The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church by F.L. Cross

The Story of Christianity (2 volumes) by Justo Gonzales

Sketches from Church History by S.M. Houghton

The Church in History by B.K. Kuiper

A History of Christianity by Kenneth Scott Latourette

2000 Years of Christ’s Power (3 volumes) by N.R. Needham

History of the Christian Church (8 volumes) Philip Schaff

Church History in Plain Language by Bruce L. Shelley

Parade of Faith: A Biographical History of the Christian Church by Ruth A. Tucker

Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine Gregg R. Allison

The History of Christian Doctrines by Louis Berkhof

Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church Harold O.J. Brown

Historical Theology by William Cunningham

Thinking with the Church: Essays in Historical Theology by B.A. Gerrish

History of Theology by Hägglund Bengt

The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine (5 volumes) by Jaroslav Pelikan

Bruce Waltke — A Commentary on Micah (Eerdmans, 2007). Bruce Waltke has written three commentaries on the book of Micah. The first was a small commentary that appeared in the Tyndale series together with small commentaries on Obadiah and Jonah. The second was a larger and more technical commentary that appeared in the set on the Minor Prophets edited by Thomas McComiskey. This full-length commentary is one step beyond what appeared in the McComiskey volume. It is technical, and some grasp of Hebrew is recommended in order to get the full benefit of the work. There is no contemporary commentator, however, who is more well-versed in the book of Micah than Bruce Waltke. It is a must-have for serious study of the book.

Stephen G. Dempster — Micah (Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary, 2017). I was excited to see this commentary because I had already enjoyed Dempster’s book Dominion & Dynasty: A Theology of the Hebrew Bible. The strength of Dempster’s commentary is his insight into the biblical theological themes of the work. Highly recommended.

David Prior — The Message of Joel, Micah & Habakkuk (The Bible Speaks Today, 1999). For those seeking a good introductory-level commentary on Micah, there is probably no better place to start, aside from Waltke’s work in the Tyndale series, than with David Prior’s volume in the BST series.

Francis Andersen and David Noel Freedman — Micah (Anchor Bible, 2000). Although written from a more critical perspective than Waltke, the commentary on Micah by Andersen and Freedman is worth consulting by those doing in-depth study of the book. The commentary, at 637 pages, is exhaustive, touching on every aspect of the book.

Leslie C. Allen — The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah (New International Commentary on the Old Testament, 1976). I have already mentioned Allen’s commentary in a couple of previous posts. It is a slightly technical work, but it should be accessible to most pastors and laymen.

Douglas Stuart — Hosea-Jonah (Word Biblical Commentary, 1987). The single best commentary on the first five minor prophets is the commentary by Douglas Stuart in the Word Biblical Commentary series. The commentary on Hosea within this volume is 220 pages of the total. Stuart deals with the details of the text as well as the big picture. He is especially helpful at tracing the curses and blessings proclaimed by the prophets back to their Mosaic origin. Very highly recommended.

Thomas E. McComiskey — The Minor Prophets (2009 [1992]). Originally published as a three-volume set (now available in one volume), this work contains some very helpful commentaries on the minor prophets. The editor, Thomas McComiskey, is also the author of the 237-page commentary on Hosea in the larger work. The layout of the commentary (at least in the old three volume set) is somewhat unusual. The more technical commentary on the Hebrew text runs continuously across the top of the page, while explanation runs across the bottom. Sometimes this requires a lot of back-and-forth page flipping, but the comments are well worth it.

J. Andrew Dearman — The Book of Hosea (New International Commentary on the Old Testament, 2010). The NICOT series has long included some great individual works. This volume by Dearman ranks up there with the best of them. It is strong in every area where a commentary should be strong—historical background, exegesis, biblical theology, and insightful application.

David Allan Hubbard — Hosea (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, 1989). The Tyndale Commentary series is one of the most consistently good series available. Hubbard’s commentary on Hosea is a good example why. The book is somewhat longer than one would expect for a commentary in this series on a book the size of Hosea, but that allows Hubbard to dig deeper into the meaning of the text. The result is a very valuable introductory-level commentary.

Derek Kidner — The Message of Hosea (The Bible Speaks Today, 1984). As I have mentioned in previous posts, students of Scripture should read anything they can by Derek Kidner. His commentaries are models for what introductory-level commentaries should be. His commentary on Hosea is no exception. It is a helpful introductory-level commentary that should be of use to a wide variety of readers.

Craig Keener — Acts 1:1–2:47, Acts 3:1–14:28, Acts 15:1–23:35, Acts 24:1–28:31 (2012–2015). Craig Keener’s four-volume commentary on Acts is not for everyone. At 4,500 pages, few will ever read all of it. But if you are looking for an exhaustive commentary that deals with every conceivable question, then, clear out about a foot and a half of shelf space and pick up this commentary (bend your knees when you do so). This will probably be the standard evangelical commentary on Acts for at least the next half century. For those who do not need a commentary with a bibliography longer than most other books, Keener also has an abridged version of his commentary that is only 635 pages.

Eckhard Schnabel — Acts (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2012). Readers of this blog series know that the commentary series with my least favorite layout is the Word Biblical Commentary series. The Zondervan Exegetical Commentaries, on the other hand, has one of my favorite layouts. It is very helpful for teachers and preachers. Eckhard Schnabel’s already helpful commentary in this series is made more helpful because of this layout. Teachers and pastors will want to consult this volume.

Darrell L. Bock — Acts (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2007). Darrell Bock’s outstanding two-volume commentary on the Gospel of Luke raised my expectations for his commentary on Acts in the same series. I was not disappointed. This work is equally outstanding. Like the other volumes in this series, it is somewhat technical. Greek words within the body of the text are transliterated, but if the reader does not have some understanding of Greek, it will likely become a bit confusing.

David G. Peterson — The Acts of the Apostles (The Pillar New Testament Commentary, 2009). In my original list of Top 5 commentaries on Acts, I included Peterson in the “Runners-Up” section. Having had more time to use his work, however, I have grown to appreciate it more. I think it is one of the five best commentaries now available.

F.F. Bruce — The Book of the Acts (New International Commentary on the New Testament, 1988). First published in 1954, F.F. Bruce’s commentary on Acts in the NICNT series soon became a standard conservative evangelical commentary. In 1988, his commentary was revised and updated. It still remains one of the best commentaries on this book of Scripture.

William L. Lane — Hebrews 1-8; Hebrews 9-13 (Word Biblical Commentary, 1991). Of all the commentaries on Hebrews that I have looked at and used, I have found the two-volume set by William Lane to be the most helpful. While I may not agree with every exegetical conclusion Lane makes, he is always worth reading on a given passage. Very highly recommended.

Philip Edgcumbe Hughes — A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews (1977). If there is a second “must-read” commentary on Hebrews, it is the contemporary classic by Philip Hughes. He is particularly helpful in drawing out theological implications of the text. If you can only afford one commentary, buy the set by Lane and then ask someone to purchase Hughes for you as a gift.

R.T. France — “Hebrews” in The Expositors Bible Commentary, Revised Edition (2006). When the original twelve-volume Expositor’s Bible Commentary was completely revised, a number of new contributors were brought in. Among the new contributions is the commentary on Hebrews by R.T. France. France has done extensive work on the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament, which suits him particularly well as a commentator on Hebrews.

Paul Ellingworth — The Epistle to the Hebrews (New International Greek Testament Commentary, 1993). Paul Ellingworth’s commentary on Hebrews is a massive technical commentary on the Greek text. For those doing in-depth study of the book, it is invaluable. It is, however, not for those with no working knowledge of Greek. Some knowledge of Greek is required simply to follow the comments. A good reference work to have.

F.F. Bruce — The Epistle to the Hebrews, Revised Edition (New International Commentary on the New Testament, 1990). F.F. Bruce wrote a number of fine commentaries during his lifetime. His commentary on Hebrews is one of those. Originally published in the mid-1960s, this commentary was completely revised and republished in 1990, the year of Professor Bruce’s death. The commentary is thorough yet accessible and should be consulted by all students of this book of Scripture.

Anthony C. Thiselton — The First Epistle to the Corinthians (New International Greek Testament Commentary, 2000). Anthony Thiselton’s commentary on 1 Corinthians is the most thorough and complete commentary on this book available in English. Thiselton set forth to address virtually every imaginable question that one could ask about the text, and he appears to have succeeded. Although quite readable, this is a technical commentary on the Greek text, so it is not for everyone. For those who do not have enough background in the Greek language to use a technical commentary, Thiselton has also produced something of an abridged version with more focus on practical application. Pastors may find the abridged volume more immediately helpful, but all students should consult the larger work as well. Very highly recommended.

Paul Gardner — 1 Corinthians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2018). For pastors and teachers who need a thorough yet easy-to-use commentary on 1 Corinthians but who do not need something as technical as Thiselton, the best commentary is probably the one by Paul Gardner. His exegesis is careful and thoughtful, and the application sections are very helpful.

David E. Garland — 1 Corinthians* *(Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2003). Garland’s commentary on 1 Corinthians is a sane and thoughtful work that should be of use to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of this letter. It will be especially helpful for pastors. The Baker Exegetical Commentary series has the same audience as the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary series and are written at about the same level, but Garland’s work does bring different insights, and if you can get more than one commentary, this will be a good one to add to your reading list.

Roy Ciampa and Brian Rosner — The First Letter to the Corinthians (Pillar New Testament Commentary, 2010). All of the commentaries in the Pillar series are very good. Ciampa and Rosner’s is no exception. This commentary should be in every student’s library because of the unique contributions it makes. Their reading of the book with a focus on the Old Testament context of Paul’s thought is particularly useful as it sheds light on the problems facing a church that is being influenced by the pagan culture in which it finds itself.

Gordon D. Fee — The First Epistle to the Corinthians (New International Commentary on the New Testament, 2014). The first edition of Fee’s commentary on 1 Corinthians was

G.K. Beale — Colossians and Philemon (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2019). G.K. Beale is one of the most important Reformed theologians writing today. Everything he has written from his brilliant study on the theology of the temple to his magisterial commentary on Revelation has been outstanding. This new commentary on Colossians and Philemon is no exception. It should be the go-to commentary of first choice in every pastor and teacher’s library.

Douglas J. Moo — The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (Pillar New Testament Commentary, 2008). Douglas Moo’s commentary on Romans is a modern classic. His commentaries on other books of the New Testament are all outstanding. I was very excited, therefore, to see this new commentary on Colossians and Philemon when it was first published. Having worked with it now for over a decade, I can enthusiastically recommend it.

David W. Pao — Colossians & Philemon (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2012). The Zondervan Exegetical Commentaries are written at about the same level as the Baker Exegetical Commentaries. Readers with a working knowledge of Greek will derive the most benefit, but such knowledge is not required. Pao’s contribution to this series is a very good commentary. He is thoughtful and careful, and pastors and teachers will find this to be a most useful work.

F. F. Bruce — The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (New International Commentary on the New Testament, 1984). There are certain authors whose work serious students of Scripture should go out of their way to read. F.F. Bruce is one of those authors. Before his death, he wrote on an astounding variety of subjects, covering all aspects of biblical studies. Among these works were a number of commentaries on various books of the Bible. His commentary on Colossians and Philemon is a perfect example of his unique combination of scholarship and readability.

David E. Garland — Colossians/Philemon (NIV Application Commentary, 1998). The NIV Application Commentary

Revelation 1-5; Revelation 6-16, and Revelation 17-22 by David E. Aune David Aune’s massive commentary on the book of Revelation is another that should be consulted by every serious student of Scripture. The strongest point of Aune’s commentary is the amount of information it contains regarding relevant extrabiblical literature that sheds light on the historical context. Regarding the date of the book, Aune takes a slightly complicated view. He believes the book went through stages of composition. He argues that Revelation 1:7–12a and 4:1–22:5 were probably composed around AD 70, but he believes the final edition of the book was put together during the reign of Trajan (AD 98–117). The primary problem with this commentary, however, is that it loses sight of the forest for all the trees. Aune is very helpful with the details of the text and the details of extrabiblical literature. He is not as helpful when it comes to the point of understanding what the book means—its message and theology. He looks closely at the brush strokes, but he looks so closely that he can’t see the big picture.

A Commentary on the Revelation of John by George Eldon Ladd Some readers may be surprised that I would recommend Ladd’s commentary since Ladd is an historic premillennialist. Despite differing with Ladd’s millennial view, I believe his commentary still contains a wealth of interpretive insight. Ladd describes his interpretive approach as a blending of the preterist and futurist methods, which means that he recognizes the relevance of the immediate historical context. His dating of the book during the reign of Domitian, late in the first century, causes some problems, but this classic commentary is still worth consulting.

Revelation by Grant R. Osborne Like Ladd, Osborne is a premillennialist, and like several recent authors, he takes an eclectic approach to the book of Revelation. In Osborne’s case, he takes an eclectic approach with an emphasis on the futurist position. Osborne’s commentary is particularly helpful in providing historical background information on the people, places, and things mentioned in the biblical text. Like most commentators, Osborne too easily dismisses the arguments for an early date of the book, but the commentary is still well worth consulting.

J.V. Fesko — Galatians (Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament, 2012). J.V. Fesko is a Reformed pastor and theologian who teaches now at Reformed Theological Seminary after years teaching at Westminster Theological Seminary in California. His commentary is not overly technical, but it is grounded in a deep knowledge of the languages and biblical theology. This should be a must-read for every pastor and teacher of Scripture.

Douglas Moo — Galatians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2013). Among the more technical exegetical commentaries, it is difficult to rank the next two. In my mind, they are essentially tied for the number 2 spot on the list. Both are excellent, and each offers unique insights into the text. Moo is best known for his commentary on Romans, and he brings the same level of competence to this commentary. Highly recommended.

Thomas Schreiner — Galatians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2010). Schreiner’s commentary and Moo’s commentary are written at about the same level of depth and technicality. With both, a working knowledge of Greek is helpful although not absolutely necessary. Even though I see Moo and Schreiner as tied for second on this list, I have to say that I prefer the layout of the ZECNT series to that of the BECNT series.

Craig Keener — Galatians: A Commentary (2019). Having worked with Keener’s massive commentary on Acts, I’m at a loss to understand how he has managed to produce anything else in his lifetime in addition to it, and yet, here is another large (at nine hundred pages) and well-written commentary from his pen. One of the most helpful things with any work by Keener are his bibliographies. Most of his books are worth the price for the bibliography alone.

Herman Ridderbos — The Epistle of Paul to the Churches of Galatia (1953). Herman Ridderbos’ commentary on Galatians was one of the first in the NICNT series. It has since been replaced first by Fung and then by DeSilva (See Runners-Up below). Although his commentary does not interact with contemporary scholarship and issues such as the New Perspective on Paul, this remains an outstanding commentary. It is worth noting that his large work Paul: An Outline of His Theology remains relevant and important to this day. Now that Eerdmans has re-released his commentary as a stand-alone work, I have no hesitation about including it in the top 5.

Colin Kruse — The Letters of John (Pillar New Testament Commentary, 2020). The Pillar New Testament Commentaries edited by D.A. Carson are consistently excellent works. Colin Kruse’s commentary is no exception, and a second edition has now been released. Kruse has done extensive work in the Johannine literature and written a commentary on the Gospel of John for the Tyndale series. This work on the epistles of John is thorough and accessible. It should be on the desk of every pastor and teacher.

Robert W. Yarbrough — 1-3 John (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2008). Like the Pillar series, the Baker Exegetical series of commentaries has also been consistently outstanding. Yarbrough, like Kruse, is an accessible author. If you can get two commentaries on John’s letters, start here with Kruse and Yarbrough.

Karen H. Jobes — 1, 2, & 3 John (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2014). Having seen Jobes’ commentary on 1 Peter in the BECNT series, I was looking forward to seeing this new one on the Johannine epistles in the ZECNT series. This one is characterized by the same careful exegesis and is well worth consulting.

Ben Witherington — Letters And Homilies for Hellenized Christians, Vol. 1 (2006). Ben Witherington has written a number of what he calls “socio-rhetorical” commentaries on many of the New Testament books. These works provide very helpful contextual information. Recently, Witherington completed three “socio-rhetorical” volumes that cover the Pastoral Epistles, the book of Hebrews, and the General Epistles. Two of the volumes are titled Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians, and one is titled Letters and Homilies for Jewish Christians. The first volume includes his commentary on the epistles of John. It is a helpful work that should be consulted by those doing in-depth study of these letters.

Stephen S. Smalley — 1, 2, 3 John (Word Biblical Commentary, 1984). Stephen S. Smalley has written a number of books on the works of John. His commentary on the epistles of John is a valuable contribution to the literature. Although the WBC series is not the most reader-friendly series, it is worth the effort in this instance.

Douglas Moo — The Epistle to the Romans (New International Commentary on the New Testament, 2018). The first edition of Douglas Moo’s NICNT commentary on Romans was published in 1996. It has recently been released in a second updated edition. This commentary is judged by many to be the best all-around evangelical commentary on Romans. It is thorough, but it is not overly technical. Moo presents his exegetical arguments carefully and cogently. This reader is especially impressed by his treatment of Romans 11. In terms of intermediate–advanced level commentaries, this one is the best place to begin. Moo has also written the commentaries on Romans in the Encountering series and in the NIVAC series.

Frank Thielman — Romans (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2018). The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary series is relatively new compared to some of the other standard series with which readers of this blog are familiar. With each section of the text in the ZECNT series, the commentator provides 1). Literary Context, 2). The Main Idea, 3). Translation of the Greek, 4). Structure, 5). An Exegetical Outline, 6). A verse-by-verse explanation of the text, and 7). A Theology in Application section. There are also often “In-Depth” excursus where the author deals with a particular issue at length. Thielman’s commentary on Romans in this series will be very helpful to pastors and teachers. It is easy to read and follow.

Thomas R. Schreiner — Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2018). The first edition of Schreiner’s commentary on Romans was published in 1998. This new second edition is fully updated. It is somewhat difficult to determine whether Schreiner or Thielman should be in the number 2 spot. Ultimately, I gave Thielman’s commentary the silver because I find the layout of the Zondervan series a little bit more helpful overall. That said, Schreiner’s commentary should not be neglected. It is an outstanding work.

Richard N. Longenecker — The Epistle to the Romans (New International Greek Testament Commentary, 2016). The NIGTC series requires a working knowledge of Greek. For those who have that knowledge, Longenecker’s commentary on Romans will prove very helpful. The commentary proper is over 1,000 pages. Because the Introduction by itself is over 500 pages, it was published in a separate volume, Introducing Romans.