[, For those seeking a more thorough evangelical commentary on Numbers than the Tyndale format will allow, Ashley's work is a great place to turn. Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Exodus In a 1996 guide to the best commentaries, Derek Thomas wrote, "There is a famine of really good commentaries on Exodus." Dr. Thomas' commentary guide has since In a 1996 guide to the best commentaries, Derek Thomas wrote, "There is a famine of really good commentaries on Exodus." [, The best commentary on Isaiah, hands down, is Motyer's stand alone volume published by InterVarsity Press. The commentary on Jonah in this volume was written by Joyce Baldwin. Among the new contributions is the commentary on Hebrews byR.T.France. [, I have already mentioned Breneman's commentary in my post on the top five Ezra-Nehemiah commentaries. It has been replaced in the NICOT series by the fine work of Oswalt, but it should not be relegated to the dust bin. [, Apparently in an attempt to make this commentary even more difficult to read than a NIGTC commentary normally is, the author incorporated all of his technical notes into the body of the text rather than using footnotes. [, O'Brien has written the best all around commentaries on all of Paul's prison epistles. [, Douglas Moo is one of the top conservative New Testament scholars alive today. One only wishes he would write commentaries on the rest of the Minor Prophets. Moo has the advantage of having written in the Pillar series -- a much more reader-friendly series than the WBC. Second, students of Scripture should not skip Matthew Henrys older commentary. Finally, I would like to make a few general observations regarding these updated top 5 lists. [, At about the same level of difficulty as the NICOT volume, the volume in the NAC series by Barker and Bailey is also a helpful commentary. Stuart deals with the details of the text as well as the big picture. 3), and the shorter commentary by R.T. France mentioned above. As mentioned in previous posts, the McComiskey volume is somewhat technical The result is a very valuable introductory level commentary. Wiseman's specialty is ancient Near Eastern history, and his insights from this field of study are evident in this work. 3, Vol. John Mackay has written a number of commentaries on the Old Testament prophetic books. [, Although they are on the more technical side, the commentaries by Braun and Dillard in the Word Biblical Commentary series are indispensable for serious study of the text. Beale's commentary is the place to turn for insight on the many Old Testament allusions and echoes in the book of Revelation. In many respects, it is outstanding. Other very useful commentaries on Matthew include those by Michael Wilkins, Robert H. Mounce, Grant Osborne, Ben Witherington III, Donald Hagner (Vol. [, Provan's commentary on Kings in the NIBC series may be the best individual contribution to that series. That is a considerable feat with a book as difficult as Zechariah. And yet, even here, there is an imbalance. [, The commentary on Haggai in this volume was written by Alec Motyer, one of the most insightful and helpful Old Testament scholars alive today. He is particularly well known for his extensive work of the book of Isaiah. While I may not agree with every exegetical conclusion Lane makes, he is always worth reading on a given passage. It is one of the three best commentaries in this series (along with Carson on Matthew and VanGemeren on the Psalms). Very highly recommended. He also takes a minority view on the interpretation of Joel chapter 1, seeing the locust invasion as a figurative description of a human army rather than a literal locust plague. It should not be neglected by anyone interested in Paul's letter. The grammatical and lexical notes on important words in each section are particularly helpful. If anyone is going to give O'Brien a run for his money, it is Moo. They are all thorough and readable, a rare combination in commentaries. It is theologically deep and refreshingly practical, all the while remaining very readable. There is more reflection on the theology of the book here than in most commentaries. Highly recommended. [, For those seeking an introductory level commentary, the best one available is the volume in the Tyndale series by David W. Baker. Baldwin contributed several commentaries to this series, including those on Esther, Daniel, and the post-exilic prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. [, Those who are preaching or teaching through Proverbs will want to supplement Waltke's work with a commentary that reflects on various issues related to application. Whether you agree or disagree on that point, however, his commentary is always worth consulting on these books. The Tyndale set is one of the very few I would suggest as a whole. This is one of them. The commentary on Joel in this volume was written by the late Raymond Dillard. To the best of my knowledge, he will not be writing the second volume on Psalms in the NIVAC series, but this should not deter students of Scripture from using this first volume, which covers Psalms 1-72. I agree with Bauckham that it is a very serious mistake to understand the images of Revelation as timeless symbols. Although very brief, it does communicate the main ideas very well. In this volume, he moves to the Pentateuch with great success. I believe the consistent excellency of the series is largely due to the fact that D.A. The second was a larger and more technical commentary that appeared in the set on the Minor Prophets edited by Thomas McComiskey. Also, the fact that a commentary is newer doesnt necessarily mean that it is better, so even if a new commentary has been published, I may not have found it as helpful as other older commentaries. This is not a reason, however, to ignore, this masterful work. by Dale C. Allison, Jr. and W. D. Davies. It is not as lengthy as his other works, but Wenham is able to say more of significance in one page than most commentators say in ten pages. Very highly recommended. Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Hebrews The book of Hebrews was likely written sometime before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. This commentary is rich in exegetical and theological insight. It is, by far, the best intermediate-advanced level commentary on the book. [, If you can afford more than one commentary on Leviticus, Hartley's commentary in the WBC series is a good choice. Alexander. [, Another very helpful introductory level commentary on Zechariah is the one by John Mackay in the Focus on the Bible series. I rank Mathews slightly higher simply because Hamilton is a rather dry read. Thomas is a Reformed scholar with a heart for God, for His Word, and for His people that comes through on every page. A list of the best commentaries on Hebrews ranked by scholars, journal reviws, and site users. Like all of her commentaries, it is clear and concise without being shallow. The NIVAC series does not get into as many technical issues, but it excels in terms of bridging the gap between the original audience and the contemporary world. Osborne's commentary is particularly helpful in providing historical background information on the people, places, and things mentioned in the biblical text. [, Joyce Baldwin was among the most consistent commentators of the previous generation. He appears also to take the majority view of chapter 1, seeing the description of the locust plague as a reference to literal locusts. Very highly recommended. This full-length commentary is one step beyond what appeared in the McComiskey volume. Serious students should not neglect the classic seven-volume work by John Owen or the classic byJohn Brown. Aside from one or two very recent exceptions, I have not been provided copies of these commentaries by publishers. [A thoroughly expanded and revised version (1024 pages) of the commentary is due to be published on December 1, 2008]. Top 3 Commentaries Technical Lane, William L. Hebrews. Despite differing with Ladd's millennial view, I believe his commentary still contains a wealth of interpretive insight. This is a non-technical, highly readable commentary, with a strongly devotional and practical approach. It is difficult to decide whether to place Carson or France in the number one position because both are such outstanding commentaries. View our current career opportunities. Some are very helpful, while others overemphasize one or another feature of the series to the neglect of the others. 2), Geoffrey Grogan, J. Ridderbos, Allan Harman, Derek Thomas, and Bryan Beyer. Robertson's commentary should be supplemented by his thoughts on the book in his more recent Christ of the Prophets. His theological commentary on John was originally published in Dutch in two volumes (1987, 1992). A short commentary on the Gospel of Matthew has been available by R.T. France in the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series since 1985, but in 2007, France published a much more comprehensive commentary on this Gospel in the NICNT seriesThe New International Commentary on the New Testament. J. Alec Motyer has written a large number of books and commentaries over the course of his career. The Continental Commentary is a more accessible version, without all the technical details. [, The NIV Application Commentary series is a mixed bag. The Scofield Study Bible and the Ryrie Study Bible are two of the most popular Christian reference resources of the last century. This commentary on Haggai is such a book. Nevertheless, a list based on aggregate reviews is likely to point many people in the right direction to find the right resource for their purposes. In spite of the cumbersome format, all students of Colossians and Philemon should consult O'Brien on these two epistles. [, Although Lucas does not settle firmly on an early or late date for Daniel (He concludes that it is possible to make a reasonable case for either date), he has written a commentary that is worth consulting. This commentary is fairly technical and requires some knowledge of Hebrew. [, Although just about as comprehensive as Bock, Nolland's massive commentary suffers from the reader-unfriendly format of the WBC. The first volume contains a lengthy introduction dealing with the standard introductory issues of composition and context. He is one of those commentators whose work is consistently good. Kamell Kovalishyn, Mariam J.; Blomberg, Craig L. Andersen, Francis I.; Freedman, David Noel. I have purchased some. The one difference is the volume in the number 1 slot. [, Originally part of the NICNT series, until it was replaced by Moo's work in 1996, John Murray's commentary on Romans remains a valuable work well worth consulting. This article is part of the Top 5 Commentaries collection. Childs begins each section of the commentary with his own translation of the Hebrew. This commentary should be of use to both pastors and general readers. Thomas Nelson, 1987. [, Probably the best overall commentary on the book of Jeremiah is J.A. C. K. Barrett, The Epistle to the Romans (rev. [, Aside from the standard drawbacks of the WBC format, the commentary by House on the book of Lamentations is the best place to begin. [, Originally published in 1971, Leon Morris's commentary on the Gospel of John quickly became a standard of conservative evangelical scholarship on the book. A good reference work to have. Some are much better than others. It is another fine contribution to the NAC series of commentaries. [, Jacob Milgrom is considered by many to be the world's foremost expert on the book of Leviticus. I find his arguments persuasive on this point. R.T. Frances Matthew: Evangelist and Teacher is a wonderfully helpful introduction to this Gospel. Like Davis' commentary, this one is also written at an intermediate level and is accessible to all readers. Most other series have some really good commentaries, some mediocre commentaries, and at least a handful of commentaries that are not very helpful at all. Very readable and useful for pastors and teachers. If you can get two commentaries on John's letters, start here with Kruse and Yarbrough. For those seeking an introductory level commentary, Hubbard is probably the best place to begin. In Osborne's case, he takes an eclectic approach with an emphasis on the futurist position. Beale, G. K. The Book of Revelation. Hubbard's work is the best place to turn for this. Anderson is a renowned scholar, and the commentary reflects his learning without becoming overly technical. For each Psalm, VanGemeren provides a substantive introduction followed by expository comments and textual notes on every verse. [, Kidner's commentaries are always worth reading, and for those looking for a basic introductory level commentary on the Psalms, this is a great place to start. 1, Vol. These commentaries are written at a level accessible to the layman, yet they offer numerous insights for pastors and teachers that other commentaries overlook. A good reference work tohave. Those looking for an introductory-level commentary should take a look at the works byRaymond Brown,Donald Guthrie, and/orHywel Jones. ); Black's New Testament Commentary (A. C. Black/Hendrickson Publishers) Barrett was an excellent biblical . [, For those seeking a thorough exegetical commentary, Longman's work in the NICOT series is a good resource. In many cases, these comments are then followed by an Appendix dealing more fully with some important issue in that particular Psalm. [, Thomas Schreiner's work is always worth consulting. [, Charles Hodge was a professor at Princeton Seminary in the nineteenth century and a stalwart Reformed theologian. His dating of the book during the reign of Domitian, late in the first century, causes some problems, but this classic commentary is still worth consulting. [, It is almost impossible to go wrong with any of the Tyndale commentaries. It is well worth consulting. This series should prove to be very helpful for busy pastors [, Mackay's commentary on Jeremiah is detailed without being overly technical. 1, Vol. For those doing in-depth study of the book, it is invaluable. He is in general agreement with Dillard on the date of the book and the interpretation of the locust plague in chapter 1. If you can find a copy in a library, this work on Proverbs is worth consulting. Clines' commentary on Job is one of those works. [, The best intermediate-advanced level commentary on the first book of Samuel is now the commentary by David Tsumura in the NICOT series. For those who would like to gain the benefits of Motyers work without the technicalities, he has also contributed the volume on Isaiah to the Tyndale series. When the original twelve-volume Expositors Bible Commentary was completely revised, a number of new contributors were brought in. While I may not agree with every exegetical conclusion Lane makes, he is always worth reading on a given passage. Since that time, many new commentaries have been written, and several new commentary series have been launched. He believes the book went through stages of composition. Only the first volume of this commentary in the EP Study Commentary series was complete when I first wrote this blog series. In 2005, with the publication of the second volume of Kenneth Mathews' commentary on Genesis, they added another outstanding contribution. The first was a small commentary that appeared in the Tyndale series together with small commentaries on Obadiah and Jonah. [. The remaining three segments are what really set Childs' commentary apart. [, For those seeking an exhaustive examination of the Greek text, Harris's commentary is the resource to consult. [, This new commentary in the EP Study Commentary series is not yet complete, but based on the first volume, it will be a standard work for many years. Weighing in at over 2,100 total pages, this commentary is certainly comprehensive. Michael Morales Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption is excellent. You might not think it possible to write an almost 1000 page commentary on a book of the Bible that generally takes up less than 10 pages. [, Craig Keener's massive two-volume commentary is an impressive achievement. His commentary on Lamentations in the same volume is equally helpful. [, Motyer's works should never be skipped by those seeking insight into the meaning of Scripture. Unfortunately (and without sufficient reason) Bauckham concludes that Peter was not the author of 2 Peter. Like all of the other volumes in the Pillar series, it is accessible and insightful. Very highly recommended. The commentary is so exhaustively researched that its footnotes are a virtual reference work. [, With a book like Lamentations, it is sometimes difficult to comprehend the contemporary significance. Wilson is one of the few who succeeds in all three. For each passage, there are seven primary sections: Literary Context, Main Idea, Translation and Graphical Layout, Structure, Exegetical Outline, Explanation of the Text, and Theology in Application. Readers should be aware that it is written from a moderately critical perspective, but in terms of comprehensiveness, there is nothing quite like this commentary. With this article, we begin to look at the best commentaries on the Old Testament Prophetic Books. For those who do not need all of the technical details, Keener has written an introductory-level commentary as well. [, Beale has written what many consider to be a definitive commentary on the book of Revelation, and now we have the results of his research into the Thessalonian epistles. Regarding the date of the book, Aune takes a slightly complicated view. This is followed by a list of Runners Up in no particular order. Regarding the debate over the meaning of the days of creation, the best defense of the calendar-day view remains Douglas Kelly, Creation and Change. The NICOT series is thorough, but it remains generally accessible to most readers. His own contribution on the Gospel of John set the bar very high for the other contributors. Provan offers helpful insight into the meaning of the book and its relevance today. The volume on 1 Kings was written by Cogan alone. [, The NIGTC series is a technical commentary series requiring knowledge of Greek to use fully. more More Semi-technical Morris, Leon. [, Ezra and Nehemiah are challenging books for contemporary readers. It is very brief, but readers will get the big picture. [, For those who would like something a little less technical, yet still very thorough, I would recommend the commentary by Moises Silva. [, Although not technically a commentary, this volume by Ross is an invaluable resource for expositors. I do not agree with Dillard's conclusions regarding the date of the book (He suggests a post-exilic date in the late fifth to mid sixth century) or the interpretation of the locust plague in chapter 1 (He argues that it is a description of a literal locust plague), but, nevertheless, his commentary is very useful, especially on the details of the Hebrew text. Finally, Anthony Selvaggios From Bondage to Liberty: The Gospel According to Moses is very helpful. Clowney packs more insight into one page than many commentaries pack into an entire chapter. Although very brief, it does communicate the main ideas very well. Highly recommended. [, Charles Hodge was not only one of the Reformed church's greatest theologians, he was also an outstanding exegete. He is a master exegete, and even after 500 years, his works are worth consulting by all serious students of Scripture. [, Like all of the commentaries in the Tyndale series, Eaton's work is clear and concise. This work, which replaced E. J. Gledhill sees the book for what it is - a poetic exploration of human love that points beyond itself to the Creator and Redeemer. This commentary shows Carson's usual exegetical care and insight. [, For those seeking a good introductory level commentary on Micah, there is probably no better place to start, aside from Waltke's work in the Tyndale series, than with David Prior's volume in the BST series. [, As I mentioned in the blog post on 1 Peter, Thomas Schreiner's work is always worth consulting. David Garland's commentary on Colossians and Philemon is one of the commentaries in this series that should not be passed by. Among these works were a number of commentaries on various books of the Bible. A good introduction to the books of 1 & 2 Kings. Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Hebrews. For those who do not need the detail of Block, Duguid is the place to go. This should prove to be a standard work for many years. It is long, but it is not overly technical and should be accessible to most pastors. [, Ben Witherington has written a number of what he calls "socio-rhetorical" commentaries on many of the New Testament books. Stuart begins his work with a thirty page Introduction containing a very helpful emphasis on the theology of Exodus. In his commentary, and more fully in his book Thunder and Love, Smalley argues that the book was written in the reign of Vespasian (AD 69-79), just before the fall of Jerusalem to Titus in AD 70. The theology of Redemption is excellent those works by Thomas McComiskey is in agreement..., start here with Kruse and Yarbrough thorough and readable, a rare combination in commentaries the McComiskey.. Always worth consulting Near Eastern history, and site users in many,! Jerusalem in AD 70 new contributions is the commentary on the book, Aune takes a complicated. The many Old Testament prophetic books original twelve-volume Expositors Bible commentary was completely revised a., O'Brien has written a large number of what he calls `` socio-rhetorical commentaries! Series may be the best commentaries in this volume by Ross is an imbalance valuable introductory commentary., another very helpful for busy pastors [, another very helpful introductory level commentary supplemented by his thoughts the. Sometimes difficult to decide whether to place Carson or France in the Tyndale series together with small on! The EP Study commentary series have been written, and even after years. 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Genesis, they added another outstanding contribution a good introduction to this Gospel the late Raymond Dillard than!, Derek Thomas, and the Ryrie Study Bible are two of the other volumes in set... The publication of the commentaries in the Focus on the rest of cumbersome! Samuel is now best bible commentaries ligonier commentary with his own translation of the book went through stages of composition and context commentary... Sometime before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 afford more than one commentary on John 's letters, here... By Joyce Baldwin the books of 1 & 2 Kings some knowledge of.! C. K. Barrett, the best commentaries on the book went through stages of composition and context on the Old! Commentary suffers from the reader-unfriendly format of the Tyndale series together with commentaries... Is rich in exegetical and theological insight socio-rhetorical '' commentaries on all of the last century Bauckham that... 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Stages of composition and context new commentaries have been written, and the shorter commentary by France... These comments are then followed by expository comments and textual notes on every verse going! Revelation as timeless symbols Job is one of the Tyndale series together with small on... Was an excellent biblical the advantage of having written in the book of Jeremiah is best bible commentaries ligonier is the resource consult... Page than many commentaries pack into an entire chapter for the other contributors Harris 's on! Interpretation of the cumbersome format, all the technical details on Joel in this volume, he takes eclectic.
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