Justin J. Evans

Biblical Commentaries

The commentaries listed on this page are those I would generally consider useful for pastoral or academic research. (Note: there are far too many published commentaries to discuss individual titles.)

My top recommendations are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Be sure to also take a look at my list of top commentaries for each book of the Bible.

ONE-VOLUME COMMENTARIES
  • Adeyemo, Tokunboh, ed. Africa Bible Commentary: A One-Volume Commentary Written by 70 African Scholars. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Barton, John, and John Muddiman, eds. Oxford Bible Commentary. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Gaventa, Beverly Roberts, and David L. Petersen, eds. The New Interpreter’s Bible One-Volume Commentary. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2010.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Newsom, Carol A., Sharon H. Ringe, and Jacqueline E. Lapsley, eds. Women’s Bible Commentary. 3rd ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2012.
    • SBL abbreviation: WBC
  • *Wenham, G. J., J. A. Motyer, D. A. Carson, and R. T. France, eds. New Bible Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Wintle, Brian, ed. South Asia Bible Commentary: A One-Volume Commentary on the Whole Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2015.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a

CONDENSED COMMENTARY SERIES
  • Keck, Leander E., ed. New Interpreter’s Bible. 12 vols. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1994-2004.
    • SBL abbreviation: NIB
  • Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. 2nd ed. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2014. (See Walton, et al., below.)
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Keil, Carl Friedrich, and Franz Delitzsch. Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Translated by James Martin, et al. 25 vols. Edinburgh, 1857–1878. Repr., 10 vols., Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996.
    • SBL abbreviation: K&D
  • Longman III, Tremper, and David E. Garland, eds. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Revised Edition). 13 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005-2012.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Walton, John H., Victor H. Matthews, and Mark W. Chavalas. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2000. (See Keener, above.)
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a

COMMENTARY SERIES

The following commentary series are generally published with one biblical book per volume (although shorter books are often grouped together). I am only listing the name of the commentary series along with the publisher information.

  • Abingdon New Testament Commentaries. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: ANTC
  • Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: AOTC
  • Anchor Yale Bible Commentary. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
    • Formerly published as Anchor Bible. New York, NY: Doubleday.
    • Unofficial SBL abbreviation: AYBC
    • Former SBL abbreviation: AB
  • Apollos Old Testament Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic.
    • ApOTC
  • Baker Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
    • Multiple sub-categories (e.g. Pentateuch, Historical Books, etc.)
    • Unofficial SBL abbreviation: BCOT
  • Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
    • SBL abbreviation: BECNT
  • Berit Olam. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Concordia Commentary. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.
    • SBL abbreviation: ConcC
  • Continental Commentary. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: CC
  • Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Eerdmans Critical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
    • SBL abbreviation: ECC
  • Evangelical Exegetical Commentary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Forms of the Old Testament Literature. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
    • SBL abbreviation: FOTL
  • Hermeneia. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Historical Commentary on the Old Testament. Leuven: Peeters.
    • SBL abbreviation: HCOT
  • International Critical Commentary. London: T & T Clark.
    • Originally located in Edinburgh, this series is over 100 years old and still publishing volumes
    • SBL abbreviation: ICC
  • International Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament. Stuttgart: Kohlhammar.
    • SBL abbreviation: IECOT
  • International Theological Commentary. London: T & T Clark.
    • SBL abbreviation: ITC
  • Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: IBC
  • IVP New Testament Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • JPS Bible Commentary. Melrose Park, PA: Jewish Publication Society.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Kregel Exegetical Library. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • New American Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman.
    • SBL abbreviation: NAC
  • New Cambridge Bible Commentary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • New International Biblical Commentary on the New Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.
    • Series title changed to Understanding the Bible
    • SBL abbreviation: NIBCNT
  • New International Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.
    • Series title changed to Understanding the Bible
    • SBL abbreviation: NIBCOT
  • New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
    • SBL abbreviation: NICNT
  • New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
    • SBL abbreviation: NICOT
  • New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
    • SBL abbreviation: NIGTC
  • New Testament Library. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: NTL
  • NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Old Testament Library. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: OTL
  • Pentecostal Commentary. Leiden: Brill.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Pentecostal Old Testament & New Testament Commentaries. Eugene, OR: Wipe & Stock.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Reading the New Testament. Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Reading the Old Testament. Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Readings. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Sacra Pagina. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: SP
  • Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary. Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys.
    • SBL abbreviation: SHBC
  • Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Two Horizons New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Tyndale New Testament Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: TNTC
  • Tyndale Old Testament Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: TOTC
  • Understanding the Bible. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.
    • Formerly published as New International Biblical Commentary.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Westminster Bible Companion. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Wisdom Commentary Series. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Word Biblical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic.
    • Formerly published in Waco, TX: Word; Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson
    • SBL abbreviation: WBC
  • Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a
  • Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
    • SBL abbreviation: n/a

[Updated November 2023]