With so many Bible commentary series available today, many people wonder which ones are best. The variety exists because readers have different purposes for using them — some are designed for pastors and preachers, others for scholars and professors, and still others for laypeople. Some series even aim to serve all audiences at once.
Can Bible Commentary Series Be Ranked?
Commentary series serve different purposes. Some are designed for pastors and preachers, others for scholars, students, or devotional readers. Because of those differences, a simple 1–50 ranking can be misleading.
Instead, I’ve organized 50 series into five tiers based on aggregate reviews, usefulness, theological and exegetical quality, and recommendations from pastors, professors, and readers. Each tier is arranged alphabetically rather than in strict ranking order.
Is the tiered approach perfect? No! Each reader should use the information below as a starting point, not take it as the final word on the topic. A tiered approach reduces subjectivity, but it doesn’t eliminate it.
| Series Title | Quick Picks |
|---|---|
| NICOT/ NICNT  | Best commentary series for pastors One of the most consistently praised mid-level commentary series, and a trusted choice for pastors who want serious exegesis without highly technical detail. View this series on Amazon |
BST | Best commentary series for beginners The series offers clear, accessible exposition that works well for devotional reading and as an introductory resource for pastors preparing to preach. View this series on Amazon |
NIGTC | Best technical commentary series A technical series focused on the Greek text, with detailed exegesis, respected contributors, and generally conservative theological conclusions. View this series on Amazon |
| TOTC/ TNTC  | Best affordable commentary series Tyndale commentaries are accessible, affordable, and theologically sound, with enough depth to serve pastors, Bible study leaders, and serious readers. View this series on Amazon |
REC  | Best Reformed commentary series REC offers clear, distinctly Reformed exposition with strong preaching insight, making it especially useful for pastors and serious lay readers. View this commentary series on Amazon |
Also, see the Best One-Volume Whole Bible Commentaries for more.
Tier One: Book Series #1-10
The first-tier commentary series feature multiple well-reviewed volumes, widely regarded as among the best for their respective biblical books. These series are consistently helpful and theologically sound.
| Series Title | Why Tier One? |
|---|---|
BECNT | The Baker Exegetical Commentaries on the New Testament series has well-reviewed volumes by evangelical authors who explain the Greek text in helpful ways to pastors and professors. View series on Amazon |
EBC | The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Revised series contains mid-level commentaries covering the entire Bible with several highly praised volumes. The 2007 revision drew more attention to this classic set. View series on Amazon |
NAC | The New American Commentary series employs authors from the Baptist tradition. Many mid-level volumes are well reviewed by Baptists and non-Baptists. View series on Amazon |
| NICOT/ NICNT | The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament series may be the most praised mid-level series based on aggregate reviews. It’s been a go-to series for pastors for decades. View series on Amazon |
| NIGTC | The New International Greek Testament Commentary series is technical and moderately critical. Authors generally support orthodox theological conclusions. Pastors seeking technical insight like this series. View series on Amazon |
NIVAC | The NIV Application Commentary series is likely the most popular today because it explains and applies Scripture. Volumes are mid-level, affordable, well-reviewed, and a staple for pastors. View series on Amazon |
PNTC | The Pillar New Testament Commentary series contains many acclaimed volumes praised for their mid-level exegesis and theology. It’s incomplete but has built a well-deserved reputation over the last 40 years. View series on Amazon |
| TOTC/ TNTC | Tyndale Old and New Testament commentaries are mid-level, accessible, affordable, and theologically sound. Most volumes are helpful to readers with a range of purposes, from preachers to Bible study leaders. View series on Amazon |
WBC | There is no debating the greatness of specific volumes of the Word Biblical Commentary. However, using a variety of authors means approaches to the Bible vary widely from one volume to another. Mid-level. View series on Amazon |
| ZECOT/ ZECNT  | Commentaries in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old and New Testament series have the most helpful layout of any series. Authors are conservative. The target is pastors. Mid-level. View series on Amazon |
Also, see the Best Commentary on Each Book of the Bible for more.
Tier Two: Book Series #11-20
The tier-two commentary series vary. Some have been around for years but include fewer well-reviewed volumes, while others are newer with well-received volumes but a smaller overall body of work.
| Series Title | Why Tier Two? |
|---|---|
| Anchor Yale Commentaries  | Authors in this series employ various critical approaches to the text. Certain volumes are well-reviewed for the biblical book they cover. View series on Amazon |
| Baker Commentaries on the OT: Wisdom and Psalms  | The BCOTWP series is helpful to pastors and professors. Users praise volumes for their exegesis, theology, and literary insight. If the series covers more books with the same quality, it may be top-tier. View series on Amazon |
| Bible Speaks Today | John Stott’s volumes elevate this series. Volumes are well reviewed by lay readers as devotional aids and are helpful to pastors as introductory resources for preaching. View series on Amazon |
| Hermeneia Commentaries  | Hermeneia commentaries contain technical analysis for those seeking insight into the original languages. Authors take a variety of critical approaches to the text. Volumes are expensive. View series on Amazon |
| Interpretation Commentaries  | Interpretation commentaries are mid-level, theologically focused, affordable, pastor-friendly, and mildly critical. They aim to help preachers and teachers. View series on Amazon |
| IVP New Testament Commentaries  | The IVPNTC series is mid-level and designed for pastors. It’s evangelical. The paperbacks are relatively affordable. Like the NIVAC, it includes application help. View series on Amazon |
| J. Vernon McGee Commentaries  | These commentaries have little depth compared to others on this list. They have lots of illustrations. McGee’s radio ministry helped raise awareness of these introductory volumes. View series on Amazon |
| Old/New Testament Library Commentaries  | OLT and NLT volumes contain some exegesis. They focus on the literature and theology of biblical books. Some NT volumes are well-reviewed. Some OT contributions boost the series as a whole. View series on Amazon |
| Reformed Expository Commentaries | REC volumes record some of the best Reformed preaching today. Easy-to-understand theology makes the biblical text clear and relevant to pastors and lay readers. View series on Amazon |
| Zondervan Illustrated Bible Commentaries  | No other series offers readers the quality and quantity of pictures, charts, maps, and other illustrations these volumes do. View series on Amazon |
Also, see the Best Revelation commentaries to learn more.
Tier Three: Book Series #21-30
Most tier-three series are intentionally narrow in focus, limiting their audience and readership compared to broader, more widely appealing series.
| Series Title | Why Tier Three? |
|---|---|
| Ancient Christian Commentaries  | This series preserves, simplifies, and organizes biblical commentary from early church fathers so that modern readers can benefit from their faith, insight, and explanations. View series on Amazon |
| Apollos Old Testament Commentaries  | The volumes released so far in the AOTC series are high-quality, mid-level, and mildly critical. They are mid-level. View series on Amazon |
| Evangelical Exegetical Commentaries  | The EEC series is relatively new and may rise to a higher tier over time. Volumes contain refined exegesis with theological insight. View series on Amazon |
| Focus on the Bible  | The FOB is an introductory series. Many volumes offer devotional reflections from a moderately Reformed view. The series is helpful to laypeople and pastors. The authors include application help. View series on Amazon |
| God’s Word For You  | The GWFY series benefits from the contributions of pastor Tim Keller. Yet, other authors contribute helpful introductory volumes. View series on Amazon |
| John MacArthur Commentaries  | Most sections of this series read like sermons. He is controversial to some, so tier three seems fitting, but those devoted to his teaching will surely place it higher. View series on Amazon |
| Mentor Commentaries  | Mentor commentaries are pastor-friendly and mid-level. They utilize Reformed authors. The series may climb to a higher tier if the quality of future volumes remains high. View series on Amazon |
| Preaching the Word  | This series requires authors to have preached expository sermons through the biblical book they are commenting on. Some volumes are large, but they are still reasonably priced. View series on Amazon |
| Socio- Rhetorical Commentaries  | The SRBC is the product of Arminian scholar Ben Witherington. The socio-rhetorical approach is brilliantly executed for books such as Acts. The narrow focus limits the series. View series on Amazon |
| Understanding the Bible Commentaries  | Formerly known as the New International Biblical Commentary series, the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series contains some well-reviewed volumes. Others miss the mark. View series on Amazon |
Also, see Best Romans commentaries to learn more.
Tier Four: Book Series #31-40
Some tier-four series are solid but young and may rise in ranking as they gain more readers and reviews. Others have dedicated audiences, but their readership remains relatively small.
| Series Title | Why Tier Four? |
|---|---|
| Christ- Centered Expository Commentaries  | The Christ-Centered Expositional Commentary series is great for Bible studies. Volumes lack sufficient depth for some pastors. The series’ approach is helpful with Old Testament volumes. View series on Amazon |
| Concordia Commentaries  | Concordia volumes are of excellent quality, and the commentary in each volume is thorough. It’s a product of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The authors are evangelical and affirm inerrancy. View series on Amazon |
| For Everyone  | The For Everyone series is introductory. The paperbacks are very affordable. They explain the basics well. The lack of depth may prevent widespread use by pastors. OT volumes can be mildly critical. View series on Amazon |
| International Critical Commentaries  | The abridged paperback editions of this series have made its volumes affordable to more people than when these technical commentaries were only available in hardbacks that often exceeded $120 new. View series on Amazon |
| JPS Torah Commentaries  | This series covers the first five books of the Bible. Volumes are mildly critical. They will be maximized by those who know Hebrew. Volumes read from right to left. View series on Amazon |
| Keil- Delitzsch Commentaries  | Keil-Delitzsch is an enduring Old Testament series whose conservative commentary comes from the Hebrew text. It is still helpful to pastors and affordable, with used sets often found for under $100 on secondary markets. View series on Amazon |
| Living Insights (Swindoll)  | These New Testament volumes are a favorite for those who love the teaching of pastor Charles Swindoll. They are introductory and may benefit lay people more than other audiences. View series on Amazon |
| New Cambridge Bible Commentaries  | The NCBC series is mid-level and has a chance to climb to a higher tier as more volumes are released. Some volumes are very well reviewed. Authors are diverse and include Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant scholars. View series on Amazon |
| New Interpreter’s Bible Commentaries  | The NIBC series covers all 66 books of the Bible. Its friendly layout makes it easy to wade through the mid-level, sometimes mildly critical, explanations of the biblical text. The publisher and author are Arminian. View series on Amazon |
| Story of God Bible Commentaries  | The SGBC series focuses on the “grand story” of the Bible and how individual books fit into it. Time will tell whether readers find this approach helpful. View series on Amazon |
Also, see Best John commentaries to learn more.
Tier Five: Book Series #41-50
Tier-five series are certainly worth considering, but for various reasons, they have a limited readership today.
| Series Title | Why Tier Five? |
|---|---|
| Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation  | The BTCP series is now the Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary (EBTC). If it continues to produce quality volumes, it could rise higher as a valuable resource for pastors. View series on Amazon |
| Black’s New Testament Commentaries  | Many volumes in the BNTC series are now dated, but some have endured. Its audience leans more toward scholars than pastors. The series’ approach is mildly critical. View series on Amazon |
| Boice Expositional Commentaries  | BEC volumes read like sermons. They come from the ministry of Reformed pastor James Montgomery Boice. These slim paperbacks can be used as devotional aids. View series on Amazon |
| Brazos Theological Commentaries  | The Brazos series uses systematic theologians to write commentaries. Reviews have been mixed for these paperbacks that cost the same as many hardback commentaries. View series on Amazon |
| Continental Commentaries  | Continental Commentaries offer advanced, refined exegesis via English translations of German volumes. They may not prove to be practical for many readers other than scholars. View series on Amazon |
| Crossway Classics Commentaries  | This series consists of abridged commentaries from Reformed writers from previous centuries. The publisher chose to use the NIV in these volumes, resulting in mixed reviews. View series on Amazon |
| Gospel According to the Old Testament Commentaries  | This series consists of thin, affordable paperbacks that offer readers Christ-centered insight into Old Testament books with devotional and theological applications. View series on Amazon |
| Holman Old/New Commentaries  | The Holman series is introductory. These hardbacks help pastors with overviews and sermon layouts. They lack exegetical, theological, and historical depth. View series on Amazon |
| International Theological Commentaries  | The ITC series values theological diversity among authors, resulting in inconsistent conclusions. These mildly critical paperbacks don’t have a broad audience. A few volumes have positive reviews. View series on Amazon |
| Kregel Exegetical Commentaries  | The KEC series consists of mid-level hardbacks. It could rise to higher tiers if the quality of new releases is high. The first volumes offer theological insight into the text. View series on Amazon |
| Teach the Text  | Some volumes in the series have received good reviews, but limiting the space for authors on passages proved challenging. The series is now discontinued. View series on Amazon |
| Two Horizons Commentaries  | The TH series, whose volumes blend biblical and theological studies, has produced some helpful volumes. It’s now discontinued. View series on Amazon |
Also, see Best Matthew commentaries to learn more.
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