Good commentaries

[envision]

I am looking to do some in depth studies of the scriptures and was wondering if anyone could reccomend some quality commentaries?
-Thanks!

 

[larryjf]

Matthew Henry's Commentary is excellent.

 

[envision]

with a quick search I pulled up an online version.. very nice. Thanks! for any one else heres the link: ccel.org/h/henry/mhc2/MHC00000.HTM

 

[PaladinValer]

The Oxford Bible Commentary is something I always consult.

 

[daveleau]

Matthew Henry's Commentary is excellent.

Superb commentary for your first commentary. It is a bit dated, and hard to read (language), but very good and detailed.

Warren Wiersbe's Bible Exposition Commentary is one of the very best.
Tyndale Commentaries are very good.
Gaebelein's Expositor's Bible Commentaries are awesome as well.


The big one I'd suggest staying away from are the Daily Study Bible Series by William Barclay. He has serious theological issues and is highly controversial, despite being very popular, especially in the 70's.

 

[daveleau]

If you want electronic copies, you can get a ton of commentary sets for use with e-sword. E-sword is a free Bible study software.

 

[PrincetonGuy]

I am looking to do some in depth studies of the scriptures and was wondering if anyone could reccomend some quality commentaries?
-Thanks!

The answer to that question depends upon what you mean by “in depth studies of the scriptures.” If you want the finest contemporary scholarship, Matthew Henry’s commentary is absolutely worthless. It was never intended to be anything more than a devotional commentary and serves no other purpose.

The Bible is by far the most studied book in the world, with many scholars specializing in each of the 66 books that make up our Bible. Therefore commentaries written by these specialists on each of the 66 books of the Bible offer much deeper and more accurate studies than those commentaries written by non-specialists. For the most part, the most scholarly series of commentaries on the individual books of the Bible is the International Critical Commentary, a work that is still in progress after more than 100 years of painstaking scholarship. About 50 volumes are now available. Other very good series of commentaries on the individual books of the Bible include the following:

• Word Biblical Commentary
• New International Greek Testament Commentary
• The New International Commentary of the Old Testament
• The New International Commentary of the New Testament
• The Anchor Bible Commentary (most unfortunately not all of the volumes in this series are really good. Of great value are the two, large volumes on Luke by Joseph Fitzmyer and the two, large volumes on John by Raymond E. Brown, and the volume of the Epistles of John by also by Raymond E. Brown)

There are, of course, individually published commentaries on the individual books of the Bible that are not part of a series, and as one becomes familiar with the volumes in the series listed above, one will be able to recognize the individually published commentaries that need to be studied.

For a layman just beginning to study the Bible, however, the free, downloadable Bible study program already mention, E-sword, is an excellent place to start. You can find it here: http://e-sword.net/

 

[winslow]

Halley's Bible Handbook if you can find one

 

[depthdeception]

The answer to that question depends upon what you mean by “in depth studies of the scriptures.” If you want the finest contemporary scholarship, Matthew Henry’s commentary is absolutely worthless. It was never intended to be anything more than a devotional commentary and serves no other purpose.

Finally, some clear thinking!

• Word Biblical Commentary

Wonderful resource. This commentary alone will give one of the most in depth textual studies available. Kind of expensive, though!

 

[BalaamsAss51]

Hello envision.

This is a wonderful series -

http://www.cph.org/cphstore/Category.asp?find%5Fcategory=80145&find%5Fdescription=Concordia+Commentary+&find%5Fpart%5Fdesc=Concordia+Commentary

Concordia Publishing, Concordia Commentary series.

Pax

 

[filosofer]

Most of the commentary series are notable. However, I would add further qualifications about using care when selecting (one noted in previous post about era when produced).

1. Uneven quality: Over the past 25+ years of study, I have not found one complete commentary series that is equally good in all books. The ICC is unparalleled in some of the words studies and background (i.e. 2 vol. by Cranfield); but others less so in that series. Sacra Pagina has produced some fine volumes as well, as have NIGTC, Pillar, NICNOT/NICNT, etc.

2. Theological perspective: I think it helpful to read widely and gain as much scholarship as available - but do so with an understanding of the theological heritage from which the book was written. This is not a criticism, but an acknowledgement of what is behind some statements and avenues of study. WBC, NICNT/NICOT show Reformed theology in one form or another. Concordia Commentary Series is Lutheran, Sacra Pagina is RCC, and so on. Oxford, Hermeneia, and Anchor commentaries generally reflect more liberal theological perspectives, while NICNT/NICOT and Concordia reflect more conservative perspectives, and WBC is very uneven in this regard. Again, do not avoid a commentary because it is "liberal" or because it is "conservative"; rather learn from both and glean what is beneficial - but always be aware of the underlying position.

3. Avoid One-Volume Commentaries: If you are building a library, it is generally better to avoid one-volume commentaries. There are a couple of exceptions, but the one-volume commentaries by necessity are slim on commentary and may skip over significant passages.

4. Even handed presentation of text: Look for a commentary that will address all aspects of a text, and not just presenting one theological "solution" to a text. In other words, to be scholarly, the author has to present data for each position then offer reasoned logic in demonstrating which is the direction to proceed. It is important to realize that even some of the best scholarly series fail in this regard. A one-sentence dismissal of a "solution" is nothing more than educated arrogance - and it is more common that people realize. Both Liberals and Conservatives are guilty of this.

Thus, if someone were building a topnotch library with limited funds (i.e. not buying every series available), then rather than buying a complete set, I would encourage selective buying of individual volumes from various series. If you have questions about individual books of the Bible, then clarify.

In Christ's love,
filo

 

[plum]

one I'm sure n one else will mention, but I love and appreciate is Jewish New Testament Commentary by David Stern. It is a fitting companion for the Complete Jewish Bible which unifies the Scriptures in their original Hebraic perspective. This helps me in my studies when looking especially into cultural context and Hebrew idioms...

 

[AngCath]

If you are willing to make an investment there is a series The Anchor Bible which is a multi-volume set with all the information you could ever need. If you are looking for a Bible with commentary then I recommend the Oxford Annotated (NRSV) or Oxford Study Bible (REB) which is accepted by Protestants and Roman Catholics and are both great starting points for in-depth study.

 

[PrincetonGuy]

If you are willing to make an investment there is a series The Anchor Bible which is a multi-volume set with all the information you could ever need. If you are looking for a Bible with commentary then I recommend the Oxford Annotated (NRSV) or Oxford Study Bible (REB) which is accepted by Protestants and Roman Catholics and are both great starting points for in-depth study.

As has already been mentioned, the quality of the volumes in the Anchor Bible Commentary is very uneven. The contributions by Raymond E. Brown and Joseph Fitzmyer are excellent; the contribution by George Wesley Buchanan is very brief and radically inadequate.

And, of course, relying on any single commentary, no matter how good it may be, would be a terrible mistake because doing so will give the reader an unbalanced perspective. Consider the comments in this thread and how divergent they are. The same is true of commentaries on the Bible. By reading this entire thread, one can gain a much fuller perspective of the matter than by reading any single post in this thread. By reading several or more commentaries on each book of the Bible, one can gain a much fuller perspective of the books of the Bible.

 

[dcyates]

I am looking to do some in depth studies of the scriptures and was wondering if anyone could reccomend some quality commentaries?
-Thanks!

The following is a more-or-less comprehensive list of the better major commentaries of the OT books. The ones that have a number sign (#) before them are forthcoming. The initials after each one stand for the level of scholarship of each one, which is not always easy to categorize--thus some are identified as a combination (L=layman; M=ministerial; S=scholarly). Those in bold possess superior qualities and the asterisks designate their usefulness within their level of scholarship, as well. The ones in parentheses are virtual must-haves (or will be must-haves when they are released).​

OT Commentaries​

Genesis:
Robert Alter (1996)
#David Baker (Apollos, 200?)
Walter Brueggemann (Interp, 1982) LM****
Umberto Cassuto (Magnes, 1961/62) S***
Terence E. Fretheim (NIB - vol. 1, 1994)
Victor P. Hamilton (NICOT, 1990/95) MS*****
J.E. Hartley (NIBCOT, 2000) LM****
Derek Kidner (TOTC, 1967) LM***
K.A. Mathews (NAC: Genesis 1-11.26, 1996) LM****
Allen P. Ross (1988) LM****
Nahum M. Sarna (JPS Torah, 1989) MS****
E.A. Speiser (AB, 1962) S**
Bruce Waltke (2001) LM*****
John Walton (NIVAC, 2001) LM****
Gordon J. Wenham (WBC, 1987/94) LM*****
Claus Westermann (Continental, 1984-86) MS****
(Wenham - WBC, Westermann - Continental, Hamilton - NICOT, Waltke, Walton - NIVAC, Baker - Apollos)

Exodus:
#T. Desmond Alexander (Apollos, 200?)
Walter Brueggemann (NIB - vol. 1, 1994)
#Eugene Carpenter (NICOT, 200?)
Brevard S. Childs (OTL, 1974) MS*****
R. Alan Cole (TOTC, 1973) LM***
John Currid (2000/02)
John I. Durham (WBC, 1987) MS****
Peter Enns (NIVAC, 2000) LM*****
Terence E. Fretheim (Interp, 1991) LM****
Cornelis Houtman (HCOT, 1993 - 2000)
GØran Larsson (1999)
W.H.C. Propp (AB: Exodus 1-18, 1998) MS****
Nahum M. Sarna (JPS, 1991) MS***
(Childs - OTL, Enns - NIVAC, Alexander - Apollos, Carpenter - NICOT)

Leviticus:
Samuel E. Balentine (Interp, 2003)
W.H. Bellinger, Jr. (NIBCOT: Leviticus, Numbers, 2001) LM****
Roy Gane - (NIVAC: Leviticus, Numbers, 2004)
R.K. Harrison (TOTC, 1980) LM***
J.E. Hartley (WBC, 1992) MS*****
Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. (NIB - vol. 1, 1994)
G.A.F. Knight (DSB, 1981) LM****
B.A. Levine (JPS, 1989) MS****
Jacob Milgrom (AB, 1991/2000/01) MS*****
Jacob Milgrom (Continental, 2004)
Mark Rooker (NAC, 2000) LM****
Allen Ross (2002)
Gordon Wenham (NICOT, 1979) MS*****
(Hartley - WBC, Kaiser - NIB:1, Wenham - NICOT, Milgrom - AB, Gane - NIVAC)

Numbers:
Timothy Ashley (NICOT, 1993) MS****
R.D. Cole (NAC, 2001) LM*****
Roy Gane (NIVAC: Leviticus, Numbers, 2004)
R.K. Harrison (WEC, 1990) MS***
B. Levine (AB, 1993/2000) S****
Jacob Milgrom (JPS Torah, 1990) MS*****
D.T. Olson (Interp, 1996) LM*****
J. Philip (NCC, 1987) LM****
#John Sailhamer (WBC, 200?)
#Moshe Weinfeld (Herm, 200?)
Gordon J. Wenham (TOTC, 1981) LM****
(Ashley - NICOT, Cole - NAC, Gane - NIVAC, Milgrom - JPSTC, Olson - Interp, Sailhamer - WBC)

Deuteronomy:
#Daniel Block (NIVAC, 200?)
Duane L. Christensen (WBC: 1-11, 1991 [rev. ed. 2001]/02) MS**?
Peter C. Craigie (NICOT, 1976) LM****
S.R. Driver (ICC, 1902) S**
J. Gordon McConville (Apollos, 2002) MS*****
Eugene Merrill (NAC, 1994) MS***
P.D. Miller, Jr. (Interp, 1990) M****
D.F. Payne (DSB, 1985) LM****
J. Ridderbos (BSC, 1984 [1950/51]) ML****
J.A. Thompson (TOTC, 1974) LM****
Jeffrey Tigay (JPS Torah, 1995) MS****
M. Weinfeld (AB: Deuteronomy 1-11, 1991)MS*****
Christopher J.H. Wright (NIBCOT, 1996) LM****
(Block - NIVAC, Christensen - WBC, McConville - Apollos, Weinfeld - AB)

Joshua:
R.G. Boling/G.E. Wright (AB, 1982) MS**
Trent Butler (WBC, 1983) MS****
Richard S. Hess (TOTC, 1996) LM*****
David M. Howard, Jr. (NAC, 1998) LM****
#Daniel Hawk (NIVAC, 200?)
#Kyle McCarter (Herm, 200?)
Marten Woudstra (NICOT, 1981) LM***
(Hawk - NIVAC, Butler - WBC, Woudstra - NICOT, Hess - TOTC)

Judges:
D.I. Block (NAC: Judges, Ruth, 1999) LM*****
R.G. Boling (AB, 1975) MS***
#Trent Butler (WBC, 200?)
Arthur E. Cundall/Leon Morris (TOTC, 1968) LM**
J. Clinton McCann (Interp, 2003) LM*****
Lawson Younger (NIVAC, 2002) LM****
(Butler - WBC, Block - NAC, Younger - NIVAC)

Ruth:
David Atkinson (BST, 1983) LM***
R.W. Bush (WBC, 1996) MS*****
E.F. Campbell, Jr. (AB, 1975) MS***
Robert L. Hubbard, Jr. (NICOT, 1988) MS*****
J. Neusner (JLib)
K.D. Sakenfeld (Interp, 1999) LM****
Jack M. Sasson (2nd ed., 1989) S****
K.L. Younger, Jr. (NIVAC: Judges/Ruth, 2002) LM****
(Block - NAC [see above], Bush - WBC, Hubbard - NICOT)

1&2 Samuel:
R. Alter (1999)
Arnold Anderson (WBC: 2 Sam, 1989) MS****
Bill T. Arnold (NIVAC, 2003) LM****
Joyce G. Baldwin (TOTC, 1988) LM****
Robert Bergen (NAC, 1996)
Walter Brueggemann (Interp, 1990) LM****
Robert P. Gordon (1988) MS****
Ralph W. Klein (WBC: 1 Sam, 1983) MS****
P.K. McCarter (AB, 1980/84) MS****
R. Polzin (1993)
#David Tsumura (NICOT, 200?)
(Tsumura - NICOT, Arnold - NIVAC, Bergen - NAC, Klein -WBC, McCarter - AB)

1&2 Kings:
W. Brueggemann (SHBC, 2000) LM****
Mordechai Cogan (AB: I Kings, 2001) MS****
Mordechai Cogan & Hayim Tadmor (AB: II Kings, 1988) S****
T.R. Hobbs (WBC: 2 Kings, 1985) MS****
Paul House (NAC, 1995) LM****
#David Howard (NICOT, 200?)
R.L. Hubbard, Jr. (EBC, 1991) LM****
R. Nelson (Interp, 1987) M****
#Gus Konkel (NIVAC, 200?)
Iain W. Provan (NIBCOT, 1995) LM*****
Choon-Leong Seow (NIB - vol. 3, 1999)
Donald Wiseman (TOTC, 1993) LM***
(Howard - NICOT, Cogan - AB, Hobbs - WBC, Provan - NIBCOT)

1&2 Chronicles:
Leslie Allen (NIB - vol. 3, 1999)
Leslie Allen (NCC, 1987) LM****
Roddy Braun (WBC - 1 Chron, 1986) MS****
Raymond Dillard (WBC - 2 Chron, 1987) MS*****
Andrew Hill (NIVAC, 2003)
Sara Japhet (OTL, 1993) MS*****
#Ralph Klein (Herm, 200?)
J.G. McConville (DSB, 1984) LM****
Martin Selman (TOTC, 1994) LM****
M. Wilcock (BST, 1987) LM****
H.G.M. Williamson (NCBC, 1982) MS****
(Hill - NIVAC, Japhet - OTL, Selman - TOTC)

Ezra/Nehemiah:
J. Blenkinsopp (OTL, 1988) MS****
D.J.A. Clines (NCB, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, 1984) LM****
F. Charles Fensham (NICOT, 1982) MS****
#Douglas Green (NIVAC, 200?)
#Hannah Harrington (NICOT, 200?)
Derek Kidner (TOTC, 1979) LM****
Ralph Klein (NIB - vol. 3, 1999)
J.G. McConville (DSB, 1985) LM****
J.M. Myers (AB, 1965) S*
M.A. Throntveit (Interp, 1992) LM****
H.G.M. Williamson (WBC, 1985) MS*****
(Williamson - WBC, Klein - NIB:3, Harrington - NICOT)

Continued below

 

[dcyates]

OT Commentaries (cont.)

Esther:
Joyce Baldwin (TOTC, 1984) LM****
R.W. Bush (WBC, Ruth/Esther, 1996) MS*****
Michael Fox (2d ed., 2001)
#Robert Hubbard (NICOT, 200?)
Karen H. Jobes (NIVAC, 1999)LM*****
J.D. Levenson (OTL, 1997) MS****
Carey A. Moore (AB, 1971)
(Fox, Hubbard - NICOT, Jobes - NIVAC)

Job:
Robert Alden (NAC, 1994) LM***
Francis I. Andersen (TOTC, 1976) LM***
David Clines (WBC, 1989/02) MS*****
R. Gordis (The Book of Job: Commentary…, Ktav; 1978) MS****
John Hartley (NICOT, 1988) MS***
J. Gerald Janzen (Interp, 1985) LM****
#Dennis Magary (NIVAC, 200?)
R.E. Murphy (FOTL, 1981) S****
M.H. Pope (AB, 1965) MS***
Norman Whybray (Readings: A New Biblical Commentary, 1998)*****
Gerald Wilson (NIBCOT, 200?)
D. Wolfers (1995)
(Clines - WBC, Hartley - NICOT, Magary - NIVAC, Wilson - NIBCOT)

Psalms:
Leslie C. Allen (WBC: 101-150, 1983 [rev. ed. 2002]) MS****
Craig C. Broyles (NIBCOT, 1999) LM***
Peter C. Craigie (WBC: 1-50, 1983) MS****
M. Dahood (AB, 1966/68/70) S*
E.S. Gerstenberger (FOTL, 1989/2001) S****
Derek Kidner (TOTC, 1973/75) LM****
G.A.F. Knight (DSB, 1982/82) LM****
Hans-Joachim Kraus (Continental, 1988/93) S****
James Mays (Interp, 1994) LM*****
J. Clinton McCann, Jr. (NIB - vol. 4, 1995) LM*****
Marvin E. Tate (WBC: 51-100, 1990) MS****
Samuel Terrien (ECC, 2003) MS*****
W. Van Gemeren (EBC: 5, 1991) LM*****
A. Weiser (OTL, 1962) LM**
#Gordon Wenham (Apollos, 200?)
Michael Wilcock (BST, 2001/01) L****
D.M. Williams (NCC, 1986/89) LM****
Gerald H. Wilson (NIVAC: vol. 1, 2002) LM*****
(Terrien - ECC, Wenham - Apollos, Wilson - NIVAC, McCann - NIB:4, Mays - Interp, Broyles - NIBCOT, Craigie/Tate/Allen - WBC)

Proverbs/Ecclesiastes:
Richard Clifford (OTL, 1999) MS****
Michael Fox (AB, 2000/03) MS*****
David Hubbard (NCC, 1989) LM****
Derek Kidner (TOTC, 1964) LM****
Paul Koptak (NIVAC, 2003) LM*****
W. McKane (OTL, 1970) MS****
Roland Murphy (WBC, 1998) MS****
Leo G. Perdue (Interp, 2000) LM****
R.B.Y. Scott (AB, 1965) S*
R. van Leeuwen (“Proverbs” NIB: vol. 5, 1997) LM*****
Bruce Waltke (NICOT, 2004/05) MS*****
(Waltke - NICOT, Fox - AB, Koptak - NIVAC)

Ecclesiastes or Qoheleth:
William Brown (Interp, 2000) LM***
J.R. Crenshaw (OTL, 1987) MS*****
Michael Eaton (TOTC, 1983) LM**
M.V. Fox (A Rereading of Ecclesiastes: A Time to…, 1999) MS****
D.A. Hubbard (Beyond Futility, Eerdmans; 1976) LM****
David Hubbard (NCC, 1992)
Derek Kidner (BST, 1976) LM****
#T. Kruger (Herm, 200?)
Norbert Lohfink (Continental, 2003)
Tremper Longman (NICOT, 1997) MS****
Roland Murphy (WBC, 1992) MS****
Iain Provan (NIVAC, Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs, 2001) LM****
Choon-Leong Seow (AB, 1997) MS****
Norman Whybray (NCBC, 1989) MS****
(Seow - AB, Longman - NICOT, Provan - NIVAC)

Song of Solomon:
G. Lloyd Carr (TOTC, 1984) LM***
R. Davidson (DSB, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, 1986) LM****
#Duane Garrett, Paul House, David Hubbard (WBC, 200?)
Tom Gledhill (BST, 1994) LM*****
Othmar Keel (Continental, 1994) MS*****
Tremper Longman (NICOT, 2001) LM****
Roland E. Murphy (Herm, 1990) MS****
M.H. Pope (AB, 1977) MS*****
(Garrett/House/Hubbard - WBC, Longman - NICOT, Gledhill - BST, Murphy - Herm, Pope - AB, Provan - NIVAC)

Isaiah:
J. Blenkinsopp (AB, 2000/02) S****
B.S. Childs (OTL, 2000) MS***
John Goldingay (NIBCOT, 2001) MS****
O. Kaiser; 1-12 (OTL, 1972) S***
J. Koole (HCOT, 1997 - 99)
J. Alec Motyer (1994) MS****
J. Alec Motyer (TOTC, 1999) LM****
John Oswalt (NICOT, 1986/98) MS****
John Oswalt (NIVAC, 2003) LM****
#Richard Schultz (Apollos, 200?)
Hans Wildberger (Continental, 1991/96/02) S****
First Isaiah (1-39):
#Andrew Bartelt, Paul Raabe (ECC, 200?)
Christopher Seitz (Interp, 1993) MS****
M.A. Sweeney (FOTL, 1996) MS*****
Gene M. Tucker (NIB - vol. 6, 2001)
Deutero-Isaiah (40-66):
K. Baltzer (Herm, 2001) S****
Paul D. Hanson (Interp, 1995) M****
C.R. North (TBC: Isaiah 40-55, 1952) M****
#Shalom M. Paul (ECC, 200?)
Christopher R. Seitz (NIB - vol. 6, 2001) LM*****
Claus Westermann (OTL, 1969) MS****
(Oswalt - NICOT/*NIVAC, Shultz - Apollos, Paul - ECC, Motyer)

Jeremiah:
J. Bright (AB, 1965) MS***
W. Brueggemann (Jeremiah: Exile and Homecoming, 1998) LM****
#Trent Butler (NIBCOT, 200?)
P. Craigie, P. Kelley, J. Drinkard, Jr. (WBC: Jeremiah 1-25, 1991) MS****
R. Davidson (DSB: Jeremiah and Lamentations: vol. 1, 1983) LM****
J.A. Dearman (NIVAC, 2002) LM*****
#Terence Fretheim (SHBC, 200?)
R.K. Harrison (TOTC, 1973) LM***
William L. Holladay (Herm, 1986/89) MS****
Jack Lundblom (AB: Jeremiah 1-20, 1999) MS*****
W. McKane (ICC, 1986/96) S***
Patrick D. Miller (NIB - vol. 6, 2001)
#Pamela Scalise (NICOT, 200?)
J.A. Thompson (NICOT, 1980) MS****
(Scalise - WBC, Dearman - NIVAC, Holladay - Herm)

Lamentations:
Adele Berlin (OTL, 2002) MS*****
R. Davidson (DSB: Jeremiah and Lamentations: vol. 2, 1985) LM****
F. Dobbs-Allsopp (Interp, 2000) LM*****
#D. Garrett, P. House, D. Hubbard (WBC, 200?)
Delbert R. Hillers (AB: rev. ed., 1992) MS***
#Robert Hubbard (NICOT, 200?)
Kathleen M. O’Connor (NIB - vol. 6, 2001)
Iain Provan (NCBC, 1991) LM*****
J. Renkema (HCOT, 1998)
(Garrett/House/Hubbard - WBC, R. Hubbard - NICOT, Provan - NCBC, Renkema - HCOT, Berlin - OTL, Hillers - AB)

Ezekiel:
Leslie Allen (WBC, 1994/90) MS****
Joseph Blenkinsopp (Interp, 1990) LM****
Daniel Block (NICOT, 1997/98) MS*****
Peter C. Craigie (DSB, 1983) LM****
Iain M. Duguid (NIVAC, 2000) LM*****
Katheryn Pfisterer Darr (NIB - vol. 6, 2001)
M. Greenburg (AB, 1983/97) MS****
R.M. Hals (FOTL, 1989) S****
Douglas Stuart (NCC, 1989) LM****
John B. Taylor (TOTC, 1979)
Walther Zimmerli (Herm, 1979/83) MS*****
(Block - NICOT, Allen - WBC, Zimmerli - Herm, Duguid - NIVAC, Craigie - DSB)

Daniel:
Joyce G. Baldwin (TOTC, 1978) LM****
Terry Brensinger (BCBC, 1999)
#Eugene Carpenter (TOTC, 200?)
John J. Collins (Herm, 1993) MS*****
J.J. Collins (FOTL, 1984) S****
J.E. Goldingay (WBC, 1989) MS*****
Tremper Longman III (NIVAC, 1999) LM*****
Ernest Lucas (Apollos, 2002) MS***
Stephen Miller (NAC, 1994) LM***
#T. Mitchell (NICOT, 200?)
J.A. Montgomery (ICC, 1927) S****
Daniel L. Smith-Christopher (NIB - vol. 7, 1996)
W.S. Towner (Interp, 1984) MS***
Ronald S. Wallace (BST, 1979) LM****
(Lucas - Apollos, Mitchell - NICOT, Collins - Herm, Goldingay - WBC, Carpenter - TOTC)

Continued below

 

[dcyates]

OT Commentaries (cont.)

Hosea:
F.I. Andersen/D.N. Freedman (AB, 1980) MS*****
P.C. Craigie (DSB: Twelve Prophets: 2 vols., 1985) LM****
W.R. Harper (ICC: Amos and Hosea, 1905) S***
David Allan Hubbard (TOTC, 1990) LM****
D. Kidner (BST, 1981) LM****
A.A. Macintosh (ICC, 1997) MS*****
T. McComiskey (The Minor Prophets:1, ed. T. McComiskey, 1992) MS*****
H. McKeating (CBC: Amos, Hosea, Micah, 1971) LM****
Gary V. Smith (NIVAC: Hosea, Amos, Micah, 2001)
D. Stuart (WBC: Hosea - Jonah, 1987) MS****
Hans Walter Wolff (Herm, 1974) MS****
Gale A. Yee (NIB - vol. 7)
(Andersen/Freedman - AB, Macintosh - ICC, McComiskey - The Minor Prophets: vol. 1, Hubbard - TOTC, Smith - NIVAC)

Joel/Obadiah/Micah/Nahum/Habakkuk/Zephaniah:
Smith/Ward/Bewer (ICC)

Joel:
Elizabeth Achtemeier (NIB - vol. 7, 1996)
Leslie Allen (NICOT, 1976)
J. Barton (OTL: Joel and Obadiah, 2001) MS****
James Crenshaw (AB, 1995) MS****
R.B. Dillard (The Minor Prophets: v. 1, ed. T. McComiskey, 1992) MS*****
T.J. Finley (WEC: Joel, Amos, Obadiah, 1990) MS****
Duane Garrett (NAC: Hosea, Joel, 1997) LM****
D.A. Hubbard (TOTC: Joel and Amos, 1989) LM****
H.W. Wolff (Herm: Joel and Amos, 1977) MS****
(Allen - NICOT, Crenshaw - AB, Dillard - The Minor Prophets: 1, Garrett - NAC)

Amos :
F.I. Andersen/D.N. Freedman (AB, 1989) MS*****
#M. Daniel Carroll R. (NICOT, 200?)
Donald E. Gowan (NIB - vol. 7, 1996)
Jörg Jeremias (OTL, 1998)
J.L. Mays (OTL, 1967) MS****
J. Niehaus (The Minor Prophets: vol. 1, ed. T. McComiskey, 1992) MS****
Shalom Paul (Herm, 1991) MS*****
Gary V. Smith (Mentor: rev. ed., 1998) MS****
(Carroll R. - NICOT, Paul - Herm, Smith - Mentor/NIVAC, Andersen/Freedman - AB)

Obadiah:
D.W. Baker, T.D. Alexander, B.K. Waltke (TOTC: O./J./M., 1988) LM****
J. Barton (OTL: Joel and Obadiah, 2001) MS****
Ehud ben Zvi (1996)
J. Niehaus (The Minor Prophets: vol. 2, ed. T. McComiskey; 1993) LM****
Samuel Pagan (NIB - vol. 7, 1996)
Paul Raabe (AB, 1996) MS*****
John Watts (1969[’81])
(Baker/Alexander/Waltke - TOTC, ben Zvi, Raabe - AB)

Jonah:
Leslie C. Allen (NICOT: O./J./M., 1976) MS***
D.W. Baker, T.D. Alexander, B.K. Waltke (TOTC: O./J./M., 1988) LM****
James Bruckner (NIVAC: Jonah/Nahum/Habakkuk/Zephaniah, 2004) LM
#James Kugel (Herm, 200?)
J. Limburg (OTL, 1993) MS****
Rosemary Nixon (BST, 2003)
Jack Sasson (AB, 1990) MS*****
Douglas Stuart (WBC, 1987)
Phyllis Trible (NIB - vol. 7, 1996)
H.W. Wolff (Cont’lC: O./J., 1986) MS****
(Baker/Alexander/Waltke - TOTC, Kugel - Herm, Nixon - BST, Sasson - AB)

Micah:
Francis Andersen & David Freedman (AB, 2000) LM****
D.W. Baker, T.D. Alexander, B.K. Waltke (TOTC: O./J./M.,1988) LM*****
Ehud ben Zvi (FOTL, 2000) MS****
Daniel J. Simundson (NIB - vol. 7, 1996)
Gary V. Smith (NIVAC, 2001)
Bruce Waltke (The Minor Prophets:2, ed. McComiskey, 1993) MS*****
Bruce Waltke (2005) MS*****
Hans Walter Wolff (Fortress, 1990)
(Andersen/Freedman - AB, Smith - NIVAC, Waltke - TOTC/The Minor Prophets,Waltke)

Nahum:
Waylon Bailey (NAC: M./N./H./Z., 1999) LM****
D.W. Baker (TOTC: N./H./Z., 1988) LM****
James Bruckner (NIVAC [see under Jonah above], 2004) LM
M.H. Floyd (FOTL: Minor Prophets, pt. 2; 2000) S*****
Fransisco O. GarcÍa-Treto (NIB - vol. 7, 1996)
T. Longman III (The Minor Prophets, ed. T. McComiskey, vol. 2; 1993) MS
Walter Maier (1959)
R. Patterson (WEC: Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, 1991) MS****
J.J.M. Roberts (OTL, 1991) MS****
O.P. Robertson (NICOT: N./H./Z., 1990) LM****
K. Spronk (HCOT, 1999)
(Bailey - NAC, Patterson - WEC, Roberts - OTL, Spronk - HCOT)

Habakkuk:
Francis Andersen (AB, 2001) MS****
F.F. Bruce (The Minor Prophets, ed. T. McComiskey, vol. 2; 1993) MS***
James Bruckner (NIVAC [see under Jonah above], 2004) LM
Theodore Hiebert (NIB - vol. 7, 1996)
R. Patterson (WEC: Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, 1991) MS****
(Andersen - AB, Patterson - WEC)

Zephaniah:
Ivan Ball [rhetorical study] (1988)
Ehud Ben-Zvi [historical-critical study] (1993)
Robert A. Bennett (NIB - vol. 7, 1996)
Adele Berlin (AB, 1994) MS*****
James Bruckner (NIVAC [see under Jonah above], 2004) LM
Paul House (1988)
J.A. Motyer (The Minor Prophets, ed. T. McComiskey, vol. 3; 1998) LM****
J. Roberts (OTL, 1991)
O. Palmer Robertson (NICOT, 1990)
J. Vlaardingerbroek (HCOT, 1999)
(Baker - TOTC, Berlin - AB, Ball, Zvi, Robertson - NICOT)

Jonah/Haggai/Zechariah/Malachi:
Mitchell/Smith/Bewer (ICC)

Haggai:
Joyce G. Baldwin (TOTC: H./Z./M., 1972) LM***
Mark J. Boda (NIVAC: H.Z., 2005) LM*****
W. Eugene March (NIB - vol. 7, 1996)
Eric & Carol Meyers (AB: Haggai/Zechariah, 1987/93) MS*****
David Peterson (OTL: H./Z., 1984/95) MS****
Pieter Verhoef (NICOT: H./Z., 1986) MS***
Hans Walter Wolff (Continental, 1988)
(E&C Meyers - AB, Verhoef - NICOT)

Zechariah:
Thomas McComiskey (vol. 3, 1998) LM****
Eugene Merrill (1994)
Ben C. Ollenburger (NIB - vol. 7, 1996)
#Douglas Stuart (NICOT, 200?)
(Stuart - NICOT, McComiskey - Minor Prophets:3)

Malachi:
Beth Glazier-McDonald (1987)
Andrew E. Hill (AB, 1998) MS*****
Eileen M. Schuller (NIB - vol. 7, 1996)
Gary V. Smith (NIVAC, 2001)
Pieter Verhoef (NICOT, 1986)
(Hill - AB, Smith - NIVAC)

NT commenaries will follow

 

[PrincetonGuy]

The following is a more-or-less comprehensive list of the better major commentaries of the OT books. The ones that have a number sign (#) before them are forthcoming. The initials after each one stand for the level of scholarship of each one, which is not always easy to categorize--thus some are identified as a combination (L=layman; M=ministerial; S=scholarly). Those in bold possess superior qualities and the asterisks designate their usefulness within their level of scholarship, as well. The ones in parentheses are virtual must-haves (or will be must-haves when they are released). ​

​

Did you compile this data yourself—or did you get it from someone else who compiled it?

Have you read most of these volumes yourself—or are you relying on someone else’s compilation or reviews of these works?

 

[envision]

wow! Thank you everyone very much for the wonderful resource information

 

[dcyates]

The following are among the better major NT commentaries. I began providing the years of publication, but ran out of time. Nevertheless, again, those that are in bold are superior in quality, and the ones in parentheses are widely considered must-haves. As well, the ones that have a number sign (#) preceeding them are forthcoming.​

Due to space constraints, I begin with those commentaries covering the Gospels and Acts.

NT COMMENTARIES​

Matthew:
W.F. Albright, C.S. Mann (AB 26, 1971)
#Clifton Black (NTL, ?)
Craig Blomberg (NAC, 1992)
D.A. Carson (EBC, Vol. 8, 1984)
W.D. Davies, D.C. Allison (ICC, 1988/91/97)
Richard T. France (TNTC, 1985)
#Richard France (NICNT, ?)
Michael Green (BST, 2000)
Donald Hagner (WBC, 1993/95)
Douglas R.A. Hare (Interp, 1993)
Craig S. Keener (1999)
Craig Keener (IVPNTC, 1997)
#Jack Dean Kingsbury (ECC, ?)
Ulrich Luz (Herm, 1989/01/?)
John Nolland (NIGTC, ?)
Rudolph Schnackenburg (2002)
David Turner (BECNT, ?)
Michael Wilkins (NIVAC, 2004)
(Hagner - WBC, Keener, #France - NICNT, #Turner - BECNT)

Mark:
James Brooks (NAC)
C.E.B. Cranfield
C.A. Evans (WBC, 8.27-16.20)
William L. Lane (NICNT)
R. Alan Cole (TNTC)
James Edwards (Pillar)
Austin Farrer
Richard T. France (NIGTC)
David Garland (NIVAC)
R. Guelich (WBC, 1.1-8.26)
Robert Gundry
Morna D. Hooker (BNTC)
#Richard Horsley (NTC)
#Donald Juel (NTL)
#Ron Kernaghan (IVPNTC)
Joel Marcus (AB, 1-8)
#Robert Stein (BECNT)
Vincent Taylor
Lamar Williamson, Jr. (Interp)
Ben Witherington III (Socio-Rhetorical)
(France - NIGTC, Evans - WBC, #Stein - BECNT, Edwards - Pillar)

Luke:
Darrell L. Bock (BECNT)
Darrell Bock (NIVAC)
François Bovon (Herm)
G.B. Caird (PGC)
#John Carroll (NTL)
Craig A. Evans (NIBCNT)
Joseph A. Fitzmyer (AB:1-9/10-24)
Joel B. Green (NICNT)
#Peter Head (Pillar)
A.C.R. Leaney (BNTC)
W.L. Liefeld (EBC - vol. 8)
I. Howard Marshall (NIGTC)
Leon Morris (TCNT)
John Nolland (WBC)
Robert Stein (NAC)
(Bock - BECNT, Green - NICNT, #Head - Pillar, Bovon - Herm)

John:
G.R. Beasley-Murray (WBC)
Raymond E. Brown (AB)
D.A. Carson (Pillar)
C.K. Barrett
#Richard Bauckham (NIGTC)
Craig L. Blomberg
Rudolf Bultmann
Gary Burge (NIVAC)
Ernst Haenchen (Herm)
Edwyn Hoskyns (J.N. Davey, ed.)
Craig Keener
#Andreas Köstenberger (BECNT)
Robert Kysar (ACNT)
R.H. Lightfoot
Malina/Rohrbaugh (Soc-Sci)
John Marsh (PGC)
G.H.C. MacGregor (Moffatt)
J. Ramsey Michaels (NIBCNT)
#J. Ramsey Michaels (NICNT)
Leon Morris (NICNT)
Hermann Ridderbos
Rudolph Schnackenburg
Gerard Sloyan (Interp)
R.V.G. Tasker (TNTC)
#Marianne Meye Thompson (NTL)
B.F. Westcott
Ben Witherington III
(Carson - Pillar, Blomberg, #Bauckham - NIGTC, Keener)

Acts:
C.K. Barrett (ICC)
C.K. Barrett (ICC - A Shorter Commentary)
#Darrell Bock (BECNT)
F.F. Bruce (NICNT)
Joseph A. Fitzmyer (AB)
#Joel Green (NICNT)
Ernst Haenchen
#Carl Holladay (NTL)
L.T. Johnson (Sacra Pagina)
William Larkin (IVPNTC)
Richard Longenecker (EBC - vol. 9)
I. Howard Marshall (TNTC)
Johannes Munck (AB)
John Polhill (NAC)
#David Peterson (Pillar)
#Stanley Porter (NIGTC)
John Stott (BST)
Paul W. Walaskay (WestBC)
Robert W. Wall (NIB - vol. 10)
##Steve Walton (WBC)
David J. Williams (NIBCNT)
Ben Witherington III (Socio-Rhetorical)
(Witherington, Barrett - ICC, #Porter - NIGTC, #Bock - BECNT)