Two Horizons New Testament Commentary

We appreciate the ambition of the Two Horizons New Testament Commentary, it aims to hold together careful exegesis and explicit theological reflection. It is written for readers who want more than technical notes, but also more than general devotion.

The series usually works with the text at paragraph level, then steps back to draw theological lines that matter for doctrine, worship, and discipleship. That blend can be particularly fruitful for preachers who are trying to keep application tethered to the argument of the passage.

As with any series, it can be uneven, and some volumes lean more academic than pastoral. Even so, the best volumes model a way of reading that serves the church without shrinking the text to slogans.

Publisher: Eerdmans

Series Editor: Joel B. Green

Series: Two Horizons New Testament Commentary

A thoughtful bridge between exegesis and theology, often very helpful for serious preachers and teachers.

Level: Mid-level Perspective: Broadly Evangelical Best for: Pastors-in-training, Busy pastors Priority: Strong recommendation Overall score: 8.3

Strengths

We often find strong attention to literary flow and argument, with a real effort to explain how a passage works. That is a gift for preaching, because it keeps sermons from becoming disconnected observations.

The theological sections can be particularly valuable when they are concrete and text shaped. The best volumes draw doctrine from the grain of the passage, then show how that doctrine forms Christian life and church practice.

The series also encourages a canonical instinct, not by forcing links, but by asking how this text fits within the larger gospel. When done well, it strengthens both clarity and confidence in proclamation.

Limitations & Cautions

Quality can vary by volume, especially in how tightly theology is connected to exegesis. Some entries move too quickly from the text to broad themes, which can blur the sharp edges of an argument.

At times, theological reflection can lean toward academic synthesis rather than pastoral urgency. That may still help study, but it requires extra work to translate into sermon form.

Some volumes may not align neatly with a Reformed framework on every point. We can still benefit greatly, but we should read with our confessional bearings engaged.

How to Use This Series

We suggest using these volumes when we want help with both explanation and theological framing. They are often ideal in the middle stage of preparation, after we have done our own close work, but before we shape sermon structure and application.

Test a volume quickly by reading a sample section of exegesis and the theological reflection that follows. Ask whether the claims are demonstrably rooted in the passage, and whether the theological moves are careful rather than sweeping.

When a volume is strong, use its theological synthesis to deepen applications and to strengthen the doctrinal clarity of the sermon, while still letting the text set the agenda and pace.

Standout Volumes

In a series like this, the standout volumes are usually those where exegesis is clear, restrained, and well structured, then the theological reflection stays close to the passage rather than drifting into generalities.

Often the strongest entries are those that help preachers see both the argument of the text and the doctrinal stakes, giving language for preaching that is warm, precise, and anchored in the gospel.

Weaker or Less Helpful Volumes

Quality can vary by volume. The weaker entries tend to be those where the theological reflection becomes detached from the text, or where the exegesis feels thin for the claims being made.

We can often spot this early if the introduction sets up a large theological programme but the commentary sections do not do the slow work of argument and context. When that happens, we should treat the theological material as suggestive rather than decisive, and keep a more text driven commentary alongside it.

Series in Context

Compared with the New International Commentary on the New Testament, Two Horizons is usually less technical on grammar, but more deliberate in drawing out theological implications.

Compared with the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, it is fuller and more reflective, with greater interest in how doctrine grows from exegesis.

If we want a tight exegetical workhorse, NICNT may lead. If we want help crossing from text to doctrine with care, Two Horizons can be the better companion.

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Revelation

Strong recommendation
8.0
Author: John Christopher Thomas
Bible Book: Revelation
Series: Two Horizons New Testament Commentary
Type: Exegetical (Technical)
Publisher: Eerdmans
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

Revelation is a book that can either be neglected or mishandled. Some avoid it because it feels strange, symbolic, or controversial. Others lean into it as a playground for speculation. A technical commentary is valuable when it helps you take a third path, careful reading that honours the text’s imagery, structure, and pastoral purpose. This substantial volume is built for that kind of work. It is designed for readers who want to read Revelation as Scripture addressed to the church, calling for worship, endurance, and faithful witness.

The best way to approach a book like Revelation is to keep asking two questions. What does the vision communicate, and what is it meant to do to the hearers. A technical commentary can help with both, provided it does not become an end in itself. This volume supports disciplined interpretation, especially where imagery is dense and where interpretive traditions are loud. It can help preachers stay tethered to the text, and it can keep sermons from becoming either vague or sensational.

Strengths

The first strength is scope. Revelation is long, complex, and full of repeated patterns. A large technical commentary can function as a reference you return to repeatedly, not only for one passage but for a whole preaching plan. When you are working through cycles of visions, repeated themes, and key turning points, you need a guide that can help you keep the whole book in view. This volume is designed to help you do that.

Second, it encourages disciplined handling of symbolism. Revelation communicates through vivid images, dramatic scenes, and carefully chosen language. The danger is to flatten images into bland moral lessons, or to over literalise them into predictions. A careful commentary helps you attend to what the images are doing in the argument and in the book’s pastoral aim. That is essential for preaching, because the goal is not to satisfy curiosity but to strengthen allegiance to Christ.

Third, it supports theological reading. Revelation is saturated with claims about God’s rule, the victory of the Lamb, the reality of judgment, and the hope of final renewal. Those themes are not detachable add ons, they are the book’s engine. A good technical guide helps you keep them central and helps you show how they shape Christian endurance. That kind of preaching is both sobering and strengthening, especially for believers facing pressure.

Fourth, it can protect you from interpretive overconfidence. Revelation attracts strong opinions. A technical commentary that makes you justify readings, notice the text’s own cues, and handle structure carefully can humble you in the right way. It can also give you courage, because careful interpretation leads to steadier proclamation.

Limitations

The most obvious limitation is size and density. A commentary this large can become oppressive in a busy ministry week. It is rarely wise to attempt exhaustive use of a massive technical work while also crafting sermons, visiting, leading, and caring for people. The best approach is strategic use, heavy consultation at major interpretive junctions, and selective reading for weekly passages.

Another limitation is that technical discussion can drift away from the felt purpose of Revelation, which is to move the church to worship and endurance. The preacher must hold the reins. Use the scholarship to secure meaning, then return to the pastoral aim. In the pulpit, you want clarity, awe, and comfort for the saints, not a catalogue of debates.

A further limitation is that the commentary will not automatically provide sermon shapes that ordinary listeners can follow. Revelation requires careful communication. You will need to simplify without flattening, and you will need to keep Christ central in every vision. This volume supports that work, but it does not replace it.

How We Would Use It

We would use this volume as a series companion and reference. At the start of a preaching series, consult it to understand major structures, recurring themes, and the interpretive decisions that will shape your approach. Then, week by week, use it most heavily for passages with dense imagery, contested readings, or structural complexity. Once meaning is secured, turn to crafting sermons that aim at worship, endurance, and faithful witness.

In training settings, it can also serve keen leaders and students who need a disciplined way into the book. Revelation can produce either fear or fascination. Careful, text tethered reading helps cultivate reverent confidence instead.

Closing Recommendation

If you are looking for a substantial technical commentary on Revelation, this is the kind of resource that can strengthen your preparation and steady your preaching. It is not light, and it is not quick. Yet it can help you avoid both neglect and sensationalism, keeping you close to the text and keeping the church’s eyes fixed on the victorious Lamb. Use it strategically, and let it serve the book’s pastoral purpose, to strengthen the saints to worship and endure.

1-3 John

Strong recommendation
8.4
Author: Thomas Andrew Bennett
Bible Book: 1 John 2 John 3 John
Series: Two Horizons New Testament Commentary
Type: Exegetical (Technical)
Publisher: Eerdmans
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

The letters of John are loved for their simplicity, yet they are often preached as if simplicity means ease. In reality, 1 John in particular can be hard to outline, hard to apply wisely, and easy to misuse. The repeated themes can feel circular. The tests of life can be turned into either false assurance or needless despair. A technical commentary is therefore a gift when it helps you trace movement, detect emphasis, and keep pastoral intent in view. This volume aims to do that kind of work.

It reads the letters closely and encourages a theologically attentive approach. The aim is not to overwhelm the reader with novelty, but to help you see what the text is doing, paragraph by paragraph. That makes it valuable for pastors who want to preach these letters with both warmth and seriousness, keeping love and truth together, and keeping assurance tied to Christ rather than to inward performance.

Strengths

The first strength is its help with structure. Many commentaries struggle to give preachers a sense of the letter’s development without forcing a rigid outline. A technical guide can help by tracing repeated themes and showing how repetition functions rhetorically. When you see that, your sermon planning improves. You can preach the letter in coherent units, and you can show your people how John reassures, warns, and exhorts in deliberate ways.

Second, it is strong on pastoral balance. John writes to strengthen assurance and to expose deception. Those aims belong together. When preachers separate them, sermons either become harsh or sentimental. A commentary that keeps the letter’s purpose in view helps you avoid both extremes. It can help you distinguish between tender believers who need comfort and hardened hypocrisy that must be confronted. That is precisely the pastoral skill these letters require.

Third, it keeps theology close. The letters speak richly about the incarnation, the atoning work of Christ, fellowship with God, and the nature of love. In preaching, there is a temptation to reduce John to ethical sentiment. A technical and theological reading helps you keep ethics grounded in Christ. Love is not a floating ideal, it is the fruit of divine life given through the Son. This commentary supports that kind of preaching, which is both doctrinal and devotional.

Fourth, it gives due attention to 2 and 3 John. These short letters are often treated as afterthoughts, yet they provide sharp instruction on truth, hospitality, and integrity in church life. A careful commentary can help you avoid superficial handling, and it can support wise application in contemporary ministry settings.

Limitations

The main limitation is that technical clarity does not always yield immediate sermonic clarity. You will still need to distil, simplify, and communicate. In a church setting, the preacher must help people follow the argument without turning the sermon into an abstract analysis. This commentary can support that work, but it will not do it for you.

Another limitation is that some discussions may feel more detailed than a busy pastor needs. That is not unusual in technical work. The best approach is to identify the pressure points of your passage, then consult the commentary there. Use it as a stabiliser rather than as something you must exhaustively read every week.

A final limitation is that illustration and direct pastoral address are not the focus. If you want help with tone, imagery, and application that lands quickly, you may want a companion resource that is more explicitly aimed at preaching. Let this volume secure meaning, then let another voice help you with delivery.

How We Would Use It

We would use this volume as a guide for preaching through 1 John in sequence. Begin with careful reading and a provisional outline, then consult the commentary to test how you are handling repeated themes, key terms, and the letter’s pastoral aim. Use it especially when working with the tests of life and the language of assurance, because those are the places where sermons can easily wound the weak or comfort the complacent.

For 2 and 3 John, we would use it to clarify the logic of truth and love in practical church life. These letters can be surprisingly relevant, but only if they are handled with care and restraint. This commentary helps you do that.

Closing Recommendation

This is a helpful technical companion for the Johannine letters, especially for those who want to preach them with theological depth and pastoral wisdom. It supports careful reading, it helps you keep Christ central, and it steadies your handling of assurance and warning. It is not a shortcut, but it is the kind of tool that can improve both your understanding and your preaching over time.

2 Peter & Jude

Strong recommendation
8.1
Author: Ruth Anne Reese
Bible Book: 2 Peter Jude
Series: Two Horizons New Testament Commentary
Type: Exegetical (Technical)
Publisher: Eerdmans
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

These two short letters are frequently treated as easy wins in preaching, yet they can be among the easiest to mishandle. The rhetoric is sharp, the warnings are severe, and the pastoral purpose is often obscured by either anxiety or overconfidence. A technical commentary can help you hear the letters as they are, not as caricatures. This volume aims to provide that help by reading closely, tracing argument, and keeping theological reflection near the surface.

The result is a commentary that serves best when you are preparing to preach with sobriety and steadiness. It helps you keep the text in front of you, it helps you make careful decisions about difficult phrases, and it helps you avoid turning warnings into either harsh polemic or vague encouragement. In these letters, faithfulness is not only about content, it is also about tone, because the apostles are both severe and pastoral. A good technical guide can help you hold that balance.

Strengths

The first strength is clarity on argument flow. Both 2 Peter and Jude move quickly, piling reasons upon reasons. When you preach them, it is easy to flatten their logic into a list of points. A commentary that attends to structure helps you see how the authors build pressure, how they use examples, and how they aim to persuade the church to stay the course. That makes for better sermons, because you can follow the text rather than forcing it into a generic template.

Second, it offers careful handling of warning material. Pastors often feel the weight of preaching judgment, deception, and false teaching. Some respond by softening the text, others by sharpening it beyond Scripture. A technical approach can steady you. It reminds you that the warnings sit within a pastoral concern for the flock, and that the goal is not outrage but endurance. When this is done well, it produces preaching that is firm without being theatrical.

Third, it is useful on interpretive knots. Short letters can contain big difficulties, because a single phrase may carry much of the paragraph’s weight. A detailed commentary helps you see the options and the consequences of each reading. Even if you do not bring those options into the sermon, you benefit from the stability they give you. You can speak with confidence because you have tested your interpretation.

Fourth, the brevity of the biblical material makes this kind of commentary more feasible in a normal ministry rhythm. You can realistically read the passage, consult the relevant discussion, and still have time to craft a message. That makes it a practical technical companion, not merely a shelf ornament.

Limitations

The main limitation is that technical work can feel like it slows you down just when you want momentum. Some weeks you will not have the time to follow every discussion. The remedy is selective use. Identify the key interpretive questions in your passage and focus there. Let the commentary serve your preparation, rather than controlling it.

Another limitation is that it will not supply many ready made illustrations or pastoral turns of phrase. The commentary can help you be accurate and theologically steady, but you will still do the work of pastoral address. In sermons on warning passages, that is not optional. You must speak with gravity and tenderness, and you must help tender consciences hear the difference between the stubborn and the struggling. This commentary supports that work, but it does not replace it.

A further limitation is that technical discussion can sometimes feel remote from the immediate concerns of a congregation. The preacher must therefore translate. Decide what is essential for the hearers, then preach plainly. Use the detail as ballast, not as cargo you must carry into the pulpit.

How We Would Use It

We would use this volume as a safeguard when preaching hard texts. Begin with repeated reading, identify the structure, and outline the author’s movement. Then consult the commentary to confirm the logic, clarify key terms, and test any contested points. After that, turn to shaping a sermon that is faithful in tone as well as content. In warning texts, tone is part of meaning, because Scripture is not only telling us what to think, it is teaching us how to speak.

This volume would also be useful for leader training, especially for those who must address error without becoming quarrelsome. The letters demand courage and restraint. A careful guide can help leaders see both.

Closing Recommendation

If you are preaching 2 Peter or Jude, a technical commentary like this can be a wise companion. It helps you read the letters as arguments, not as collections of slogans. It steadies your handling of warnings and supports theological clarity. Pair it with a more directly pastoral voice if you need help with illustration and tone, but use this to keep you close to the text when the subject matter is sharp.

1 Peter

Strong recommendation
8.2
Author: Joel B. Green
Bible Book: 1 Peter
Series: Two Horizons New Testament Commentary
Type: Exegetical (Technical)
Publisher: Eerdmans
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

This is a technical commentary that expects you to slow down and read 1 Peter as a carefully shaped pastoral letter. The tone is not breezy, and it is not built around ready made sermon skeletons. Instead, it presses into the flow of argument, the logic of exhortation, and the way the letter holds together suffering, holiness, identity, and hope. Used well, it becomes an anchor early in preparation, because it helps you see what the passage is doing before you decide what you want to say.

The best feature of a volume like this is discipline. It trains the reader to ask, what is Peter actually arguing here, and how does this paragraph sit within the surrounding section and within the whole letter. That discipline is more than academic. It protects the preacher from jumping too quickly to favourite themes, and it helps you avoid turning 1 Peter into a set of moral slogans. When the letter comforts, it does so with reasons. When it commands, it does so on gospel foundations. A technical commentary that keeps those connections visible is doing the church a service.

Strengths

The first strength is sustained attention to the text. The argument of 1 Peter can be deceptively simple at a glance, yet it is dense with theological claims that drive pastoral instruction. This commentary is at its best when it traces those claims, showing how the letter moves from identity in Christ to a distinct way of living in a hostile environment. That helps you preach the imperatives as fruit of grace, rather than as a spiritual self improvement plan.

Second, it helps you pay attention to context, both immediate and wider within the letter. Many sermons on 1 Peter suffer from selective reading, where a striking phrase is lifted from its paragraph and made to carry too much weight. A technical treatment keeps you honest. It forces you to reckon with the surrounding sentences, the connective words, and the repeated themes that develop over time. When you do that work, application becomes both sharper and safer.

Third, it handles theological themes in a way that stays tied to the passage. Holiness, election, suffering, witness, and hope can all be preached as abstractions. Here they are kept close to the letter as it stands. That is particularly helpful in a book that is intensely pastoral and intensely theological at the same time. If you are preaching to a congregation under pressure, or to believers who feel out of place, this letter speaks with a steady voice. This commentary helps you hear that voice rather than replacing it with your own.

Fourth, it rewards repeated consultation. Some commentaries give you a handful of sparkling lines and then you move on. A careful technical work tends to shape your habits over the long term. You learn to look for structure, to ask what the author is doing, and to justify interpretive decisions. That habit is quietly formative for pastors and teachers, especially over a long preaching plan.

Limitations

The most obvious limitation is that it requires time. If you are looking for the fastest route to a sermon outline, this is not it. You will need to read with a pencil, and you will need to decide which discussions are essential for your particular passage. That is not a flaw, it is the cost of a technical tool. Still, it means that in a pressured week you may use it selectively rather than comprehensively.

A second limitation is that technical clarity does not automatically translate into pulpit clarity. You still need to do the work of synthesis, simplification, and pastoral address. This commentary can help you know what the text means and how it functions, but it will not hand you illustrations, story, or tone. If you rely on it alone, you may produce sermons that are accurate but emotionally thin. Many pastors will therefore pair it with a more directly expositional or devotional voice.

A third limitation is that careful weighing of interpretive options can, at times, feel like it slows momentum. In preaching, not every question must be opened in public. The preacher must choose what serves the congregation. This commentary can help you make those choices wisely, but it will not make them for you.

How We Would Use It

We would use this volume as a first pass companion after initial study. Read the passage repeatedly, map the paragraph, identify the main claim and the supporting reasons, then consult the commentary to test your reading. Use it most heavily where the letter is compressed, where a key phrase governs the logic of the paragraph, or where the application could easily drift into moralism. Let it establish the theological ground, then move toward sermon shape.

In team settings, this also works well for training. It models careful reading, and it shows how theology and pastoral ministry belong together. For elders, small group leaders, and preachers in training, it can be a useful reference when you want to encourage disciplined engagement without endless digression.

Closing Recommendation

If you want a technical commentary on 1 Peter that keeps you close to the text and pushes you toward coherent theological reading, this is a strong option. It will not save time, but it will save you from shortcuts. In the long run, that is often the more valuable gift. Use it to secure meaning, then preach with warmth and clarity, confident that your applications rest on the letter’s own gospel logic.

1 and 2 Timothy and Titus

AdvancedPastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation
8.3
Author: Richard B. Steele Robert W. Wall
Bible Book: 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus
Series: Two Horizons New Testament Commentary
Type: Theological
Publisher: Eerdmans
Theological Perspective: Wesleyan / Arminian
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

This volume on the Pastoral Epistles reads 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus as letters given to shape the worship, teaching, and moral life of the church. The author approaches the texts with a strong ecclesial instinct. These letters are not treated as mere manuals, but as pastoral Scripture that forms a community in sound doctrine, faithful leadership, and resilient godliness. The exposition follows the flow of each letter, while repeatedly drawing out how doctrine and practice are woven together.

The theological approach is deliberate. The author aims to connect careful reading with the wider confession of the church. That means the commentary often pauses to reflect on how the letters speak about the gospel, the church, ministry, and the pattern of Christian life under grace. It also means the author is attentive to the way these letters address false teaching. The problem is not simply intellectual error, it is distorted desire and disordered life. The Pastoral Epistles are presented as a call to integrity, both in teaching and in conduct.

For pastors and elders, the value lies in the way the commentary keeps church life in view. Leadership qualifications, public worship, care for the vulnerable, and the training of believers are handled as theological matters. The author also treats suffering, perseverance, and the handing on of the apostolic message as central themes, especially in 2 Timothy. The overall effect is to present these letters as a summons to steady faithfulness in ministry, grounded in the saving work of God.

Strengths

The most significant strength is the insistence that ecclesiology is theological. Many resources treat church order as mere pragmatics. Here, the author repeatedly shows how the letters ground church practice in the character of God and the gospel. The discussions of teaching, oversight, and discipline are set within the purpose of God to form a holy people. That helps preachers present pastoral instruction as worshipful obedience, rather than as managerial technique.

The commentary is also strong on the relationship between doctrine and life. False teaching is shown to produce moral damage, and sound teaching is shown to produce godliness. This emphasis is very useful for preaching in cultures where doctrine is treated as optional. The author helps you show that the Pastoral Epistles refuse that separation. They call the church to truth that can be seen in conduct, relationships, and endurance in hardship.

Another strength is the pastoral realism. The author does not romanticise ministry. He highlights Paul concern for perseverance, for entrusting the message to reliable people, and for courage under pressure. The reading of 2 Timothy is especially strong in this regard. It treats the letter as a charge to endure, to preach the word, and to carry the gospel forward with patience and conviction. That is fertile ground for preaching to leaders and congregations alike.

Limitations

The theological orientation sometimes means that certain historical and technical questions are treated more lightly. Readers who want long discussion of authorship debates, background reconstruction, or detailed lexical analysis will need additional tools. The author tends to focus on interpretive decisions that matter for ecclesial reading and theological direction, which is not the same as offering exhaustive critical coverage.

Because the commentary often works at the level of synthesis, the preacher may still need to do additional work to turn insights into a clear sermon outline. The reflections can be rich, but they are not always arranged in a homiletical shape. Also, those who prefer a strictly verse by verse technical layout may find the style more thematic than expected at points.

How We Would Use It

This is a strong resource for a preaching series on the Pastoral Epistles, especially for pastors who want to connect church practice to gospel theology. Use it to frame sermons on leadership, teaching, worship, and discipleship within the larger purpose of God. It is also a helpful companion for training elders and ministry leaders, because it treats these letters as Scripture for the life of the church today.

For weekly preparation, pair it with a more technical commentary if you need deeper engagement with language and background. Let this volume shape your theological framing and your sense of how the letters form a congregation. It is particularly helpful when you are preaching texts that can become contentious, because it encourages you to keep the pastoral aim of the passage, not merely the debate, in view.

Closing Recommendation

This volume offers a thoughtful theological reading of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus that is deeply concerned for the church. It will serve pastors who want to preach these letters with doctrinal weight and pastoral seriousness. It is not the most technical commentary available, but it is a valuable guide for reading the Pastoral Epistles as living Scripture that trains the church for faithful ministry in every generation.

1 and 2 Thessalonians

AdvancedPastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation
8.2
Author: C. Andrew Johnson
Bible Book: 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians
Series: Two Horizons New Testament Commentary
Type: Theological
Publisher: Eerdmans
Theological Perspective: Wesleyan / Arminian
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

This volume on 1 and 2 Thessalonians aims to read Paul letters as Scripture that forms the church in holiness, hope, and steadfast love. The exposition moves through each letter carefully, often highlighting how Paul pastoral tone and theological claims fit together. The author keeps a close eye on the flow of thought, so that sections about suffering, work, leadership, and the return of the Lord are read as parts of a single pastoral strategy rather than disconnected topics.

The commentary is shaped by theological interpretation. It does not ignore historical questions, but it is not driven by them. Instead, the author is concerned to show how these letters disclose the character of God, the shape of Christian identity, and the habits that mark a church living between the resurrection and the return of Christ. Eschatology is treated as practical theology, not as a playground for speculation. The return of the Lord is presented as a hope that steadies believers in suffering and calls them into sober, active faithfulness.

The volume is particularly attentive to holiness. The author repeatedly shows how Paul calls the Thessalonians to a life that fits the gospel, in sexual integrity, mutual love, and quiet diligence. That ethical emphasis is not moralistic. It is grounded in the work of God who calls, sanctifies, and keeps his people. The result is a commentary that can serve preachers well, especially those who want to handle eschatological passages with clarity and pastoral care.

Strengths

A major strength is the handling of eschatology. The author resists both alarm and vagueness. He reads the contested passages within the letters argument and pastoral context, and he keeps attention on what Paul is trying to produce in the church. The discussion helps pastors avoid turning sermons into timelines. Instead, the return of Christ is preached as a comfort for the afflicted, a warning to the complacent, and a summons to steady obedience.

The volume also excels in showing the pastoral texture of the letters. Paul affection, urgency, and authority are all highlighted, and the author often explains how those relational dynamics shape the meaning of the exhortations. That is very helpful for preaching because it helps you carry the tone of the text, not just the content. The Thessalonian letters are full of encouragement, but also full of firm correction. This commentary helps you hold those together without softening either.

Another strength is theological integration. Themes such as election, sanctification, perseverance, suffering, and communal responsibility are treated in connection with the text. The author frequently draws together the doctrinal and ethical strands, showing how God action grounds human obedience. For churches struggling with idleness, anxiety, or conflict, the commentary provides a clear route from exegesis to pastoral counsel.

Limitations

Readers looking for exhaustive engagement with every scholarly view may find the discussion more focused than comprehensive. The author often chooses a path and explains it, rather than surveying every alternative. That makes the commentary more usable for many pastors, but it may leave some academic readers wanting more interaction at points of debate.

The theological reflection sections can also feel uneven in direct sermon utility. At times they are immediately fruitful for preaching. At other times they function more as a framework that needs translation into simple language for the congregation. In addition, because the commentary is deliberately theological, those wanting extensive word by word grammatical analysis will still need another resource.

How We Would Use It

This is a strong companion for preaching through the Thessalonian letters. Use it early in preparation to map the flow of argument, especially around the return of the Lord, the call to holiness, and the pastoral handling of suffering. Then return to it to shape the theological framing of each sermon. It is particularly helpful for keeping application connected to the gospel logic of the letters, rather than drifting into generic moral advice.

Pair it with a more technical commentary if you need deeper work on Greek or on historical background. Let this volume guide your theological reading and your pastoral tone. It will also serve well in training settings where students need to see how eschatology and ethics belong together in faithful preaching.

Closing Recommendation

This is a thoughtful and pastorally aware theological commentary. It reads Thessalonians as letters meant to steady the church in hope and holiness. The work is strongest where it keeps eschatology close to the letters pastoral aims, and it offers real help for preaching difficult passages without sensationalism. For pastors and students who want theology and exposition joined together, it is a wise resource for these letters.

Colossians & Philemon

AdvancedPastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation
8.4
Author: Marianne Meye Thompson
Bible Book: Colossians Philemon
Series: Two Horizons New Testament Commentary
Type: Theological
Publisher: Eerdmans
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

This combined volume on Colossians and Philemon offers a steady, church minded reading that aims to bridge exegesis and theology. The author works through the text in a way that keeps the argument of each letter clear, while also drawing out doctrinal contours, pastoral intent, and ecclesial implications. Colossians is treated as a letter that magnifies Christ and reorders the life of the church under his lordship. Philemon is handled as a brief but potent display of the gospel reshaping relationships and social expectations.

The exposition is careful without becoming overloaded. Key terms and argument turns are explained, and the commentary frequently pauses to show how theology emerges from the text rather than being imposed upon it. The author is attentive to the letter central claims about Christ, creation, reconciliation, and the new humanity. That attention helps the reader avoid shallow slogans. Instead, Colossians becomes a letter that demands patient hearing and careful doctrinal thought.

The volume also has a pastoral realism. It recognises that Colossians addresses both doctrinal distortion and everyday discipleship. The author highlights how the confession of Christ supremacy shapes worship, ethics, and communal life. Philemon is treated not as a curiosity but as a concrete test case for gospel shaped love, forgiveness, and costly reconciliation. The result is a commentary that serves preaching and teaching well, especially for those who want doctrinal clarity that turns naturally toward lived obedience.

Strengths

The major strength is balance. The commentary is rigorous enough to help you with difficult paragraphs, yet it keeps returning to the pastoral aim of the letters. Colossians is read with a clear sense of its theological centre. The author brings out the cosmic scope of Christ work, and then shows how that cosmic gospel addresses local church problems, false teaching, and moral confusion. That is a helpful antidote to sermons that treat doctrine and practice as separate compartments.

The handling of the Christ hymn material in Colossians is especially strong. The author shows how the claims about Christ relate to creation, redemption, and the church, and how they guard believers from substituting spiritual experiences or moral programmes for union with Christ. That leads into practical, text based counsel on prayer, holiness, family life, and public witness. The practical sections are not generic, they are rooted in the logic of the letter.

Philemon is treated with careful moral judgement. The author avoids easy triumphalism and avoids cynicism. She shows how the gospel creates a new set of loyalties and affections that challenge established patterns. The letter is read as an invitation to costly love that honours Christ and seeks the good of others. For pastors, this provides a wise path for preaching a letter that touches sensitive questions about power, status, and reconciliation.

Limitations

Readers looking for extended technical discussion of every interpretive option will find the treatment selective. The author focuses on choices that matter for understanding the argument and theological direction. That makes the commentary more usable for many pastors, but it also means you may want a more technical resource for certain debated details, especially if you are teaching at an academic level.

Another limitation is that the theological reflection, though generally well integrated, can sometimes feel like it belongs to a classroom rather than the pulpit. The ideas are valuable, but the preacher will still need to translate them into simple sermon movements. Also, because this is a combined volume, those wanting a fuller length treatment of each letter may wish for more space in places.

How We Would Use It

Use this commentary to anchor sermon preparation in the theological centre of Colossians. Begin by mapping the argument of the letter, then use the exposition to clarify key claims, especially the identity and work of Christ. After that, let the theological reflection sections help you connect doctrine to ethics and church life. For Philemon, use the volume to think carefully about tone and application, so that your sermon is both courageous and wise.

It is also suitable for teaching settings, including church classes and training programmes. The prose is accessible for readers with some theological training, and the content consistently pushes toward church faithful interpretation. Pair it with a more technical commentary if your context demands deeper engagement with linguistic or historical issues.

Closing Recommendation

This is a strong and steady commentary that keeps Christ central and the church in view. It serves pastors who want to preach Colossians with doctrinal weight and practical integrity, and it offers a wise guide to Philemon that avoids simplistic conclusions. If you are building a set of resources that unite exegesis and theology, this volume is a worthwhile companion for faithful preaching and teaching.

Philippians

AdvancedAdvanced students / scholarsStrong recommendation
8.3
Author: Stephen E. Fowl
Bible Book: Philippians
Series: Two Horizons New Testament Commentary
Type: Theological
Publisher: Eerdmans
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

This Philippians commentary is compact, focused, and intentionally shaped by theological interpretation. The author reads the letter with a strong sense that Scripture forms the church, not merely informs it. The exposition works through Philippians in a way that keeps the argument of the letter in view, while also pausing to ask how Paul claims should be received, confessed, and lived by the people of God.

The style is distinct from many standard commentaries. You will not find long technical debates or extensive background sections. Instead, the author seeks to guide the reader into the theological logic of the letter. Philippians is treated as a pastoral letter that addresses a community under pressure, calling them into unity, humility, joy, and steadfastness in Christ. The commentary keeps returning to the way the gospel shapes habits, loyalties, and hopes.

Because the volume is shorter, it is selective. Yet the selectivity has a purpose. The author wants to highlight the doctrinal and ecclesial weight of key passages, especially the Christ hymn, the call to unity, and the pattern of suffering and glory that marks Christian life. The result is a commentary that works well for readers who want to think carefully about what Philippians is doing to the church, and how that should shape preaching and teaching.

Strengths

The strongest contribution is the way theology is integrated into the reading rather than added afterwards. Philippians is not flattened into general encouragement. The author keeps attention on the confession of Christ, the character of Christian community, and the moral formation that flows from the gospel. The Christ hymn is treated as more than a proof text, it is presented as a shaping vision of the self giving Lord that reorders ambition and pride. That is immensely useful for preaching because it helps you proclaim Christ as the ground of ethics, not merely the example for ethics.

The commentary also has a clear sense of the church as the intended audience. The author writes as if interpretation belongs within worship, discipleship, and communal life. That perspective encourages pastors to preach Philippians not only to comfort individuals, but to form a congregation in unity and humility. The reflections are often probing, especially on how Christians use power, pursue recognition, and respond to suffering. Philippians becomes a letter that confronts worldly patterns and calls for a cruciform community.

Another strength is restraint. The author does not try to say everything. He tends to focus on interpretive decisions that matter for the letter theological direction. That can be refreshing when so many resources overwhelm the preacher with options. Here you get a guided reading that aims to make you a better reader of Scripture and a clearer proclaimer of Christ.

Limitations

The same selectivity can frustrate some users. If you want detailed discussion of Greek syntax at every point, or full engagement with scholarly debates, you will need a more technical companion. The commentary often assumes that the reader can fill in some of the standard background material from elsewhere. It is not a one stop shop for every question a preacher might raise.

Because the author is strongly invested in theological interpretation, some sections can feel more conceptual than homiletical. The bridge to sermon structure is not always made explicit. You will still find plenty to preach, but it may require more work to translate the reflections into crisp sermon movements. In addition, readers who are new to this interpretive approach may find the method unfamiliar at first, and may need to read slowly to catch the logic of the argument.

How We Would Use It

This is an excellent second or third commentary for Philippians, especially for those who already have a more technical resource. Use it after you have sketched the passage meaning and structure. Then come here to test your instincts, deepen your theological framing, and consider how the text forms the church. It is particularly useful for sermons on unity, humility, joy, and the pattern of Christlike suffering.

It is also a good resource for elders and leaders who are teaching Philippians in small groups. The focus on communal formation and church practices helps group leaders move beyond vague encouragement into concrete discipleship. For pastors in training, it models a way of reading that refuses to separate doctrine from life.

Closing Recommendation

If you want Philippians to shape your church as well as inform your preaching, this volume is worth using. It is not the most detailed technical commentary, but it is often the kind of resource that prevents shallow sermons. It keeps Christ at the centre, presses the communal implications of the gospel, and invites readers to live as citizens of heaven. For thoughtful preachers and students, it can be a wise and strengthening companion.

Luke

AdvancedPastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation
8.3
Author: F. Scott Spencer
Bible Book: Luke
Series: Two Horizons New Testament Commentary
Type: Theological
Publisher: Eerdmans
Theological Perspective: Baptist
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

This Luke volume is expansive, energetic, and intentionally theological. The author reads Luke as a carefully crafted narrative that proclaims the salvation of God in Jesus, and that forms a community shaped by mercy, repentance, and Spirit empowered witness. The commentary moves section by section, offering interpretation that keeps one eye on the flow of the story and another on the doctrinal and pastoral questions that Luke presses upon the reader.

The approach is not merely to explain what Luke says, but to attend to how Luke says it. The narrative is treated as purposeful communication. Characters, dialogue, irony, repetition, and narrative tension are taken seriously as part of meaning. That literary attentiveness is then brought into conversation with theology. The commentary repeatedly asks what Luke teaches about God, the identity and mission of Jesus, the work of the Spirit, the shape of discipleship, and the nature of the people of God.

For preaching, the payoff is substantial. The author helps you see how familiar scenes sit within the wider narrative of promise and fulfilment. He also keeps returning to Luke concern for the poor, the marginalised, the outsider, and the sinner brought home. The tone is often exhortative, but not in a shallow way. It is grounded in the text. The book is large, yet its size reflects an ambition to give a full reading that can support serious teaching ministry.

Strengths

The chief strength is the fusion of narrative reading and theological reflection. Luke is handled as a coherent story that discloses the character of God and the saving work of Christ. The author is particularly good at showing how themes recur and develop, such as table fellowship, reversal, prayer, joy, and the Spirit. Those threads help preachers avoid fragmented sermons. Instead, you are encouraged to preach each passage as part of Luke larger proclamation of the gospel.

The commentary also has a strong pastoral instinct. Luke is not treated as a museum piece. The author presses the reader to reckon with what the text demands. He often explores how Luke challenges religious self assurance and calls for humble faith. Where the Gospel confronts complacency, the commentary does not soften it. Where Luke offers comfort, it lingers over the mercy of God. That balance serves a preacher who wants both edge and tenderness.

Another strength is the willingness to engage theological questions directly. Some commentaries keep theology implicit. Here, the author makes it explicit, while still grounding it in the passage. Topics such as salvation, Christology, the Spirit, and the nature of the kingdom are treated as live issues for the church. This makes the volume especially useful for pastors who want to strengthen doctrinal substance in their preaching without losing the narrative voice of Luke.

Limitations

The size and style bring some limitations. Not every preacher will want such a lengthy companion on Luke, and the commentary can feel more like a guided conversation than a concise reference tool. Those who prefer tight, technical notes may find that the discussion sometimes ranges. The literary focus can also mean that certain historical background questions receive less sustained treatment than they would in a more specialised commentary.

Another limitation is that the theological reflection occasionally moves more quickly from the text to contemporary concerns. The author usually keeps the tether, but the application minded instinct can sometimes feel stronger than the evidential base in a particular paragraph. This is not a frequent problem, and often it is a strength, but careful readers will want to check that the weight placed on a detail is truly carried by the text.

How We Would Use It

This is best used as a deep well for a Luke preaching series. Start by reading the larger unit discussion and the theological reflection before you draft sermons. Then return for specific passages to refine your structure, themes, and pastoral direction. Use it to keep Luke narrative coherence in view, and to guard against reducing the Gospel to moral lessons or sentimental stories.

For weekly preparation, pair it with a slimmer technical resource if you need quick answers on background or language. Let this volume shape your theological frame, your sense of narrative flow, and your pastoral tone. It is also excellent for training settings, where students need to learn how to move from textual observation to doctrinal clarity and church directed proclamation.

Closing Recommendation

If you are committed to preaching Luke with both narrative sensitivity and theological depth, this volume is a strong investment. It is large, but it gives you a great deal in return. The commentary helps you hear Luke as a Gospel of salvation and discipleship, and it encourages preaching that is both searching and consoling. It will reward patient reading, and it can serve as a long term companion for serious ministry in Luke.

Matthew

AdvancedPastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation
8.4
Author: Jeannine K. Brown Kyle A. Roberts
Bible Book: Matthew
Series: Two Horizons New Testament Commentary
Type: Theological
Publisher: Eerdmans
Theological Perspective: Baptist
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

This volume aims to do two things at once, and it largely succeeds. It offers a sustained reading of Matthew that takes the text seriously in its first century setting, while also insisting that Matthew belongs to the church as Scripture. The commentary is written with an eye on the whole Gospel, not just isolated passages. Argument, structure, repeated themes, and narrative shape are all kept in view. That larger attention helps the reader avoid wooden proof texting, and it also helps preachers see how particular paragraphs carry the weight of the whole.

The approach is deliberately theological. That does not mean it is thin on exegesis. The work moves carefully through the text, often clarifying grammar and logic, and it regularly notes how Matthew draws on the Old Testament. Yet the distinctive flavour lies in the way interpretation turns outward into theological reflection. The author asks how Matthew portrays God, how the kingdom is announced and embodied in Jesus, how discipleship is formed, and how the church is to live under the risen Lord. You end up with a commentary that does not simply explain, it also seeks to shape.

There is a seriousness about the Gospel as proclamation. Matthew is handled as a book written to persuade, to warn, to comfort, and to form a people. The reader is invited to hear the authoritative voice of Jesus in the narrative, and to see how Matthew presents fulfilment, conflict, and hope. The result is a volume that can serve pastors well, especially those who want their preaching to be both text rooted and richly theological.

Strengths

The strongest feature is the steady movement from close reading to theological synthesis. Many commentaries either stay in the weeds or rush too quickly to application. Here, careful attention to the details is used to build a coherent account of Matthew as a witness to Christ. Themes such as fulfilment, the identity of Jesus, the nature of the kingdom, and the formation of true righteousness are traced with patience. That thematic clarity is a gift for sermon preparation because it helps you preach the passage in its own voice, while also setting it in the Gospel whole.

Another strength is the instinct for context. Individual units are not treated as free standing. The author frequently draws attention to transitions, repeated motifs, and narrative pacing. That helps with famous texts that can be mishandled through familiarity. The commentary also engages the reader with theological questions that the text itself raises, such as the nature of authority, the shape of obedience, and the relationship between Israel, the nations, and the church. Those reflections are not tacked on, they are integrated with the reading.

The tone is measured and constructive. Where interpretive debates matter, they are signposted without turning the book into a battleground. The writing is accessible for advanced students and pastors who can handle substantial argument. It is not merely academic. There is a pastoral instinct to serve the church, and that comes through in the way the author keeps returning to what Matthew is doing to its readers, and what it ought to do to us.

Limitations

Theological emphasis can sometimes mean that certain historical questions are handled more briefly than some readers may want. If you are looking for extensive technical discussion of textual issues, or for long interaction with every scholarly option, this is not that kind of work. It is selective, and the selection is guided by a desire to press toward theological understanding. For many users that is a strength, but it does mean you may occasionally want a more technical companion for contested details.

The size of the volume also brings a practical limitation. It is a substantial book, and the density can slow quick consultation. It rewards steady reading rather than skimming. The structure encourages reflection, but a pastor under pressure may find that it requires time to digest. In addition, the theological reflection sections can vary in how directly they connect to preaching needs. At times they feel more like a seminar discussion than a sermon workshop.

How We Would Use It

This is a strong choice for sermon series planning. Read the introductory material and the larger section discussions early, then return to the relevant unit when you are preparing each sermon. Use it to keep the argument of Matthew in mind, and to guard against treating the Gospel as a collection of moral stories. The volume is also well suited for those training others to preach. It models a way of reading that honours the text, and then asks how that reading should shape doctrine and discipleship.

In weekly preparation, pair it with one more technical commentary if you need deeper work on language or background. Let this volume do the heavy lifting on theological synthesis and canonical placement. It is also excellent for small group leaders who want to move beyond surface level discussion and help people see how Matthew presents Jesus as the fulfilment of God promises and the Lord who commands obedience.

Closing Recommendation

If you want a Matthew commentary that reads the Gospel as Scripture for the church, this belongs on the shelf. It is thoughtful, substantial, and often illuminating. It will serve best when you give it time, but the investment pays dividends. The book helps you hear Matthew more clearly, and it pushes you to preach Christ with depth and coherence. Used alongside a more technical resource when needed, it can anchor a faithful and theologically rich preaching ministry in this Gospel.