The Epistle to the Romans

AdvancedAdvanced students / scholars, Busy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingTop choice
Author: John Murray
Bible Book: Romans
Publisher: Eerdmans
Theological Perspective: Reformed
Resource Type: Commentary
Last updated: December 20, 2025
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Evaluation

Overall Score: 9.2/10

A monumental Reformed commentary on Romans that remains unsurpassed in theological depth.

Publication Date(s): 1959
Pages: 456
ISBN: 9780802823185
Faithfulness to the Text: 9.5/10
We find rigorous and careful attention to Paul’s language, argument, and theological intent throughout.
Christ Centredness: 9.5/10
We see union with Christ and the saving work of Christ governing Murray’s entire exposition.
Depth of Insight: 9.5/10
We gain exceptional theological depth that continues to shape Reformed interpretation of Romans.
Clarity of Writing: 8.5/10
We find the prose dense but precise, requiring attentive reading.
Pastoral Usefulness: 9/10
We find it deeply formative for preaching and teaching, especially at a foundational level.
Readability: 8/10
We find it demanding but immensely rewarding for disciplined readers.

Summary

At a Glance

Length
456 pages
Type
Exegetical (Technical)
Theo. Perspective
Reformed
Overall score
9.2 / 10
Strength
Unmatched theological seriousness and fidelity to Paul’s gospel.
Limitation
Requires slow, careful reading and sustained concentration.

We regard The Letter To Romans by John Murray as one of the most theologically weighty and spiritually serious commentaries ever written on Paul’s epistle. Murray approaches Romans with a profound reverence for the text, reading it as a unified and carefully argued exposition of the gospel of God. His work reflects deep immersion in Scripture and a disciplined Reformed theological framework.

We find that Murray moves deliberately through Romans, pressing hard on the meaning of Paul’s language and logic. Doctrines of sin, justification, union with Christ, sanctification, and God’s sovereign purpose are treated with exceptional care. The commentary is never rushed, and Murray refuses to simplify truths that Paul himself presents with depth and gravity.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this commentary because it models what it means to read Romans with theological seriousness. Murray does not treat the letter as a quarry for proof texts, but as a sustained apostolic argument that demands close and patient attention. His handling of justification by faith and union with Christ remains especially influential.

We also value the devotional weight of the work. Although rigorous and demanding, the commentary consistently drives the reader toward worship, humility, and obedience. Murray writes as a theologian in the service of the church, not as a detached academic.

This is not an easy commentary, and it is not designed for quick reference. It rewards slow reading and careful reflection, and it shapes the way Romans is understood at a foundational level.

Closing Recommendation

We strongly commend this volume as a classic Reformed exposition of Romans. It remains essential reading for serious students of Scripture and deserves a central place in any theological library.

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Classification

  • Level: Advanced
  • Best For: Advanced students / scholars, Busy pastors, Pastors-in-training
  • Priority: Top choice

Reviewed by

An Expositor