Appendix: The Evaluation and Use of Commentaries
Appendix: The Evaluation and Use of Commentaries
Throughout this book we have regularly suggested that there are times when you will want to consult a good commentary. We do not apologize for this. A good commentary is every bit as much a gift to the church as are good sermons, good video, audio and web resources, or good counselors.
Our purpose in this appendix is simple. After some words on how you may go about evaluating a commentary as to its exegetical value, we will list one or more of the better commentaries for each of the biblical books. There is an inherent problem in such a list, of course, in that excellent commentaries are regularly appearing. We are listing what is available as of our writing. As new commentaries come out, you can evaluate them according to the procedures given here.
THE EVALUATION OF COMMENTARIES
If you are a serious Bible student, you will eventually want to secure or have access to a good commentary for each book of the Bible. There really is no completely satisfactory one-volume commentary. One-volume commentaries are usually designed to do the very work we have tried to teach you to do on your own throughout this book. They briefly give the historical context and then trace the meaning of the text in terms of its literary context. This indeed has its value, but much of this you can find in the Zondervan Handbook to the Bible, for example. What you want a commentary for is basically to supply three things: (1) helps on sources and information about the historical context, (2) answers to those manifold content questions, and (3) thorough discussions of difficult texts as to the possibilities of meaning, along with supporting arguments.
How, then, does one evaluate a commentary? First, you do not evaluate on the basis of your agreement with the author. If the commentary is really a good one, and if you have done your own exegesis well, more often than not you and the better commentaries will be in agreement. But agreement is not the basic criterion.
Moreover, you do not evaluate on the basis of its “turning you on.” The point of a commentary is exegesis — what the text means — not homiletics — preaching the text in our day. You may make good use of books of this kind in trying to discover how to use a text in the present scene. As preachers, we ourselves confess to the usefulness of such books to get one’s mind to thinking about the present age. But these are not commentaries, even if they are excellent models for how to apply the Bible in the here and now. Our concern here is not with these books but with exegetical commentaries alone.
There are at least seven criteria you should use in judging a commentary. Not all of these are of the same kind, nor are all of them of equal importance. But all of these combine to help at the one crucial point: Does this commentary help you understand what the biblical text actually said?
The first two criteria are basically points of information that you will want to know about the commentary.
1. Is the commentary exegetical, homiletical, or a combination of both? This simply reiterates what we have just said above. Remember, what you really want in a commentary is exegesis. If it also has hermeneutical suggestions, you may find this helpful, but what you want are answers to your content questions — and content questions are primarily exegetical.
2. Is it based on the Greek or Hebrew text, or on an English translation? It is not bad for a commentary to be based on a translation, as long as the author knows the text in the original language and uses this knowledge as the real source of their comments. Note well: You can use most commentaries based on the Greek or Hebrew text. Sometimes you will have to “read around” the Greek or Hebrew, but you can usually do this with minimal loss.
The next criterion is the MOST IMPORTANT, and it is the real place to bring your evaluation.
3. When a text has more than one possible meaning, does the author discuss all the possible meanings, evaluate them, and give reasons for his or her own choice? For example, in chapter 2 we gave an illustration from 1 Corinthians 7:36 for which there are at least three possible meanings. A commentary does not fully inform you unless the author discusses all three possibilities, gives reasons for and against each, then explains his or her own choice.
The next four criteria are important if you are going to get all the help you need.
4. Does the author discuss text-critical problems? You have already learned the importance of this in chapter 2.
5. Does the author discuss the historical background of the idea of the text at important places?
6. Does the author give bibliographic information so you can do further study if you wish?
7. Does the introduction section in the commentary give you enough information about the historical context to enable you to understand the occasion of the book?
The best way to get at all this is simply to pick one of the really difficult texts in a given biblical book and see how helpful a commentary is in giving information and answering questions, and especially how well it discusses all possible meanings. One can initially evaluate the worth of a commentary on 1 Corinthians, for example, by seeing how the author discusses 7:36 or 11:10. For the Pastoral Epistles, check 1 Timothy 2:15. For the book of Genesis, 2:17 would constitute a “checkpoint.” For Isaiah, it might be 7:14 – 17. And so on.
The final judgment, of course, is how well the author puts his or her information together in understanding the text in its context. Some commentaries that are mines of historical and bibliographic data are unfortunately not always adept at explaining the biblical writer’s meaning in context.
Before we give our lists, let us repeat: You do not begin your Bible study with a commentary! You go to the commentary after you have done your own work. The reason you eventually consult a commentary is to find answers to the content questions that have arisen in your own study. At the same time, of course, the commentary will alert you to questions you failed to ask but perhaps should have.
Please be warned that the commentaries we list here do not always represent theological viewpoints with which we agree. We are not recommending their conclusions but rather their alertness to the kinds of issues we have mentioned above. Use them with care and caution. We have recommended evangelical commentaries only when in our opinion they were clearly the most exegetically useful for you.
OLD TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES
There are several complete and up-to-date Old Testament commentary series that meet the criteria we have described and are evangelical in theological outlook: The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (7 vols., Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan); the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (28 vols., Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press); the New American Commentary (28 vols., Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman); and the Word Biblical Commentary (34 vols., Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan). The latter contains among its volumes a mixture of evangelical and non-evangelical commentaries, and each must therefore be evaluated on its own merits. A three-volume series on the Minor Prophets (The Minor Prophets, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker) is also available. The century-old Keil and Delitzsch (K-D) remains one of the best complete series you can purchase for the Old Testament. The Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, a series that continues to be revised and updated, represent perhaps the best starter set of commentaries anyone could purchase.
Other commendable series are also underway, mostly but not entirely complete. They include: The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans), The NIV Application Commentary series (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan), and the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series: Old Testament (16 vols., Grand Rapids, MI: Baker). As individual volumes in these series are published, look them over. When any of the series becomes complete, consider buying it, whether in book or in electronic form.
For the general reader: James McKeown, Genesis (Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary Series); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2008.
For the advanced student: Kenneth A. Matthews, Genesis (NAC), 2 vols.; Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1996, 2005; Bruce K. Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001; Gordon Wenham, Genesis (WBC), 2 vols.; Dallas, TX: Word, 1987, 1994.
Exodus
For the general reader: Peter Enns, Exodus (NIVAC); Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000; Walter Kaiser Jr., Exodus (EBC); Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992.
For the advanced student: Douglas Stuart, Exodus (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 2006.
Leviticus
For the general reader: Mark F. Rooker, Leviticus (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2000; Allen Ross, Holiness to the Lord: A Guide to the Exposition of the Book of Leviticus; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2006.
For the advanced student: Gordon Wenham, The Book of Leviticus (NICOT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1994.
Numbers
For the general reader: David Stubbs, Numbers (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible); Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2009; Gordon Wenham, Numbers (TOTC); Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008.
For the advanced student: Timothy R. Ashley, The Book of Numbers (NICOT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1993; R. Dennis Cole, Numbers (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2000.
Deuteronomy
For the general reader: Daniel Block, Deuteronomy (NIVAC); Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012.
For the advanced student: Duane Christensen, Deuteronomy (WBC), rev. ed., 2 vols.; Nashville, TN: Nelson, 2001, 2002; Peter Craigie, The Book of Deuteronomy (NICOT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1976; Eugene H. Merrill, Deuteronomy (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1994.
For the general reader: Richard Hess, Joshua (TOTC); Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008.
For the advanced student: David M. Howard Jr., Joshua (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1998.
Judges
For the general reader: K. Lawson Younger, Judges (NIVAC); Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.
For the advanced student: Daniel I. Block, Judges, Ruth (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1999; Barry Webb, Judges (NICOT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2012.
Ruth
For the general reader: Iain Duguid, Esther & Ruth (REC); Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 2005.
For the advanced student: Daniel I. Block, Judges, Ruth (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1999; Robert Chisholm Jr., A Commentary on Judges and Ruth; Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2013; Robert L. Hubbard Jr., The Book of Ruth (NICOT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1988.
1, 2 Samuel
For the general reader: Bill T. Arnold, 1 & 2 Samuel (NIVAC); Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003; Joyce Baldwin, 1 and 2 Samuel (TOTC); Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988.
For the advanced student: Robert Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1996; Robert P. Gordon, 1 and 2 Samuel; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1986; David Tsumura, The First Book of Samuel (NICOT); Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2007.
1, 2 Kings
For the general reader: Iain Provan, 1 & 2 Kings (UBCS); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1993; Donald J. Wiseman, 1 and 2 Kings (TOTC); Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1993.
For the advanced student: Paul House, 1, 2 Kings (NAC); Nashville,, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1995.
1, 2 Chronicles
For the general reader: Andrew Hill, 1 & 2 Chronicles (NIVAC); Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008.
For the advanced student: Raymond Dillard, 2 Chronicles (WBC); Dallas, TX: Word, 1988; Richard Pratt, 1 & 2 Chronicles; Fearn, UK: Mentor, 1999; J. A. Thompson, 1, 2 Chronicles (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1994.
Ezra – Nehemiah
For the general reader: Derek Kidner, Ezra & Nehemiah (TOTC); Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2009; Gary V. Smith, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary); Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2010.
For the advanced student: Mervin Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1993; H. G. M. Williamson, Ezra – Nehemiah (WBC); Dallas, TX: Word, 1985.
Esther
For the general reader: Debra Reid, Esther (TOTC); Downers Grove, IL; IVP Academic, 2008.
For the advanced student: Frederic W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC); Dallas, TX: Word, 1996.
Job
For the general reader: Francis Anderson, Job (TOTC); Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008.
For the advanced student: John E. Hartley, The Book of Job (NICOT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1988; Elmer Smick, Job (EBC); Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1988.
Psalms
For the general reader: Craig C. Broyles, Psalms (UBCS); Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999.
For the advanced student: Peter Craigie and Marvin Tate, Psalms 1 – 50; Marvin Tate, Psalms 51 – 100; Leslie Allen, Psalms 101 – 150 (WBC); Dallas, TX: Word, 2004, 1991, 2002 respectively; Willem VanGemeren, Psalms (EBC), rev. ed.; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008; Bruce Waltke and James Houston, The Psalms as Christian Worship; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2010.
Proverbs
For the general reader: David A. Hubbard, Proverbs (Mastering the Old Testament); Dallas, TX: Word, 1989; Tremper Longman III, Proverbs (BCOT); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2006.
For the advanced student: Duane A. Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1993; Bruce Waltke, The Book of Proverbs (NICOT), 2 vols.; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2004, 2005.
Ecclesiastes
For the general reader: Iain Provan, Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs (NIVAC); Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001.
For the advanced student: Craig Bartholomew, Ecclesiastes (BCOT); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2009; Duane A. Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1993; Tremper Longman III, The Book of Ecclesiastes (NICOT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998.
Song of Songs
For the general reader: G. Lloyd Carr, The Song of Solomon (TOTC); Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1984.
For the advanced student: Duane Garrett and Paul House, Song of Songs/Lamentations (WBC); Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004; Tremper Longman III, Song of Songs (NICOT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2001.
Isaiah
For the general reader: Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
For the advanced student: John Oswalt, The Book of Isaiah (NICOT), 2 vols.; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1981, 1998; Gary Smith, Isaiah (NAC), 2 vols.; Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2007, 2009.
Jeremiah
For the general reader: Derek Kidner, The Message of Jeremiah (BST); Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2004.
For the advanced student: Leslie Allen, Jeremiah (OTL); Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2008; John A. Thompson, The Book of Jeremiah (NICOT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1995.
Lamentations
For the general reader: Robin Parry, Lamentations (Two Horizons Commentary); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2010.
For the advanced student: Delbert R. Hillers, Lamentations (AB); New York, NY: Doubleday, 1992; F. B. Huey Jr., Jeremiah, Lamentations (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1993.
Ezekiel
For the general reader: Douglas Stuart, Ezekiel (The Preacher’s Commentary); Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2002.
For the advanced student: Daniel I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT) 2 vols.; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997, 1998; Margaret Odell, Ezekiel (Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary); Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys, 2005.
Daniel
For the general reader: Iain Duguid, Daniel (REC); Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 2008.
For the advanced student: Stephen R. Miller, Daniel (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1994; Andrew Steinmann, Daniel (CC); St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2008.
Hosea
For the general reader: Derek Kidner, The Message of Hosea (BST); Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2004.
For the advanced student: Duane A. Garrett, Hosea, Joel (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1996; Douglas Stuart, Hosea – Jonah (WBC); Dallas, TX: Word, 1987.
Amos
For the general reader: Gary Smith, Hosea, Amos, Micah (NIVAC); Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001.
For the advanced student: Francis Anderson and David Noel Freedman, Amos (AB); New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1989; R. Reed Lessing, Amos (CC); St. Louis, MO: Concordia, 2009; Jeffrey Niehaus, Amos (The Minor Prophets); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1992.
Obadiah
For the general reader: David Baker, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah (TOTC); Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988.
For the advanced student: Jeffrey Niehaus, Obadiah (The Minor Prophets); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1992; Paul Raabe, Obadiah (AB); New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1996; Douglas Stuart, Hosea – Jonah (WBC); Dallas, TX: Word, 1987.
Jonah
For the general reader: T. Desmond Alexander, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah (TOTC); Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2009; Joyce Baldwin, Jonah (The Minor Prophets); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1993.
For the advanced reader: Douglas Stuart, Hosea – Jonah (WBC); Dallas, TX: Word, 1987.
Micah
For the general reader: Dale Ralph Davis, Micah (EP Study Commentary); Darlington, UK: Evangelical Press, 2010.
For the advanced student: Kenneth L. Barker, Micah (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1999; Bruce Waltke, A Commentary on Micah; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2008.
Nahum
For the general reader: David Baker, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (TOTC); Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2009.
For the advanced student: Waylon Bailey, Nahum (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 1999; Tremper Longman III, Nahum (The Minor Prophets); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1993.
Habakkuk
For the general reader: John Currid, The Expectant Prophet: Habakkuk Simply Explained (Welwyn Commentaries); Darlington, UK: EP Books, 2009.
For the advanced student: Carl Armerding, Habakkuk (EBC); Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1985; F. F. Bruce, Habakkuk (The Minor Prophets); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1993.
Zephaniah
For the general reader: David Baker, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (TOTC); Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1989.
For the advanced student: J. Alec Motyer, Zephaniah (The Minor Prophets); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1998; Richard Patterson, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah; Richardson, TX: Biblical Studies Press, 2013.
Haggai
For the general reader: Mark Boda, Haggai, Zechariah (NIVAC); Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004.
For the advanced student: Eugene Merrill, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi; Richardson, TX: Biblical Studies Press, 2013; J. Alec Motyer, Haggai (The Minor Prophets); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1998.
Zechariah
For the general reader: Barry Webb, The Message of Zechariah (BST); Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2004.
For the advanced student: George Klein, Zechariah (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2008; Thomas McComiskey, Zechariah (The Minor Prophets); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1998.
Malachi
For the general reader: Iain Duguid, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi (EP Study Commentary); Darlington, UK: Evangelical Press, 2010.
For the advanced student: Ray Clendenen, Zechariah, Malachi (NAC); Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2004; Douglas Stuart, Malachi (The Minor Prophets); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1998; Pieter Verhoef, The Books of Haggai and Malachi (NICOT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1994.
NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES
For years many people have found help in reading William Barclay’s The Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox), which covers the whole New Testament in seventeen volumes. This work is now being replaced by Tom Wright’s “ . . . for Everyone” series (e.g., Matthew for Everyone; London: SPCK, 2001+). But for a detailed, specific study we recommend the following (asterisks indicate commentaries that are particularly outstanding):
Matthew
For the general reader: Craig S. Keener, Matthew (IVP New Testament Commentary Series); Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997.
For the advanced student: R. T. France, Matthew (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007; Donald A. Hagner, Matthew (WBC), 2 vols.; Dallas, TX: Word, 1993, 1995.
Mark
For the general reader: James R. Edwards, The Gospel According to Mark (Pillar NT Commentary); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2002; Morna D. Hooker, The Gospel According to St. Mark (BNTC); Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1991.
For the advanced student: R. T. France, The Gospel of Mark (NIGTC); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2002.
Luke
For the general reader: Craig A. Evans, Luke (NIBC); Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1990.
For the advanced student: Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997; Luke Timothy Johnson, The Gospel of Luke (SP); Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991.
John
For the general reader: D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John (Pillar NT Commentary); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1990; J. R. Michaels, The Gospel of John (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2011.
For the advanced student: *Raymond E. Brown, The Gospel According to John (AB), 2 vols. New York, NY: Doubleday, 1966, 1970.
Acts
For the general reader: I. Howard Marshall, The Acts of the Apostles (TNTC); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1980.
For the advanced reader: Luke T. Johnson, The Acts of the Apostles (SP); Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1992.
Romans
For the general reader: Douglas Moo, The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1993.
For the advanced student: Leon Morris, The Epistle to the Romans; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1988.
1 Corinthians
For the general reader: Gordon D. Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2nd. ed., 2013; Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians (Int); Louisville, KY: John Knox, 1997.
2 Corinthians
For the general reader: Paul Barnett, The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997; Linda L. Belleville, 2 Corinthians (IVP NT Commentary); Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
For the advanced reader: Jan Lambrecht, Second Corinthians (SP); Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1999.
Galatians
For the general reader: James D. G. Dunn, The Epistle to the Galatians (BNTC); Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1993; Gordon D. Fee, Galatians (Pentecostal Commentary); Dorset, England: Deo Publishing, 2007.
For the advanced reader: Ben Witherington III, Grace in Galatia; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998.
Ephesians
For the general reader: F. F. Bruce, The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1984; Peter T. O’Brien, The Letter to the Ephesians (Pillar NT Commentary); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1999.
Philippians
For the general reader: Markus Bockmuhl, The Epistle to the Philippians (BNTC); Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1997; Gordon D. Fee, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1995; Gordon D. Fee, Philippians (IVP NT Commentary); Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999.
Colossians
For the general reader: F. F. Bruce, The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1984; N. T. Wright, Colossians and Philemon (TNTC); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1986.
For the advanced student: James D. G. Dunn, The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon (NIGTC); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996.
1, 2 Thessalonians
For the general reader: Gordon D. Fee, 1 and 2 Thessalonians (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007; Gene L. Green, The Letters to the Thessalonians (Pillar NT Commentary); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2002; I. Howard Marshall, 1 and 2 Thessalonians (NCBC); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1983.
1, 2 Timothy, Titus
For the general reader: Gordon D. Fee, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus (NIBC); Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1988; Philip H. Towner, 1 – 2 Timothy and Titus (IVP NT Commentary); Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1994.
For the advanced student: William D. Mounce, Pastoral Epistles (WBC); Nashville, TN: Nelson, 2000.
For the general reader: F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1990; Donald A. Hagner, Hebrews (NIBC); Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1990; David A. DeSilva, Perseverance in Gratitude; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000.
For the advanced student: William L. Lane, Hebrews (WBC), 2 vols.; Dallas, TX: Word, 1991.
James
For the general reader: Peter H. Davids, James (NIBC); Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1989; Douglas J. Moo, The Letter of James (Pillar NT Commentary); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000.
1 Peter
For the general reader: *Peter H. Davids, The First Epistle of Peter (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1990.
For the advanced student: J. R. Michaels, 1 Peter (WBC); Dallas, TX: Word, 1988.
2 Peter
For the general reader: J. N. D. Kelly, A Commentary on the Epistles of Peter and of Jude (HNTC); New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1969.
For the advanced student: *Richard J. Bauckham, Jude, 2 Peter (WBC); Dallas, TX: Word, 1983.
1, 2, 3 John
For the general reader: Colin G. Kruse, The Letters of John (Pillar NT Commentary); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000; *I. Howard Marshall, The Epistles of John (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1978.
For the advanced student: Stephen S. Smalley, 1, 2, 3 John (WBC); Dallas, TX: Word, 1984.
Jude
For the general reader: J. N. D. Kelly, A Commentary on the Epistles of Peter and of Jude (HNTC); New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1969.
For the advanced student: *Richard J. Bauckham, Jude, 2 Peter (WBC); Dallas, TX: Word, 1983.
Revelation
For the general reader: Gordon D. Fee, Revelation (New Covenant Commentary Series); Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2011; Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation (NICNT); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1977; Grant R. Osborne, Revelation (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the NT); Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2002.
For the advanced student: G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation (NIGTC); Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1999.