Summary
In James, ESV Expository Commentary, Robert L. Plummer helps us preach practical wisdom that is rooted in true faith, so our people hear both the searching demands and the gracious aims of the letter. Volume 12.
We are guided through James’s tight argumentation, vivid images, and repeated calls to integrity.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
We should own this volume when we want help preaching James without sliding into mere moralism. It keeps the letter connected to living faith, and it helps us show why obedience matters.
We are also helped to handle difficult passages with balance, including the relationship between faith and works, and the way wisdom shapes speech, conflict, and community life.
It is very usable for short series, discipleship classes, and youth or student ministry where the letter’s directness lands strongly.
Closing Recommendation
We recommend James, ESV Expository Commentary for pastors and teachers who want a mid level companion that serves clear exposition and wise application. It helps us preach a holiness that grows from the gospel rather than from pride.
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.
Robert L. Plummer
Robert L. Plummer is an American New Testament scholar of the contemporary era, serving within evangelical Baptist scholarship with a passion for training pastors.
He is widely known for teaching Greek and helping ministers keep working in the New Testament text, and for writing on interpretation that is both accessible and rigorous. Plummer’s work encourages careful reading, sensible method, and a steady refusal to skip over hard questions.
He remains valued for clarity, practicality, and a gift for explaining technical matters in a way that strengthens preaching rather than distracting from it. Recommended titles include 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible, Beginning with New Testament Greek, and Greek for Life.
Theological Perspective: Baptist