On this page, you can find recommendations for commentaries and other valuable resources to draw upon in teaching and preaching various books of the Bible.
Please note that at times I disagree with specific arguments even from scholars whom I generally respect and with whom I generally agree. For instance, I highly recommend Mark Allan Powell’s introductory textbook Introducing the New Testament (listed below); however, I believe Powell unhelpfully downplays the sexism inherent in portions of the New Testament Pastorals. Relatedly, when it comes to the vast nature of entire commentary series, I am not vouching for every claim made by every contributor but recommending these particular series as generally useful and accessible to a wide audience.
One-Volume Commentaries
Blount, Brian, Cain Hope Felder, Clarice J. Martin, Emerson B. Powery, eds. True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary. Fortress, 2007.
Guest, Deryn, Robert E Goss, Mona West, and Thomas Bohache. The Queer Bible Commentary. London: SCM, 2015.
Melcher, Sarah J., Mikeal C. Parsons, and Amos Yong. The Bible and Disability: A Commentary. Waco: Baylor University Press, 2017.
Newsom, Carol A. and Sharon H. Ringe, eds. The Women’s Bible Commentary. Revised and Updated Third Edition. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2012.
Multi-Volume Commentary Series
The New Interpreter’s Bible: A Commentary in Twelve Volumes. Nashville: Abingdon.
Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.
Interpretation: Resources for the Use of Scripture in the Church. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.
Wisdom Commentary Series. Edited by Barbara E. Reid, O.P. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press. 2015–.
Other Bible Study Resources
Powell, Mark Allan. Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey. Grand Rapids, MI: BakerAcademic, Second Edition, 2018.
New Revised Standard Version Study Bible such as the HarperCollins Study Bible or the New Interpreters Study Bible.
Levine, A. J., and Mark Zvi Brettler, The Jewish Annotated New Testament. 2011. Great study notes, commentary and essays along with the NRSV text.
Whitaker, Richard and John Kohlenberger, The Analytical Concordance to the New Revised Standard Version of the New Testament.
Resources for Studying the Gospels and Acts
Throckmorton, Jr., Burton H., ed. Gospel Parallels: A Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels. Fifth Edition. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1992.
Allen, O. Wesley. Reading the Synoptic Gospels (Revised and Expanded): Basic Methods for Interpreting Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Chalice, 2013.
Skinner, Matthew. Intrusive God, Disruptive Gospel: Encountering the Divine in the Book of Acts. Brazos, 2015.
Rhoads, David, Joanna Dewey, and Donald Michie, Mark As Story: An Introduction to the Narrative of a Gospel. Fortress, 2012.
Resources on the New Testament Letters/Epistles
Longenecker, Bruce W. The Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story from the New Testament World. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016.
Studying Paul
Bassler, Jouette M. Navigating Paul: An Introduction to Key Theological Concepts. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007.
Borg, Marcus J. and John Dominic Crossan. The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church’s Conservative Icon. New York: HarperOne, 2009.
Skinner, Matthew L. A Companion to the New Testament: Paul and the Pauline Letters. Waco: Baylor University Press, 2018. *The work focuses on Paul based on his letters.
Skinner, Matthew L. Intrusive God, Disruptive Gospel: Encountering the Divine in the Book of Acts. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2015. *This work focuses on Paul as presented in Acts.
Summey, Jerry L. Paul: Apostle and Fellow Traveler. Nashville: Abingdon, 2014.
Romans
Bartlett, David A. Romans. Westminster Bible Companion. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1995.
Gaventa, Beverly. When in Romans: An Invitation to Linger with the Gospel according to Paul. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016.
Grieb, A. Katherine. The Story of Romans. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002.
Jewett, Robert. Romans: A Short Commentary. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2013.
Resources for Studying Revelation
Group Bible Studies
Disciple: Under the Tree of Life. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2001.
Other Resources
Blount, Brian K. Can I Get A Witness? Reading Revelation Through African American Culture. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2005.
Boxall, Ian. Revelation: Vision and Insight: An Introduction to the Apocalypse. London: SPCK, 2002.
Carey, Greg. Apocalyptic Literature in the New Testament. Core Biblical Studies series. Nashville: Abingdon, 2016.
Carter, Warren. What Does Revelation Reveal? Unlocking the Mystery. Nashville: Abingdon, 2011. *This is especially accessible for laypeople.
deSilva, David A. Seeing Things John’s Way: The Rhetoric of the Book of Revelation. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.
deSilva, David A. Unholy Allegiances: Heeding Revelation’s Warning. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2013.
Gorman, Michael J. Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb into the New Creation. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2011.
Howard-Brook, Wes and Anthony Gwyther. Unveiling Empire: Reading Revelation Then and Now. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2000.
Kraybill, J. Nelson. Apocalypse and Allegiance: Worship, Politics, and Devotion in the Book of Revelation. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2010. *This resource engages Revelation’s ancient context and considers its 21st century relevance in a global context.
Perspectives in Religious Studies, volume 45 (Spring 2018). National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion. *Edited by Jaime Clark-Soles with essays by Greg Carey, Tina Pippin, and others, in honor of Mitch Reddish. Available through institutions with a subscription to the journal or to individuals who are members of the National Association of Baptist Professors in Religion. This is a more academic resource.
Peterson, Eugene H. Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John and the Praying Imagination. New York: HarperOne, 1991.
Rhoads, David, ed. From Every People and Nation: The Book of Revelation in Intercultural Perspective. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2005.
Rossing, Barbara R. The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation. New York: Basic Books, 2005.
Wainwright, Arthur W. Mysterious Apocalypse: Interpreting the Book of Revelation. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2001. *Provides a history of interpretation.
