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.