Marc Zvi Brettler, How to Read the Bible

Bibliographical details: Brettler, M. Z. (2005). How to Read the Bible. Philadelphia, PA: Jewish Publication Society. Publisher’s information: In his new book, master Bible scholar and teacher Marc Brettler argues that today’s contemporary readers can only understand the ancient Hebrew scripture by knowing more about the culture that produced it. And so Brettler unpacks the [...]

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Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (Tyndale House)

These evangelical commentaries are based on the New Living Translation (NLT), which is included. They are aimed at students, ministers and laypeople, who they seek to provide with exegetical and theological knowledge that enables them to better understand and apply God’s word. Commentaries feature an introduction to the biblical book that discusses the usual issues [...]

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The Bible Speaks Today (IVP)

The editors stress that the volumes in this series are intended to be expositions, not commentaries. The aims are threefold: ‘to expound the biblical text with accuracy, to relate it to contemporary life and to be readable’. Exposition is section by section, and the outlook is evangelical. Some volumes are surprisingly extensive. Old Testament volumes: [...]

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Berit Olam: Studies in Hebrew Narrative & Poetry (Liturgical Press)

Despite the subtitle, this is not a series of monographs. However, the subtitle is highly appropriate, because these commentaries focus on the final form of the text, approaching the books of the Old Testament as literary works and with the conviction that their truth can be better appreciated only with a fuller understanding of the [...]

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Klaus Koch, The Prophets. Vol. 1, The Assyrian Period

Bibliographical details: Koch, K. (1982). The Prophets. Vol. 1, The Assyrian Period, trans. M. Kohl. London: SCM Press. Publisher’s information: ‘This illuminating study of the major prophets of the Assyrian period, Amos, Hosea, Micah and Isaiah, should be of special interest to Christian readers primarily because the author, professor of OT in the University of [...]

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Alberto Ferreiro (ed.), The Twelve Prophets

Bibliographical details: Ferreiro, A., ed. (2003). The Twelve Prophets. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Old Testament, vol. 14. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. Publisher’s information: ‘And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, [the risen Jesus] interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself’ (Lk 24:27). The church fathers mined the Old [...]

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Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (IVP)

This ecumenical project differs from most of the other series introduced here in that it aims to present readers with the the best of the early church fathers’ theological, spiritual and pastoral insights rather than a contemporary commentary on the biblical text. Commentaries present the biblical text in the translation of the RSV, which is [...]

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The Anchor Bible (Doubleday)

This series, which tends to be moderately critical, is of mixed value, with individual volumes ranging from excellent to very poor. The Anchor Bible covers both Testaments, including the Apocrypha. Each volume offers an introduction, a new translation, linguistic and exegetical notes. Some commentaries in this series also feature a detailed exposition of the text, [...]

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Daniel J. Simundson, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah

Bibliographical details: Simundson, D. J. (2005). Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah. Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries. Nashville: Abingdon Press. Publisher’s information: The prophetic books gathered together in the book of the Twelve are sometimes called the ‘minor’ prophets because of their relatively small size when compared with Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. They are often neglected, [...]

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Abingdon Old/New Testament Commentaries (Abingdon)

These are designed to be ‘compact, critical commentaries’ on the books of the Old and New Testament. They offer section-by-section exposition and are written with theological students and pastors in mind. In addition to the commentary proper, these volumes include helpful discussions of the literary genre and structure of the book(s) in question. The commentary [...]

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Lawrence Boadt, Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction

Bibliographical details: Boadt, L. (1984). Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction. New York: Paulist Press. Publisher’s information: Reading the Old Testament is a clear and carefully organized introduction for contemporary readers. It is designed to guide the student of the Bible through the text and its problems, enrich their understanding of the individual biblical books, [...]

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J. Gordon McConville, The Prophets

Bibliographical details: McConville, J. G. (2002). The Prophets. Exploring the Old Testament, vol. 4. London: SPCK. Publisher’s information: The Prophets is one of a series of six textbooks covering the Old and New Testaments, all written by authors who have extensive experience of teaching students in their first two years of university-level study. This book [...]

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Bruce C. Birch, Walter Brueggemann, Terence E. Fretheim and David L. Petersen, A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament

Bibliographical details: Birch, B. C., W. Brueggemann, T. E. Fretheim, and D. L. Petersen. (1999). A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament. Nashville: Abingdon Press. Publisher’s information: This Theological Introduction to the Old Testament helps readers come to a critically informed understanding of the Old Testament as the church’s scripture. It introduces the Old Testament [...]

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