Recommended New Testament Commentaries for Evangelical Pastors
February 3, 2023
February 3, 2023
This list is arbitrary, in the sense that it is personal; I recommend what I think are the best commentaries for pastors to consult.
There are so many commentaries published, and so I am limiting it to three for each book. I am also adding commentaries written by me and my son Patrick, and so in a few cases there are more than three. If you want a more detailed bibliography, see here.
Commentaries with an asterisk (*) require knowledge of the Greek text, but the ones I list are usable even if you don’t know Greek. It is best not to buy sets of commentaries, but the best volumes on each book.
For those who want help with Greek syntax and such, see the series Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament published by Broadman & Holman and the Baylor Handbook on the Greek New Testament published by Baylor University Press.11 . Key: AB=Anchor Bible; BECNT=Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament; BNTC=Black’s New Testament Commentary; CC=Concordia Commentary; CSC=Christian Standard Commentary; EBC=Expositor’s Bible Commentary; EBTC=Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary; EEC=Evangelical Exegetical Commentary; EGGNT=Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament; ESVEC: English Standard Version Expository Commentary; Harper=HNTC; HERM=Hermeneia; Int=Interpretation; ICC=International Critical Commentary; ITC=International Theological Commentary; NAC=New American Commentary; NCB=New Century Bible; NCCS=New Covenant Commentary Series; NIBC=New International Biblical Commentary; NICNT=New International Commentary on the New Testament; NIGTC=New International Greek Testament Commentary; NIVAC=New International Version Application Commentary; NTC=New Testament Commentary; NTL=New Testament Library; PNTC=Pillar New Testament Commentary; SOGBC; Story of God Bible Commentary; SP=Sacra Pagina; THNTC=Two Horizons New Testament Commentary; TNTC=Tyndale New Testament Commentaries; TTC=Teach the Text; WBC=Word Biblical Commentary; ZEC=Zondervan Exegetical Commentary
A pastor’s sermon might feel like his baby, but it’s important to remember that it takes a community to raise a child.
Hopefully these hacks will help you preach from a manuscript in such a way that your preaching feels more natural, free, passionate, and powerful.
If you are a young Christian, a Christian who doesn’t have access to “solid, evangelical preaching,” or a Christian who simply wants to grow in your love for God’s Word, I commend Spurgeon’s sermons to you.
