Recommended NT Commentaries

Please note this list was developed in 1985.  It has not been updated since then.

As a Pastor, your library is a tremendous tool for expository preaching. Realizing that my funds are limited and wanting the best tools available, I started compiling the recommendations of Seminaries which I believed were sound in theology. I have compiled these in a database consisting of over 600 commentaries. The following list includes commentaries recommended by at least 2 sources.  Please understand that some the works are liberal in sections, and have many differing views on eschatology. The information was taken from the following sources, which I would suggest you acquire since many other commentaries are mentioned in the material.

MASTERS = The Masters seminary. James Stitzinger has compiled a list of 750 books for biblical expositors. This is an excellent resource on the web and includes many other books. If the commentary includes a 1 beside it, this is the first commentary they recommend purchasing.

DALLAS = Dallas Theological Seminary. The department of New testament Literature and Exegesis compiled an annotated bibliography for the study of the Old Testament in April of 1988. This can be purchased from the bookstore  It lists commentaries with a short description of the commentaries.

CALVARY = Calvary Theological Seminary (Kansas City). The faculty of Calvary prepared a booklet entitled The Expositor’s Toolbox. They recommend commentaries and books for study. This booklet may be purchased from their bookstore. It was copyrighted in 1992. They have also selected the best commentary in each catagory, which I have designated with a 1.

CENTRAL = Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Minnesota)  Michael A. Grisanti has edited a list of recommended books for a Pastor’s library. This was compiled in April of 1988. I believe this can also be purchased from Central bookstore for a very nominal cost.

Again, These Seminaries do not endorse every view of these commentators. They simply recognize the value of these works within this field. My approach has been “in a multitude of counselors is safety.” I trust you will find these references valuable in your toolbox.  A number beside the name represents the ranking of that commentary at the time..

Matthew

Carson, D.A. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (8) Zondervan 1984 Pre Mill

Masters College =

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Toussaint, Stanley D. Behold the King Multnomah 1980 Pre Mill

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 3

Calvary = x

Central = x

Mark

Cranfield, C.E.B. Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary Cambridge 1966

Masters College =

Dallas = 3

Calvary =

Central = x

Lane. William. New International Commentary Eerdmans 1974

Masters College =

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Taylor, Vincent Baker 1966 can be somewhat liberal

Masters College =

Dallas = 2

Calvary =

Central = x

Luke

Ellis, E. Earle New Century Bible Eerdmans 1974

Dallas = 4

Central = x

Hendrickson, William Baker 1978

Masters College = x

Calvary = x

Marshall, I. Howard New International Greek Commentary Eerdmans 1978

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Plummer, Alfred International Critical Commentary Scribners 1910 some liberal material

Masters College = x

Central = x

John

Hendrickson, William Baker 1961 2 vols in 1 (amill)

Masters College = x

Central = x

Morris, Leon New International Commentary Eerdmans 1971

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 2

Calvary = x

Central = x

Acts

Bruce, F.F. New International Commentary Eerdmans 1988

Masters College = x

Dallas = 4

Calvary = 1

Central = x

Harrison, Everett F. Intrepretating Acts: The Expanding Church Zondervan 1986 orginally Moody 1975

Masters College = 1

Calvary = x

Central =

Longenecker, Richard N. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (vol 9) Zondervan 1981

Dallas = 2

Central = x

Marshall, I. Howard Tyndale N.T. Series Eerdmans 1980

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Romans

Cranfield, C.E.B. New International Critical Commentary T & T Clark 1975-79 2 Volumes

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Murray, John New International Commentary Eerdmans 1959-65 2 volumes (amill)

Masters College = x

Dallas = 2

Central = x

1 Corinthians

Barrett, C.K. Black 1971 Liberal

Dallas = 2

Central = x

Fee, Gordon H. New International Commentary Eerdmans 1987

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 1

Calvary = 1

Godet, Franz Kregel 1977 reprint of 1886

Masters College = x

Dallas = 5

Central = x

Robertson, A.T. & Alfred Plummer International Critical Commentary Charles Scribner 1911

Masters College = x

Dallas = 4

Central = x

2 Corinthians

Harris, Murray Expositors Bible Commentary Zondervan 1981

Dallas = 5

Central = x

Hughes, Phillip E. New International Commentary on N.T. Eerdmans 1962

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 4

Calvary = 1

Central = x

Plummer, Alfred International Critical Commentary Scribners 1915

Masters College = x

Central = x

Galatains

Bruce, F.F. New International Greek N.T. Commentary Eerdmans 1983

Masters College = x

Dallas = 2

Calvary = 1

Central = x

Burton, Ernest D. International Critical Commentary T & T Clark 1962 reprint of 1921

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Lightfoot, J.B. Galatians, Phillipians, Colossians, Philmeon Hendrickson 1981rp reprint of 1890-97 works

Masters College = x

Dallas = 4

Central = x

Ephesians

Barth, Marcus Anchor Bible Commentary Doubleday 1974 2 volumes (liberal)

Dallas = 4

Central = x

Bruce, F.F. The Epistle to the Ephesians Revell 1974rp

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 5

Central = x

Eadie, John Zondervan none reprint of 1883 by T & T Clark

Dallas = 2

Central = x

Hendrickson, William Baker 1966

Masters College = x

Calvary = x

Philippians

Bruce, F.F. New International Biblical Commentary Hendrickson 1989

Calvary = x

Central = x

Hawthorne, Gerald F. Word Biblical Commentary Word 1983

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Lightfoot, John B. Zondervan 1953

Masters College = 1

Central = x

Martin, Ralph P. Tyndale Series Eerdmans 1987

Dallas = 2

Central = x

Colossians

Bruce, F.F. New International Biblical Commentary Hendrickson 1989

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 5

Calvary = x

Central = x

Lightfoot, John B. Zondervan 1959

Masters College = x

Central = x

O’Brein, Peter T. Word Biblical Commentary Word 1982

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Thessalonians

Bruce, F.F. Word Biblical Commentary Word 1982

Dallas = 1

Calvary = 1

Central = x

Hiebert, D. Edmond Moody 1971 Pre-mill

Masters College = x

Dallas = 4

Central = x

Morris, Leon Tyndale N.T. Commentary (also NICNT) Eerdmans 1984 A-mill

Masters College = x

Calvary = x

Central = x

Thomas, Robert Expositor’s Bible Commentary Zondervan 1976-92 Pre-Mill

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 7

Pastoral Epistles

Fee, Gordon D. New International Biblical Commentary Hendrickson 1988

Dallas = 2

Calvary = 1

Kelly, J.N.D. Harper’s N.T. Commentary Baker 1981rp

Dallas = 1

Central = x

Kent, Homer A., Jr. The Pastoral Epistles Moody 1982

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 4

Calvary = x

Central = x

Simpson, E.K. Greek Text with Introductions Eerdmans 1954

Masters College = x

Dallas = 8

Philemon

Bruce, F.F. New International Biblical Commentary Hendrickson 1989

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 5

Calvary = x

Central = x

Lightfoot, John B. Zondervan 1959

Masters College = x

Central = x

O’Brein, Peter T. Word Biblical Commentary Word 1982

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Hebrews

Bruce, F.F. New International Commentary Eerdmans 1990

Masters College = x

Dallas = 2

Calvary = x

Hughes, Phillip E. Eerdmans 1977

Masters College = x

Dallas = 4

Calvary = 1

Central = x

Kent, Homer A. Jr. Baker 1972

Masters College = 1

Calvary = x

Westcott, B.F. Eerdmans 1950

Masters College = x

Dallas = 3

Central = x

James

Davids, Peter New International Greek Testament Commentary Eerdmans 1982

Dallas = 1

Calvary = x

Central = x

Hiebert, D. Edmond The Epistles of James, tests of a Living faith Moody 1979 get revised edition

Masters College = 1

Dallas = 4

Mayor, Joseph B. Kregel 1990rp

Masters College = x

Dallas = 3

Central = x

1 Peter

Kelly, J.N.D. Harper’s N.T. Commentary Baker 1981rp

Dallas = 3

Central = x

Selwyn, E.G. Baker 1981rp

Masters College = x

Dallas = 1

Central = x

2 Peter

Bauckham, Richard Word Biblical Commentary (2 Peter & Jude) Word 1983 Liberal

Dallas = 2

Calvary = x

Green, Michael 2 Peter & Jude (Tyndales Series) Eerdmans 1968

Dallas = 5

Calvary = x

Kelly, J.N.D. Harper’s N.T. Commentary Baker 1981rp

Dallas = 3

Central = x

Mayor, Joseph B. 2 Peter & Jude Baker 1979

Masters College = x

Dallas = 4

Central = x

1,2,3 John

Marshall, I Howard New International Commentary on N.T. Eerdmans 1978

Dallas = 3

Calvary = 1

Central = x

Westcott, B.F. The Epistles of St. John Eerdmans 1966rp

Masters College = x

Central = x

Jude

Bauckham, Richard Word Biblical Commentary (2 Peter & Jude) Word 1983 Liberal

Dallas = 2

Calvary = x

Lawlor, George Pres & Reformed 1972

Masters College = x

Calvary = 1

Mayor, Joseph B. 2 Peter & Jude Baker 1979

Masters College = x

Central = x

Revelation

Mounce, Robert New International Commentary on N.T. Eerdmans 1977

Dallas = 1

Calvary = 1

Smith, J.B. Herald 1961 Premill

Dallas = 5

Central = x

Swete, H.B. Kregel none Technical

Masters College = x

Dallas = 2

Walvoord, John F. The Revelation of Jesus Christ Moody 1966 Premill

Masters College = x

Dallas = 4

Calvary = x

Central = x