Martin J. Selman

Martin J. Selman is a British Old Testament scholar of the contemporary era, writing within evangelical scholarship with a practical instinct for serving the local church.

Teaching in London, he has helped many readers approach Chronicles as purposeful theology, not as a mere retelling of Kings. Selman shows how the Chronicler highlights worship, Davidic hope, and the rebuilding of a faithful community, bringing encouragement to people who feel small, compromised, or tempted to despair. His exposition helps pastors preach the long lists and repeated material with patience, because he keeps explaining why those details matter for covenant identity.

He is valued for clarity, pastoral realism, and an ability to trace theological themes without losing the flow of the text. Recommended titles include 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, his writing on biblical history, and his work that helps teachers read Old Testament narrative with confidence.

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Martin J. Selman

Martin J. Selman is a British Old Testament scholar of the contemporary era, writing within evangelical scholarship with a practical instinct for serving the local church.

Teaching in London, he has helped many readers approach Chronicles as purposeful theology, not as a mere retelling of Kings. Selman shows how the Chronicler highlights worship, Davidic hope, and the rebuilding of a faithful community, bringing encouragement to people who feel small, compromised, or tempted to despair. His exposition helps pastors preach the long lists and repeated material with patience, because he keeps explaining why those details matter for covenant identity.

He is valued for clarity, pastoral realism, and an ability to trace theological themes without losing the flow of the text. Recommended titles include 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, his writing on biblical history, and his work that helps teachers read Old Testament narrative with confidence.

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Martin J. Selman

Martin J. Selman

Martin J. Selman is a British Old Testament scholar of the contemporary era, writing within evangelical scholarship with a practical instinct for serving the local church.

Teaching in London, he has helped many readers approach Chronicles as purposeful theology, not as a mere retelling of Kings. Selman shows how the Chronicler highlights worship, Davidic hope, and the rebuilding of a faithful community, bringing encouragement to people who feel small, compromised, or tempted to despair. His exposition helps pastors preach the long lists and repeated material with patience, because he keeps explaining why those details matter for covenant identity.

He is valued for clarity, pastoral realism, and an ability to trace theological themes without losing the flow of the text. Recommended titles include 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, his writing on biblical history, and his work that helps teachers read Old Testament narrative with confidence.

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

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1 & 2 Kings

Mid-levelBusy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation
8.2
Author: Martin J. Selman
Bible Book: 1 Kings 2 Kings
Series: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries
Type: Expository (Mid-Level)
Publisher: IVP
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

We find Martin J. Selman’s commentary on Kings a thoughtful and theologically steady exposition of these sobering books. He helps us read Kings as sustained prophetic history, where covenant loyalty and idolatry are weighed under the Lord’s patient judgment.

The commentary guides us through complex reigns and repeated patterns with clarity, drawing attention to how the text shapes hope, warning, and repentance.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this commentary when we want help preaching Kings with theological coherence and pastoral honesty. Selman consistently helps us avoid moralism while taking sin, faithfulness, and repentance seriously.

It serves pastors who want to preach narrative judgment texts with clarity, restraint, and confidence in God’s purposes.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this as a strong mid level commentary for preaching and teaching 1 and 2 Kings, especially for sustained series work.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview pages for 1 Kings and 2 Kings, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.


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1 Chronicles

Mid-levelBusy pastors, General readers, Pastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation
7.9
Author: Martin J. Selman
Bible Book: 1 Chronicles
Series: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries
Type: Expository (Mid-Level)
Publisher: IVP
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

We find Martin J. Selman’s 1 Chronicles in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series a steady companion for reading the passage in front of us, then carrying it into preaching and teaching with care. It keeps us close to the text, and it helps us see the shape of the argument without drowning us in detail.

The tone is measured and pastor-friendly. We are guided through key turns in the book, with enough background to avoid missteps, and with a consistent concern for what the Lord is saying through His Word.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we want a reliable guide that supports the move from exegesis to proclamation. It is not trying to do everything, but it repeatedly helps us put our finger on the main line and speak it clearly to the church.

We also benefit from the way it handles common difficulties. It tends to clarify what matters most, and it keeps application tethered to the passage rather than to our favourite themes.

For weekly preparation, it sits well alongside a more technical work. We can do specialist digging elsewhere, then return here for clarity, proportion, and a steady sense of what we should press home.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this as a strong mid-level commentary for preaching and teaching 1 Chronicles. It will not answer every debated question, but it consistently helps us handle the text faithfully and speak with pastoral steadiness.

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.


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