One-Volume whole Bible commentaries are biblical reference resources that contain explanations of every book of the Old and New Testament, often taking a passage-by-passage or a verse-by-verse approach to explain Scripture.
While one-volume whole bible commentaries are not as in-depth as full-length and multi-volume commentary series, they are an affordable, helpful, quick-reference alternative that helps users understand the Bible better.
Whole Bible Commentary Comparison Chart
The comparison chart below is a quick-reference guide to over 40 different one-volume Bible commentaries. Information about the authors, what English translations are used, and what makes a particular volume unique are important details to know when choosing a one-volume Bible commentary.
| Title/Author | Notes |
|---|---|
| Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible  | The translation is KJV. The perspective is Wesley-Arminian. Clarke was Methodist. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
| Africa Bible Commentary  | The translation is NIV. The perspective is evangelical. The contributors are African theologians See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christianbook using the exact ISBN |
| Asbury Bible Commentary  | The translation is NIV. The perspective is Wesley-Arminian. Over 50 scholars contributed. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
| Baker Commentary on the Bible  | The translation is NIV. The perspective is evangelical. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
| Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary  TOP REVIEWED | The translation is NIV. The perspective is evangelical. Includes hundreds of color illustrations, maps, and pictures. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christianbook using the exact ISBN |
| Believer’s Bible Commentary  | The translation is NKJV. The perspective is conservative and premillennial. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christianbook using the exact ISBN |
Also, see Best Bible Commentary Series: The Top 50 to learn more.
| Title/Author | Notes |
|---|---|
| The Bible Knowledge Commentary  TOP REVIEWED | The translation is NIV. The perspective is evangelical and premillennial. The faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary wrote the volume. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christianbook using the exact ISBN |
| The Complete Bible Commentary  | The translation is KJV. The perspective is conservative. The author is Irishman George Williams. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christianbook using the exact ISBN |
| Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible  | The translation is NRSV. Catholic and Protestant authors contribute. It includes the Apocrypha and 1 Enoch. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christianbook using the exact ISBN |
| Exposition of the Whole Bible  | The translation is KJV. The perspective is conservative and premillennial. The author is British evangelist G. Campbell. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christianbook using the exact ISBN |
| Expositor’s Bible Commentary  TOP REVIEWED | The translation is NIV. The perspective is evangelical; Daniel and Revelation are dispensational. This is an abridgment of multi-volume series. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christianbook using the exact ISBN |
Also, see Best One-Volume Commentaries: The Top 25 to learn more.
| Title/ Author | Notes |
|---|---|
| Global Bible Commentary  | The translation is NRSV. The perspective is liberal. Seventy-one scholars from all over the world contribute. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christianbook using the exact ISBN |
| HarperCollins (Harper’s) Bible Commentary  | The translations are original. The perspective is liberal. The Apocrypha is included. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christianbook using the exact ISBN |
| Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary  | The translation is HCSB. The perspective is evangelical. There are 350 illustrations. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christianbook using the exact ISBN |
| IVP Bible Backgrounds Commentary  TOP REVIEWED | The translation is NIV. The perspective is evangelical. It was Christianity Today’s book of the year 1995. It was revised in 2014. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christianbook using the exact ISBN |
| Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown  | The translation is KJV. The perspective is Reformed. This version is abridged of the 1871 original. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
| Title/ Author | Notes |
|---|---|
| Jon Courson’s Application Commentary  | The translation is KJV. The perspective is conservative and premillennial. It was written by the Calvary Chapel leader and pastor. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| King James Version Commentary  | The translation is KJV. The perspective is evangelical. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
| The MacArthur Commentary  TOP REVIEWED | The translation is NKJV. The perspective is Reformed Baptist. MacArthur calls himself a “leaky dispensationalist.” Includes lots of overlap with MacArthur’s Study Bible. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| Matthew Henry’s Commentary  | The translation is KJV. The perspective is Presbyterian. C.H. Spurgeon and George Whitefield loved this commentary. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| Moody Bible Commentary  | The translation is primarily NASB. The perspective is dispensational. The authors are 30 professors from Moody Bible Institute. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
Also, see Best Revelation Commentaries to learn more.
| Title | Notes |
|---|---|
| New Bible Commentary  TOP REVIEWED | The translation is NIV. The perspective is evangelical. It’s now in the 4th edition. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| New Collegeville Bible Commentary  | The translation is NAB. The perspective is Roman Catholic. There are cross-references to catechisms. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| New International Bible Commentary  TOP REVIEWED | The translation is NIV. The perspective is evangelical. It won the Gold Medallion Book Award. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| The New Interpreter’s Commentary  | The translation is NIV and NRSV. Evangelical and non-evangelical authors contribute. It includes the Apocrypha. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| The New Jerome Biblical Commentary  | The translation is New Jerusalem. The perspective is Roman Catholic. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
| Title | Notes |
|---|---|
| The New Layman’s Bible Commentary  | The translation is RSV. The perspective is evangelical. It’s now New International Bible Commentary. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
| NIV Bible Study Commentary  | The translation is NIV. The perspective is evangelical. John Sailhamer is the author. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| Peake’s Commentary  | The translation is RSV. The perspective is Methodist. It employs critical scholars; first published in 1919 and revised in 1962. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
| South Asia Bible Commentary  | The translation is NIV. The perspective is evangelical. Most authors are from India and Sri Lanka. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| The Teacher’s Bible Commentary  | The translation is KJV. The perspective is Southern Baptist. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
Also, see Best Romans Commentaries to learn more.
| Title | Notes |
|---|---|
| Theological Bible Commentary  | The translation is NRSV. The perspective is liberal-critical. It consists of multiple essays. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| Theology of Work Bible Commentary  | The translation is NRSV. The perspective is evangelical. The volume is endorsed by Tim Keller. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| The Transforming Word  | The translation is NIV. The perspective is Stone-Campbell Movement. The authors associated with the Church of Christ. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
| Tony Evans Bible Commentary  TOP REVIEWED | The translation is CSB. The perspective is conservative, evangelical, and dispensational. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary  | The translation is NLT. The perspective is evangelical. The authors are conservative Baptists. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
| Title | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wesley (John) One-Volume Commentary  | The translation is KJV. The perspective is Arminian. It was written by over 40 Wesley- Arminian scholars. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
| Wiersbe Bible Commentary  TOP REVIEWED | The translation is KJV. The perspective is Baptist. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| Wycliffe Bible Commentary  | The translation is KJV. The perspective is dispensational. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN See on Christian Book using the exact ISBN |
| Zondervan Bible Commentary  TOP REVIEWED | The translation is NIV. The perspective is evangelical. This volume adds pictures to New International Bible Commentary. See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
| Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary  | The translation is NIV. The perspective is evangelical. This volume is an abridgment of 12-volume Expositor’s Bible Commentary See on Amazon using the exact ISBN |
Also, see Best John Commentaries to learn more.
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