Best Bible Commentary Series: The Top 50

With so many Bible commentary series available today, many people wonder which ones are best. The variety exists because readers have different purposes for using them — some are designed for pastors and preachers, others for scholars and professors, and still others for laypeople. Some series even aim to serve all audiences at once.

Can Bible Commentary Series Be Ranked?

Many readers would benefit from an answer to the question, “Which commentary series are best?” However, providing a completely objective answer is challenging. As mentioned above, commentaries vary in purpose and approach — some even being unique — and readers likewise have different needs and preferences.

Ranking a technical commentary above a devotional one wouldn’t be helpful if the reader’s goal is devotional study. Likewise, prioritizing a historical commentary over a theological one wouldn’t serve someone seeking theological insight. But what if there were another way to organize them?

Also, see the Best One-Volume Whole Bible Commentaries for more.

Shaping the Tiers

Below, I have organized 50 different commentary series into five tiers of 10, based on the following considerations:

• Each tier is arranged alphabetically rather than in a strict 1–10 ranking.
• Each tier includes authors with different approaches to the biblical text, such as exegetical, theological, and historical.
• Placement is determined by aggregate reviews, enduring usefulness, and recommendations from pastors, professors, and laypeople.
• I used the information I collated for the best Old Testament commentaries and the best New Testament commentaries to shape these tiers.

Is the tiered approach perfect? No! Each reader should use the information below as a starting point, not take it as the final word on the topic. A tiered approach reduces subjectivity, but it doesn’t eliminate it.

https://youtu.be/FEoQkUf7UYA

Tier One: Book Series #1-10

The first-tier commentary series feature multiple well-reviewed volumes, widely regarded as among the best for their respective biblical books. These series are consistently helpful and theologically sound.

Series Title	Why Tier One?
Baker Exegetical Commentaries on the New Testament	The BECNT commentary series has well-reviewed volumes by evangelical authors who explain the Greek text in helpful ways to pastors and professors. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Expositor’s Bible Commentaries Revised	The EBCR series contains mid-level commentaries covering the entire Bible with several highly-praised volumes. The 2007 revision drew more attention to this classic set. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
New American Commentaries	The NAC series employs authors from the Baptist tradition. Many volumes, which are mid-level, are well-reviewed by Baptists and non-Baptists. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
New International Commentaries on the Old/New Testament	The NICOT and NICNT series may be the most praised mid-level series based on aggregate reviews. It’s been a go-to series for pastors for decades. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
New International Greek Testament Commentaries	The NIGTC series is technical and moderately critical. Authors generally support orthodox theological conclusions. Pastors seeking technical insight like this series. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
NIV Application Commentaries	The NIVAC series is likely the most popular today because it explains and applies Scripture. Volumes are mid-level, affordable, well-reviewed, and a staple for pastors. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
NEW	See the new One-Volume NIV Application Commentary volume
Pillar New Testament Commentaries	The PNTC series contains many acclaimed volumes praised for their mid-level exegesis and theology. It’s incomplete (e.g., Revelation) but has built a well-deserved reputation over the last 40 years. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Tyndale Old/New Testament Commentaries	TOTC and TNTC commentaries are mid-level, accessible, affordable, and theologically sound. Most volumes are helpful to readers with various purposes, from preachers to Bible study leaders. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Word Biblical Commentaries	There is no debating the greatness of specific WBC volumes. However, using a variety of authors means approaches to the Bible vary widely from one volume to another. Mid-level. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Zondervan Exegetical Commentaries on the New Testament	Commentaries in the ZECOT and ZECNT series have the most helpful layout of any series today. The authors are conservative. The target audience is pastors. The series is mid-level. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN

Also, see the Best Commentary on Each Book of the Bible for more.

Tier Two: Book Series #11-20

The tier-two commentary series vary. Some have been around for years but include fewer well-reviewed volumes, while others are newer with well-received volumes but a smaller overall body of work.

Series Title	Why Tier Two?
Anchor Yale Commentaries	Authors in this series employ various critical approaches to the text. Certain volumes are well-reviewed for the biblical book they cover. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Baker Commentaries on the OT: Wisdom and Psalms	The BCOTWP series is helpful to pastors and professors. Users praise volumes for their exegesis, theology, and literary insight. If the series covers more books with the same quality, it may be top-tier. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Bible Speaks Today	John Stott’s volumes elevate this series. Volumes are well-reviewed by lay readers as devotional aids and helpful to pastors as an introductory resource for preaching. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Hermeneia Commentaries	Hermeneia commentaries contain technical analysis for those seeking insight into the original languages. Authors take a variety of critical approaches to the text. Volumes are expensive. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Interpretation Commentaries	Interpretation commentaries are mid-level, theologically focused, affordable, pastor-friendly, and mildly critical. They aim to help preachers and teachers. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
IVP New Testament Commentaries	The IVPNTC series is mid-level and designed for pastors. It’s evangelical. The paperbacks are relatively affordable. Like the NIVAC, it includes application help. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
J. Vernon McGee Commentaries	These commentaries have little depth compared to others on this list. They have lots of illustrations. McGee’s radio ministry helped raise awareness of these introductory volumes. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Old/New Testament Library Commentaries	OLT and NLT volumes contain some exegesis. They focus on the literature and theology of biblical books. Some NT volumes are well-reviewed. Some OT contributions boost the series as a whole. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Reformed Expository Commentaries	REC volumes record some of the best Reformed preaching today. Easy-to-understand theology make the biblical text clear and relevant to pastors and lay readers. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Commentaries	No other series provides readers with the quality and quantity of pictures, charts, maps, and other illustrations that these volumes provide. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN

Also, see the Best Revelation commentaries to learn more.

https://youtu.be/qCEw7eeFTY0

Tier Three: Book Series #21-30

Most tier-three series are intentionally narrow in focus, limiting their audience and readership compared to broader, more widely appealing series.

Series Title	Why Tier Three?
Ancient Christian Commentaries	This series preserves, simplifies, and organizes biblical commentary from early church fathers so that modern readers can benefit from their faith, insight, and explanations. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Apollos Old Testament Commentaries	The volumes released so far in the AOTC series are high-quality, mid-level, and mildly critical. They are mid-level. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Evangelical Exegetical Commentaries	The EEC series is relatively new and may rise to a higher tier over time. Volumes contain refined exegesis with theological insight. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Focus on the Bible	The FOB is an introductory series. Many volumes offer devotional reflections from a moderately Reformed view. The series is helpful to lay people and pastors. The authors include application help. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
God’s Word For You	The GWFY series benefits from the contributions of pastor Tim Keller. Yet, other authors contribute helpful introductory volumes. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
John MacArthur Commentaries	Most sections of this series read like sermons. He is controversial to some, so tier three seems fitting, but those devoted to his teaching will surely place it higher. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Mentor Commentaries	Mentor commentaries are pastor-friendly and mid-level. They utilize Reformed authors. The series may climb to a higher tier if the quality of future volumes remains high. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Preaching the Word	This series requires authors to have preached expository sermons through the biblical book they are commenting on. Some volumes are large, but they are still reasonably priced. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Socio- Rhetorical Commentaries	The SRBC is the product of Arminian scholar Ben Witherington. The socio-rhetorical approach is brilliantly executed for books such as Acts. The narrow focus limits the series. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Understanding the Bible Commentaries	Formerly known as the New International Biblical Commentary series, the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series contains some well-reviewed volumes. Others miss the mark. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN

Also, see Best Romans commentaries to learn more.

Tier Four: Book Series #31-40

Some tier-four series are solid but young and may rise in ranking as they gain more readers and reviews. Others have dedicated audiences, but their readership remains relatively small.

Series Title	Why Tier Four?
Christ- Centered Expository Commentaries	The Christ-Centered Expositional Commentary series is great for Bible studies. Volumes lack sufficient depth for some pastors. The series’ approach is helpful with Old Testament volumes. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Concordia Commentaries	Concordia volumes are of excellent quality, and the commentary in each volume is thorough. It’s a product of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The authors are evangelical and affirm inerrancy. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
For Everyone	The For Everyone series is introductory. The paperbacks are very affordable. They explain the basics well. The lack of depth may prevent widespread use by pastors. OT volumes can be mildly critical. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
International Critical Commentaries	The abridged paperback editions of this series have made its volumes affordable to more people than when these technical commentaries were only available in hardbacks that often exceeded $120 new. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
JPS Torah Commentaries	This series covers the first five books of the Bible. Volumes are mildly critical. They will be maximized by those who know Hebrew. Volumes read from right to left. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Keil- Delitzsch Commentaries	Keil-Delitzsch is an enduring Old Testament series whose conservative commentary comes from the Hebrew text. It is still helpful to pastors and affordable, with used sets often found for under $100 on secondary markets. See on Amazon using exact ISBN
Living Insights (Swindoll)	These New Testament volumes are a favorite for those who love the teaching of pastor Charles Swindoll. They are introductory and may benefit lay people more than other audiences. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
New Cambridge Bible Commentaries	The NCBC series is mid-level and has a chance to climb to a higher tier as more volumes are released. Some volumes are very well reviewed. Authors are diverse and include Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant scholars. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
New Interpreter’s Bible Commentaries	The NIBC series covers all 66 books of the Bible. Its friendly layout makes it easy to wade through the mid-level, sometimes mildly critical, explanations of the biblical text. The publisher and author are Arminian. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Story of God Bible Commentaries	The SGBC series focuses on the “grand story” of the Bible and how individual books fit into it. Time will tell if readers believe this approach is helpful. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN

Also, see Best John commentaries to learn more.

Tier Five: Book Series #41-50

Tier-five series are certainly worth considering, but for various reasons, they have a limited readership today.

Series Title	Why Tier Five?
Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation	The BTCP series is now the Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary (EBTC). If it continues to produce quality volumes, it could rise higher as a valuable resource for pastors. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Black’s New Testament Commentaries	Many volumes in the BNTC series are now dated, but some have endured. Its audience leans more toward scholars than pastors. The series’ approach is mildly critical. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Boice Expositional Commentaries	BEC volumes read like sermons. They come from the ministry of Reformed pastor James Montgomery Boice. These slim paperbacks can be used as devotional aids. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Brazos Theological Commentaries	The Brazos series uses systematic theologians to write commentaries. Reviews have been mixed for these paperbacks that cost the same as many hardback commentaries. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Continental Commentaries	Continental Commentaries offer advanced, refined exegesis via English translations of German volumes. They may not prove to be practical for many readers other than scholars. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Crossway Classics Commentaries	This series consists of abridged commentaries from Reformed writers from previous centuries. The publisher chose to use the NIV in these volumes, which has resulted in mixed reviews. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Gospel According to the Old Testament Commentaries	This series consists of thin affordable paperbacks that offer readers Christ-centered insight into Old Testament books with devotional and theological applications. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Holman Old/New Commentaries	The Holman series is introductory. These hardbacks help pastors with overviews and sermon layouts. They lack exegetical, theological, and historical depth. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
International Theological Commentaries	The ITC series values theological diversity in authors, which results in inconsistent conclusions. These mildly critical paperbacks don’t have a broad audience. A few volumes have positive reviews. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Kregel Exegetical Commentaries	The KEC series consists of mid-level hardbacks. It could rise to higher tiers if the quality of new releases is high. The first volumes offer theological insight into the text. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Teach the Text	Some volumes in the series have received good reviews, but limiting the space for authors on passages proved challenging. The series is now discontinued. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN
Two Horizons Commentaries	The TH series, whose volumes blend biblical studies with theological studies, produced some helpful volumes. It’s now discontinued. See on Amazon using exact ISBN See on Christianbook using exact ISBN

Also, see Best Matthew commentaries to learn more.