Evaluation

Overall Score: 8.6/10

A steady expositional companion for Psalms, shaped for weekly ministry use.

Publication Date(s): 2022

Pages: 1216

ISBN: 9781433546440

Faithfulness to the Text: 8.6/10

We find C. John Collins attentive to context in Psalms, following the flow of the passage and keeping the main point in view.

Christ Centredness: 8.5/10

We are helped to preach Christ from Psalms with restraint and confidence, tracing promise and fulfilment without forcing connections.

Depth of Insight: 8.7/10

We gain solid insight into structure and themes, with enough engagement to sharpen our judgement for preaching and teaching.

Clarity of Writing: 8.7/10

The writing is clear and well organised, making it workable for weekly preparation and easy to consult in the study.

Pastoral Usefulness: 8.5/10

The commentary repeatedly helps us move from explanation to congregational use, with application that is direct, wise, and not gimmicky.

Readability: 8.6/10

It is substantial, but it is paced for pastors and teachers, and it rewards steady use over time.

Summary

At a Glance

Length: 1216 pages
Type: Expository (Mid-Level)
Theo. Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Overall score: 8.6 / 10
Strength: Pastor friendly exposition that stays close to the text.
Limitation: Some passages will still benefit from a more technical companion volume.

Psalms, ESV Expository Commentary offers a clear, church facing exposition of Psalms. C. John Collins writes with a calm, Bible first instinct, and the format is geared toward weekly preparation. Volume 5.

We are helped by the way the commentary keeps the passage in front of us. It does not try to impress, it tries to serve, and that makes it easier to use with confidence.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume for seasons when we need a trustworthy handrail. It helps us see how paragraphs hang together, it keeps key themes recurring, and it gives us language that can be carried into sermons and studies.

It serves well at the desk on a busy week. We can consult it quickly for the shape of a passage, then return to the text with better questions and sharper focus.

When we need deeper detail, we can add a more technical work alongside it. Even then, this volume often gives the clearest path from study to sermon shape.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend Psalms, ESV Expository Commentary as a strong mid level expositional resource for Psalms. It is clear, restrained, and consistently oriented toward the ministry of the Word.

Used alongside prayerful study, it helps us speak with greater clarity and conviction, and it keeps our application tied to the text.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

Where to buy

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