One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is, “What are the commentaries you recommend for serious study of the New Testament?” At long last, I have compiled my list. Subject to further editing, it will appear in a forthcoming hermeneutics text, Invitation to Biblical Interpretation, due out in the Invitation to Theological Interpretation Series in a couple years.
In the meantime, here is the list:
Matthew
Blomberg, Craig L. Matthew. NAC. Nashville: Broadman, 1992.
Carson, D. A. “Matthew.” EBC 8. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984, 3–599.
Davies, W. D. and Dale C. Allison. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. ICC. 3 vols. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1989, 1991, 1997.
Hagner, Donald A. Matthew. 2 vols. WBC. Dallas: Word, 1993, 1995.
Keener, Craig S. A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
Wilkins, Michael. Matthew. NIVAC. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.
Mark
Evans, Craig A. Mark 8:27–16:20. WBC. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001.
France, R. T. The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.
Garland, David E. Mark. NIVAC. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.
Guelich, Robert A. Mark 1–8:26. WBC. Dallas: Word, 1989.
Gundry, Robert H. Mark: A Commentary on His Apology for the Cross. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993.
Lane, William L. Commentary on the Gospel of Mark. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974.
Luke
Bock, Darrell L. Luke. 2 vols. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994, 1996.
Fitzmeyer, Joseph A. The Gospel According to Luke. AB. 2 vols. New York: Doubleday, 1981–85.
Green, Joel B. The Gospel of Luke. Rev. ed. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
Marshall, I. Howard. Commentary on Luke. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978.
Nolland, John. Luke. WBC. 3 vols. Dallas: Word, 1990–93.
John
Carson, D. A. The Gospel According to John. PNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991.
Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of John: A Commentary. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2003.
Köstenberger, Andreas J. John. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004.
Morris, Leon. Commentary on the Gospel of John. Rev. ed. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.
Ridderbos, Herman N. The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
Acts
Barrett, C. K. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles. ICC. 2 vols. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1994–98.
Bock, Darrell L. Acts. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007. [to be released later this year]
Bruce, F. F. Commentary on the Book of Acts. Rev. ed. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.
Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Acts of the Apostles. AB New York: Doubleday, 1999.
Longenecker, Richard N. “Acts.” EBC 9. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981, 207–753.
Romans
Cranfield, C. E. B. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. ICC. 2 vols. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1975–79.
Dunn, James D. G. Romans. WBC. 2 vols. Dallas: Word, 1988.
Moo, Douglas J. The Epistle to the Romans. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
Schreiner, Thomas R. Romans. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.
Wright, N. T. “The Letter to the Romans.” New Interpreter’s Bible. Nashville: Abingdon, 2002, Vol. 10, 393–770.
1 Corinthians
Barrett, C. K. A Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians. Harper’s New Testament Commentary. New York: Harper, 1968.
Blomberg, Craig L. 1 Corinthians. NIVAC. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.
Fee, Gordon D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987.
Garland, David E. 1 Corinthians. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003.
Thiselton, Anthony C. The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
2 Corinthians
Barnett, Paul. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
Garland, David E. 2 Corinthians. NAC. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1999.
Hafemann, Scott J. 2 Corinthians. NIVAC. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000.
Harris, Murray, J. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005.
Martin, Ralph P. 2 Corinthians. WBC. Waco: Word, 1986.
Galatians
Bruce, F. F. Galatians. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982.
Dunn, James D. G. The Epistle to the Galatians. HNTC. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1993.
Fung, R. Y. K. The Epistle to the Galatians. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.
George, Timothy. Galatians. NAC. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1994.
Hays, Richard B. “The Letter to the Galatians.” New Interpreter’s Bible. Nashville: Abingdon, 2000, Vol. 11, 181–348.
Longenecker, Richard N. Galatians. WBC. Dallas: Word, 1990.
Ephesians
Best, Ernest. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Ephesians. ICC. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1998.
Bruce, F. F. The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1984.
Hoehner, Harold W. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002.
Lincoln, A. T. Ephesians. WBC. Dallas: Word, 1990.
O’Brien, Peter T. The Letter to the Ephesians. PNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
Philippians
Bockmuehl, Markus. The Epistle to the Philippians. Black’s NT Commentaries. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998. Paperback edition New York: Continuum, 2006.
Fee, Gordon D. Philippians. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.
Hawthorne, Gerald. Philippians. WBC. Rev. and exp. by Ralph P. Martin. Nashville: Nelson, 2004.
O’Brien, Peter T. The Epistle to the Philippians. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991.
Silva, Moisés. Philippians. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005.
Thielman, Frank. Philippians. NIVAC. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995.
Colossians and Philemon
Bruce, F. F. The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1984.
Dunn, James D. G. Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon: A Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998.
Garland, David E. Colossians and Philemon. NIVAC. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998.
Martin, Ralph P. Colossians and Philemon. New Century Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1973.
O’Brien, Peter T. Colossians, Philemon. WBC. Waco, TX: Word, 1982.
Wright, N. T. The Epistles of Paul to the Colossians and to Philemon. TNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986.
1–2 Thessalonians
Bruce, F. F. I and II Thessalonians. WBC. Waco, TX: Word, 1982.
Green, Gene. The Letters to the Thessalonians. PNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.
Marshall, I. Howard. I and II Thessalonians. New Century Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.
Morris, Leon. The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians. Rev. ed. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991.
Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.
1–2 Timothy, Titus
Johnson, Luke Timothy. Letters to Paul’s Delegates: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus. New Testament in Context. Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International, 1996.
Knight, George W. III. The Pastoral Epistles. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992.
Köstenberger, Andreas J. “1 and 2 Timothy, Titus.” EBC. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006, 487–625.
Marshall, I. Howard. The Pastoral Epistles. ICC. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1999.
Mounce, William D. Pastoral Epistles. WBC. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2000.
Quinn, Jerome D. and William C. Wacker. The First and Second Letters to Timothy. ECC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
Towner, Philip H. The Letters to Timothy and Titus. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006.
Hebrews
Attridge, Harold. The Epistle to the Hebrews. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1989.
Bruce, F. F. The Epistle to the Hebrews. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.
Ellingworth, Paul. The Epistle to the Hebrews. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993.
Hagner, Donald A. Hebrews. NIBC. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1990.
Lane, William L. Hebrews. WBC. 2 vols. Dallas: Word, 1991.
James
Davids, Peter H. Commentary on James. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982.
Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Letter of James. AB. New York: Doubleday, 1995.
Martin, Ralph P. James. WBC. Waco, TX: Word, 1988.
Moo, Douglas J. The Letter of James. PNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
Richardson, Kurt. James. NAC. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1997.
1–2 Peter, Jude
Bauckham, Richard J. Jude, 2 Peter. WBC. Waco, TX: Word, 1983.
Davids, Peter H. The First Epistle of Peter. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.
Jobes, Karen H. 1 Peter. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005.
Grudem, Wayne A. The First Epistle of Peter. TNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.
Michaels, J. Ramsey. 1 Peter. WBC. Waco, TX: Word, 1988.
Moo, Douglas J. 2 Peter and Jude. NIVAC. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.
Schreiner, Thomas R. 1, 2 Peter and Jude. NAC. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2003.
1–3 John
Akin, Daniel L. 1, 2, 3 John. NAC. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001.
Bruce, F. F. The Epistles of John. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979.
Kruse, Colin G. The Letters of John. PNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
Marshall, I. Howard. The Epistles of John. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978.
Smalley, Stephen S. 1, 2, 3 John. WBC. Waco, TX: Word, 1984.
Stott, John R. W. The Epistles of St. John. Rev. ed. TNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.
Thompson, Marianne Meye. 1–3 John. IVPNTC. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1992.
Revelation
Aune, David E. Revelation. WBC. 3 vols. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997, 1998.
Beale, G. K. The Book of Revelation. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
Ladd, George Eldon. A Commentary on the Revelation of John. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972.
Mounce, Robert H. The Book of Revelation. Rev. ed. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
Osborne, Grant R. Revelation. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.
NOTE: For further recommendations see D. A. Carson, New Testament Commentary Survey. 6th ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007.
Thanks Dr. Köstenberger for the recommendations. Isn’t Dr. Aune’s commentary on Revelation in 3 vols instead of 2?
[...] Thinking about investing in some new commentaries? Ever wonder which commentaries top New Testament scholars recommend? Dr. Andreas Kostenberger offers his list of favorite NT commentaries. [...]
[...] Andreas Köstenberger comments on how frequently he is asked for New Testament commentary recommendations. He’s finally compiled a list, which will appear in a forthcoming book entitled, Invitation to Biblical Interpretation, which is part of the Invitation to Theological Interpretation series. The volume is a couple years away from publication, but he shares his list in the meantime. I love it when a man of Köstenberger’s caliber recommends commentaries. They quickly get added to my wishlist. [...]
I like this list, Dr. Kostenberger. But I have a few questions. Do you like Murray Harris’s EBC contribution better than his NIGTC contribution? What about Bockmuehl on Philippians? And what about Jobes and Achtemeier on 1 Peter?
Dr. Kostenberger,
I know you list at the very least, some progressive dispensational commentaries. What do you think about the large 2 volume set on Revelation by Robert Thomas from Moody Press? I personally have found it quite thorough and helpful.
Allen Mickle
Thank you, all, for suggesting additions and/or corrections to this list. I have replaced Harris’s EBC commentary on 2 Corinthians with his NIGTC one (my oversight); added the commentaries by Bockmuehl on Philippians and Jobes on 1 Peter; and made some other minor corrections brought to my attention by Jeremy and others. Sorry, I’m not familiar enough with Robert Thomas’s Revelation commentary to comment. Thanks again for all your helpful feedback. Keep it coming!
[...] Biblical Foundations » Favorite NT Commentaries [...]
I am contemplating the purchase of John Calvin’s commentary set, however, very few “Commentary Recommendation” lists have his set as an option. Would you recommend his set?
KC: Certainly. I think the reason why John Calvin is usually not listed because obviously technical discussion has gotten considerably more sophisticated in the past decades and centuries, but Calvin is still well worth reading for his theological acumen and his exegetical restraint.
Dr. Kostenberger,
Thank you for your confirmation. I have come to the realization that I read a lot of those who have been influenced by Calvin and other Reformers, but I have not read the original sources themselves.
Looks like I have some shopping to do!!
Thanks again,
KC
[...] For the generalist, Andreas Köstenberger has posts a list of recommended NT commentaries. The list stands by itself with no annotations or notes on the commentaries. Chris Tilling continues to work his way through Richard Bauckham’s book, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses. Chris is nearly completed with his detailed review and during March has written on chapters 13-18. Here is a list of Chris’ updated posts. Be warned, however, it might be quicker to read the book than Chris’s exhaustive review. For a shorter assessment of this work, see Stephen Carlson’s thoughts (cf. also Josh McManaway). [...]
I curious and puzzled by your inclusion of NTWright’s commentaries. From my understanding of his position on justification, he has drifted away from the standard evangelical perspective.
Lloyd: Justification is not a major issue in Colossians and Philemon. There is still much to be learned from Wright comments on Romans (the same can be said for Dunn). I don’t have to agree with someone on every issue to be able to learn from them. Also, it’s always a good idea to look at more than one commentary in any case, because no commentary is perfect or covers every conceivable angle.
Dr. Kostenberger,
I would suggest adding Marshall on Acts (TNTC) and G. Guthrie on Hebrews (NIVAC) to your list. Recently released commentaries that you also may want to consider adding are Towner on 1-2 Timothy and Titus (NICNT) and Davids on 2 Peter and Jude (PNTC).
Thanks for making this list available. It is always helpful to have book recommendations from world-class scholars like you.
Dr. K,
What are the top (4-5) volumes in the New Studies in Biblical Theology series that you would recommend?
I would recommend David Peterson’s Possessed by God; Craig Blomberg’s Neither Poverty nor Riches; and Mark Seifrid’s Christ Our Righteousness. But all NSBT volumes are worth reading and well done. You may also be interested to know that a collaborator and I are about to complete work on another NSBT manuscript, The Trinity and John’s Gospel.
I have the Word Biblical Commentary in an electronic format. Working with all 58 volumes on my computer has been a time saver when I use my Logos Bible Software.
What a wonderful find, a comprehensive list of suggested references by someone in the field. I am coming to the end of my degree studies at the moment after a long break due to illness. Find now I have the luxury to be able to read and digest rather than cram things together. Only three subjects to go now.
Have only just started to get into exegesis of the text, and find it facinating and stimulating the indepth process taken by many who write the theological commentaries and introduction. One thing that has stood out is the sometimes blatant copying by various commentaries of other commentaries. Won’t name any, but I am surprised to read word for word the same issue covered in one commenary as in another. I have to ask do you find this as well. I try to consult at least three commentaries when doing my essays sometimes four and inevitably find that someone just repeats facts from another. With the publication date it is never too hard to figure out who copied whom. Just something I have found surprising.
anyway thankyou again for the list, and have added your page here to my favourites.
Dr. Kostenberger,
What do you think of Dr. Beale’s one book commentary on 1 and 2 Thessalonians?
Ronnie
Dr. Kostenberger,
I would also suggest Andrew Lincoln’s new commentary on John. It is really good and has a lot of Biblical-theological connections within it.
[...] Dr. Andreas Köstenberger’s List of Favorite New Testament Commentaries [...]
I would like to ask if I can include your list of recommendations on another website. Could you email me and let me know if this would be okay?
The pressure is on for the OT List! Thank you for your time in putting this together.
I recently read yoiur study entitiled “will a Man Rob Godand at the end you referenced two additional studies. Where may I find them to read?
Thank you for this informaiton the study I read was very imformative and helpful to me.