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RECOMMENDED OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES by the Biblical Studies Faculty of Princeton Theological Seminary

(OT list updated 2010; NT list updated 2017)

Recommending commentaries on biblical books is something like recommending restaurants in a

large city. Possibilities are nearly endless and depend in large measure on one’s taste and

interests. But given a commitment to excellent critical scholarship and interpretation that serves

theological interpretation for the life of the church, here are a few recommendations. It needs to

be said that there are many more very good options than we can list here so none of these

recommendations should be taken as necessarily excluding other candidates. So let’s begin our

restaurant tour of commentaries.

COMMENTARIES/MONOGRAPHS ON INDIVIDUAL BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis. For the book of Genesis, two excellent theological commentaries include Walter

Brueggemann, Genesis, Interpretation (Westminster John Knox, 1982) and, more recently,

Terence Fretheim, “Genesis” in The New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 1 (Abingdon, 1994). I

recommend Claus Westermann’s three-volume commentary on Genesis for those interested in a

full range of discussion of critical issues, with emphasis on the European tradition of scholarship.

Another example of a more in-depth critical and theological commentary is Gordon Wenham,

Genesis 1-15 and Genesis 16-50, Volumes 1 and 2, Word Biblical Commentary (Word, 1987,

1994). Literary scholar Robert Alter’s Genesis, Translation and Commentary (Norton, 1996)

offers a translation that seeks to keep close to the original Hebrew and a commentary with

literary sensibilities.

Exodus. A standard critical and theological commentary on Exodus remains Brevard

Childs, The Book of Exodus, Old Testament Library (Westminster John Knox. 1974). Childs

includes a full range of discussions on historical-critical matters, larger Old Testament context,

New Testament context, and history of exegesis. It has weathered well over 30 years. Good

theological commentaries include Walter Brueggemann, “Exodus” in The New Interpreter’s

Bible, Volume 1 (Abingdon, 1994) and Terence Fretheim, Exodus, Interpretation (Westminster

John Knox, 1991).

Mention should also be made of Waldemar Janzen, Exodus, Believers Church Bible

Commentary (Herald, 2000) and, for those desiring some very heavy-lifting in their study of the

scholarship on Exodus, Cornelius Houtman, Exodus, Volumes 1-3, Historical Commentary on

the Old Testament (Kok, 1993, 1996, 2000) (excellent and detailed reviews of scholarship and

history of interpretation).

For those desiring more heavy-lifting in their study of Exodus, Thomas Dozeman's Exodus,

Eerdman's Critical Commentary (Eerdman's, 2009) is very well done and incorporates the latest

in Pentateuchal scholarship. One should also mention Cornelius Houtman, Exodus, Volumes 1-3,

Historical Commentary on the Old Testament (Kok, 1993, 1996, 2000) (detailed reviews of

scholarship and history of interpretation) and William Propp's two-volume Anchor Yale Bible

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commentary on Exodus 1-18 (Yale, 1999) and Exodus 19-40 (Yale, 2006) (extensive notes on

translation and critical issues).

Leviticus. This sometime overlooked book has been blessed by several recent and

excellent commentaries. One fine theological commentary is Samuel Balentine, Leviticus,

Interpretation (Westminster John Knox, 2003). Jacob Milgrom is a Jewish scholar who has spent

a lifetime studying Leviticus. He published a three-volume commentary on Leviticus in the

Anchor Bible series, but he has also released a more compact but still thorough one-volume

commentary: Leviticus: A Book of Ritual and Ethics (Augsburg Fortress, 2004). One could also

note two other possibilities from a more evangelical perspective: Gordon Wenham, Leviticus

(New International Commentary on the Old Testament) (Eerdmans, 1979) and Walter Kaiser,

“Leviticus,” in The New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 1 (Abingdon, 1994).

Numbers. One scholar some decades ago called the book of Numbers the “junk room of

the Bible” since he could not make sense of what seemed to be the disorganized jumble of genres

and texts in Numbers. Fortunately, several recent commentaries have sought to revise that view

with attention to the careful structure and theological fruit of this sometimes neglected book.

Options include Dennis Olson, Numbers, Interpretation (Westminster John Knox, 1996);

Timothy Ashley, Numbers (New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Eerdmans,

1996); Katharine Sakenfeld, Journeying with God, A Commentary on the Book of Numbers

(Eerdmans, 1995), and Jacob Milgrom, JPS Torah Commentary on Numbers (Jewish Publication

Society, 1990) among many others.

Deuteronomy. The rich and theologically important book of Deuteronomy is well

represented among commentaries. A sound critical and exegetical study is Richard Nelson,

Deuteronomy, Old Testament Library (Westminster John Knox, 2002). An in-depth study of

Deuteronomy that includes some history of its interpretation in history and culture is Mark

Biddle, Deuteronomy (Smyth & Helwys, 2003). Good theological commentaries include Patrick

Miller, Deuteronomy, Interpretation (Westminster John Knox, 1991); J. G. McConville,

Deuteronomy: Apollos Old Testament Commentary (Intervarsity Press, 2002); Walter

Brueggemann, Deuteronomy, Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries (Abingdon, 2001); and

Dennis Olson, Deuteronomy and the Death of Moses, A Theological Reading (Wipf & Stock,

2005).

Joshua. A fine critical and exegetical study of Joshua is Richard Nelson, Joshua, Old

Testament Library (Westminster John, Knox, 1997), now available in paperback. L. Daniel

Hawk, Joshua, Berit Olam, Studies in Hebrew Narrative and Poetry (Liturgical Press, 2001)

offers a more literary approach to Joshua.

Judges. Recommendations for this Old Testament account of Israel’s judges like

Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson include Dennis Olson, “Judges,” The New Interpreter’s

Bible, Volume 2 (Abingdon, 1998); J. Clinton McCann, Judges, Interpretation (Westminster

John Knox, 2002); and David Gunn, Judges, Blackwell Biblical Commentaries (Blackwell,

2005).

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1-2 Samuel Commentaries: For the theological interpretation of 1-2 Samuel, start with

Walter Brueggemann’s First and Second Samuel (Interpretation, 1990) or Eugene H. Peterson’s

First and Second Samuel (Westminster Bible Companion, 1999). Antony F. Campbell has

published a much more recent set of commentaries (1 Samuel, 2003; 2 Samuel, 2005) in the

FOTL series. Campbell is sensitive to issues of the book’s development without losing sight of

the fact that this text is a part of the Jewish-Christian canon. Normally, the Old Testament

Library is a good theological series. However, for Samuel, the OTL volume by Hans Wilhelm

Hertzberg (I & II Samuel) may overwhelm the pastor with too much historical and compositional

data, although students with a more historically-oriented interest will find it helpful for tracing

the lines of argumentation back through early twentieth-century European thought. Kyle

McCarter’s very technical two book series is an invaluable resource for advanced students

looking for text-critical data (I Samuel, 1980; II Samuel, 1984; Anchor Bible), and Ralph Klein’s

1 Samuel (Word Bible Commentary, 1983) is a good semi-technical volume in the same vein as

Campbell’s.

1-2 Kings. Recommendations for this theological account of Israel’s history, from the

death of David and the accession of Solomon in the 10th BCE to the release of Judah’s exiled

king Jehoiachin in the 6th BCE, include: Choon-Leong Seow, “1-2 Kings,” The New

Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 3 (Abingdon, 1999), an excellent literary and theological

commentary; Richard Nelson, First and Second Kings, Interpretation (Westminster John Knox,

1987), which offers rich theological insights with pastors in mind; Terence Fretheim, First and

Second Kings, WBC (Westminster John Knox, 2000); and Walter Brueggemann, 1 and 2 Kings:

A Commentary (Smyth and Helwys Publishing, 2000).

Isaiah. For most of the twentieth century, scholars have tended to treat the book of Isaiah

in three parts—First Isaiah (chapters 1-39), Second Isaiah (chapters 40-55), and Third Isaiah

(chapters 56-66). More recently, however, some commentators have deemed it important to read

the book as a whole, regardless of the different origins of the parts. In this mold are the works of

John Goldingay in the New International Biblical Commentary series (Hendrickson, 2001) and

Brevard Childs in the Old Testament Library series (Westminster/John Knox, 2001). Also recent

are the commentaries that focus on the history of the Bible and its reception. In this category are

the Church’s Bible, with Isaiah edited by Robert L. Wilkens with Angela R. Christman and

Michael J. Hollreich (Eerdmans, 2007) and John Sawyer’s The Fifth Gospel: Isaiah in the

History of Christianity (Cambridge University Press, 1996).

Jeremiah. For basic textual, critical and exegetical issues, a recent resource is Leslie

Allen, Jeremiah (Old Testament Library)(Westminster John Knox, 2008). Two fine theological

commentaries on Jeremiah and the God of Jeremiah areWalter Brueggemann, A Commentary

on Jeremiah: Exile and Homecoming (Eerdmans, 1998) andTerence Fretheim, Jeremiah: Smyth

and Helwys Bible Commentary (Smyth and Helwyx, 2002).

Ezekiel. Daniel I. Block. The Book of Ezekiel. 2 vols. Grand Rapids: Erdmans, 1997. A

useful work in the evangelical stream. Moshe Greenberg. Ezekiel 1-37 : a New Translation with

Introduction and Commentary. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1983, 1997. The first major

commentary to attend to the literary features of Ezekiel and to consider the book holistically,

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with less attention to redactional arguments. Still a very valuable resource with excellent

insights. Robert W. Jenson. Ezekiel. Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible. Grand

Rapids: Brazos, 2009. Written by a systematic theologian, it offers insightful theological

reflections on the text. Best used in conjunction with a more traditional commentary. Paul Joyce.

Ezekiel: A Commentary. New York; London, T & T Clark, 2007. Summarizes scholarly

positions very effectively. Good resource. Margaret Odell, Ezekiel. Smyth & Helwys Bible

Commentary. Macon, GA: Smith & Helwys, 2005. Very user friendly format, with attention to

some of the history of interpretation. Steven Tuell. Ezekiel. NIBC. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson,

2009. Thoughtful commentary with a slightly evangelical perspective. Walther Zimmerli.

Ezekiel : a Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel. Hermeneia. 2 vols. Philadelphia:

Fortress, 1979-1983. This English translation of the original 1969 German is a classic,

magisterial commentary that attends to the minute details of Ezekiel’s text, which one expects

from Hermeneia commentaries. Outdated in some ways (e.g., intense focus on redactional

arguments), it is still an important resource.

Hosea. Francis I. Andersen, David Noel Freedman. Hosea : A New Translation with

Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1980. Hans Walter

Wolff. Hosea: a Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Hosea. Hermeneia. Philadelphia:

Fortress, 1974.

Joel. John Barton. Joel and Obadiah. Old Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster

John Knox, 2001. By a first-rate biblical scholar.

Amos. Jörg Jeremias. The Book of Amos : a Commentary. Old Testament Library.

Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1998. James L. Mays. Amos: A Commentary. Old

Testament Library. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1969. Predecessor to Jeremias’ commentary, this

venerable tome is excellent.

Obadiah. John Barton. Joel and Obadiah. Old Testament Library. Louisville:

Westminster John Knox, 2001.

William P. Brown. Obadiah Through Malachi. Westminster Bible Companion. Louisville:

Westminster John Knox 1996. The author is a wonderful interpreter of biblical texts.

Jonah: William P. Brown. Obadiah Through Malachi. Westminster Bible Companion.

Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1996. Daniel Smith-Christopher. Jonah, Jesus, and Other

Good Coyotes : Speaking Peace to Power in the Bible. Nashville: Abingdon, 2007. The author is

a biblical scholar, and though not a commentary, this book is thought-provoking.

“Minor Prophets”. For these shorter prophetic books, three commentaries covering

these books as a group are particularly recommended for their theological emphasis. These are

The New Interpreter’s Bible (NIB) vol. VII (Abingdon, 1996), various authors listed below under

individual books; William P. Brown, Obadiah through Malachi, Westminster Bible Companion,

(Westminster John Knox, 1996); and Elizabeth Achtemeier Nahum – Malachi, Interpretation

(John Knox 1986). Brown highlights general theological and ethical themes, while Achtemeier

makes more explicit reference to Christian doctrines and NT passages.

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Micah. The NIB author (see above) is Daniel Simundson; see also Brown, above. Juan I.

Alfaro, Justice and Loyalty: A Commentary on the Book of Micah, International Theological

Commentary (Eerdmans 1989) approaches Micah from a liberationist perspective. James

Limburg’s Hosea-Micah, Interpretation (John Knox, 1988) is theologically focused for teaching

and preaching. James L. Mays, Micah, Old Testament Library (Westminster, 1976) is a classic

with good balance of historical-critical information and theological insights. Also of interest to

the more technical user are Delbert Hillers in the Hermeneia series (Fortress, 1984) and Hans

Walter Wolff (tr. G. Stansel, Augsburg, 1990, from the 1982 German original).

Nahum. The NIB author (see above) is Francisco O. García-Treto; see also Brown and

Achtemeier, above. Julia Myers O’Brien, Nahum (Sheffield Academic/ Continuum, 2002) offers

a literary reading with focus on ethical questions, especially issues of gender and violence. J.J.M.

Roberts, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, Old Testament Library (Westminster John Knox

1991) provides an accessible presentation of textual issues, ancient Near Eastern backgrounds,

and literary forms.

Habakkuk. The NIB author (see above) is Theodore Hiebert; see also Brown and

Achtemeier, above. J.J.M. Roberts, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, Old Testament Library

(Westminster John Knox 1991) provides an accessible presentation of textual issues, ancient

Near Eastern backgrounds, and literary forms. Francis I. Anderson in the Anchor Bible series

(Doubleday, 2001) offers a much longer and more technical treatment.

Zephaniah. The NIB author (see above) is Robert A. Bennett; see also Brown and

Achtemeier, above. Adele Berlin in the Anchor Bible series (Doubleday 1994) incorporates both

modern critical scholarship and pre-modern Jewish interpretation. Marvin A. Sweeny (Augsburg

Fortress, 2003) offers a detailed text-critical and exegetical study in the Hermeneia series

tradition. J.J.M. Roberts, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, Old Testament Library

(Westminster John Knox 1991) provides an accessible presentation of textual issues, ancient

Near Eastern backgrounds, and literary forms.

Haggai. The NIB author (see above) is W. Eugene March; see also Brown and

Achtemeier, above. Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P. gives a theologically focused reading for the

church in his Rebuilding with Hope: Haggai and Zechariah, International Theological

Commentary (Eerdmans, 1998). Since most scholars associate Zechariah chs 1-8 with the era of

Haggai, some commentary series combine these into a single volume. Representative is David

Petersen, Haggai and Zechariah 1-8, Old Testament Library (Westminster John Knox 1984),

who provides detailed attention to the historical setting of these materials, along with literary

analysis. A lengthier and more technical treatment is available from Carol Meyers and Eric

Meyers, Haggai and Zechariah 1-8, Anchor Bible (Doubleday, 1987).

Zechariah. The NIB author (see above) is Ben. C. Ollenburger; see also Brown and

Achtemeier, above. Also theologically focused is Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P., Rebuilding with

Hope: Haggai and Zechariah, International Theological Commentary (Eerdmans, 1998). The

book of Zechariah is in two quite distinct parts, chs. 1-8 and 9-14. As noted above under Haggai,

major commentary series combine the first half of Zechariah with the book of Haggai (see

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listings above). The second half of Zechariah, chs 9-14, is sometimes correspondingly combined

with Malachi in one volume (see listing below).

Malachi. The NIB author (see above) is Eileen M. Schuller, O.S.U.; see also Brown and

Achtemeier, above. For a more detailed work, showing connections with Zechariah 9-14, see

David Petersen, Zechariah 9-14 and Malachi, Old Testament Library (Westminster John Knox,

1995).

Psalms: There are numerous commentaries on the Psalms. The most helpful for

preachers s are probably James Mays’s volume in the Interpretation series (John Knox, 1994)

and J. Clinton McCann’s contribution in the New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 4 (Abingdon,

1996). There are not many great commentaries that deal with the details of the Psalms. Erich

Zenger’s commentary in the Hermeneia series is the best of these, though only the volume on

Psalms 51-100 has appeared in English (Fortress, 2005). Also helpful is Hans-Joachim Kraus’s

commentary published originally in German but translated into English and published by

Fortress press in 1988-89. Not to be missed, though, not strictly a commentary is Patrick D.

Miller’s Interpreting the Psalms (Fortress, 1986).

Job. In recent years, a number of commentaries have been published that help the reader

appreciate the literary excellence and theological contributions of the book. Arguably the best

among these is Carol Newsom’s work in the New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume IV (Abingdon,

1996). For a consistently sensitive theological reading of the book, Samuel E. Balentine’s

volume in the Smyth and Helwys Bible Commentary series is without peer (Smyth and Helwys,

2006). Especially interesting in this work are the numerous forays into the reception history of

the book in literature, music, and the visual arts. Other noteworthy commentaries include David

J. A. Clines’s three-volume contribution in the Word Biblical Commentary series (Word, 1989-

2009) and Norman Habel’s volume in the Old Testament Library series (Westminster, 1985).

Proverbs. For detailed exegesis, there are now two important works: Michael V. Fox’s

two volumes in the Anchor Bible series (volume 1 by Doubleday, 2000; volume 2 by Yale

University Press, 2009) and Bruce K. Waltke’s two volumes in the New International

Commentary series (Eerdmans, 2004). The best theological treatments of the book are Raymond

van Leeuwen’s contribution in the New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume V (Abingdon, 1997) and

Christine Roy Yoder’s commentary in the Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries series

(Abingdon, 2009).

Ruth. On the book of Ruth, Katharine Sakenfeld, Ruth, Interpretation (Westminster John

Knox, 1999), considers the cultural diversity of readings of Ruth along with a sustained literary

and theological commentary. Andre LaCoque, Ruth (Augsburg Fortress, 2004), is a very recent

and thorough critical commentary with attention to issues of language, culture, and

interpretation. A different kind of commentary treatment is Ellen Davis and Margaret Adams

Parker, Who Are You, My Daughter: Reading Ruth through Image and Text (Westminster John

Knox, 2003) which offers a new translation, notes and a series of 20 artistic woodcuts that

interpret the book of Ruth through visual image along with the text.

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Another three-volume resource for commentaries on the lectionary preaching texts (Old

Testament, Gospels and Epistles) from the Revised Common Lectionary is The Lectionary

Commentary, Theological Exegesis for Sunday’s Texts (Eerdmans, 2001)/

Song of Songs. The Song is also now well served by good English language resources.

M. Pope’s behemoth of a commentary in the Anchor Bible series (Song of Songs [AB 7C; New

York: Doubleday, 1977]) remains a classic, idiosyncratic to be sure, but chalked full of all kinds

of delightful tidbits and still very much worth consulting. Two of the most well rounded

commentaries on the Song—both solid philologically and literarily inclined—are M. Fox’s The

Song of Songs and the and the Ancient Egyptian Love Songs (Madison: University of Wisconsin,

1985) and J. C. Exum’s Song of Songs (OTL; Louisville: WJK, 2005). R. Murphy’s slim volume

in the Hermeneia series (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990) is also solid. For those with German, Y.

Zakovitch’s Das Hohelied (HThKAT; Freiburg: Herder, 2004) is highly recommend, especially

for his wonderful literary sensibility. O. Keel’s The Song of Songs (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1994)

is notable for its use of iconography. There are two provocative attempts at a more literary

rendering of the Song: M. Falk, Love Lyrics from the Bible: A Translation and Literary Study of

the Song of Songs (Sheffield: Almond, 1982) and A. Bloch and C. Bloch, The Song of Songs: A

New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (New York: Random House, 1995). For a

sampling of recent feminist writing on the Song, see A. Brenner and C. Fontaine, The Song of

Songs: A Feminist Companion to the Bible (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 2000). Other recent

collections of essays on the Song include the July 2005 issue of the journal Interpretation and

Perspectives on the Song of Songs—Perspektiven der Hoheliedauslegung (ed. A. C. Hagedorn;

BZAW; Berlin: W. de Gruyter, 2005). For a brief overview of the Song, see F. W. Dobbs-

Allsopp, “Song of Songs” in The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, vol 5: S-Z (ed. K.

Doob Sakenfeld; Nashville: Abingdon, forthcoming 2009) and stay tuned for T. Linaflet’s

forthcomng contribution on the Song in the Berit Olam series.

Ecclesiastes. There used to be a dearth of good theological commentaries on

Ecclesiastes, but the situation has changed. The most detailed treatments of the book that also

pay attention to the theological issues are C. L. Seow’s commentary in the Anchor Bible series

(Yale University Press, 1997) and Craig Bartholomew’s work published by Baker Academic

Press in 2009. For pastors and lay people, William P. Brown’s volume in the Interpretation series

may be especially helpful.

Lamentations. Since 1991 and the publication of I. Provan’s contribution on

Lamentations in the New Century Bible Commentary series (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans),

Lamentations has been well served by some very fine commentaries in English. D. R. Hillers,

Lamentations (AB 7A; 2d rev ed; New York: Doubleday, 1992) remains the most philologically

rich commentary available (those with German may still usefully consult W. Rudolph’s

Klagelieder [KAT 17/3; Gütersloh, 1962], especially on text critical issues; now see also the text

critical comments by R. Schäfer in BHQ and B. Albrektson, Studies in the Text and Theology of

the Book of Lamentations [Lun,d 1963]). More literarily minded commentaries include, A.

Berlin, Lamentations (OTL; Louisville: WJK, 2002), F. W. Dobbs-Allsopp, Lamentations (IBC;

Louisville: WJK, 2002), and K. O’Connor, “Lamentations” in NIB VI, pp. 1011-72 (Nashville:

Abingdon, 2001)—the latter two probe relevant theological issues as well. Among notable recent

monographs on Lamentations, see C. Westermann, Lamentations: Issues and Interpretation

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(Minneapolis: Fortress, 1994), T. Linafelt, Surviving Lamentations (Chicago: University of

Chicago, 1999), K. O’Connor, Lamentations and the Tears of the World (Maryknoll: Orbis,

2002), C. Mandolfo, Daughter Zion Talks Back: A Dialogic Theology of the book of

Lamentations (Atlanta: SBL, 2007), C. Maier, Daughter Zion, Mother Zion: Gender, Space, and

the Sacred in Ancient Israel (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2008), and W. Morrow, Protest Against

God: The Eclipse of a Biblical Tradition (Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix, 2006). Also keep an eye

out for E. Greenstein’s forthcoming contribution on Lamentations in the new JPS Torah series.

Ezra-Nehemiah. H. G. M. Williamson, Ezra, Nehemiah, WBC (Word, 1985) offers an

excellent interpretation of these books, with thorough discussion of contemporary scholarship.

Ralph Klein, “Ezra-Nehemiah,” The New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 3 (Abingdon, 1999) is a

good hermeneutical resource for the preacher, as is Mark Thronveit, Ezra-Nehemiah,

Interpretation (Westminster John Knox, 1992).

Esther. The story of this biblical heroine has captured the imagination of Jews (and

Christians) over the centuries, and there are a number of commentaries that attend well to the

book’s literary dimension. Michael V. Fox, Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther

(University of S. Carolina Press, 1991) is a rich study that focuses on Esther as a literary work

and considers also the theological significance of a book that never mentions God. Jon D.

Levenson, Esther: A Commentary, OTL (Westminster John Knox, 1997) incorporates rabbinic

material in addition to standard historical-critical words. Sidnie White Crawford, “The Book of

Esther,” The New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 3 (Abingdon, 1999) offers helpful reflections for

the preacher, including the story’s ethical implications for today.

Daniel. For heavy lifting in critical, textual and background material on the book of

Daniel, the standard remains John Collins, Daniel: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel

(Hermeneia) (Fortress, 1994). An older but very fin commentary by Louis Francis Hartman and

Alexander A. Di Lella , Daniel ([Anchor Bible] Garden City NJ: Doubleday, 1978) is also to be

highly recommended. Two insightful, reliable and theologically suggestive commentaries are W.

Sibley Towner, Daniel (Interpretation) (Westminster John Knox, 1984) and Leong Seow, Daniel

(Westminster Bible Companion)(Westminster John Knox, 2003).

1-2 Chronicles. Sara Japhet, I & II Chronicles: A Commentary, OTL (Westminster John

Knox, 1993) offers a thorough critical and exegetical study of these OT books. H.G. M.

Williamson, 1 and 2 Chronicles, NCB (Eerdmans, 1982) is another excellent and detailed

commentary that incorporates insights from his other work, Israel in the Books of Chronicles.

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COMMENTARIES/MONOGRAPHS ON INDIVIDUAL BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew

Boring, Eugene. “The Gospel of Matthew: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.” Pp. 87-

505 in The New Interpreter’s Bible 8. Nashville: Abingdon,1995.

Davies, W. D., and Dale C. Allison, Jr. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel

According to Saint Matthew. 3 vols. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T & T Clark,

1988–97.

Hagner, Donald. Matthew. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, 1993-95.

Harrington, Daniel. The Gospel of Matthew. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville: Liturgical, 2002.

Luz, Ulrich. Matthew 1-7: A Commentary. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1989.

___. Matthew 8–20: A Commentary. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001.

______. Matthew 21-28: A Commentary. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress: 2005.

Mark

Black, C. Clifton. Mark. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon, 2011.

Boring, Eugene. Mark. New Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2006.

Collins, Adela. Mark: A Commentary. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2007.

Donahue, John R., and Daniel J. Harrington. The Gospel of Mark. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville:

Liturgical, 2002.

Edwards, James R. The Gospel According to Mark. Pillar New Testament Commentary Series.

Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2002.

Hooker, Morna D. A Commentary on the Gospel According to St Mark. Black's New Testament

Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1991.

Juel, Donald H. The Gospel of Mark. Interpreting Biblical Texts. Nashville: Abingdon, 1999.

Marcus, Joel. Mark 1–8: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible

27. New York and London: Doubleday, 2000.

Marcus, Joel. Mark 8–16: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible

27A. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2009.

Moloney, Francis. Mark: Storyteller, Interpreter, Evangelist. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2004.

Luke

Bovon, Francois. Luke 1. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2002.

_______. Luke 2. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2013.

_______. Luke 3. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2012.

Culpepper, R. Alan. “The Gospel of Luke: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.” Pp. 1-

490 in The New Interpreter’s Bible 9. Nashville: Abingdon, 1995.

Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Gospel According to Luke. 2 vols. Anchor Bible. Garden City:

Doubleday, 198l, 1985.

Green, Joel B. The Gospel of Luke. New International Commentary on the New Testament.

Grand Rapids, Mich., and Cambridge, U.K.: Eerdmans, 1997.

Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Gospel of Luke. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1991.

Marshall, I. Howard. The Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI:

Eerdmans, 1978.

Tannehill, Robert C. Luke. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon,

1996.

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John

Ashton, John. Understanding the Fourth Gospel. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991.

Barrett, Charles Kingsley. The Gospel According to St. John. 2d ed. Philadelphia: Westminster,

1978.

Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel According to John. 2 vols. Anchor Bible. Garden City:

Doubleday, l966, 1970.

Bultmann, Rudolf. The Gospel of John: A Commentary. Oxford: Blackwell, 1971.

Charlesworth, James H. The Beloved Disciple: Whose Witness Validates the Gospel of John?

Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International, 1995.

Culpepper, R. Alan. Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel: A Study in Literary Design. Minneapolis:

Fortress, 1983.

Koester, Craig. Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel: Mystery, Meaning, Community. Minneapolis:

Fortress, 2003.

Martyn, J. Louis. History and Theology in the Fourth Gospel. New York: Harper & Row, 1968.

Moloney, Francis. The Gospel of John. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1998.

O’Day, Gail. “The Gospel of John: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.” Pp. 491-865 in

The New Interpreter’s Bible 9. Nashville: Abingdon,1995.

Schnackenburg, Rudolf. The Gospel According to St. John. 3 vols. New York: Crossroad

[Seabury], 1980, 1982.

Smith, D. Moody. John. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon, 1999.

Acts

Barrett, Charles Kingsley. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. 2

vols. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1994, 1998.

Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Acts of the Apostles: A New Translation with Introduction and

Commentary. Anchor Bible. New York and London: Doubleday, 1998.

Gaventa, Beverly Roberts. Acts. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon,

2003.

Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Acts of the Apostles. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville: Liturgical Press,

1992.

Pervo, Richard. Acts. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2009.

Spencer, F. Scott. Journeying through Acts: A Literary-Cultural Reading. Peabody, MA:

Hendrickson, 2004.

Romans

Achtemeier, Paul. Romans. Interpretation. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1985.

Byrne, Brendan. Romans. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1996.

Cranfield, Charles E. B. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. 2

vols. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1975, 1979.

Dunn, J.D.G. Romans. 2 vols. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, 1988.

Fitzmyer, Joseph A. Romans: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor

Bible 33. New York: Doubleday, 1993.

Jewett, Robert. Romans. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2007.

Käsemann, Ernst. Commentary on Romans. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980.

Keck, Leander. Romans. Abingdon New Testament Commentary. Nashville: Abingdon, 2005.

11

Moo, Douglas. The Epistle to the Romans. New International Commentary on the New

Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.

Wright, N. T. “The Letter to the Romans: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.” Pp. 393-

770 in The New Interpreter’s Bible 10. Nashville: Abingdon, 2002.

I Corinthians

Barrett, Charles Kingsley. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. Harper's New Testament

Commentaries. New York: Harper & Row, 1968.

Fee, Gordon D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. New International Commentary on the New

Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987.

Hays, Richard B. First Corinthians. Interpretation. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1997.

Sampley, J. Paul. “The First Letter to the Corinthians: Introduction, Commentary, and

Reflections.” Pp. 771-1003 in The New Interpreter’s Bible 10. Nashville: Abingdon, 2002.

Thiselton, Anthony C. The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text.

New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.

II Corinthians

Barrett, Charles Kingsley. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. Harper's New Testament

Commentaries. New York: Harper & Row, l973.

Furnish, Victor Paul. II Corinthians. Anchor Bible. Garden City: Doubleday, 1984.

Lambrecht, Jan. Second Corinthians. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville: Liturgical, 1999.

Matera, Frank J. II Corinthians: A Commentary. New Testament Library. Louisville:

Westminster John Knox, 2003.

Sampley, J. Paul. “The Second Letter to the Corinthians: Introduction, Commentary, and

Reflections.” Pp. 2-180 in The New Interpreter’s Bible 11. Nashville: Abingdon, 2000.

Thrall, Margaret E. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Second Epistle to the

Corinthians. 2 vols. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1994, 2000.

Galatians

Burton, Ernest de Witt. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians.

International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1962.

Cousar. Charles B. Galatians. Interpretation. Atlanta: John Knox, 1982.

Dunn, James D.G. The Epistle to the Galatians. Black’s New Testament Commentary. Peabody,

MA: Hendrickson, 1993.

Ebeling, Gerhard. The Truth of the Gospel: An Exposition of Galatians. Philadelphia: Fortress,

1985.

Hays, Richard. B. The Faith of Jesus Christ: An Investigation of the Narrative Substructure of

Galatians 3:1-4:11. Chico, CA: Scholars Press, 1983.

Hays, Richard B. “The Letter to the Galatians: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.” Pp.

183-348 in The New Interpreter’s Bible 11. Nashville: Abingdon, 2000.

Longenecker, Richard. Galatians. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, 1990.

Martyn, J. Louis. Galatians: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor

Bible. New York: Doubleday, 1997.

Matera, Frank. Galatians. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1992.

12

Ephesians

Best, Ernest. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Ephesians. International Critical

Commentary. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1998.

Lincoln, Andrew T. Ephesians. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, 1990.

MacDonald, Margaret Y. Colossians and Ephesians. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville: Liturgical,

2000.

Muddiman, John. The Epistle to the Ephesians. Black’s New Testament Commentary. Peabody,

MA: Hendrickson, 2004.

Perkins, Pheme. Ephesians. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon,

1997.

Philippians

Bockmuehl, Markus. The Epistle to the Philippians. Black’s New Testament Commentary.

Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998.

Cousar, Charles. Philippians and Philemon. New Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster

John Knox, 2009.

Fee, Gordon D. Paul's Letter to the Philippians. New International Commentary on the New

Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.

Hooker, Morna D. “The Letter to the Philippians: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.”

Pp. 469-549 in The New Interpreter’s Bible 11. Nashville: Abingdon, 2000.

Osiek, Carolyn. Philippians, Philemon. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville:

Abingdon, 2000.

Colossians [see also under Ephesians and Philemon]

Dunn, James D. G. The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon. New International Greek

Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.

Hay, David M. Colossians. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon,

2000.

Lincoln, Andrew T. “The Letter to the Colossians: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.”

Pp. 553-669 in The New Interpreter’s Bible 11. Nashville: Abingdon, 2000.

Pokorny, Petr. Colossians: A Commentary. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1991.

Schweizer, Eduard. The Letter to the Colossians:A Commentary. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1982.

Thompson, Marianne Meye. Colossians and Philemon. Two Horizons. Grand Rapids:

Eerdmans, 2005.

I, II Thessalonians

Gaventa, Beverly Roberts. First and Second Thessalonians. Interpretation. Louisville: John

Knox, 1998.

Furnish, Victor. 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries.

Nashville: Abingdon, 2007.

Malherbe, Abraham J. The Letters to the Thessalonians: A New Translation with Introduction

and Commentary. Anchor Bible. New York and London: Doubleday, 2000.

Marshall, I. Howard. I and II Thessalonians. New Century Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids:

Eerdmans, 1983.

Richard, Earl J. First and Second Thessalonians. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville: Liturgical Press,

1995.

13

Wanamaker, Charles A. Commentary on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. New International Greek

Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.

I, II Timothy and Titus

Bassler, Jouette M. 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries.

Nashville: Abingdon, 1996.

Collins, Raymond F. I & II Timothy and Titus: A Commentary. New Testament Library.

Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002.

Johnson, Luke Timothy. The First and Second Letters to Timothy. A New Translation with

Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible. New York and London: Doubleday, 2001.

Marshall, I Howard and P. H. Towner. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Pastoral

Epistles. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1999.

Quinn, Jerome D. The Letter to Titus. A New Translation with Notes and Commentary, and An

Introduction to Titus, I and II Timothy, The Pastoral Epistles. Anchor Bible. New York:

Doubleday, 1990.

Philemon [see also under Colossians]

Barth, Markus and H. Blanke. The Letter to Philemon: A New Translation with Notes and

Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.

Felder, Cain Hope. “The Letter to Philemon: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.” Pp.

883-905 in The New Interpreter’s Bible 11. Nashville: Abingdon, 2000.

Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Letter to Philemon: A New Translation with Introduction and

Commentary. Anchor Bible. New York and London: Doubleday, 2000.

Osiek, Carolyn. See under Philippians (2000).

Hebrews

Attridge, Harold W. The Epistle to the Hebrews. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1989.

Ellingworth, Paul. The Epistle to the Hebrews: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New

International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993.

Johnson, Luke Timothy. Hebrews. New Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox,

2006.

Koester, Craig R. Hebrews: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor

Bible. New York and London: Doubleday, 2001.

James

Allison, Jr., Dale C. James. International Critical Commentary. London: Bloomsbury, 2013.

Davids, Peter. Commentary on James. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand

Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982.

Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Letter of James. Anchor Bible. New York: Doubleday, 1995.

___. “The Letter of James: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.” Pp. 175-225 in The

New Interpreter’s Bible 12. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998.

Laws, Sophie. The Epistle of James. Harper's New Testament Commentaries. San Francisco:

Harper & Row, 1980.

Sleeper, C. Freeman. James. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon,

1998.

14

I Peter

Achtemeier, Paul J. 1 Peter: A Commentary on the First Epistle of Peter. Hermeneia.

Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996.

Bartlett, David L. “The First Letter of Peter: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.” Pp.

227-319 in The New Interpreter’s Bible 12. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998.

Boring, M. Eugene. 1 Peter. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon,

1999.

Elliott, John H. 1 Peter: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible.

New York and London: Doubleday, 2000.

Goppelt, Leonhard. A Commentary on I Peter. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993.

Senior, Donald. 1 Peter, Jude, and 2 Peter. Sacra Pagina. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2003.

II Peter and Jude

Bauckham, Richard J. Jude, 2 Peter. Word Biblical Commentary. Waco: Word, 1983.

Kraftchick, Steven J. 2 Peter, Jude. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville:

Abingdon, 2002.

Neyrey, Jerome H. 2 Peter, Jude. Anchor Bible. New York: Doubleday, 1993.

Senior, Donald. See under 1 Peter (2003).

Watson, Duane F. “The Second Letter of Peter: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections;”

“The Letter of Jude: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.” Pp. 321-61, 473-99 in The

New Interpreter’s Bible 12. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998.

I, II, III John

Black, C. Clifton. “The First, Second, and Third Letters of John: Introduction, Commentary, and

Reflections.” Pp. 363-469 in The New Interpreter’s Bible 12. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998.

Brown, Raymond E. The Epistles of John. Anchor Bible. Garden City: Doubleday, 1982.

Lieu, Judith. I,II, III John. New Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox,

2008.

Parsenios, George L. First, Second and Third John. Paideia Commentaries on the New

Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2014.

Rensberger, David. 1 John, 2 John, 3 John. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville:

Abingdon, 1997.

Schnackenburg, Rudolf. The Johannine Epistles. A Commentary. New York: Crossroad, 1992.

Smith, D. Moody. First, Second, and Third John. Interpretation. Louisville: John Knox, 1991.

Strecker, Georg. The Johannine Letters: A Commentary on 1, 2, and 3 John. Hermeneia.

Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996.

Revelation

Aune, David E. Revelation 1–5. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, 1997.

. Revelation 6–16. Word Biblical Commentary. Nashville: Nelson, 1998.

. Revelation 17–22. Word Biblical Commentary. Nashville: Nelson, 1998.

Blount, Brian. Revelation. New Testament Library. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009.

Boring, M. Eugene. Revelation. Interpretation. Louisville: John Knox, 1989.

Caird, George B. A Commentary on the Revelation of St. John the Divine. Harper's New

Testament Commentaries. New York: Harper & Row, 1966.

15

Charles, R.H. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John. Interantional

Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1956-59.

Kovacs, Judith, and Christopher Rowland. Revelation. Blackwell Bible Commentaries.

Oxford: Blackwell, 2004.

Rowland, Christopher C. “The Book of Revelation: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections.”

Pp. 501-743 in The New Interpreter’s Bible 12. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998.

Thompson, Leonard L. Revelation. Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville:

Abingdon, 1998.