Summary
We find John Olley a steady guide for reading 2 Chronicles in the life of the church. As part of ESV Expository Commentary, this volume aims to keep us close to the passage while still helping us preach with clarity. Volume 3.
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 commentary when we want a reliable mid level companion that follows the text, respects context, and still speaks to ordinary believers. It gives us help with structure and emphasis, then nudges us toward faithful application.
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 commend 2 Chronicles, ESV Expository Commentary for regular ministry use. It will not replace slow work in the text, but it will sharpen it and steady it.
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.
John Olley
John W. Olley is an Australian evangelical Old Testament scholar and pastor, active in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, whose work reflects a deep love for biblical narrative and its relevance for the church.
Olley has written extensively on Kings and other historical books, bringing together linguistic skill, theological awareness, and pastoral application. His approach typically highlights the sovereignty of God, the nature of covenant faithfulness, and the moral shape of Israel’s story, making ancient texts vividly relevant to modern readers.
He is valued for his careful handling of Scripture, steady pastoral tone, and ability to trace the theological heartbeat of Old Testament narrative. His writing helps pastors and thoughtful lay readers see how these books point forward to God’s ultimate purposes in Christ.
Key titles include The Message of Kings, God’s Messenger: A Study of Haggai, and studies on wisdom literature.
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical