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 The Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • France, R. T. The Gospel of Mark. NIGTC. Eerdmans, 2002. 719pp. F-SP The Gospel of Mark (The New International Greek Testament Commentary)

  • Bock, Darrell L. Luke, 2 vols. BECNT. Baker, 1994, 1996. 2148pp. F-PSL Luke (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (2 Volumes)

  • Carson, Donald A. The Gospel According to John. PNTC. Eerdmans, 1991. 715pp. F-PSL The Gospel according to John (The Pillar New Testament Commentary (PNTC))

  • Bock, Darrell L. Acts. BECNT. Baker, 2007. 848pp. F-PSL Acts (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Moo, Douglas J. The Epistle to the Romans. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1996. 1012pp. F-PSL The Epistle to the Romans (New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Thiselton, Anthony C. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. NIGTC. Eerdmans, 2000. 1446pp. F/C-SP The First Epistle to the Corinthians (New International Greek Testament Commentary)

  • Harris, Murray J. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. NIGTC. Eerdmans, 2005. 989pp. F-SP The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Greek Testament Commentary)

  • O’Brien, Peter T. The Letter to the Ephesians. PNTC. Eerdmans, 1999. 536pp. F-PSL The Letter to the Ephesians (Pillar New Testament Commentary)

  • O’Brien, Peter T. The Epistle to the Philippians. NIGTC. Eerdmans, 1991. 597pp. F-SP The Epistle to the Philippians (The New International Greek Testament Commentary)

  • Green, Gene L. The Letters to the Thessalonians. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2002. 400pp. F-PSL The Letters to the Thessalonians (Pillar New Testament Commentary)

  • Mounce, William D. Pastoral Epistles. WBC. Nelson, 2000. 641pp. F-SPL Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 46, Pastoral Epistles

  • Lane, William. L. Hebrews, 2 vols. WBC. Word, 1991. 617pp. F/C-SPL Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 47a, Hebrews 1-8

  • Moo, Douglas J. The Letter of James. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2000. 271pp. F-PLS The Letter of James (Pillar New Testament Commentary)

  • Jobes, Karen H. 1 Peter. BECNT. Baker, 2005. 364pp. F-PSL 1 Peter (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Bauckham, Richard. Jude, 2 Peter. WBC. Word, 1983. 357pp. F/C-SPL Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 50, 2 Peter, Jude (bauckham), 377pp

  • Yarbrough, Robert W. 1-3 John. BECNT. Baker, 2008. 434pp. F-PSL 1, 2, and 3 John (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Beale, Gregory K. The Book of Revelation. NIGTC. Eerdmans, 1999. 1245pp. F-SP The Book of Revelation (The New International Greek Testament Commentary)

2. Almost must-buy commentaries:

  • Hagner, Donald A. Matthew. 2 vols. WBC. Word, 1993, 1995. 935pp. F/C-SPL Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 33a, Matthew 1-13 (hagner), 483pp

  • 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 Matthew 1-7: Volume 1 (International Critical Commentary)

  • Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew. Eerdmans, rev. 2009. 1040pp. F-SPL The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary

  • Edwards, James R. The Gospel According to Mark. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2002. 552pp. F-PSL The Gospel according to Mark (Pillar New Testament Commentary)

  • Green, Joel B. The Gospel of Luke. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1997. 928pp. F/C-PSL The Gospel of Luke (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of John. 2 vols. Hendrickson, 2003. 1636pp. F-SPL The Gospel of John, Volume One & Volume Two

  • Köstenberger, Andreas. John. BECNT. Baker, 2004. 700pp. F-PSL John (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2009. 790pp. F-PSL The Acts of the Apostles (Pillar New Testament Commentary)

  • Cranfield, C.E.B. The Epistle to the Romans. 2 vols. ICC. T&T Clark. 1975, 1979. 927pp. F/C-SP The Epistle to the Romans 1-8 (Vol. 1) (International Critical Commentary Series)

  • Schreiner, Thomas R. Romans. BECNT. Baker, 1998. 919pp. F-PSL Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Fee, Gordon D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. Rev. ed. NICNT. Eerdmans, 2014. 1044pp. F/C-PSL The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Revised Edition (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Garland, David E. 1 Corinthians. BECNT. Baker, 2003. 870pp. F-PSL 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Barnett, Paul. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1997. 662pp. F-PSL The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Longenecker, Richard N. Galatians. WBC. Word, 1990. 323pp. F/C-SPL Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 41, Galatians

  • Lincoln, Andrew T. Ephesians. WBC. Word, 1990. 494pp. C-SPL Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 42, Ephesians

  • Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. Baker, 2002. 960pp. F-PSL Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary

  • Fee, Gordon D. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1995. 497pp. F-PSL Paul's Letter to the Philippians (New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • O’Brien, Peter T. Colossians, Philemon. WBC. Word, 1982. 328pp. F-SPL Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 44, Colossians-Philemon

  • Moo, Douglas J. The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2008. 471pp. F-PSL The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (Pillar New Testament Commentary)

  • Fee, Gordon D. The First and Second Letters to the Thessalonians. NICNT. Eerdmans, 2009. 366pp. F-PLS The First and Second Letters to the Thessalonians (New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Malherbe, Abraham J. The Letters to the Thessalonians. AB. Doubleday, 2001. 508pp. C-SP The Letters to the Thessalonians: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries)

  • Towner, Philip H. The Letters to Timothy and Titus. NICNT. Eerdmans, 2006. 886pp. F-PSL The Letters to Timothy and Titus (New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Marshall, I. Howard with Philip H. Towner. The Pastoral Epistles. ICC. T&T Clark, 1999. 869pp. F/C-SP The Pastoral Epistles (International Critical Commentary)

  • Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Letter to Philemon. AB. Doubleday, 2000. 138pp. C-SP The Letter to Philemon: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries)

  • O’Brien, Peter T. The Letter to the Hebrews. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2010. 630pp. F-PSL The Letter to the Hebrews (The Pillar New Testament Commentary)

  • McCartney, Dan G. James. BECNT. Baker, 2009. 335pp. F-PSL James (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Davids, Peter H. The First Epistle of Peter. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1990. 266pp. F-PSL The First Epistle of Peter (New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Davids, Peter H. The Letters of Second Peter and Jude. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2006. 348pp. F-PSL The Letters of 2 Peter and Jude (Pillar New Testament Commentary)

  • Schreiner, Thomas R. 1, 2 Peter, Jude. NAC. Broadman & Holman, 2003. 512pp. F-PL The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (New American Commentary, 37)

  • Kruse, Colin G. The Letters of John. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2000. 255pp. F-PLS The Letters of John (Pillar New Testament Commentary)

  • Marshall, I. Howard. The Epistles of John. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1978. 274pp. F-PLS The Epistles of John (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Mounce, Robert H. The Book of Revelation. NICNT. Eerdmans, 1997. 439pp. F-PLS The Book of Revelation (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Osborne, Grant R. Revelation. BECNT. Baker, 2002. 896pp. F-PSL Revelation (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

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 Matthew (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • 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 Mark (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Strauss, Mark. Mark. ZECNT. Zondervan, 2014. 784pp. F-PSL Mark (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • 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 Luke (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • 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 The Gospel of John (New International Commentary on the New Testament)

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

  • Schnabel, Eckhard J. Acts ZECNT. Zondervan, 2012. 1168pp. F-PSL Acts (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • 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 Acts: An Exegetical Commentary: Introduction and 1:1-2:47

  • 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 Paul's Letter to the Romans (Pillar New Testament Commentary)

  • 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 The First Letter to the Corinthians (Pillar New Testament Commentary)

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

  • Martin, Ralph P. 2 Corinthians. 2nd ed. WBC. Zondervan, 2014. 752pp. F/C-SPL 2 Corinthians: Revised (Word Biblical Commentary)

  • Seifrid, Mark A. The Second Letter to the Corinthians. PNTC. Eerdmans, 2014. 544pp. F-PSL The Second Letter to the Corinthians (The Pillar New Testament Commentary)

  • Schreiner, Thomas R. Galatians. ZECNT. Zondervan, 2010. 423pp. F-PSL Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • * 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 Galatians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians. ZECNT. Zondervan, 2010. 538pp. F-PSL Ephesians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Thielman, Frank. Ephesians. BECNT. Zondervan, 2010. 520pp. F-PSL Ephesians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • 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 The Letter to the Philippians (Pillar New Testament Commentary)

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

  • Pao, David W. Colossians and Philemon. ZECNT. Zondervan, 2012. 464pp. F-PSL Colossians and Philemon (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Weima, Jeffrey A.D. 1-2 Thessalonians. BECNT. Baker, 2014. 752pp. F-PSL 1-2 Thessalonians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • 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 The Epistle to the Hebrews (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • Allison, Dale C., Jr. James. ICC. T&T Clark, 2013. 848pp. C-SP James (ICC): A Critical and Exegetical Commentary (International Critical Commentary)

  • * McKnight, Scot. The Letter of James. NICNT. Eerdmans, 2011. 497pp. F-PSL The Letter of James (New International Commentary on the New Testament)

  • * Varner, William. James. EEC. Lexham Press, 2014. 654pp. F-SPL James - Evangelical Exegetical Commentary

  • 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 Jude and 2 Peter (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

  • 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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6 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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