J. Gordon McConville

J. Gordon McConville is a contemporary British Old Testament scholar, writing from a broadly evangelical position.

He is widely respected for his work on Deuteronomy and Old Testament theology, bringing careful exegesis together with a strong sense of the Bible as Christian Scripture. He helps readers attend to covenant, land, worship, and ethics within the flow of the canon.

His work remains valuable because it is both academically responsible and spiritually serious. He writes with clarity and restraint, offering pastors sound guidance for preaching that honours the text, keeps theological proportions, and applies Scripture with wisdom to modern life.

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

J. Gordon McConville

J. Gordon McConville is a contemporary British Old Testament scholar, writing from a broadly evangelical position.

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

J. Gordon McConville

J. Gordon McConville is a contemporary British Old Testament scholar, writing from a broadly evangelical position.

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

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Joshua

AdvancedBusy pastorsUseful supplement

7.8

Author: J. Gordon McConville

Series: Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary

Type: Exegetical (Technical)

Publisher: Eerdmans

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

Joshua demands careful handling. It narrates conquest, land, and covenant, and it raises ethical questions that can unsettle hearers and preachers alike. In the Two Horizons pattern, this volume aims to keep the text in front of us while also equipping us to think theologically about what Joshua is doing within the story of Scripture. We appreciated that the approach is not merely explanatory, it is also formative, teaching the preacher how to read a difficult book with reverence and clarity.

The commentary helps us see Joshua as more than military history. The land is not a random setting, it is covenant gift, tied to promise and obedience. The narrative repeatedly draws attention to the faithfulness of God, the seriousness of idolatry, and the need for wholehearted devotion. When the volume is at its best, it shows how those themes are embedded in the structure of the book, from the commissioning of Joshua to the covenant renewal scenes.

We also found the work attentive to the moral and pastoral pressures of preaching Joshua. Instead of avoiding hard texts, it encourages responsible reading, asking how the book frames judgement, mercy, and the holiness of God. That does not remove all difficulty, but it helps the pastor speak truthfully, neither softening the Bible nor weaponising it.

Strengths

We value the steady insistence on context. Joshua is often preached in fragments, with isolated heroes and lessons. This commentary pushes us to keep the whole storyline in view, so that courage, leadership, and obedience are seen as covenant realities under the Word of God, not as generic virtues.

The theological reflection is often useful because it asks the right questions. What does it mean for the Lord to give rest, and how does that theme develop. How does the book portray the danger of compromise, and why are small acts of unfaithfulness treated as serious. Those lines of thought can shape a preaching series with a coherent centre.

We also appreciated the attention to worship and Word. The narrative does not only tell us what Israel did, it shows how God speaks, commands, warns, and promises. A commentary that keeps that dynamic visible is a gift for expository preaching.

Limitations

Some pastors will want a more direct path from the text to sermon structure. The Two Horizons method often gives building blocks, but it does not always hand you a ready outline. That is not a flaw, but it does mean you must do more synthesis work yourself.

Because Joshua raises large ethical and theological questions, some discussion can feel weighty for week by week sermon preparation. You may need to decide which debates to engage in the pulpit and which to reserve for teaching settings or private study.

How We Would Use It

We would use this volume to plan a series, especially to identify the major movements of the book and the recurring theological themes. It can help set the direction for the whole run of sermons, so that each week serves the larger purpose.

To test the commentary quickly, we would read its handling of a hard passage and ask whether it keeps the passage rooted in its narrative context, whether it honours the holiness of God without becoming harsh, and whether it helps us speak to the congregation with both truth and tenderness. If those marks are present, it is safe to rely on it.

We would also pair it with a more practical preaching aid for illustration and application. Let this series sharpen our reading and theological posture, then let other tools assist with delivery and pastoral connection.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this volume for pastors who want to preach Joshua with careful exegesis and responsible theological reflection. It will not do all the sermon work for you, but it will help you handle the book with seriousness and confidence.

Isaiah

Mid-levelPastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation

8.3

Author: J. Gordon McConville

Bible Book: Isaiah

Series: Baker Commentary On The Old Testament

Type: Exegetical (Technical)

Publisher: Baker Academic

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

Isaiah is vast in scope, moving from judgement to comfort, from historical crisis to cosmic hope, and from the failure of leaders to the promise of the Servant and the coming reign of the Lord. This commentary approaches the book with a concern to keep its theological message clear and its pastoral edge sharp. The author reads Isaiah as prophetic proclamation aimed at forming a faithful people, not as a puzzle to be solved for curiosity. That helps the preacher keep the centre of gravity where the text places it, on the holiness of God, the sin of His people, and the surprising mercy that restores and renews.

The volume pays attention to structure and to the movement of major themes. It helps the reader trace how judgement is never mere anger, but covenantal holiness confronting idolatry and injustice. It also shows how comfort is not sentiment, but the announcement that the Lord will act to redeem, to gather, and to establish His righteous rule. The commentary offers careful explanation of passages, and it consistently draws out theological implications, giving preachers a framework for proclaiming Isaiah with both seriousness and hope.

Strengths

The first strength is the theological coherence. Isaiah can feel like an ocean of images and oracles. This volume repeatedly gathers the strands, showing how the book presents the Lord as the Holy One of Israel who will not share His glory with idols. That theme provides unity across diverse sections. The author is also strong on the moral and pastoral force of the text. Isaiah confronts pride, false worship, injustice, and hollow religiosity. The commentary helps you see how those sins are connected, and how the prophet calls for repentance that is expressed in worship and in life.

A second strength is the way the commentary handles hope. It does not treat comfort sections as detached promises floating above judgement. Instead, it shows how consolation grows out of the Lords commitment to His own name and to His covenant purposes. That gives preaching a sturdy foundation. You are not left with vague optimism. You are given reasons for hope rooted in the character of God and in His pledged action to redeem.

The book also provides helpful guidance on preaching major texts, including those that are often misunderstood or handled in a rushed way. It encourages reading within the immediate context and within the broader flow of Isaiah, so that cherished passages are not isolated from their arguments. That protects the pulpit from proof texting and helps the congregation learn to read the Bible with maturity.

Limitations

Because the volume is large and ambitious, there are sections where the discussion can feel uneven. Some passages receive extensive theological reflection, while others are handled more briskly to keep the commentary moving. That is inevitable in a work of this scale, but it means you may not always get the same level of detail in every unit.

The commentary aims to serve the preacher more than the specialist, so some readers may wish for fuller interaction with technical debates or a wider range of scholarly positions. The author is not superficial, but he is selective. Those preparing academic work will likely need to consult more specialised resources alongside this volume.

How We Would Use It

We would use this commentary as a primary guide for planning and preaching a series in Isaiah. It offers a steady hand for navigating structure and theology, and it regularly provides the kind of interpretive clarity that helps sermons land with weight. We would supplement it with a more technical volume when needed, especially for details related to historical background, language, or interpretive disputes.

We would also use this book for pastoral study groups or training cohorts that want to learn how prophetic literature speaks to the church today. The emphasis on holiness, worship, and hope is valuable for shaping a congregation in reverent confidence.

Closing Recommendation

A large and theologically rich commentary that helps you preach Isaiah with seriousness and comfort, judgement and mercy, holiness and hope. A very useful companion for pastors and trainees who want a clear reading that respects the text and serves the pulpit.