Choosing New Testament Commentaries
Recommending commentaries is a difficult task since readers read with different goals in mind. The biblical studies and preaching faculty of 2^01 make these recommendations with the following criteria in mind: 1) English language only; 2) participant in current discussion: following 1970, but preferably within the last decade; and 3) strength of overall exegesis.
In buying commentaries, students and pastors often request a recommendation for a whole series. A major pitfall of this approach is that a given series may include very strong and very weak volumes. The other drawback is that the best commentary on a particular book may not be in a series.
The various series differ in many respects. The careful reader will note that some series are all done by writers from one denomination or one theological tradition; other series choose writers from across a wide spectrum. But neither of these approaches ensures quality or disqualifies a particular author or volume. Some series are aimed at the more specialized reader with competencies in Hebrew and Greek (e.g., Hermeneia). Others are aimed at providing a broad overview of the issues in the text with a clearly hermeneutical approach (e.g., Interpretation). Some commentators employ a wide variety of methodologies, while others focus narrowly, or do not clearly articulate their methods. We have excluded from our listing lay and devotional commentaries (e.g., William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible), as well as preaching guides (e.g., Knox Preaching Guides), monographs, and thematic studies.
The volumes listed below are meant as general recommendations. While no one commentary meets all needs or responds to all questions, we have chosen one (sometimes two) per NT book. The volumes with full bibliographic information are recommended as places to begin one's s study, or the first recommendations for purchase. Additional commentaries are listed along with their series and dates in parentheses in reverse chronological order, they are meant as secondary recommendations. It. is always a good idea to consult more than one source when possible in order to avoid one author's axe-grinding or ideological quirks.
ONE-VOLUME COMMENTARIES
Mays. James L,, editor. Harper 's Bible Commentary. San Francisco: Harper & Row. 1988.
Newsom, Carol A. and Sharon H. Ringe, eds. Women's Bible Commentary. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1991.
CULTURAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXTS OF THE GOSPELS
Malina, Bruce J. and Richard L. Rohrbaugh. A Social -Scientific Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels. Minneapolis: Fortress. 1993.
Wolfgang, Stegemann, Bruce J. Malina and Gerd Theissen, eds. The Social Setting of Jesus and The Gospels. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002.
Boring, Eugene. "The Gospel ofMathew: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 8. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995.
Harrington, Daniel J. The Gospel of Matthew. Sacra Pagina Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1991.
U.Luz(ConComml989)
D. Pane (1987)
RGundry(1982)
F.W.Beare(1981)
E. Schweizer(1975)
D.Hill(NCB 1972)
MARK
Donahue, John R. The Gospel of Mark. Ed. Daniel J. Harrington. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 2002.
Myers, Ched. Binding the Strongman: A Political Reading of the Gospel of Mark. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1988.
D. R. MacDonald
(2000)
J. Marcus (AB 2000)
P. Perkins (NIB 1995)
R.Gundry(1993)
J.D.Kingsbury(1983)
F.Belo(1981)
H. Anderson (NCB 1976)
E. Schweizer(1970)
LUKE
Johnson, Luke T. The Gospel of Luke. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1991
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. Gospel According to Luke. Anchor Bible. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1981-85.
F. Bovon (Herm 2002)
R. C. Tannehill (ANTC 1996)
R. A. Culpepper
(NIB 1995)
C. F. Evans (TPINTC 1990)
F. B. Craddock (Interp 1990)
F.W.
Danker (1988)
D.L.Tiede(ACNT1988)
E. Schweizer(1984)
C.H.Talbert(1982)
I. H. Marshall (NIGTC 1978)
E. E. Ellis (NCB 1974)
JOHN
O' Day, Gail R. "The Gospel of John: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 9. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995.
Brown, Raymond E. Gospel According to John. Anchor Bible. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1966-70.
R. T. Fortna and T. Thatcher, editors
(2001)
D. M. Smith (ANTC 1999)
F. J. Moloney (SacPag 1998)
G. R. Beasley-Murray
(WBC 1987)
R.Kysar (ACNT1986)
E. Haenchen (Herm 1984, 2 vols.)
R. Schnackenburg
(1968-82, 3 vols.)
C.K.Barrett(1978)
L.J.Martyn(1979)
R.Bultmann(1971)
ACTS
Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Acts of the Apostles. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1992.
R. W. Wall (NIB
2002)
J. A. Fitzmyer (AB 1998)
C. K. Barren (ICC 1994)
F.F.Bruce(1990)
G.Ludemann(1989)
W. H. Willamon (Interp 1988)
H. Conzelmann (Herm
1987)
G. Krodel (ACNT 1986)
F. J. Foakes-Jackson & K. Lake, eds. (1979)
E. Haenchen (1971)
ROMANS
Wright, Nicholas T. "The Letter to The Romans: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In New Interpreter's Bible, vol.10. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002.
B. Byme
(SacPag 1996)
J. A. Fitzmyer (AB 1993)
J. A. Ziesler (TPINTC 1989)
J.
D. G. Dunn (WBC 1988)
P. J. Achtemeier (Interp 1985)
E.Kasemann(1980)
R. A. Harrisville (ACNT 1980)
C.K. Barren (1977)
C.E. B. Cranfield
(ICC 1975-79; 2 vols.)
1 CORINTHIANS
Sampley, J. Paul. "The first letter to the Corinthians: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 11. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002.
Collins, Raymond F. First Corinthians. Ed. Daniel J. Harrington. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1999.
R. A. Horsley (ANTC 1998)
W. A. Beardslee
(1994)
G. D. Fee (NICNT 1987)
R. A. Harrisville (ACNT 1987)
C.H.Talbert(1987)
W. F. On- and J. A. Walther (AB 1976)
H. Conzelmann (Heimeneia 1975)
C.K.Barrett(HNTC1968)
2 CORINTHIANS
Sampley, J. Paul. "The Second Letter to the Corinthians: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 11. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.
J. Lambrecht (SacPag
1999)
F. W. Danker (ACNT 1989)
E. Best (Interp 1987)
R. P. Martin
(WBC 1986)
H.D.Betz (Herml985)
R.Bultmann(1985)
V. P. Furnish (AB
1984)
C.K.Barrett (HNTC1973)
GALATIANS
Matera, Frank J. Galatians. Sacra Pagian. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1992.
Martyn, Louis J. Galatians: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible. New York: Doubleday, 1997.
R. B. Hays
(NIB 2000)
P.F.Esler(1998)
S. K. Williams (ANTC 1997)
G.Ebeling(1985)
E.Krentz (ACNT 1985)
F.F.Bmce (NIGTC1982)
C. B. Cousar (Interp 1982)
H. D. Betz (Hemieneia 1979)
EPHESIANS
Perkins, Pheme. "The Letter to the Ephesians: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 11. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.
P.
Perkins (ANTC 1997)
R. P. Martin (Interp 1991)
R.Schnackenburg(1991)
A.
T. Lincoln (WBC 1990)
W.F.Taylor (ACNT1985)
F.F.Bruce (NICNT1984)
M.Barth
(AB 1974;2vols.)
PHILIPPIANS
Hooker, Moma D. "The Letter to the Philippians: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 11. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.
C. Osiek
(ANTC 2000)
F. B. Craddock (Interp 1985)
G. F. Hawthorne (WBC 1983)
R.
P. Martin (NCB 1983)
COLOSSIANS AND PHILEMON
Lincoln, Andrew. "The Letter to the Colossians: "The Letter to the Philippians: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In. New Interpreter's Bible, vol.11. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.
Felder, Cain H. "The Letter to Philemon: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 11. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.
M. Y. MacDonald (SacPag 2000)
D. M. Hay (ANTC
2000)
J. A. Fitzmyer (AB 2000)
M. Barm and H. Blanke (AB 1994)
R.
P. Martin (Interp 1991)
P.Pokomy (1991)
P.T.O'Brien (WBC1982)
R. P.
Martin (NCB 1974)
E. Lohse (1971)
1-2 THESSALONIANS
Malherbe, Abraham J. The Letters To The Thessalonians : A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible. New York: Doubleday, 2000.
A. Smith (NIB
2000)
B. E. J. Richard (SacPag 1995)
L H. Marshall (NCB 1983)
F. F.
Bruce (WBC 1982)
J.M.Reese(NTM1979)
1 TIMOTHY, 2 TIMOTHY, TITUS
Johnson, Luke T. The First and Second Letters to Timothy : A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible. New York: Doubleday, 2001.
Dunn, James J. "The First and Second Letter to Timothy and the Letter to Titus: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 11. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.
J.M.Bassler(ANTC1996)
J.D. Quinn(AB 1990)
T.C.Oden(Interpl989)
A. J. Hultgren (ACNT 1984)
A. T. Hanson (NCB 1982)
M. Dibelius & H. Conzelmann (Herm 1972)
HEBREWS
Craddock, Fred B. "The Letter to the Hebrews: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 12. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998.
Pfitzner, Victor C. Hebrews. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1997.
F.F.Bruce(1990)
H.
W. Attridge (Herm 1989)
R. M. Wilson (NCB 1987)
R.H. Smith (ACNT 1984)
G. W. Buchanan (AB 1972 )
JAMES
Johnson, Luke T. "The Letter of James: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 12. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998.
C.F.
Sleeper (ANTC 1998)
L. T. Johnson (AB 1995)
P. H. Davids (NIGTC 1982)
R. A. Martin (ACNT 1982)
S. Laws (HNTC 1980)
J. B. Adamson (NICNT
1976)
M. Dibelius & H. Greeven (Herm 1976)
1 PETER
Elliott, John H. I-II Peter, Jude. Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1982.
J. H. Elliott (AB 2000)
M. E. Boring (ANTC 1999)
D.
L. Bartlett (NIB 1998)
P. J. Achtemeier (Herml996)
R. Bauckham (WBC 1983)
2 PETER and JUDE
Kraftchick, Steven J. Jude, 2 Peter. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2002.
D.F.Watson (NIB 1998)
J. H. Neyrey (AB 1993 )
1 JOHN, 2 JOHN, 3 JOHN
Kysar, Robert. I, II, III John. Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 1986.
Rensberger, David. 1 John, 2 John, 3 John. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1997.
J. Painter (SacPag 2002)
C.C. Black (NIB
1998)
D. M. Smith (Interp 1991)
S.S.Smalley (WBC1984)
R.E. Brown (AB
1982)
I. H. Marshall (NICNT 1978)
R. Bultmann (Herm 1973)
J. L. Houlden
(HNTC 1973)
REVELATION
Schiissler Fiorenza, Elisabeth. Revelation: Vision of A Just World. Proclamation Commentaries. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991.
Rowland, Christopher. "The Book of Revelation: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections." In New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 12. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998.
L. L. Thompson (ANTC 1998)
J. Roloff(ConComm
1993)
W. J. Harrington (SacPag 1993)
M. E. Boring (Interp 1989)
G.
R. Beasley-Murray (NCB 1984)
G.B.Caird (1984)
J.M. Court (1979)
"J.M.
Ford (1975)
SERIES AND PUBLISHERS
ANTC- Abingdon NT
Commentaries (Abingdon)
AB- Anchor Bible (Doubleday)
ACNT- Augsburg Commentary
on the New Testament (Augsburg)
ConComm- Continental Commentaries (Augsburg/Fortress)
Herm- Hermeneia (Fortress)
HNTC- Harper's New Testament Commentary (Harper
& Row)
ICC- International Critical Commentary (T. & T. dark)
Interp- Interpretation
(Westminster/John Knox)
NCB- New Century Bible (Marshall, Morgan & Scott/Eerdmans)
NICNT- New International Commentary on the New Testament (Eerdmans)
NIGTC-
New International Greek Testament Commentary (Patemoster/Eerdmans)
NIB- New
Interpreter's Bible (Abingdon)
NTM- New Testament Message (Michael Glazier)
SacPag- Sacra Pagina-(Liturgical)
TPINTC- Trinity Press International
New Testament Commentary (Trinity)
WBC- Word Biblical Commentary (Word)
Prepared 3/03
Back to Library Research Instructions