NT Must-Buy Lists

This page contains three lists of New Testament commentaries: (1) a must-buy list, (2) an almost must-buy list, and (3) a potential must-buy list. See the Old Testament Must-Buy Lists for more information.

Amazon links are provided for your convenience and my income. Amazon prices are usually competitive. However, if you have more time than money, check price histories with camelcamelcamel.com and set price watches via email alerts with booksprice.com.

1. Must-buy commentaries:

  • France, R. T. The Gospel of Matthew. NICNT. Eerdmans, 2007. 1169pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=080282501X]

  • France, R. T. The Gospel of Mark. NIGTC. Eerdmans, 2002. 719pp. F-SP [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802872123]

  • Bock, Darrell L. Luke, 2 vols. BECNT. Baker, 1994, 1996. 2148pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801010519]

  • Carson, Donald A. The Gospel According to John. PNTC. Eerdmans, 1991. 715pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802836836]

  • Bock, Darrell L. Acts. BECNT. Baker, 2007. 848pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801026687]

  • Moo, Douglas J. The Epistle to the Romans. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1996. 1012pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802823173]

  • Thiselton, Anthony C. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. NIGTC. Eerdmans, 2000. 1446pp. F/C-SP [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802824498]

  • Harris, Murray J. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. NIGTC. Eerdmans, 2005. 989pp. F-SP [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802871267]

  • O’Brien, Peter T. The Letter to the Ephesians. PNTC. Eerdmans, 1999. 536pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802837360]

  • O’Brien, Peter T. The Epistle to the Philippians. NIGTC. Eerdmans, 1991. 597pp. F-SP [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802872131]

  • Green, Gene L. The Letters to the Thessalonians. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2002. 400pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802837387]

  • Mounce, William D. Pastoral Epistles. WBC. Nelson, 2000. 641pp. F-SPL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0849902452]

  • Lane, William. L. Hebrews, 2 vols. WBC. Word, 1991. 617pp. F/C-SPL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0849902460]

  • Moo, Douglas J. The Letter of James. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2000. 271pp. F-PLS [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802837301]

  • Jobes, Karen H. 1 Peter. BECNT. Baker, 2005. 364pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801026741]

  • Bauckham, Richard. Jude, 2 Peter. WBC. Word, 1983. 357pp. F/C-SPL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0849902495]

  • Yarbrough, Robert W. 1-3 John. BECNT. Baker, 2008. 434pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801026873]

  • Beale, Gregory K. The Book of Revelation. NIGTC. Eerdmans, 1999. 1245pp. F-SP [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802871070]

2. Almost must-buy commentaries:

  • Hagner, Donald A. Matthew. 2 vols. WBC. Word, 1993, 1995. 935pp. F/C-SPL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0849902320]

  • Davies, W. D. and Dale C. Allison, Jr. The Gospel According to St. Matthew. 3 vols. ICC. T&T Clark, 1988, 1991, 1997. 731/807/789pp. C-SP [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0567083551]

  • Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew. Eerdmans, rev. 2009. 1040pp. F-SPL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802864988]

  • Edwards, James R. The Gospel According to Mark. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2002. 552pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802837344]

  • Green, Joel B. The Gospel of Luke. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1997. 928pp. F/C-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802823157]

  • Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of John. 2 vols. Hendrickson, 2003. 1636pp. F-SPL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801046750]

  • Köstenberger, Andreas. John. BECNT. Baker, 2004. 700pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=080102644X]

  • Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2009. 790pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=080283731X]

  • Cranfield, C.E.B. The Epistle to the Romans. 2 vols. ICC. T&T Clark. 1975, 1979. 927pp. F/C-SP [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0567084051]

  • Schreiner, Thomas R. Romans. BECNT. Baker, 1998. 919pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801021499]

  • Fee, Gordon D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. Rev. ed. NICNT. Eerdmans, 2014. 1044pp. F/C-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802871364]

  • Garland, David E. 1 Corinthians. BECNT. Baker, 2003. 870pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=080102630X]

  • Barnett, Paul. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1997. 662pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802823009]

  • Longenecker, Richard N. Galatians. WBC. Word, 1990. 323pp. F/C-SPL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0849902401]

  • Lincoln, Andrew T. Ephesians. WBC. Word, 1990. 494pp. C-SPL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=084990241X]

  • Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Baker, 2002. 960pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801026148]

  • Fee, Gordon D. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1995. 497pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802825117]

  • O’Brien, Peter T. Colossians, Philemon. WBC. Word, 1982. 328pp. F-SPL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0849902436]

  • Moo, Douglas J. The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2008. 471pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802837271]

  • Fee, Gordon D. The First and Second Letters to the Thessalonians. NICNT. Eerdmans, 2009. 366pp. F-PLS [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802863620]

  • Malherbe, Abraham J. The Letters to the Thessalonians. AB. Doubleday, 2001. 508pp. C-SP [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0385184603]

  • Towner, Philip H. The Letters to Timothy and Titus. NICNT. Eerdmans, 2006. 886pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802825133]

  • Marshall, I. Howard with Philip H. Towner. The Pastoral Epistles. ICC. T&T Clark, 1999. 869pp. F/C-SP [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0567084558]

  • Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Letter to Philemon. AB. Doubleday, 2000. 138pp. C-SP [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=038549629X]

  • O’Brien, Peter T. The Letter to the Hebrews. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2010. 630pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802837298]

  • McCartney, Dan G. James. BECNT. Baker, 2009. 335pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801026768]

  • Davids, Peter H. The First Epistle of Peter. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1990. 266pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802825168]

  • Davids, Peter H. The Letters of Second Peter and Jude. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2006. 348pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802837263]

  • Schreiner, Thomas R. 1, 2 Peter, Jude. NAC. Broadman & Holman, 2003. 512pp. F-PL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0805401377]

  • Kruse, Colin G. The Letters of John. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2000. 255pp. F-PLS [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=080283728X]

  • Marshall, I. Howard. The Epistles of John. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1978. 274pp. F-PLS [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802825184]

  • Mounce, Robert H. The Book of Revelation. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1997. 439pp. F-PLS [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802825370]

  • Osborne, Grant R. Revelation. BECNT. Baker, 2002. 896pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801022991]

3. Potential must-buy commentaries: I have starred a few volumes that will, I am quite confident, end up on future “must-buy” or “almost must-buy” lists. However, since there are many more NT than OT commentaries being published, competition for “must-buy” status is much greater. (Who could predict whether Carson, Moo, or Cockerill will claim highest praise among Hebrews commentaries—especially given the three superb Hebrews volumes already on the lists? On the other hand, the field of top Galatians commentaries is still thin, so I am sure there is room for both Carson and Moo near the top.) I am making fewer predictions here than I did for OT volumes, and I am sure many non-starred volumes will be at least as superb as the ones I have starred.

  • Note: Lexham Press is publishing a new digital commentary series called Evangelical Exegetical Commentary. (See OT list for details.) F-SPL

  • Osborne, Grant R. Matthew. ZECNT. Zondervan, 2010. 1152pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0310243572]

  • Pennington, Jonathan. [Matthew] PNTC. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Evans, Craig A. [Mark 1-8:26] WBC. Forthcoming. F/C-SPL?

  • Stein, Robert H. Mark. BECNT. Baker, 2008. 823pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801026822]

  • Strauss, Mark. Mark. ZECNT. Zondervan, 2014. 784pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0310243580]

  • Watts, Rikk. E. [Mark] NICOT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Bauckham, Richard. [Luke] ICC. Forthcoming. F/C-SP?

  • Garland, David E. Luke. ZECNT. Zondervan, 2011. 1040pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0310243599]

  • Edwards, James R. [Luke] PNTC. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Bauckham, Richard. [John] NIGTC. Forthcoming. F/C-SP?

  • Marshall, I. Howard. [John] ZECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • * Michaels, J. Ramsey. The Gospel of John. NICNT. Eerdmans, 2010. 1094pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802823025]

  • Porter, Stanley E. [Acts] NIGTC. Forthcoming. F-SP?

  • Schnabel, Eckhard J. Acts ZECNT. Zondervan, 2012. 1168pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=031024367X]

  • Walton, Steve. [Acts] WBC. Forthcoming. F-SPL?

  • Green, Joel B. [Acts] NICNT. Forthcoming. F/C-PSL?

  • * Keener, Craig S. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary. 4 vols. Baker, 2012-?. 1104/1200/?/?pp. F-SPL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801048362]

  • Longenecker, Richard N. [Romans] NIGTC. Forthcoming. F/C-SP?

  • Thielman, Frank. [Romans] ZECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Kruse, Colin G. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2012. 672pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802837433]

  • Clarke, Andrew. [1 Corinthians] WBC. Forthcoming. F-SPL?

  • Ellis, E. Earle. [1 Corinthians] ICC. Forthcoming. F-SP?

  • Gardner, Paul. [1 Corinthians] ZECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Ciampa, Roy E, and Brian S. Rosner. The First Letter to the Corinthians. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2010. 990pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802837328]

  • Guthrie, George. [2 Corinthians] BECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Martin, Ralph P. 2 Corinthians. 2nd ed. WBC. Zondervan, 2014. 752pp. F/C-SPL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=1418507733]

  • Seifrid, Mark A. The Second Letter to the Corinthians. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2014. 544pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802837395]

  • Schreiner, Thomas R. Galatians. ZECNT. Zondervan, 2010. 423pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0310243726]

  • * Carson, Donald A. [Galatians] PNTC. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • deSilva, David A. [Galatians] NICNT. Forthcoming. F/C-PSL?

  • * Moo, Douglas J. Galatians. BECNT. Baker, 2013. 496 pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801027543]

  • Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians. ZECNT. Zondervan, 2010. 538pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0310243734]

  • Thielman, Frank. Ephesians. BECNT. Zondervan, 2010. 520pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801026830]

  • Turner, Max. [Ephesians] NIGTC. Forthcoming. F-SP?

  • Guthrie, George H. [Philippians] ZECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Wright, N. T. [Philippians] ICC. Forthcoming. F/C-SP?

  • Hansen, G. Walter. The Letter to the Philippians. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2009. 392pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802837379]

  • * Beale, Gregory. K. [Colossians, Philemon] BECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Pao, David W. Colossians and Philemon. ZECNT. Zondervan, 2012. 464pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0310243955]

  • Weima, Jeffrey A.D. 1-2 Thessalonians. BECNT. Baker, 2014. 752pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801026857]

  • Beale, Gregory. K. [Pastoral Epistles] ZECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Porter, Stanley (or Reggie M. Kidd?). [Pastoral Epistles] BECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Yarbrough, Robert. [Pastoral Epistles] PNTC. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Carson, D. A. [Hebrews] BECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Moo, Douglas J. [Hebrews] ZECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Cockerill, Gareth L. The Epistle to the Hebrews. NICNT. Eerdmans, 2012. 742pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0802824927]

  • Allison, Dale C., Jr. James. ICC. T&T Clark, 2013. 848pp. C-SP [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0567077403]

  • * McKnight, Scot. The Letter of James. NICNT. Eerdmans, 2011. 497pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=080282627X]

  • * Varner, William. James. EEC. Lexham Press, 2014. 654pp. F-SPL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=1577995414]

  • Hafemann, Scott J. [1 Peter] PNTC. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Martin, Troy. [1 Peter] NIGTC. Forthcoming. F-SP?

  • Wilkins, Michael. [1 Peter] ZECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Green, Gene L. Jude and 2 Peter. BECNT. Baker, 2008. 420pp. F-PSL [amazon template=add to cart1&asin=0801026725]

  • Hafemann, Scott J. [2 Peter, Jude] NIGTC. Forthcoming. F-SP?

  • Webb, Robert L. [2 Peter, Jude] NICNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • * Carson, Donald A. [Epistles of John] NIGTC. Forthcoming. F-SP?

  • Jobes, Karen H. [Epistles of John] ZECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Carson, Donald A. [Revelation] PNTC. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Fanning, Buist. [Revelation] ZECNT. Forthcoming. F-PSL?

  • Koester, Craig R. [Revelation] AYB. Forthcoming. C-SP?

Dwight Gingrich is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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8 thoughts on “NT Must-Buy Lists”

    1. Hi Lester. I usually read the Bible in the morning, before I read any other books. I like to read it before I read anything online or check my email, but I sometimes fail at that. And I like to check commentaries when I can, because I find it’s a good way to read the Bible in community. And to be clear, I think I’ve only read one commentary on my NT lists from cover to cover–the one on Romans by Grant Osborne. I would love to have time to read more.

      Reply

  2. Just bought France on Mark and Lincoln on Ephesians. Preparing some lessons based on those and figured I should be responsible and spend the money. Good way to justify it to my cost conscious side. Thanks for the recomendations!

    Reply

    1. Enjoy! I don’t know if this will help with your conscience, but I just snagged that Mark volume for free thanks to Logos software’s December giveaway. 🙂 (I think it’s the same one.) Blessings on your teaching!

      Reply

  3. Hey Dwight, I appreciate your taking the time to publish this list. But do you know what is up with Peter O’Brien’s commentary on Hebrews? I clicked on it and Amazon wants $550! Also, there were some remarks about plagiarism. Any idea of what’s going on there?

    Reply

    1. Yeah, whether through forgetfulness or more culpable reasons, O’Brien plagiarized in a couple of his commentaries. Because of this, publishers have stopped printing them, which caused their price to skyrocket. (I have that commentary; maybe I should sell. 🙂 )

      It is a really unfortunate situation. However, I have not heard anyone suggest that this plagiarism problem reduces the amount of useful insights to be found in his books. They remain very useful for biblical study, even though they are no longer useful for citation in any work you hope to publish.

      Reply

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