Cornerstone Biblical Commentaries are accessible, exegetical commentaries focused on illuminating the meaning of the Bible.
The 12 volumes covering the Old Testament and the 8 volumes covering the New Testament provide up-to-date, evangelical scholarship.
Each volume is designed to equip pastors and Christian leaders with exegetical and theological knowledge to better understand and apply God’s Word by presenting the message of each passage as well as an overview of other issues surrounding the text.
The commentary series has been structured to help readers understand the meaning of Scripture, passage-by-passage, through the entire Bible. Philip W. Comfort is the general editor for the series.
After browsing the commentaries below, see Best Bible Commentaries: Top 50. Based on aggregate reviews.
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Using the New Living Translation, an authoritative Bible translation rendered faithfully into today’s English from the ancient texts by 90 leading Bible scholars, the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary is eminently readable by all interested in learning about Scripture.
The NLT’s scholarship and clarity breathe life into even the most difficult-to-understand Bible passages—but even more powerful are stories of how people’s lives are changing as the words speak directly to their hearts. That’s why the NLT is called “The Truth Made Clear.”
Cornerstone Biblical Commentaries: Reviews
“An enormously helpful series for the layperson and pastor alike because it centers on the theological message of each book and ties it directly to the text. This approach has been needed for some time and will be an invaluable supplement to other commentary series.”
— Grant Osborne, professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
“A treasure house of insight into the biblical text. Written by some of the best scholars working today, it is an essential tool for pastors, students, church leaders, and lay people who want to understand the text and know how it relates to our lives today. Like the New Living Translation text it uses as its base, this commentary series is extremely readable.”
— Tremper Longman, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies, Westmont College
Volumes in the series
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Genesis, Exodus (John Oswalt, Alan Ross)
John N. Oswalt, Ph.D., Brandeis University, is Research Professor of Old Testament at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He was the Old Testament editor of the Wesley Bible and also served as consulting editor for the New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis.
He has written six books, including a two-volume commentary on Isaiah in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament series and commentary on Isaiah in the New International Version Application Commentary series. He has been a member of the translation teams for the New International Version and the New Living Translation.
Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (David Baker, Dale Brueggemann, Eugene Merrill)
David Baker, Ph.D., University of London, is professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio. He serves as editor for the Evangelical Theological Society’s Dissertation series and Studies series.
He has authored several articles/books, including the NIV Application Commentary on Joel, Obadiah, and Malachi and The Face of Old Testament Studies: A Survey of Contemporary Approaches. Dr. Baker served as a Leviticus reviewer for the New Living Translation.
Dale Brueggemann, Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary, pastored in Idaho throughout the 1970s. He has taught at Valley Forge Christian College in Philadelphia, and at Central Bible College in Missouri.
Eugene H. Merrill, Ph.D., Columbia University, is Distinguished Professor of Old Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary in Texas and Distinguished Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky.
He is currently director of Eurasia education services for Assemblies of God World Missions, and he has been heavily involved in ministry in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
He is the author of several articles/books, including a commentary on Deuteronomy in the New American Commentary series and the Deuteronomy study notes for the NLT Study Bible. He also served as a Deuteronomy reviewer for the New Living Translation.
Joshua, Judges, Ruth (Joseph Coleson, Lawson Stone, Jason Driesbach)
Joseph Coleson, (PhD, Brandeis University) is Professor of Old Testament at Nazarene Theological Seminary. He has published numerous articles and books.
Lawson Stone (PhD, Yale University) has expertise in early Israelite History and Religion and Old Testament Theology. He teaches at Asbury Theological Seminary and has written a host of books and articles.
Jason Driesbach (MA, Dallas Theological Seminary) is a co-author of The Many Gospels of Jesus and a contributor to the Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary. He is pursuing PhD studies in the field of Hebrew Bible.
1-2 Kings (William Barnes)
William Barnes (ThD, Harvard Divinity School) has worked extensively in the Historical books of the OT, published several commentaries and scholarly articles, and is a contributor to Biblica: The Bible Atlas.
His interests include OT history and chronology as well as narrative and poetic structure and sequencing in the Hebrew Bible and the NT. He served as a member of the NLT Translation Team for 1–2 Kings.
1-2 Samuel (J. Robert Vannoy)
J. Robert Vannoy, Th.D., Free University of Amsterdam, is Professor Emeritus and Allan A. MacRae Chair of Biblical Studies at Biblical Theological Seminary. He has over 40 years of experience in teaching and has served as a translation consultant for the NIV, TNIV, and NLT.
He has also contributed articles to various publications including reference works (such as the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible and the Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology), scholarly journals, and magazines.
He and his wife are blessed with four children and over 10 grandchildren. Outside of Old Testament studies, Robert enjoys family, gardening, photography, hiking, and exploring islands on the Maine coast.
1-2 Chronicles (Mark Boda)
Mark J. Boda (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) has authored numerous articles and books in addition to editing several collections of scholarly essays on various topics related to the Old Testament and Christian Theology.
He taught for nine years at Canadian Theological Seminary before joining McMaster Divinity College in 2003. Mark enjoys mentoring students and teaches with enthusiasm about the Old Testament and its continued relevance to the Christian life today.
Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Gary Smith)
Gary V. Smith (Ph.D., Dropsie College) was a member of the translation teams for both the NLT and HCSB Bible translation projects and has written numerous articles, reviews, and books on the Old Testament. These include Hosea, Amos, and Micah for the NIV Application Commentary series and Isaiah in the New American Commentary series.
He has taught Old Testament at Bethel Theological Seminary in Minnesota and was professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Missouri. In 2004 he began teaching at Union University, where he is currently professor of Christian Studies.
Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (August H. Konkel, Tremper Longman III)
August Konkel, PhD (Westminster Theological Seminary), has been professor of Old Testament at Providence Seminary since 1984 and president of the College and Seminary since 2001.
A contributor to the New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis, he has forthcoming commentaries on Chronicles (Herald Press) and on Kings (Zondervan).
Tremper Longman III, PhD (Yale University), is the Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies at Westmont College. Tremper has authored or coauthored 17 books, including A Biblical History of Israel (Westminster John Knox, 2003).
He was also one of the main translators of the New Living Translation and has served as a consultant for other well-known Bible translations as well.
Psalms, Proverbs (Mark Futato, George M. Schwab)
Mark D. Futato, Ph.D., The Catholic University of America, is Robert L. Maclellan Professor of Old Testament and academic dean at Reformed Theological Seminary in Florida. He is the author of several books and articles, including Beginning Biblical Hebrew and Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook.
He has also contributed to The Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible and The New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. Dr. Futato is an ordained minister and served on the translation team for the book of Psalms in the New Living Translation.
George M. Schwabb, Sr., Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary, is associate professor of Old Testament at Erskine Theological Seminary in South Carolina. He is ordained in the Second Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Evangelical Theological Society.
He has authored numerous scholarly publications, including Hope in the Midst of a Hostile World: The Gospel According to Daniel. He served as a reviewer for Psalms and the wisdom books for the New Century Version.
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations (Larry L. Walker, Elmer A. Martens)
Elmer A. Martens, PhD, is professor emeritus of Old Testament and president emeritus at Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary (Fresno, California), where he has taught for over 30 years.
He is the author of God’s Design, A Focus on Old Testament Theology, and a commentary on Jeremiah (Herald Press). He was coeditor of The Flowering of Old Testament Theology and served for several years as the editor of the journal Direction.
Larry L. Walker, PhD, held a professional teaching career with time split between Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Mid-America Baptist Seminary.
Since his retirement in 1998, he has done adjunct teaching at several seminaries. He authored a commentary on Zephaniah for the Expositor’s Bible Commentary and is also a contributor to the New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis.
Ezekiel, Daniel (EuGene Carpenter, David Thompson)
David L. Thompson (Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University) has written scores of popular and professional articles. His books include Bible Study That Works and God’s Healing for Hurting Families. Dr. Thompson, an ordained elder in The Wesleyan Church, has pastored several churches.
Eugene Carpenter (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) is Scholar in Residence and Professor of Old Testament, Hebrew, and Biblical Theology at Bethel College, Mishawaka, IN. He has authored and contributed to several books including commentaries on Exodus and Deuteronomy.
Minor Prophets: Hosea through Malachi (Andrew Hill, Richard Patterson)
Matthew, Mark (David L. Turner, Darrell L. Bock)
David L. Turner, PhD, is a graduate of Cedarville University, Grace Theological Seminary (ThD), and Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati (MPhil, PhD candidate). He has been professor of New Testament at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary since 1986 and has previously published several articles on the Gospel of Matthew.
Darrel L. Bock, PhD (University of Aberdeen), is research professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. His special fields of study include the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament, Luke—Acts, the historical Jesus, and the integration of theology and culture.
Among his most recent publications are Breaking the Da Vinci Code (New York Times best-seller, May 2004), and a two-volume commentary on Luke (Baker).
Luke, Acts (Allison A. Trites, William J. Larkin)
Rev. Dr. Allison Trites served as professor of Greek and New Testament at the Aacadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, for 37 years.
He has also provided leadership beyond the walls of the college, having served as president of the United Baptist Convention of the Atlantic Provinces, chair of the Deacon’s Board of the Wolfville Baptist Church, Baptist representative on the Canadian Council for Theological Education, as well as countless other volunteer positions.
Dr. William J. Larkin is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and has an active ministry in adult Christian education, particularly Bible teaching.
He holds a B.A., 1967, Wheaton College; B.D., 1970, Princeton Theological Seminary; Ph.1975, University of Durham, England, and has served in various pastorates as well as being on faculty at Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Missions since 1975. He also served on the Bible Translation Committee for the NLT.
The Gospel of John, 1-3 John (Philip Comfort, Wendell C. Hawley, Grant Osborne)
Dr. Philip W. Comfort has studied English Literature, Greek, and New Testament at the Ohio State University and the University of South Africa. He has taught at Wheaton College, Trinity Episcopal Seminary, and Columbia International University.
He currently teaches at Coastal Carolina University and is a senior editor of Bible reference at Tyndale House Publishers.
Dr. Wendell C. Hawley graduated from the University of Oregon (BA and MA) and from Western Baptist Seminary. He was awarded the LLD from California Graduate School of Theology and the DD degree from Western Baptist Seminary, Portland, Oregon.
Dr. Grant R. Osborne is professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Prior to his work at Trinity, he served as a pastor for over 4 years and taught at Winnipeg Theological Seminary and the University of Aberdeen.
He received his Master of Arts in New Testament from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
Romans, Galatians (Gerald Borchert, Roger Mohrlang)
Dr. Roger Mohrlang has earned a BS from Carnegie Institute of Technology, an MA from Fuller Theological Seminary, and the D.Phil. in New Testament from University of Oxford.
He served as a Bible translator and translation consultant in Africa for over 7 years, has served as a visiting professor at various colleges, and is currently Professor of Biblical Studies at Whitworth College, where he has been since 1988. His areas of expertise include Paul’s letters and New Testament ethics.
Dr. Gerald Borchert is retired professor of New Testament from both Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently Thesis Director at Institute for Worship Studies, Jacksonville, Florida, and part-time Professor of New Testament at Carson Newman College.
He earned his B.A. from the University of Alberta, an LL.B., from University of Alberta Law School, an M.Ddiv. from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, his Th.M. at Princeton Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary and Princeton University (1967).
He has also done post-doctoral work at numerous schools and has served as a pastor and interim pastor variously throughout his career.
1-2 Corinthians (William Baker, Ralph Martin, Carl N. Toney)
William R. Baker, Ph.D., University of Aberdeen, is professor of New Testament at Cincinnati Bible Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He is the general editor of Stone-Campbell Journal and the author and editor of several books and articles, including Evangelicalism and the Stone-Campbell Movement and Sticks and Stones: The Biblical Ethics of Talk. He has also written a commentary on 2 Corinthians for the College Press NIV Commentary Series.
Ralph P. Martin, Ph.D., University of London, is in his fifth decade as a teacher, scholar, and mentor. He is Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Fuller Theological Seminary, at the Graduate School of Theology of Azusa Pacific University, and at Logos Evangelical Seminary in Pasadena, California.
He is the author of numerous studies and commentaries on the New Testament, including Worship in the Early Church, the Philippians in The Tyndale New Testament Commentary series, and James in the Word Biblical Commentary, for which he also serves as New Testament editor.
He also co-edited the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters and the Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments. Ordained to the Baptist ministry in 1949, Dr. Martin has pastored churches in Dunstable, Southport, and Gloucester, England.
Carl N. Toney, Ph.D., Loyola University Chicago, is adjunct assistant professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.
He edited and contributed to the revised edition of 2 Corinthians in the Word Biblical Commentary series and is the author of Paul’s Inclusive Ethic: Resolving Community Conflicts and Promoting Mission in Romans 14-15.
A licensed minister in the American Baptist Convention, Dr. Toney is also a member of the Society of Biblical Literature.
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, Philemon (Philip Comfort, Peter Davids, Harold W. Hoehner)
Harold W. Hoehner, Ph.D. is Professor of New Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary and is well known for his work on biblical chronology in the first century. He is also the author of a commentary on Ephesians in the Baker Exegetical Commentary series.
Philip W. Comfort, D. Litt. et Phil., is senior editor of Bible reference at Tyndale House Publishers and adjunct professor of Religion at Coastal Carolina University. His works include Early Manuscripts & Modern Translations of the New Testament, The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts, and Encountering the Manuscripts.
He has authored two commentaries on John and three volumes of poetry. He serves as the coordinating New Testament editor for the New Living Translation, and he is the General Editor for the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary series.
Peter Davids, Ph.D. is a Professor of Biblical Theology at Stephen’s University. He served as a missionary educator in Europe, training Christian leaders in the German-speaking world, and has written commentaries on James and 1 Peter. He is also co-editor (with Ralph Martin) of The Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Development.
1-2 Timothy, Titus, Hebrews (Linda Belleville, Jon Laansma, J. Ramsey Michaels)
Linda L. Belleville PhD., St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, is Professor of Greek and New Testament at Bethel College in Mishawaka Indiana.
She has published commentaries on 1 and 2 Corinthians and various articles and essays on 1 Timothy. She has been a member of the translation team for the New Living Translation since its inception.
Jon Laansma Ph.D., University of Aberdeen, is Associate Professor of Ancient Languages and New Testament at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.
He is the author of several articles and of “I Will Give You Rest”: The “Rest” Motif in the New Testament with Special Reference to Matthew 11 and Hebrews 3-4. He contributed the introductions and notes for 1–2 Timothy and Titus for the NLT Study Bible.
J. Ramsey Michaels Th.D., University, is Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. He has published commentaries on the Gospel of John, 1 Peter, and the book of Revelation.
He has been a member of the translation teams for the New International Version and the New Living Translation and has been a consultant for the American Bible Society.
James, 1-2 Peter, Jude, Revelation (Robert Mulholland, Grant Osborne)
Grant R. Osborne (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has authored and edited numerous books, including The Hermeneutical Spiral and many commentaries on the New Testament.
M. Robert Mulholland Jr. (ThD, Harvard Divinity School) is vice president of Asbury Seminary and an expert in New Testament and Christian Origins and spiritual formation. His several books include The Deeper Journey and contributions to the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. He is also a frequent speaker at Bible and spiritual renewal conferences.
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