The Word Biblical Commentary series is one of the most well-known and well-reviewed commentary series published in the last 50 years.
The recognizable blue and black covers of Old Testament volumes, and the green and black covers of New Testament volumes, are found in seminary libraries, pastors’ libraries, and home libraries all around the world.
Roger Nicole listed the Word Biblical Commentary series in Christianity Today magazine in an article titled, “What Evangelicalism Has Accomplished” in the last half of the twentieth century. [1]
Some of the best Bible scholars in the world have contributed to this series.
Which commentary series is best for your purposes? See Best Bible Commentaries: Top 50. Based on aggregate reviews.
Different publishers have owned the Word Biblical Commentary series since it first appeared in the late 1970’s: Word Books developed the series, then Thomas Nelson adopted it, and currently HarperCollins / Zondervan has its rights.
Zondervan is still publishing original and revised volumes in the series.
The first editor of the Old Testament volumes was Baptist theologian and Old Testament scholar, John D.W. Watts (d. 2013).
The current editor of Old Testament volumes is Nancy L. deClaisse-Walford, Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages at McAfee School of Theology, at Mercer University, Atlanta, Georgia.
The first editor of the New Testament volumes was British New Testament scholar, Ralph P. Martin (d. 2013), who wrote the James commentary in the series.
The current editor of New Testament volumes is Peter H. Davids, Professor of Christianity at Houston Baptist University.
The target audience for Word Biblical Commentary volumes is students, pastors, and professors. According to the series’ editors, this is what makes the commentaries unique:
What may be claimed as distinctive with the series is that it is based on the biblical languages, yet it seeks to make the technical and scholarly approach to theological understanding of Scripture understandable by — and useful to — the fledgling student, the working minister, and colleagues in the guild of professional scholars and teachers as well. [2]
Note: Please see how the WBC series compares to dozens of other commentary series on the Bible Commentaries Comparison Chart.
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Word Biblical Commentary (WBC): Reviews
Numerous Old Testament volumes in the series have been well-reviewed and are considered some of the best scholarship in their respective subject area.
For example, in the Old Testament series, Gordon Wenham’s Genesis volume is considered one of the best Genesis commentaries, and Peter Craigie’s Psalms volumes is considered one of the best Psalms commentaries. [3]
Likewise, many New Testament volumes have also been well-reviewed and are considered some of the best scholarship in their respective subject area. For example, James D.G. Dunn’s Romans volume is considered one of the best Romans commentaries and William Lane’s Hebrews volumes is considered among the best Hebrews commentaries.
Theologically, though some WBC volumes take a critical approach to Scripture (e.g. Leslie Allen, John Goldingay), yet on the whole the series is considered broadly evangelical.
However, some authors do not come from evangelical traditions, such as Roland Edward Murphy, a Catholic priest, who wrote the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes volumes.
Volumes in the WBC Series: Original and Revised
The links below go to Amazon using each book’s exact ISBN.
Old Testament Volumes
Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis 1-15. (Volume: 1) | Published: 1987
Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis 16-50. (Volume: 2) | Published: 1994
Durham, John I. Exodus. (Volume: 3) | Published: 1987
Hartley, John E. Leviticus. (Volume: 4) | Published: 1992
Budd, Phillip J. Numbers. (Volume: 5) | Published: 1984
Christensen, Duane L. Deuteronomy 1-11. (Volume: 6a) | Published: 1991
Christensen, Duane L. Deuteronomy 12-34. (Volume: 6b) | Published: 2002
Butler, Trent C. Joshua 1-12. 2nd ed. (Volume: 7a) | Published: 2014
Butler, Trent C. Joshua 13-24. 2nd ed.. (Volume: 7b) | Published: 2014
Replaced Butler, Trent C. Joshua. (Volume: 7) | Published: 1983
Armerding, Carl E. Judges. (Volume: 8) | Published: 2006
Bush, Fredric W. Ruth and Esther. (Volume: 9) | Published: 1996
Klein, Ralph W. 1 Samuel. (Volume: 10) | Published: 1983
Anderson, A. A. 2 Samuel. (Volume: 11) | Published: 1989
De Vries, Simon J. 1 Kings. (Volume: 12) | Published: 1985
Hobbs, T. R. 2 Kings. (Volume: 13) | Published: 1986
Braun, Roddy L. 1 Chronicles. (Volume: 14) | Published: 1986
Dillard, Raymond B. 2 Chronicles. (Volume: 15) | Published: 2010
Williamson, Hugh G. M. Ezra-Nehemiah. (Volume: 16) | Published: 1986
Clines, David J. A. Job 1-20. (Volume: 17) | Published: 1989
Clines, David J. A. Job 21-37. (Volume: 18a) | Published: 2006
Clines, David J. A. Job 38-42. 2nd ed. (Volume: 18b) | Published: 2015
Craigie, Peter C. Psalms 1-50. 2nd ed. (Volume: 19) | Published: 2010
Tate, Marvin E. Psalms 51-100. (Volume: 20) | Published: 1991
Allen, Leslie C. Psalms 101-150. (Volume: 21) | Published: 1983
Murphy, Roland. Proverbs. (Volume: 22) | Published: 1998
Murphy, Roland. Ecclesiastes. (Volume: 23a) | Published: 1992
Garrett, Duane; House, Paul R. Song of Songs and Lamentations. (Volume: 23b) | Published: 2004
Watts, John D. W. Isaiah 1-33. 2nd ed. (Volume: 24) | Published: 2005
Watts, John D. W. Isaiah 34-66. 2nd ed. (Volume: 25) | Published: 2005
Craigie, Peter C.; Kelley, Page H.; Drinkard Jr., Joel F. Jeremiah 1-25. (Volume: 26) | Published: 1991
Keown, Gerald L.; Scalise, Pamela J.; Smothers, Thomas G. Jeremiah 26-52. (Volume: 27) | Published: 1995
Brownlee, William H. Ezekiel 1-19. (Volume: 28) | Published: 1994
Allen, Leslie C. Ezekiel 20-48. (Volume: 29) | Published: 1990
Goldingay, John E. Daniel. (Volume: 30) | Published: 1989
Stuart, Douglas. Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah and Jonah. (Volume: 31) | Published: 1987
Smith, Ralph L. Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Nahum & Malachi. (Volume: 32) | Published: 1984
New Testament Volumes
Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 1-13. (Volume: 33a) | Published: 1993
Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 14-28. (Volume: 33b) | Published: 1995
Guelich, Robert A. Mark 1:1-8:26. (Volume: 34a) | Published: 1989
Evans, Craig A. Mark 8:27-16:20. (Volume: 34b) | Published: 2001
Nolland, John. Luke 1:1-9:20. (Volume: 35a) | Published: 1989
Nolland, John. Luke 9:21-18:34. (Volume: 35b) | Published: 1993
Nolland, John. Luke 18:35-24:53. (Volume: 35c) | Published: 1993
Beasley-Murray, George R. John. (Volume: 36) | Published: 1987
Acts 1-14 (forthcoming from Steven J. Walton)
Acts 15-28 (forthcoming from Steven J. Walton)
Dunn, James D. G. Romans 1-8. (Volume: 38a) | Published: 1988
Dunn, James D. G. Romans 9-16. (Volume: 38b) | Published: 1988
1 Corinthians (forthcoming from Andrew D. Clarke)
Martin, Ralph P. 2 Corinthians (2nd ed.). (Volume: 40) | Published: 2014
Replaced Martin, Ralph P. 2 Corinthians. (Volume: 40) | Published: 1986
Longenecker, Richard N. Galatians. (Volume: 41) | Published: 1990
Lincoln, Andrew T. Ephesians. (Volume: 42) | Published: 1990
Hawthorne, Gerald F. Philippians. (Volume: 43) | Published: 1983
O’Brien, Peter T. Colossians and Philemon. (Volume: 44) | Published: 1982
Bruce, F. F. 1 and 2 Thessalonians. (Volume: 45) | Published: 1982
Mounce, William D. Pastoral Epistles. (Volume: 46) | Published: 2000
Lane, William L. Hebrews 1-8. (Volume: 47a) | Published: 1991
Lane, William L. Hebrews 9-13. (Volume: 47b) | Published: 1991
Martin, Ralph P. James. (Volume: 48) | Published: 1988
Michaels, J. Ramsey. 1 Peter. (Volume: 49) | Published: 1988
Bauckham, Richard J. 2 Peter and Jude. (Volume: 50) | Published: 1983
Smalley, Stephen S. 1, 2 and 3 John. (Volume: 51) | Published: 1984
Aune, David A. Revelation 1-5. (Volume: 52a) | Published: 1997
Aune, David A. Revelation 6-16. (Volume: 52b) | Published: 1997
Aune, David A. Revelation 17-22. (Volume: 52c) | Published: 1998
References
https://web.archive.org/web/20090218140843/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1996/september16/6ta030.html?start=2 (accessed 3/4/19)
From the “Editorial Preface,” which can be found in any WBC volume.
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-commentaries-does-dg-recommend