
• • S. S. Smalley, WBC: an insightful exposition of the Greek text
• J. Stott, TNTC: reliable as always and accessible to the busy pastor
• I. H. Marshall, NICNT: a clear and brief exposition for the busy pastor
• • K. Jobes, ZEC: a good exposition of the Greek text
• • G. Derickson, EEC: an exposition of the Greek text
• G. Burge, NIVAC: a fine exposition
• C. Campbell, SOGBC: a clear exposition
• M. Thompson, NTC: a clear exposition of the English text
• • G. Strecker, HERM: technical study of the letters for research purposes
• R. E. Brown, AB: a massive commentary by a famous Roman Catholic scholar—for technical research

REVELATION

• R. Mounce, NICNT: an excellent interpretation of the book
• • G. Beale, NIGTC: a massive and learned commentary from an amillennial perspective
• G. Beale, Eerdmans: see also his shorter commentary which is more accessible to pastors
• S. S. Smalley, Eerdmans: a helpful English commentary
• G. Ladd, Eerdmans: a lucid interpretation from the historical premillennial viewpoint
• G. B. Caird, Harper: a provocative and helpful interpretation
• • D. Aune, WBC, 3 vols: excellent on background, but lacking theologically
• D. Johnson, Presbyterian and Reformed: a helpful and clear exposition for busy pastors from an amillennial perspective
• J. Hamilton, Crossway: a very helpful exposition from a premillennial standpoint
• T. R. Schreiner, vol. 12 in ESVEC: a work for pastors and students
• G. Fee, NCCS: always clear and stimulating
• I. Paul, TNTC: a clear exposition
• • R. Thomas, WEC, 2 vols: a thorough commentary from the dispensational premillennial viewpoint
• • G. Osborne, BECNT: a clear exposition from the premillennial perspective
• C. Koester, AB: an excellent but more technical exposition
• • B. Fanning, ZEC: exposition of the Greek text from a dispensational perspective
• I. Boxall, BNTC: a clear exposition
• J. Thomas and F. Macchia, THNTC: a helpful exposition