Resource Type: Commentary

A volume offering verse-by-verse or section-by-section exposition of a biblical book, written to help pastors, teachers, and serious students understand the meaning of Scripture in its context.

Ephesians (8.5)

Mid-levelBusy pastorsTop choice
Author: Ian Hamilton
Bible Book: Ephesians
Series: Lectio Continua
Type: Expository
Publisher: Tolle Lege Press
Theological Perspective: Reformed
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

Ephesians lifts our eyes. It begins in eternity, blesses God for every spiritual blessing in Christ, and then presses that heavenly reality into the shape of the local church and the daily life of believers. Ian Hamilton writes as a Scottish Reformed pastor who wants doctrine to land as worship and obedience. We found his treatment of Ephesians particularly strengthening for preachers who want to keep the letter’s tone, high doxology, deep humility, and practical seriousness.

Hamilton helps us see that Paul is not giving abstract theology. He is forming a people. In Christ, God is gathering a new humanity, united, holy, and filled with the Spirit. That has consequences for preaching, for church culture, for marriage, parenting, and work, and for spiritual warfare. Hamilton keeps the movement from grace to obedience clear, so that the imperatives never eclipse the indicatives. The result is preaching help that encourages holiness without slipping into legalism.

We also appreciated the way Hamilton carries a pastoral weight through the text. Ephesians is full of identity, adoption, redemption, sealing, access, and strength. Those themes are not only for theologians. They are for weary saints. Hamilton keeps returning to the comfort of God’s purpose, and to the power of the Spirit, which makes this volume a helpful companion in real ministry seasons.

Strengths

First, Hamilton is strong at keeping Ephesians Christ centred without forcing it. The letter is already saturated with Christ, and Hamilton allows that saturation to shape the exposition. When Paul speaks of election, redemption, and inheritance, Hamilton keeps it doxological. When Paul speaks of union, he keeps it practical. When Paul speaks of the church, he keeps it anchored in Christ’s headship rather than in organisational technique.

Second, the commentary has a steady ecclesial instinct. Ephesians is a letter about the church, not merely about personal spirituality. Hamilton helps preachers emphasise unity, maturity, and love. He also helps pastors avoid turning unity into sentimentality. Unity is created by Christ, guarded by humility, and expressed through truth in love. That is exactly the kind of clarity needed in a church culture shaped by consumer preference.

Third, Hamilton’s treatment of Ephesians 4 to 6 is especially useful for preaching. He connects ethics to identity. He shows how holiness is the fruit of grace. He also handles spiritual warfare soberly, avoiding sensationalism while still taking the devil seriously. That helps pastors who need to preach the armour of God without turning it into superstition.

Limitations

The main limitation is that readers who want extensive interaction with scholarly debates, authorship discussions, or detailed grammar will need another resource. This is written for exposition and pastoral use. It focuses on meaning, structure, and application. Also, at points the commentary assumes a level of theological familiarity. That is not a major problem, but some readers may want to slow down and work through key doctrinal terms, especially in Ephesians 1 and 2.

How We Would Use It

We would use this volume when preaching through Ephesians, especially to keep the letter’s worshipful tone and its church shaping burden. It is also helpful for training leaders. If a ministry team needs a clearer understanding of what the church is, how unity works, and why doctrine matters, Ephesians is a crucial letter, and Hamilton offers a steady guide.

We would also draw on this commentary for pastoral care. Ephesians addresses shame, alienation, and fear by grounding believers in God’s purpose and love. Hamilton helps keep those comforts close to the text. We can take the letter’s promises into counselling without detaching them from the call to live as a new humanity in Christ.

Closing Recommendation

This is a warm, clear, and church serving commentary on Ephesians. It will strengthen preaching that aims to lift eyes to Christ, deepen love for the church, and call believers to Spirit empowered holiness. We commend it especially for busy pastors who want a guide that reads like a pastor, yet thinks like a theologian.

Galatians (8.5)

Mid-levelBusy pastorsTop choice
Author: John V. Fesko
Bible Book: Galatians
Series: Lectio Continua
Type: Expository
Publisher: Tolle Lege Press
Theological Perspective: Reformed
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

Galatians is a short letter with sharp edges. Paul defends the gospel of grace with urgency because souls are at stake. John V. Fesko approaches Galatians as a pastor theologian who wants preachers to feel both the clarity and the tenderness of Paul’s burden. The letter is not simply a doctrinal treatise about justification. It is a rescue mission. It calls the church back from slavery to the freedom of Christ, and it shows how true freedom produces holiness rather than license.

Fesko is particularly helpful in showing how Paul’s argument works. The letter moves from Paul’s divine commission, to the danger of another gospel, to the meaning of justification by faith, to the role of the law in redemptive history, and then to life in the Spirit. That movement matters. Many errors arise from breaking the letter apart. Fesko repeatedly encourages us to preach the flow, so that justification is not detached from union with Christ, and so that sanctification is not confused with self made righteousness.

We found this commentary well suited to the weekly demands of ministry. It is compact, clear, and purposeful. It does not pretend that Galatians is simple, but it does help pastors speak plainly. In an age where many are tempted to treat the gospel as a starting point rather than the ongoing ground of the Christian life, Galatians must be preached, and this is a dependable guide for doing so with conviction and care.

Strengths

First, the commentary is strong on the gospel logic of justification. Fesko explains that justification is God’s verdict on the basis of Christ alone, received by faith alone. He does not present this as a party badge. He presents it as life and freedom. That supports preaching that comforts the guilty and humbles the proud. It also helps pastoral care where people are crushed by performance, whether religious performance or moral performance.

Second, Fesko handles the law and the promise with a clear Reformed instinct. Galatians is often misread as if the law is simply bad and grace is simply good. Paul’s argument is more careful. The law has a purpose, and it serves the promise. Yet it cannot give life. Fesko helps us preach that balance, so that we avoid both legalism and antinomianism. We also found his explanation of covenant themes to be steady and useful, especially when preaching to congregations that need clarity about the Old Testament’s place in Christian life.

Third, the commentary is pastorally alert to the tone of Galatians. Paul is severe, but his severity is love. Fesko helps us feel that. That matters in preaching. We need to warn, but we need to warn as those who know the sweetness of Christ and the tragedy of gospel drift. This volume helps us keep that tone.

Limitations

The primary limitation is the brevity. At times you may want more extended discussion of interpretive debates, particularly around the phrase “works of the law,” the identity of the opponents, and the structure of Paul’s argument in chapters 3 and 4. This book gives enough to preach faithfully, but it will not satisfy those looking for a full academic survey. Also, because the prose is purposeful and compact, some readers may wish for more illustrative development. We see this as a preaching companion, not as a homiletics handbook.

How We Would Use It

We would use this volume for preaching preparation and for training. It is excellent for helping a new preacher keep justification central without turning the sermon into a theology lecture. It also supports pastoral application, particularly around assurance, repentance, and growth in holiness. When Paul calls the Galatians back to freedom, he is calling them back to Christ, and then to life by the Spirit. Fesko helps us keep those connections clear.

We would also use it to prepare for pastoral conversations about legalism and spiritual exhaustion. Galatians names a temptation that is always near, adding something to Christ. This commentary helps us expose that temptation gently, and then to press Christ’s sufficiency with confidence.

Closing Recommendation

This is a clear, theologically steady, and pastorally useful commentary on Galatians. It will serve churches that need to recover gospel freedom and gospel obedience together. We commend it for pastors who want a reliable guide that keeps the argument visible and keeps Christ central.

1 Corinthians (8.4)

Mid-levelBusy pastorsStrong recommendation
Author: Kim Riddlebarger
Bible Book: 1 Corinthians
Series: Lectio Continua
Type: Expository
Publisher: Tolle Lege Press
Theological Perspective: Reformed
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

1 Corinthians is a letter to a messy church, and that means it is a letter to churches like ours. It deals with divisions, sexual immorality, litigation, idolatry, public worship, spiritual gifts, the resurrection, and more. Kim Riddlebarger approaches this letter with the steady realism of a pastor who knows that Christian doctrine must meet Christian disorder. We found his approach particularly helpful where he refuses to reduce Paul to a set of rules. He keeps the gospel at the centre, showing that Paul’s correction is designed to rebuild a church around Christ crucified.

Because this is an expository commentary, the aim is not to impress with novelty, but to provide reliable guidance that serves preaching and teaching. Riddlebarger is clear about context, and he often reminds us why Paul says what he says. Corinth was shaped by status, speech, power, and self expression. Paul confronts those values with the foolishness of the cross and the wisdom of the Spirit. When we remember that, Paul’s hard words become deeply pastoral. They are not the anger of a wounded leader. They are the love of Christ guarding His people from ruin.

This volume is at its best when it helps pastors preach the letter as a united call to holiness and unity under the lordship of Christ. It encourages application that is firm, but not harsh. It also reminds us that a church can have many gifts, and still be spiritually immature. That is a searching reminder for our age of platform, personality, and quick influence.

Strengths

First, Riddlebarger is strong at keeping chapters connected to the letter’s larger burden. In 1 Corinthians, it is easy to preach isolated topics, marriage, gifts, tongues, the Lord’s Supper, and to lose the controlling theme of Christ and the cross. He repeatedly brings us back to Paul’s opening, “Christ did not send me to baptise but to preach the gospel,” and the centrality of Christ crucified as the wisdom and power of God. That helps preaching stay centred on redemption rather than moral repair.

Second, the commentary handles doctrinal foundations and practical issues together. When Paul addresses sexual sin, he does not merely demand restraint. He grounds holiness in union with Christ and the indwelling Spirit. When he addresses worship disorder, he grounds it in love, edification, and the God who is not a God of confusion. Riddlebarger helps the preacher hold those connections, so that application is not detached from theology. That matters deeply for lasting change.

Third, he writes with pastoral courage. Some sections, particularly those touching sexuality, gender, and church discipline, demand clarity and compassion. Riddlebarger avoids the softness that fears man, and he avoids the combative tone that forgets we are dealing with sheep. He gives pastors language for firm exhortation that still aims at restoration.

Limitations

The main limitation is that certain disputed passages can feel a bit quick, particularly where readers want deeper interaction with alternative interpretations. That is partly the nature of the series. If you are preaching through chapters 11 to 14 and need a fuller map of the debate, you may want to consult a more technical commentary alongside this one. A second limitation is that some readers may wish for more extended illustration and homiletical shaping. The help is there, but it remains closer to explanation than to sermon craft.

How We Would Use It

We would use this volume for sermon preparation, especially to keep the letter’s message unified across a long preaching series. It is also well suited for elders reading through 1 Corinthians together, because it helps connect doctrine to practical church life. If your church is experiencing division, confusion about worship, or a need for clearer holiness, this commentary will help you keep correction gospel shaped and Christ centred.

We would also use it to guard our own hearts. 1 Corinthians exposes pride in knowledge, competitiveness, impatience with weakness, and fascination with impressive gifts. Pastors are not immune. Riddlebarger’s steady tone helps us let the letter address us before we aim it at others.

Closing Recommendation

This is a solid, pastor friendly guide to a letter that speaks directly to modern church pressures. It is clear, faithful, and steady. We commend it to those who want to preach 1 Corinthians with conviction and tenderness, holding the cross at the centre while calling the church to unity, holiness, and love.

Romans (8.5)

Mid-levelBusy pastorsTop choice
Author: John V. Fesko
Bible Book: Romans
Series: Lectio Continua
Type: Expository
Publisher: Tolle Lege Press
Theological Perspective: Reformed
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

Romans is not a book we can afford to handle casually. It is doctrinally dense, pastorally tender, and relentlessly God centred. John V. Fesko writes with that reality in view. This volume aims to help preachers keep the argument of Romans visible while also serving the church’s need for clear gospel proclamation. We found it strongest when it refuses to treat Romans as a slogan factory. Instead, it asks us to follow Paul’s reasoning, paragraph by paragraph, and then to let that reasoning shape the tone of our preaching.

Fesko reads Romans as a coherent letter that moves from the revelation of God’s righteousness to the life of faith, union with Christ, the work of the Spirit, God’s sovereign mercy, and the practical obedience that flows from worship. He is alert to the way Paul presses both humility and confidence. We are humbled because salvation is of the Lord. We are confident because the Lord has acted decisively in Christ, and His promises do not wobble under pressure.

Because this is a pastoral commentary in an expository series, it rarely gets lost in technical argument for its own sake. Where interpretive decisions matter, Fesko explains them with enough clarity to support preaching, and then he moves on. That is a gift to busy pastors. We still need deeper technical tools at times, but we are not left without help in handling the difficult turns, especially where Romans is frequently misused in controversy or flattened into abstract theology.

Strengths

First, the commentary is strong in doctrinal clarity without drifting into coldness. Romans can tempt us into detached analysis. Fesko repeatedly brings the letter back to worship, assurance, and the new obedience of faith. That supports a Reformed approach that is both confessional and warmly evangelical. We are not only learning categories. We are being called to trust Christ, to walk by the Spirit, and to live as a people whose hope is grounded in God’s saving purpose.

Second, Fesko is careful with the big Reformed themes that Romans carries, justification, union with Christ, sanctification, and election. He does not handle those themes as weapons. He treats them as pastoral realities meant to produce humility, gratitude, and perseverance. In Romans 8, for example, the comfort of adoption, the intercession of the Spirit, and the certainty of God’s love are not presented as mere proofs. They are presented as the living support of weary saints, including weary pastors.

Third, this volume helps with preaching the flow. Romans is full of famous verses, but famous verses can become isolated. Fesko helps us see how the famous lines sit inside a wider argument. That strengthens exposition. It also protects application from becoming moralistic or therapeutic. When the gospel is kept central, the call to obedience in Romans 12 to 15 sounds like gratitude, not self rescue.

Limitations

The primary limitation is that some sections will still leave advanced students wanting more engagement with scholarly debate. That is not a flaw in the aim of the series, but it does mean this cannot be the only companion on Romans if you are doing extended teaching, or if your congregation is pressing hard questions about disputed texts. A second limitation is that the pace can feel brisk in certain doctrinally weighty passages. You may want to slow down and supplement with a more detailed commentary when preparing for preaching through Romans 9 to 11, not because Fesko is careless, but because those chapters demand careful thought and careful pastoral tone.

How We Would Use It

We would use this as a steady, week by week preaching companion. Read the passage repeatedly, outline Paul’s argument, and then consult Fesko to check the flow, clarify key theological moves, and gather preaching angles that remain faithful to the text. This is also a helpful tool for elders and ministry trainees. The prose is accessible enough to shape how leaders talk about justification, sanctification, assurance, and God’s sovereign mercy without falling into clichés.

We also appreciate this volume for counselling shaped by Romans. When someone is crushed by guilt, Romans does not simply say, “Try harder.” It says, “Look to Christ, He justifies the ungodly.” When someone is terrified by suffering, Romans does not promise easy days. It promises that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. Fesko helps keep those pastoral uses close to the letter’s meaning.

Closing Recommendation

This is a sound, church serving commentary on Romans that will reward careful, prayerful use. It keeps the argument visible, holds doctrine and devotion together, and helps us preach Christ with confidence. We commend it especially for pastors who want a reliable Reformed guide that still feels like it belongs in the pulpit, not only in the classroom.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary (8.2)

Mid-levelBusy pastorsStrong recommendation
Author: John MacArthur
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

This is a single volume commentary that aims to give clear, verse by verse explanation across the whole Bible. It is designed for speed and breadth rather than specialised detail. For many pastors, that kind of tool fills a real gap. We often need a quick and confident sense of the flow of a passage, the main interpretive decisions, and the kind of application that stays close to the text. This volume tries to meet that need with steady, expository instincts.

Because it covers the entire canon in one book, the writing necessarily focuses on the main line of meaning. You are not getting extended engagement with scholarly debates or long textual notes. Instead, you receive a straightforward reading that presses toward clarity, conviction, and practical usefulness. That makes it well suited to the weekly rhythms of ministry, especially when time is tight and we need a reliable companion to our own careful reading.

Strengths

First, the structure is convenient. When preparing sermons, Bible studies, or family worship outlines, it is helpful to have one volume that can be reached quickly. The layout encourages you to keep moving through the passage. That can protect us from the trap of studying a text as disconnected fragments. It supports the kind of preaching that follows the argument and honours the authorial intent.

Second, the tone is confident in the authority of Scripture. That matters. We are not left with tentative suggestions that constantly weaken our certainty about what the text says. Even when we may disagree with particular interpretive calls, we can appreciate the aim to let Scripture speak with force. For pastors who are training younger leaders, this can model a way of reading that expects the Bible to be coherent and meaningful.

Third, the commentary tends to move naturally toward application. Not application that floats free from the text, but application that arises from what is being said. In pastoral ministry, that is often the bridge we need. We can feel the pressure to be relevant, and we can end up chasing contemporary questions first. A resource that helps us keep the text first, and then asks what obedience looks like, can be genuinely strengthening.

Limitations

The obvious limitation is depth. A single volume cannot do what multi volume technical sets do. When we are preaching through a particularly complex section, or when we are dealing with disputed passages where careful detail matters, we will likely need a more specialised commentary alongside this one. This is not a weakness in itself, but it does set expectations. It is a broad tool, not a surgical instrument.

Another limitation is that the interpretive decisions are presented with confidence, sometimes without much space given to alternative readings. That can be helpful for clarity, but it may not always serve teaching contexts where we want to show why a view is persuasive. In those settings, this volume works best as a starting point, followed by deeper consultation where needed.

How We Would Use It

We would treat this commentary as a fast, first pass companion. Before opening it, we would still do the hard work of reading the passage repeatedly, tracing the argument, and noting key words and connections. Then we would use this volume to check our understanding, to see if we have missed an obvious contextual link, and to spark lines of faithful application.

In discipleship and small group contexts, we could also use it to prepare leaders who need help getting the main meaning of a passage without drowning in technical detail. It can support the kind of group Bible handling where the leader is not trying to impress, but trying to serve.

Closing Recommendation

This is a substantial and practical whole Bible commentary designed to aid regular ministry use. It will not replace deeper resources, but it can serve as a useful working tool for weekly preparation and for training others to read the text with clarity and conviction.

The Prophecy Of Isaiah (8.7)

AdvancedBusy pastorsTop choice
Author: J. Alec Motyer
Bible Book: Isaiah
Publisher: IVP
Theological Perspective: Reformed
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

Motyer provides a substantial and reverent exposition of Isaiah. His work combines careful structural analysis with deep theological reflection. We are helped to see the unity of the book and its clear witness to the coming Servant.

He handles difficult passages with restraint and exegetical care. The commentary serves long term preaching confidence and doctrinal clarity.

This is especially valuable when preaching through major Servant passages or wrestling with structural questions in Isaiah.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

Its chief strength is theological depth rooted in careful exegesis. Motyer does not flatten the text but allows its poetry and prophecy to speak.

A limitation is that it requires sustained engagement. It is not brief. Yet the reward justifies the effort.

In sermon preparation we would use this as a primary exposition. For highly technical language questions we may supplement with a more specialised academic commentary.

For many pastors this volume is sufficient on its own for faithful preaching.

Closing Recommendation

This is a mature and pastorally useful commentary that continues to shape preaching on Isaiah. We commend it as a serious working resource.

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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Revelation, ESV Expository Commentary (8.3)

Mid-levelBusy pastorsStrong recommendation
Author: Thomas R. Schreiner
Bible Book: Revelation
Series: ESV Expository Commentary
Type: Expository (Mid-Level)
Publisher: Crossway
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

In Revelation, ESV Expository Commentary, Thomas R. Schreiner helps us preach with confidence that Christ reigns, and that the Lamb will keep his church through tribulation to final victory. Volume 12.

We are helped to follow the book’s big movements, and to keep its pastoral purpose in view as we handle vivid imagery.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we are teaching Revelation to ordinary believers who need clarity, courage, and hope. It supports us in staying close to the text, rather than chasing speculation.

We are helped to connect visions to worship, endurance, and faithful witness, so the book strengthens the church rather than distracting it.

It also aids sermon planning, because it keeps returning to structure, recurring themes, and the message for the congregation.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend Revelation, ESV Expository Commentary for pastors and teachers who want a steady mid level guide that helps the church see the glory of Christ and endure with hope.

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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Jude, ESV Expository Commentary (8.2)

Mid-levelBusy pastorsStrong recommendation
Author: Matthew S. Harmon
Bible Book: Jude
Series: ESV Expository Commentary
Type: Expository (Mid-Level)
Publisher: Crossway
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

In Jude, ESV Expository Commentary, Matthew S. Harmon helps us preach a fierce little letter with reverence and restraint, as Jude urges us to contend for the faith while keeping ourselves in the love of God. Volume 12.

We are guided through the letter’s warnings, its use of examples, and its pastoral goal of keeping the church steady.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we need help preaching about false teaching without becoming quarrelsome. It helps us keep both urgency and humility in view.

We are supported in showing how the call to contend includes prayer, perseverance, and mercy toward those who are wavering.

It is also valuable for training, because it models careful handling of strong language with pastoral wisdom.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend Jude, ESV Expository Commentary for pastors and teachers who want a clear mid level guide for faithful preaching in a contested age.

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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3 John, ESV Expository Commentary (8.1)

Mid-levelBusy pastorsStrong recommendation
Author: Ray Van Neste
Bible Book: 3 John
Series: ESV Expository Commentary
Type: Expository (Mid-Level)
Publisher: Crossway
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

In 3 John, ESV Expository Commentary, Ray Van Neste helps us preach a letter about ordinary faithfulness, showing how gospel truth shapes friendship, leadership, and support for mission. Volume 12.

We are helped to read the personal names and situations as pastoral instruction for the church.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we want help applying Scripture to the texture of church life, where encouragement and correction are both needed.

It supports us in handling difficult leadership themes with sobriety, and in commending quiet faithfulness that the Lord sees.

It also helps us preach about partnership in the work of the gospel, without turning the text into a fundraising talk.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend 3 John, ESV Expository Commentary for pastors and teachers who want a practical, text driven aid for preaching and discipleship.

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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2 John, ESV Expository Commentary (8.1)

Mid-levelBusy pastorsStrong recommendation
Author: Ray Van Neste
Bible Book: 2 John
Series: ESV Expository Commentary
Type: Expository (Mid-Level)
Publisher: Crossway
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

In 2 John, ESV Expository Commentary, Ray Van Neste helps us preach a short letter with long reach, calling the church to walk in truth, and to guard love from deception. Volume 12.

We are shown how the letter holds together, and why its warnings still matter in ordinary church life.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we need help preaching briefly, clearly, and with proper weight. It supports us in drawing faithful lines from the text to the life of the congregation.

We are helped to speak about discernment without harshness, and hospitality without naivety, keeping the gospel central.

It also serves as a model for handling small passages with the same care we would give a longer book.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend 2 John, ESV Expository Commentary for pastors and teachers who want clear guidance for preaching truth and love together.

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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