Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Revelation
Topical Bruce Metzger – Breaking the Code *DEAL* This little book offers some great insights into the book of Revelation. This was my first crack and studying Revelation and I still remember all of the discoveries I experienced reading this book. I would encourage people to start here as it will introduce you to material […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Galatians
Topical E.P. Sanders – Paul and Palestinian Judaism This is a work that kicked off the New Perspective on Paul. Sanders goes into extra-biblical material from Judaism to help us understand how the Jews viewed their own religion. Rather than imposing Luther back on the Torah, this book advises letting Judaism speak for itself. This […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Second Corinthians
Topical Gerd Theissen – The Social Setting of Pauline Christianity: Essays on Corinth This book is a series of translated essays. The points of interest are his discussion of the strong and the weak and the Lord’s supper and the economic/demographic issues tied to each one. I had never considered how wealth would impact the […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Ephesians
Topical Walter Wink – Engaging the Powers A powerful and engaging look at spiritual powers and warfare. This is a must read on the principalities and powers. Watchman Nee – Sit, Walk, Stand This is devotional material based on three of the imperatives in Ephesians. This book challenged me spiritually and is one that I […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: First Corinthians
Topical Gerd Theissen – The Social Setting of Pauline Christianity: Essays on Corinth This book is a series of translated essays. The points of interest are his discussion of the strong and the weak and the Lord’s supper and the economic/demographic issues tied to each one. I had never considered how wealth would impact the […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Genesis
Topical Robert Alter – The Art of Biblical Narrative This is a must read book for those studying the Old Testament. Alter is one of my favorite Old Testament scholars and this book will give you a lot of insight on how to read and understand the Old Testament by digging into how stories are […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Leviticus
Topical Robert Alter – The Art of Biblical Narrative This is a must read book for those studying the Old Testament. Alter is one of my favorite Old Testament scholars and this book will give you a lot of insight on how to read and understand the Old Testament by digging into how stories are […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Exodus
Topical Hoffmeier – Israel in Egypt This book takes a pretty conservative view on the Exodus and the historicity of the biblical account. Archaeology is used to confirm various things mentioned in these accounts and to shed light on many of the questions that we have about the exodus. William Dever – Who were the […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Romans
Topical F.F. Bruce – Paul: Apostle of a Heart Set Free This is a classic work on Paul that gives a lot of biographical information on Paul based on the New Testament and historical/extra biblical literature. As always with Bruce the book is very readable and enjoyable. E.P. Sanders – Paul and Palestinian Judaism This […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Gospel of John
Topical Raymond Brown – Community of the Beloved Disciple Brown’s take on the Johannine community in the Gospel and Epistles of John. Marianne Meye Thompson – The God of the Gospel of Joh The title perfectly describes the book. This book is about how God is described and talked about in the Gospel of John. […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Gospel of Luke
Topical Robert C. Tannehill – The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts (Vol 1) This book goes chapter by chapter through Luke giving you the various threads that connect the parts. Craig Blomberg – Historical Reliability of the Gospels (2nd ed) Unlike his Historical Reliability of the Gospel of John, this book doesn’t run through the Gospels […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Gospel of Mark
Topical Willard Swartley – Israel’s Scripture Traditions and the Synoptic Gospels: Story Shaping Story This book makes a lot of theological connections between major Old Testament themes and the Synoptics. This has proven very useful in my studies especially in regard to the theology of the synoptics through the lens of Judaism. David Rhodes – […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Acts of the Apostles
Topical Evertt Ferguson – Backgrounds of Early Christianity This is a standard work in New Testament studies. Ferguson also comes from a Church of Christ background and has taught at ACU for many years. This is a must have book for any student of the New Testament with thorough articles on hundreds of relevant topics. […]
Commentary Recommendations & Resources: Gospel of Matthew
Topical Willard Swartley – Israel’s Scripture Traditions and the Synoptic Gospels: Story Shaping Story This book makes a lot of theological connections between major Old Testament themes and the Synoptics. This has proven very useful in my studies especially in regard to the theology of the synoptics through the lens of Judaism. Craig Blomberg – […]