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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J. G. McConville, Deuteronomy

Bibliographical details: McConville, J. G. (2002). Deuteronomy. Apollos Old Testament Commentary, vol. 5. Leicester: Apollos. Publisher’s information: In this outstanding commentary Gordon McConville offers a theological interpretation of the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy in the context of the biblical canon. He gives due attention to historical issues where these bear on what can be [...]

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Apollos Old Testament Commentary (IVP)

The aim of these evangelical commentaries is to expound the books of the Old Testament in a scholarly manner that is nonetheless accessible to non-experts. They are intended primarily to serve the needs of preachers but are meant to be useful also to scholars and serious students of the Bible. Particular attention is paid to [...]

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Klaus Koch, The Prophets. Vol. 2, The Babylonian and Persian Periods

Bibliographical details: Koch, K. (1983). The Prophets. Vol. 2, The Babylonian and Persian Periods, trans. M. Kohl. London: SCM Press. Publisher’s information: Volume 1 of this two-volume work was welcomed by the Expository Times as ‘a most important study of the prophets and one which will have to be reckoned with in all future research’. [...]

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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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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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John Rogerson and Philip Davies, The Old Testament World

Bibliographical details: Rogerson, J. W., and P. R. Davies. (2005). The Old Testament World. Rev. and expanded ed. London: T & T Clark. Publisher’s information: ‘… this is a useful introduction both to modern study of the Old Testament and to the history and religion of Israel, critical in stance and aware of the limitations [...]

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Joseph Blenkinsopp, Wisdom and Law in the Old Testament: The Ordering of Life in Israel and Early Judaism

Bibliographical details: Blenkinsopp, J. (1995). Wisdom and Law in the Old Testament: The Ordering of Life in Israel and Early Judaism. Rev. ed. The Oxford Bible Series. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Publisher’s information: ‘What a pleasure to find a book that takes seriously the meaning and importance of “law” in the Hebrew Bible … This [...]

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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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Biblical eSources (by Ted Hildebrandt)

The Biblical eSources site, maintained by Ted Hildebrandt of Gordon College in Wenham (MA), lists electronic books, articles and bibliographies on the Old and New Testament as well as on New Testament Greek. Some areas of biblical studies are well covered, while others (such as most of the minor prophets) don’t feature at all. There [...]

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