If you have been searching the universe for a gigantic digital table that is subdivided into small boxes, which are filled with fun and informative Bible commentary goodness, then your search is over!
The comparison chart below is a quick-reference guide to 75 different Bible commentary series. There are many different commentary series because there are many different purposes and uses for Bible commentaries.
Before buying a commentary, readers want to know information such as what English translation a commentary uses, what the theological convictions of the author are, and what makes a particular volume in a series unique. This chart helps answer those questions.
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Commentary Series | Translation/ Theology | Target Audience | Notes | Browse volumes |
---|---|---|---|---|
21st Century Commentaries![]() | NASB; evangelical | laypeople/ pastors | all authors are premillennial, pre-tribulation | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Abingdon Commentaries![]() | NRSV; United Methodist | laypeople/ pastors | Methodist perspective | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Anchor Yale Commentaries![]() | author’s own; inter-faith, Protestant, Catholic, Jewish / critical | pastors/ professors | unique translations; up-to-date discussions on philology | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture ![]() | RSV; orthodox | anyone | select comments from early-church fathers | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Apollos Old Testament Commentary ![]() | author’s own; broadly evangelical | pastors/ professors | pastor-friendly; up-to-date discussions on textual criticism | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Baker Commentary on the OT Wisdom and Psalms ![]() | author’s own; broadly evangelical | pastors/ professors | pastor-friendly, accessible, in-depth, on OT Wisdom Literature | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the NT ![]() | author’s own; broadly evangelical | pastors/ professors | accessible, pastor-friendly Greek exegesis | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
The Bible Speaks Today ![]() | NIV; broadly evangelical | laypeople/ pastors | combines sermon exposition with text commentary | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation ![]() | HCSB; Baptist | pastors/ professors | focus includes themes, not technical matters | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Black’s New Testament Commentaries![]() | author’s own; mostly critical | pastors/ professors | paragraph-by- paragraph exposition | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Brazos Theological Commentaries![]() | NRSV; authors affirm Nicene Creed | pastors/ professors | employs theologians to write expositions | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Calvin (John) Commentaries![]() | author’s own: Calvin was a leader of the Protestant Reformation | laypeople/ pastors | mostly based on his sermons | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Cambridge Bible Commentaries ![]() | NEB; 20th century liberal-moderate perspectives | laypeople/ pastors | discusses text, history, theology | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Christ-Centered Exposition Commentaries ![]() | HCSB; broadly evangelical | laypeople/ pastors | includes illustrations, focus on Jesus in every book | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
College Press Commentaries![]() | NIV; The Restoration Movement | anyone | reflects Stone- Campbell theology | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Communicator’s Commentaries![]() | NIV; broadly evangelical | anyone | became Mastering the OT/NT; now Preacher’s Comm. | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Concordia Commentaries![]() | author’s own; evangelical | pastors/ professors | Evangelical Lutheran perspective | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Continental Commentaries![]() | author’s own; critical | professors | translates German scholarly commentaries into English | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Cornerstone Biblical Commentaries ![]() | NLT; evangelical | laypeople/ pastors | passage-by -passage explanations | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Crossway Classic Commentaries![]() | editors uses the NIV; all authors are Reformed | laypeople/ pastors | classic works adapted for modern readers | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Daily Study Bible![]() | author’s own; 20th century liberal-moderate perspectives | laypeople/ pastors | OT authors vary; NT author is William Barclay | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Evangelical Exegetical Commentaries ![]() | author’s own; broadly evangelical | pastors/ professors | latest in critical biblical scholarship from an evangelical perspective | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Evangelical Press Study Commentary![]() | varies; Reformed | pastors/ professors | exegetical commentary for Reformed pastors | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament ![]() | author’s own; broadly evangelical | pastors/ professors | it’s a lexical and grammatical tool, yet provides preaching help | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Revised![]() | NIV; broadly evangelical | pastors | employs evangelical authors, many premillennial | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Focus on the Bible ![]() | author’s own; Reformed | laypeople/ pastors | reads like a sermon | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
For Everyone![]() | author’s own; Wright is an Anglican bishop | laypeople/ pastors | All volumes written by N.T. Wright | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
For You![]() | NIV; Reformed | laypeople/ pastors | reads like a sermon | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
The Gospel According to the Old Testament![]() | ESV; Reformed | laypeople/ pastors | Christ-centered commentary on Old Testament books | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Henry (Matthew) Commentaries ![]() | KJV; theologically conservative | anyone | devotional in nature | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Hermeneia![]() | author’s own; critical | professors | features technical, critical scholarship | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Holman Commentaries![]() | NIV; evangelical | laypeople/ pastors | target audience is teachers | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
International Critical Commentary ![]() | author’s own; critical | professors | contains linguistic, textual, historical, and archaeological discussions | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
International Theological Commentaries![]() | RSV; moderately critical | pastors, teachers | prioritizes theological diversity; OT only | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Interpretation![]() | RSV; moderately critical | pastors/ professors | critical approach to historical and theological discussions | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
IVP New Testament Commentary ![]() | NIV; broadly evangelical | pastors | pastor-friendly exegesis | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
JPS Torah Commentaries![]() | author’s own; critical | professors | insights from Jewish worldview; pages flip from right to left | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Keil-Delitzsch Commentaries![]() | author’s own; Orthodox Lutheran scholars | pastors/ professors | technical, conservative scholarship of OT scripture | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Kregel Exegetical Commentaries ![]() | author’s own; theologically conservative | pastors, teachers | scholarship plus application | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Lectio Continua Expository Commentaries![]() | ESV; Reformed | laypeople/ pastors | reads like a sermon | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Living Insights: Chuck Swindoll Commentaries ![]() | NASB; broadly evangelical | pastors | written by Chuck Swindoll | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
MacArthur (John) Commentaries ![]() | NASB; Reformed Baptist | laypeople/ pastors | reads like a sermon | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Mentor Commentaries ![]() | author’s choice; Reformed | pastors | focuses on exegesis, reflects Reformed | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Montgomery Boice (James) Commentary![]() | NIV; Presbyterian, reformed | anyone | devotional in nature | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
New American Commentary ![]() | NIV; Baptist | pastors | pastor-friendly, many authors conservative, dispensational | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
New Beacon Bible Commentaries ![]() | NIV; Wesleyan | laypeople/ pastors | written from the Wesleyan theological perspective | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
New Cambridge Bible Commentary ![]() | NRSV; some critical, some evangelical | pastors/ professors | provides fresh look at biblical texts | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
New Century Commentaries![]() | N/RSV; broadly evangelical | pastors | most volumes reflect critical exegesis | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
New International Biblical Commentary![]() | NIV; broadly evangelical | anyone | used to be Good News Commentary; then NIBC; now UBCS | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
New International Commentary on the OT and NT ![]() | author’s own; broadly evangelical | pastors | high quality exegesis for pastors and teachers | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
New International Greek Testament Commentary![]() | author’s own; all evangelical, some critical | pastors/ professors | thorough exegesis of the Greek text | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary![]() | NRSV / NIV; Methodist, some critical, some evangelical | pastors | an ecumenical roster of contributors | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
NIV Application Commentary ![]() | NIV; broadly evangelical | pastors | bridging original context to contemporary context | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Old and New Testament Library![]() | RSV; some critical, some evangelical | pastors | mostly critical approaches to literary and theological issues | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Paideia Commentaries![]() | author’s own; employs Catholic and Protestant authors | pastors/ professors | moderately critical exegesis | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Pillar New Testament Commentary ![]() | NIV; broadly evangelical | pastors/ professors | thorough, conservative exegesis | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
The Preacher’s Commentary![]() | NKJV; evangelical | pastors | pulpit help | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Preaching the Word ![]() | NIV, revised (pictured) use ESV; Reformed | laypeople/ pastors | homiletic expositions | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Reformation Commentary on Scripture ![]() | author’s; Reformed Protestant | anyone | biblical insights from the Reformers | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Reformed Expository Commentaries ![]() | ESV; Reformed | laypeople/ pastors | homiletical expositions | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Sacra Pagina Commentaries![]() | author’s own; Catholic | pastors/ professors | Roman Catholic theology | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Smyth & Helwys Commentaries ![]() | varies by volume; varies by volume | pastors | comes with CD-ROM that includes commentary on PDF | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Socio-Rhetorical Commentaries![]() | author’s own; Arminian | pastors/ professors | Ben Witherington’s project | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Story of God Bible Commentary ![]() | NIV; broadly evangelical | laypeople/ pastors | focuses on the Bible’s big-picture storyline | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Teach the Text Commentaries![]() | NIV; broadly evangelical | pastors | aims to clearly show the text’s relevance | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Thru the Bible: J. Vernon McGee ![]() | KJV; Presbyterian | laypeople/ pastors | similar to McGee’s radio teachings | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Two Horizons![]() | author’s own; broadly evangelical | pastors | focuses on theological interpretations | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Tyndale OT and NT Bible Commentaries ![]() | NIV; broadly evangelical | pastors | to-the-point exegesis and explanations | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Understanding the Bible Commentary ![]() | NIV; some critical, some evangelical | pastors | intends to promote biblical theology | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Walvoord (John) Prophecy Commentary![]() | ESV; theologically conservative | anyone | premillennial, dispensationalism | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Wesleyan Bible Study ![]() | NIV; evangelical | laypeople/ pastors | Arminian perspectives | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Word Biblical Commentary![]() | author’s own; some critical, some evangelical | pastors/ professors | fresh translations, in-depth exegesis | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Wycliffe Exegetical Commentaries ![]() | author’s own; broadly evangelical | pastors/ professors | in-depth exegesis for pastors | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Zondervan Exegetical Commentary ![]() | NIV; broadly evangelical | pastors | Graphic Layout | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary![]() | NIV; broadly evangelical | laypeople/ pastors | color pictures, charts, maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Also see the One-Volume Bible Commentary Comparison Chart, which includes 40 different volumes.