Imagine if you understood the book of Ephesians better than ever. What if you had a better grasp of Paul’s message in the letter and how that related to your life today? It would help love God, love others, and pursue Christ-likeness. Using the right Ephesians commentary can help unlock the teachings of Ephesians so you can easily understand them and apply them to your life.
The Bible instructs Christians to seek wisdom (Prov. 1:7, James 1:5) and who better to learn from than pastors, theologians, and professors who have been studying and teaching Ephesians for decades?
10 Best Ephesians Commentaries
The best Ephesians commentaries are listed below. There are exegetical commentaries, scholarly and technical commentaries, as well as commentaries that are easy to understand. They are not suggested as a replacement for prayer, the Holy Spirit, and the reader’s own diligent study of Scripture. The
“Top 10” list is based on aggregate academic reviews. Please use the list below as a starting point for learning about Ephesians commentaries. It is not intended to be the “final word” because of its limitations. Nevertheless, a list based on aggregate reviews is likely to point you in the right direction to find the right resource for your purposes.
#1
Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary
by Harold W. Hoehner
Reviews and Accolades:
• D. A. Carson: a “best buy” on Ephesians; “unsurpassed on many fronts”
• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “massive and technical”
• Keith Mathison: #2 ranked commentary on Ephesians; “a comprehensive conservative evangelical treatment”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Hoehner takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He was professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary (d. 2009).
This commentary is best for readers who can follow a technical Greek commentary. Hoehner defends Pauline authorship. This commentary is not part of a series.
The publisher notes that “Hoehner then delves into the text of Ephesians verse by verse, offering the Greek text, English translation, and detailed commentary.”
Please also see Best Commentary Series: The Top 50. Based on aggregate reviews.
#2
The Letter to the Ephesians
Pillar New Testament Commentary
by Peter T. O’Brien
Reviews and Accolades:
• Desiring God: #1 recommended commentary on Ephesians; “perhaps the best English-language commentary on Ephesians for pastors”
• D. A. Carson: a “best buy” on Ephesians
• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “the best volume on Ephesians”
• Keith Mathison: #1 ranked commentary on Ephesians; “this commentary should be on the desk of every student of Scripture”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: O’Brien takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Reformed.
This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.
O’Brien also wrote the Hebrews commentary in the PNTC series, which is considered one of the best Hebrews commentaries.
The publisher notes that the Pillar series combines “rigorous exegesis and exposition, with an eye alert both to biblical theology and the contemporary relevance of the Bible.”
See more about the Pillar New Testament Commentary series.
Also see: Why Peter O’Brien’s Commentaries Aren’t Published Anymore
After browsing the commentaries below, see the best one-volume bible commentaries, based on aggregate reviews.
#3
Ephesians
Evangelical Exegetical Commentary
by S.M. Baugh
Interview: Read Best Bible Commentaries’ interview with S.M. Baugh on this volume
Reviews and Accolades:
• D.A. Carson: “Baugh’s comments are invariably measured, judicious, the product of informed and careful scholarship, lightly worn. Mercifully, the excellent scholarship comes in readable prose, making this a thoroughly interesting and stimulating work. This is now unquestionably the best technical commentary on Ephesians.”
• Thomas Schreiner: “Students, pastors, and scholars will find Baugh to be a must read as they study the text and theology of one of Paul’s most important letters.”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Baugh takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary will be maximized by those who have been trained in Greek.
The publisher notes that the EEC volumes “incorporates the latest in critical biblical scholarship, yet each volume is written from a distinctly evangelical perspective.” See more about the Evangelical Exegetical Commentary series.
#4
Ephesians
Word Biblical Commentary
by Andrew T. Lincoln
Reviews and Accolades:
• Keith Mathison: #3 ranked commentary on Ephesians; “well worth consulting”
• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “an excellent technical commentary”
• Craig Blomberg etal: a “priority” commentary on Ephesians
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Lincoln takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He denies Pauline authorship.
This commentary is best expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. Lincoln also wrote the John commentary in the BNTC series.
The publisher notes that the WBC series “WBC series delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation.” See more about the Word Biblical Commentary series.
#5
Colossians, Philemon, and Ephesians
New International Commentary on the New Testament
by F.F. Bruce
Reviews and Accolades:
• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “clear exegesis”
• Keith Mathison: #5 ranked commentary on Ephesians; “Bruce is always worth consulting”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Bruce takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.
Bruce also wrote the Acts commentary in the NICNT series, which is considered one of the best Acts commentaries.
The publisher notes that the NICNT series gives readers “an exposition that is thorough and abreast of modern scholarship and at the same time loyal to the Scriptures as the infallible Word of God.” See more about the New International Commentary on the New Testament series.
#6
Ephesians
Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
by Clinton E. Arnold
Reviews and Accolades:
• Craig Blomberg etal: a “priority” commentary on Ephesians
Interview: See Best Bible Commentaries’ interview with Clint Arnold on this volume
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Arnold takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Dean at Talbot School of Theology.
This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.
The publisher notes that ZECNT “series was refined over time by an editorial board who listened to pastors and teachers express what they wanted to see in a commentary series based on the Greek text.”
See more about the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series.
#7
Ephesians
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
by Frank Thielman
Reviews and Accolades:
• D. A. Carson: a “best buy” on Ephesians; “remarkably accessible”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Thielman takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Reformed. This commentary will be maximized by those who are trained in Greek.
Thielman also wrote the Romans commentary in the ZECNT series, which is considered one of the best Romans commentaries.
The publisher notes that BECNT series combine “scholarly depth with readability, exegetical detail with sensitivity to the whole, and attention to critical problems with theological awareness.”
See more about the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series.
#8
The Letters to Philemon, Colossians, and the Ephesians
A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on the Captivity Epistles
by Ben Witherington III
Reviews and Accolades:
• Craig Blomberg etal: a “priority” commentary on Ephesians
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Witherington takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Arminian.
This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.
Witherington also wrote the Revelation commentary in the NCBC series, which is considered one of the best Revelation commentaries.
The publisher notes that “using sociorhetorical criticism, the New Testament is interpreted within the context of the world in which it was written and read.” See more about the Socio-Rhetorical Commentary series.
#9
Ephesians
NIV Application Commentary
by Klyne Snodgrass
Reviews and Accolades:
• Craig Blomberg etal: a “priority” commentary on Ephesians
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Snodgrass takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is ordained by the Southern Baptist Convention.
This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.
The publisher notes that the NIVAC series helps with “the difficult but vital task of bringing an ancient message into a modern context.”
See more about the NIV Application Commentary series.
#10
Ephesians
International Critical Commentary
by Ernest Best
Reviews and Accolades:
• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a technical commentary”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Best takes a critical approach to Scripture. He is Presbyterian. Best denies Pauline authorship. This commentary will be maximized by those who have been trained in Greek.
Best also wrote the 1 Peter commentary in the NCBC series.
The publisher notes that the ICC series has “sought to bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis, linguistic and textual no less than archaeological, historical, literary and theological to help the reader understand the meaning of the books of the Old and New Testaments.”
See more about the International Critical Commentary series.
More Book of Ephesians Commentaries for Christian Ministry
Please read: Why are the Ephesians commentaries below not in the “Top 10”? It’s not necessarily because they have received poor reviews or because people haven’t found them helpful. The reasons vary:
- Some are relatively new and haven’t been widely reviewed, read, or used yet.
- Others haven’t been widely distributed, so it is difficult to get enough information to aggregate.
- Still others may be outdated in relation to biblical scholarship or out of print and difficult to acquire.
The “Top 10” list is reviewed annually. Readers are encouraged to consider the volumes in this section before making a purchase. These 10 are not in any particular order.
Ephesians
Expositor’s Bible Commentary Revised
by William Klein
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Reviews and Accolades:
• Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary on Ephesians
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Klein takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He teaches at Denver Seminary, which has a multi-denominational student body, but is historically Baptist.
This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.
The publisher notes that the REBC series’ approach “is that of a scholarly evangelicalism committed to the divine inspiration, complete trustworthiness, and full authority of the Bible.”
See more about the Expositor’s Bible Commentary series, original and revised.
Ephesians
Crossway Classic Commentaries
by Charles Hodge
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Reviews and Accolades:
• Keith Mathison: #4 ranked commentary on Ephesians; “still worth reading today”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: This commentary is best for individual study, devotional reading, Bible studies, and adult Sunday school classes.
The publisher notes that “for hundreds of years Christendom has been blessed with Bible commentaries written by great men of God highly respected for their godly walk and their insight into spiritual truth.” See more about Crossway Classic Commentaries.
Ephesians
The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries
by Markus Barth
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Reviews and Accolades:
• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “more of a Pauline theology”
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Barth takes a critical approach to Scripture. He was a Lutheran pastor and taught at the University of Basel, Switzerland (d. 1994). Markus was the son of theologian Karl Barth.
This commentary will be maximized by those who have been trained in Greek. Barth also wrote the Colossians commentary in the same series.
The publisher notes that the Anchor series “vigorously pursues the goal of bringing to a wide audience the most important new ideas, the latest research findings, and the clearest possible analysis of the Bible.”
See more about the Anchor Bible Commentary series.
Verse-by-Verse Expository Commentaries
Ephesians
Tyndale New Testament Commentary
by Darrell Bock
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Interview: Read Best Bible Commentaries’ interview with Darrell Bock on this volume
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Bock takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary.
This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. This volume is theologically conservative, moderately technical, and includes insights for pastors.
See more about the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series.
Ephesians
Reformed Expositional Commentary
by Bryan Chapell
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Chapell takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Reformed. This commentary is best for individual study, devotional reading, Bible studies, and adult Sunday school classes.
The REC series has “four fundamental commitments. First, these commentaries aim to be biblical…Second, these commentaries are unashamedly doctrinal…Third, these commentaries are redemptive-historical…Fourth, these commentaries are practical…”
See more about the Reformed Expository Commentary series.
The Message of Ephesians
The Bible Speaks Today
by John Stott
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Stott takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He was Anglican and Reformed (d. 2011).
This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.
Stott also wrote the Galatians commentary in the same series, which is considered one of the best Galatians commentaries.
The publisher notes that the “the three distinctives of The Bible Speaks Today series are (1) “BST authors are committed to a serious study of the text in its own integrity,” (2) that “expositors should not be antiquarians, living only in the remote past” but suggest application for living, and (3) “each book is intended to be both readable in style and manageable in size.”
See more about the Bible Speaks Today commentary series.
Ephesians
Concordia Commentary
by Thomas M. Winger
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Interview: See Best Bible Commentaries’ interview with Thomas Winger on this volume
Theology, Audience, Purpose: Winger takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is evangelical and Lutheran. While not technical, the volumes in the Concordia Commentary series reflect seminary-level scholarship.
The target audience is pastors, professors, and teachers. The target audience is pastors, professors, and teachers. According to the publisher, authors in the Concordia series “fully affirms the divine inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of Scripture as it emphasizes ‘that which promotes Christ’ in each pericope.”
See more about Concordia commentaries.
Ephesians
Tyndale New Testament Commentary
by Francis Foulkes
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Foulkes takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.
The publisher notes the TNTC series “examines the text section by section, drawing out its main themes. It also comments on individual verses and deals with problems of interpretation.” See more about the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series.
Ephesians
The New Testament Library
by Stephen E. Fowl
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Foulkes is unsure about Pauline authorship. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. Fowl also wrote the Philippians commentary in the Two Horizons series.
The publisher notes that the NLT series offers “fresh translations based on the best available ancient manuscripts, critical portrayals of the historical world in which the books were created, careful attention to their literary design, and a theologically perceptive exposition of the biblical text.”
See more about the New Testament Library commentary series.
Ephesians
IVP New Testament Commentary
by Walter Liefeld
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Liefeld takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is professor emeritus at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.
Liefeld also wrote the 1-2 Timothy commentary in the NIVAC series, which is considered one of the best 1-2 Timothy commentaries.
The publisher notes that the IVPNTC series is “informed by the best of up-to-date evangelical scholarship, presents passage-by-passage commentary based on the NIV along with background information on authorship, setting, theme and various interpretive issues.”
See more about the IVP New Testament Commentary series.
Ephesians
Understanding the Bible Commentary Series
by Arthur Patzia
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Patzia denies Pauline authorship. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.
The publisher notes that UBCS volumes “present a careful section-by-section exposition of the biblical books with key terms and phrases highlighted and all Hebrew transliterated. Notes at the close of each chapter provide additional textual and technical comments for those who want to dig deeper.”
See more about the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series.
Ephesians
Lectio Continua
by Ian Hamilton
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Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Hamilton takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Reformed.
This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.
The publisher notes that “Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a spiritual Mount Everest, turning us away from ourselves and placing the spotlight of God’s great salvation wholly on Christ.” See more about the Lectio Continua commentary series.
Ephesians
Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament
by Benjamin Merkle
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Interview: See Best Bible Commentaries’ interview with Benjamin Merkle on this volume
Theology, Audience, and Purpose: From the publisher: The Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament (EGGNT) closes the gap between the Greek text and the available lexical and grammatical tools, providing all the necessary information for greater understanding of the text.
The series makes interpreting any given New Testament book easier, especially for those who are hard pressed for time but want to preach or teach with accuracy and authority. See more about the Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament series.
Classic Ephesians Commentaries
Ephesians
Ironside Expository Commentaries
by H.A. Ironside
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Synopsis: H.A. Ironside (1876-1951) was an internationally acclaimed Bible teacher and preacher, as well as the author of more than sixty books.
His writings include addresses or commentaries on the entire New Testament, all of the Old Testament prophetic books, and a great many volumes on other biblical topics. For eighteen of his fifty years of ministry, Dr. Ironside was pastor of the historic Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, Ill.
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture
by Mark J. Edwards
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Synopsis: From the publisher: “This commentary offers an unparalleled close-up view of the [early church] fathers weighing the words and phrases of this panoramic charting of the Savior’s journey from preexistence, to incarnation, to crucifixion, to triumphant exaltation as universal Lord.”
See more about the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture series.
Also see:
Compare 75 different commentary series on the Bible Commentary Series Comparison Chart