Bible commentaries on the New Testament book of Romans are listed below. The commentaries listed first are those that have received the best reviews. You will also find options for commentaries on Romans that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the Bible, commentaries that approach the Scripture verse-by-verse, classic Christian commentaries, and much more. (See more about the scholars, pastors, ministries, and schools whose commentary reviews are being utilized.)
Best Reviewed Bible Commentaries on Romans
Romans New 2nd Edition, pub. Nov. 2018 (New International Commentary on the New Testament) by Douglas Moo
Cover links to 2nd edition
Reviews and Accolades:
D. A Carson: a “best buy” on Romans; “the best Romans commentary for pastors available in English”
Desiring God: a Top 3 recommended commentary on Romans
Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary on Romans
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a careful and theologically astute exposition”
Keith Mathison: #1 ranked commentary on Romans; “in terms of intermediate-advanced level commentaries, this one is the best place to begin”
Theology: Moo takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he leans Reformed on most passages
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: This commentary was published in 1996 and revised in 2018…this is a good resource for pastors, but some may prefer Moo’s NIVAC volume (see below)…Moo argues against The New Perspective on Paul…From the publisher: “Written for scholars, pastors, and lay readers alike…undertaken to provide earnest students of the New Testament with 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.
The Epistle to the Romans (New Testament Commentary) by John Murray
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Reviews and Accolades:
Desiring God: a Top 3 recommended commentary on Romans
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “worth reading today, especially for its theological depth”
Keith Mathison: #3 ranked commentary on Romans; “a valuable work well worth consulting”
D.A. Carson: “will guide you stolidly with the heavy tread of the proverbial village police officer”
Theology of the author: Murray takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; his theology is Reformed
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Though this commentary now has a different cover, it was the Romans volume in the NICNT series before Moo’s replaced it…well-reviewed and considered a classic in Reformed circles…From the publisher: “Murray discusses the authorship, occasion, purpose, and contents of Romans and provides important background information on the church at Rome. Murray then provides a verse-by-verse exposition of the text that takes into account key problems that have emerged in the older and newer literature.”
The Epistle to the Romans (International Critical Commentary: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary) by C.E.B. Cranfield
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Reviews and Accolades:
D. A. Carson: a “best buy” on Romans; “undoubtedly important…provides students with an education in grammatical exegesis”
Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary on Romans
Tom Schreiner: recommended: “technical but outstanding commentary,” “rich theological insights”
Keith Mathison: #5 ranked commentary on Romans; “one of the most thorough commentaries on this book”
Theology of the author: Cranfield takes a mildly critical approach to Scripture; he was ordained Methodist, but later moved to the Reformed church
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: The image is of the abridged version of this commentary (pub. 1979), which has less Greek exegesis than the unabridged (pub. 1998)…later in life, Cranfield rejected The New Persepctive on Paul…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 Bible Commentary series.
Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) by Thomas R. Schreiner
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Reviews and Accolades:
D. A. Carson: a “best buy” on Romans
Desiring God: a Top 3 recommended commentary on Romans
Theology of the author: Schreiner takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he is Baptist, Reformed
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Published in 1998, revised in 2018…Schreiner argues against The New Perspective on Paul…From the Publisher: “The chief concern of the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (BECNT) is to provide, within the framework of informed evangelical thought, commentaries that blend scholarly depth with readability, exegetical detail with sensitivity to the whole, and attention to critical problems with theological awareness.” See more about the New International Greek Testament Commentary series.
Romans (Word Biblical Commentary) by James D.G. Dunn
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Reviews and Accolades:
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “exponent of the ‘new perspective'”
D.A. Carson: “certainly worthy of diligent study”
Theology of the author: Dunn takes a moderately critical approach to Scripture; he has been associated with the Church of Scotland and with Methodism
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Dunn is known for his advocacy of The New Perspective on Paul…one of Dunn’s doctoral students is commentary author Scot McKnight…From the publisher: “WBC series delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. It emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence.” See more about the Word Biblical Commentary series.
The Epistle to the Romans (The Pillar New Testament Commentary) by Leon Morris
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Reviews and Accolades:
Keith Mathison: #4 ranked commentary on Romans; “careful and considered,” “highly recommended”
D.A. Carson: “its strength is the seriousness with which it takes the text”
Theology of the author: Morris takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he is Anglican, Reformed
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Published in 1988, Kruse’s volume replaced this one in the Pillar series in 2012…Morris wrote several well-reviewed commentaries on John (NICNT), Luke (TNTC), Matthew (PNTC), and Revelation (TNTC)…From the publisher: “Designed for serious pastors and teachers of the Bible, the Pillar commentaries seek above all to make clear the text of Scripture as we have it…[the authors’] ideal is a blend of 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.
Romans (New International Greek Testament Commentary) by Richard N. Longenecker
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Reviews and Accolades:
Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary on Romans
Theology of the author: Longenecker takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he taught at McMaster Divinity College, which evangelical, multi-denominational, with Baptist heritage
Best for: students, pastors, teachers, professors, and scholars with training in Hebrew who can follow a technical commentary
Notes: This commentary series focuses on Greek exegesis of the text, yet Longenecker provides insights for pastors as well…he argues against The New Perspective on Paul in this volume…From the publisher: “At a time when the study of Greek is curtailed in many schools of theology, we hope that the NIGTC will demonstrate the continuing value of studying the Greek New Testament.” See more about the New International Greek Testament Commentary series.
The Message of Romans (The Bible Speaks Today) by John Stott
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Reviews and Accolades:
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a meaty exposition with application to today”
Theology of the author: Stott takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he was Anglican, Reformed
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Stott’s commentaries are noted for being pastor-friendly and highly quotable…published in 1994, 400+ pages…From the publisher: the three distinctives of the BST series are (1) “authors are committed to a serious study of the text in its own integrity,” (2) holds 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.
Romans (The Pillar New Testament Commentary) by Colin G. Kruse
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Reviews and Accolades:
D.A. Carson: “Kruse writes with clarity, verve, and good judgment, making this work another favorite for pastors”
Theology of the author: Kruse takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he is Reformed
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Kruse authored 1 John in the PNTC series and John and 2 Corinthians in the TNTC series…Published in 2012, replaced Leon Morris in the PNTC series (see above)…Kruse argues against The New Perspective on Paul…From the publisher: “Designed for serious pastors and teachers of the Bible, the Pillar commentaries seek above all to make clear the text of Scripture as we have it…[the authors’] ideal is a blend of rigorous exegesis and exposition, with an eye alert both to biblical theology and the contemporary relevance of the Bible.” See more about the PNTC commentary series.
Romans (Crossway Classic Commentary) by Charles Hodge
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Reviews and Accolades:
Keith Mathison: #2 ranked commentary on Romans; “rich in exegetical and theological insight”
Theology of the author: Hodge was Presbyterian
Best for: individual study, devotional reading, Bible studies, adult Sunday school classes
Notes: Published in 1864…considered a classic in Reformed circles…From the publisher: “The Crossway Classic Commentaries present the very best work on individual Bible books, carefully adapted for maximum understanding and usefulness for today’s believers.” See more about the Crossway Classics Commentary series.
Paul’s Letter to the Romans: A Commentary by Peter Stuhlmacher
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Reviews and Accolades:
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a helpful brief exposition of Romans”
Theology of the author: Stuhlmacher takes a mildly critical approach to Scripture
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Stuhlmacher argues against The New Perspective on Paul…From the publisher: “In this book, Peter Stuhlmacher stresses the Old Testament and postbiblical Jewish traditions as the primary backdrop to Paul’s thought, as these traditions were known by Paul himself or mediated to him through Jesus and the early church.”
Romans (The Story of God Bible Commentary) by Michael F. Bird
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Reviews and Accolades:
Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary on Romans
Theology of the author: Bird takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he is Anglican, Reformed
Best for: individual study, devotional reading, Bible studies, adult Sunday school classes
Notes: From the publisher: “The Story of God Bible Commentary is a new commentary for today’s world. It’s the first commentary series to explain and illuminate each passage of Scripture in light of the Bible’s grand story. This “story-centric” approach makes SGBC a fruitful resource for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and everyday readers.” See more about the Story of God Bible Commentary series.
Romans (The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries) by Joseph A. Fitzmyer
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Reviews and Accolades:
Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a brief commentary, including interaction with the church fathers, by a famous Roman Catholic scholar”
Theology of the author: Fitzmyer takes a critical approach to Scripture; he is a Jesuit priest
Best for: students, pastors, teachers, professors, and scholars with training in Hebrew who can follow a technical commentary
Notes: From the publisher: “The Anchor Yale Bible Series, previously the Anchor Bible Series, is a renowned publishing program that for more than 50 years has produced books devoted to the latest scholarship on the Bible and biblical topics.” The 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.
When in Romans: An Invitation to Linger with the Gospel according to Paul by Beverly Roberts Gaventa
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Reviews and Accolades:
Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary on Romans
Theology of the author: Gaventa is an elder in the Presbyterian-USA Church; she teaches at Baylor University
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: From the publisher: “Leading New Testament scholar Beverly Roberts Gaventa invites us to linger in Romans. She asks that we stay with the letter long enough to see how Romans reframes our tidy categories and dramatically enlarges our sense of the gospel.”
Verse-by-Verse Expository Commentaries
New Release: Romans (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) by Frank Thielman
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Theology of the author: Thielman takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he is Reformed
Interview: Read Best Bible Commentaries’ seven-question interview with Dr. Thielman on this volume
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: From the publisher: “This series is designed for those who know biblical languages. It is written primarily for the pastor and Bible teacher, not for the scholar. That is, the aim is not to review and offer a critique of every possible interpretation that has ever been given to a passage, but to exegete each passage of Scripture succinctly in its grammatical and historical context.” Learn more about the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series.
Romans (A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary) by Ben Witherington
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Theology of the author: Witherington takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he is Arminian
Interview: Read Best Bible Commentaries’ seven-question interview with Dr. Witherington on this volume
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: From the publisher: “Using sociorhetorical criticism, the New Testament is interpreted within the context of the world in which it was written and read—the rhetorical method makes use of ancient or classical writings and strategies of communication, while the social science method notes issues of cultures and customs.” See more about the Socio-Rhetorical Commentary series.
Romans (New International Version Application Commentary) by Douglas J. Moo
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Theology: Moo takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he leans Reformed on most passages
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Moo’s volume on Romans in the NICNT series contains more Greek exegesis (see above)…From the General Editor: The primary goal of the NIV Application Commentary Series is to help you with the difficult but vital task of bringing an ancient message into a modern context.” See more about the NIV Application Commentary series.
Romans (Lectio Continua) by J.V. Fesko
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Theology of the author: Fresko takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he is Reformed
Interview: Read Best Bible Commentaries’ seven-question interview with Dr. Fesko on this volume
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: From the publisher: “Fesko helps us understand both the big picture of Paul’s letters and also key passages in his writings by paying careful attention to the structure of redemptive history.” See more about the Lectio Continua commentary series.
Romans (For You) by Timothy Keller
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Theology: Keller takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he is Reformed
Best for: individual study, devotional reading, Bible studies, adult Sunday school classes
Notes: This series is designed to be pastor-friendly and Keller is highly quotable…From the publisher: “Combining a close attention to the detail of the text with Timothy Keller’s trademark gift for clear explanation and compelling insights, this resource will both engage your mind and stir your heart.”
Romans (Tyndale New Testament Commentary) by F.F. Bruce
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Theology: Bruce takes an evangelical approach to Scripture
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: This volume was published in 1963, revised in 1985…From the publisher: This series is “designed to help readers understand what the Bible actually says and what it means…[each commentary] examines the text section by section, drawing out its main themes.” See more about the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series.
Romans (Understanding the Bible Commentary Series) by James R. Edwards
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Theology: Edwards takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he is Presbyterian
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Edwards authored volumes on Mark and Luke for the Pillar series…From the publisher: “Each volume in the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series breaks down the barriers between the ancient and modern worlds so that the power and meaning of the biblical texts become transparent to contemporary readers.” See more about the Understanding the Bible series.
Romans (IVP New Testament Commentary) by Grant R. Osborne
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Theology: Osborne takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he is Arminian
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Osborne wrote the Revelation volume in the BECNT series…he died in 2018…From the publisher: “Each volume, 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.
Romans (New American Commentary) by Robert H. Mounce
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Theology: Mounce takes an evangelical approach to Scripture
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Mounce is know for his Revelation volume in the NICNT series…this commentary is pastor-friendly…his son is New Testament scholar and Greek expert, Bill Mounce…From the publisher: “The New American Commentary is introduced to bridge the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This new series has been designed primarily to enable pastors, teachers, and students to read the Bible with clarity and proclaim it with power.” See more about the New American Commentary series.
Romans (Revised Expositor’s Bible Commentary) by Everett Harrison and Donald Hagner
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Theology: the reviser of this volume, Hagner, is Reformed
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Harrison wrote the original (pub. 1976) and Hagner wrote the revision (pub. 2008)…he argues against The New Perspective on Paul…just 200+ pages in length…From the publisher: “Written primarily by expositors for expositors…its stance is that of a scholarly evangelicalism committed to the divine inspiration, complete trustworthiness, and full authority of the Bible.” See more about the revised Expositor’s Bible Commentary series, original and revised.
Romans (The Wycliffe Exegetical Commentary) by Douglas Moo
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Theology: Moo takes an evangelical approach to Scripture; he leans Reformed on most passages
Best for: expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers
Notes: Moo published this commentary in 1991 before the series died, then he re-worked it for the NICNT volume (see above)…From the publisher: Written especially for the informed layman, student, and scholar, all exegesis and exposition is based on the original languages of the Bible books.”
Technical Commentaries
Romans (Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament) by John D. Harvey
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Theology: Harvey is Presbyterian
Interview: Read Best Bible Commentaries’ seven-question interview with Dr. Harvey on this volume
Notes: This series contains passage-by-passage exegesis of the Greek text…From the publisher: “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… The body is devoted to paragraph-by-paragraph exegesis of the Greek text and includes homiletical helps and suggestions for further study.”
Romans (Paideia Commentary on the New Testament) by Frank J. Matera
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Theology: Matera takes a critical approach to the text; he taught at Catholic University
Notes: 300+ pages in length…the series employs Catholic and Protestant authors…From the publisher: “Each sense unit is explored in three sections: (1) introductory matters, (2) tracing the train of thought, (3) key hermeneutical and theological questions. Graduate and seminary students, professors, and pastors will benefit from this readable commentary, as will theological libraries.”
Romans (Hermeneia) by Robert Jewett and Robert Jewett
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Theology: Jewett takes a critical approach to Scipture; he is an in-residence theologian at a Methodist church in Nebraska
Best for: students, pastors, teachers, professors, and scholars with training in Hebrew who can follow a technical commentary
Notes: 1,100+ pages in length…argues against The New Perspective on Paul…From the publisher: “The name Hermeneia, from the Greek, has a rich background in the history of biblical interpretation as a term for the detailed, systematic exposition of a scriptural work. Hermeneia is designed for the serious student of the Bible.” See more about the Hermeneia Bible commentary series.
Classic Christian Commentaries
Commentary on Romans by Martin Luther
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Notes: Luther’s Commentary on Romans presents the very earliest developments of Luther’s evangelical theology, which he described as “the theology of the Cross.” This popular edition, translated by Theodore Mueller, organizes Luther’s notes for modern readers, using explanatory subheadings and parenthetical comments to clarify the great Reformer’s thoughts.
Romans (Geneva Series of Commentaries) by Robert Haldane
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Notes: From the publisher: “Robert Haldane’s Exposition of Romans, both in its contents and in the power of its influence, stands among the foremost of the many treatments of the epistle. As a commentary, Thomas Chalmers ‘strongly recommended it’; Spurgeon put it in the front rank, and more recently, Martyn Lloyd-Jones owed ‘much profit and pleasure to it’, characterising its contents as unsurpassed in ‘warmth of spirit’ and ‘practical application.'”
Romans (Calvin’s New Testament Commentaries) by John Calvin
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Notes: From the publisher: “The power of John Calvin’s study of Romans and of 1 and 2 Thessalonians is captured in this superb translation by R. Mackenzie. Precise and authoritative, yet lucid and very readable, this volume will enrich all who are interested in understanding the full breadth and depth of these important sections of Scripture.”
Romans (Ironside Expository Commentaries) by H.A. Ironside
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Notes: 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.
Augustine on Romans
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Notes: Propositions from the Epistle to the Romans and Unfinished Commentary on the Epistles to the Romans.
Are you a pastor?
On the page Romans Commentaries for Pastors you find commentaries that uniquely designed for pastors in that they focus on application and spend less time on technical discussions.
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