Series Introduction: I live in a small house. I work in a small office in a small church. For those reasons and others I will never have a huge library. When I add a book I almost always remove a book, a practice that allows me to focus on quality over quantity. Over the past couple of years I have focused on building a collection of commentaries that will include only the best volumes on each book of the Bible. I know when I'm in way over my head, so before I began I collected every good resource I could find that rated and reviewed commentaries. I studied them and then began my collection on the basis of what the experts told me. Since I did all of that work, and since I continue to keep up with the project, I thought it might be helpful to share the recommendations.

My focus is on newer commentaries (at least in part because most of the classics are now freely or cheaply available) and I am offering approximately 5 recommendations for each book of the Bible, alternating between the Old Testament and the New. Today I'll share what I learned about Leviticus.

Leviticus

I had more difficulty sorting through the options for Leviticus than I had with any of the previous books. The top recommendation was very clear, but after that it was quite a bit more cloudy. In the end I chose commentaries that were recommended by multiple experts and that were both conservative and Evangelical in flavor.

Gordon Wenham - The Book of Leviticus (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament). The clear leader in the field is Wenham whose volume is recommended by every commentator on the commentaries. Jim Rosscup of the Master’s Seminary quotes Dan Phillips who says it is a “Sparkling, inviting and generally convincing effort at showing the modern meaning and relevance of Leviticus, based on the legitimate and inherent meaning of the text. [It is] indispensable for preaching or teaching, and rewarding for personal (serious) study.” Note that Wenham’s work on Genesis is also the most-recommended volume for that book. (Amazon, Westminster Books)

Mark Rooker - Leviticus (New American Commentary). Determining that Wenham’s was top of the class was quite simple; finding which commentaries to recommend subsequently proved much more difficult. Rooker’s work is widely praised and is the second I would add to a collection. Keith Mathison says, “Many of the commentaries in the NAC series are strong, and Rooker's work on Leviticus is a good example. It is both exegetically thorough and well written.” High praise, indeed. (Amazon)

John Currid - A Study Commentary on Leviticus (Evangelical Press Study Commentary). Currid’s volume has not been as widely reviewed as many of the others. However, Derek Thomas says of it, “Clearly and cogently presents Leviticus as a series of directories for public worship and establishes the importance of Leviticus for the NT. Especially helpful on the Holiness Code.” I love Currid’s work because I consider him especially conservative and trustworthy. (Amazon, Westminster Books)

I am in the unique and enjoyable position of receiving copies of most of the latest and greatest Christian books and I like to provide regular roundups of some of the best and brightest of the bunch. Here are some of the notable books that I’ve received:

Faithmapping by Daniel Montgomery and Mike Cosper. “Most of us emphasize one aspect of Christianity over another. Competing voices tell us that the Christian life is all about this or that: missions, discipleship, worship, the cross, or the kingdom. It’s as if we are navigating the Christian life with fragments of a map—bits and pieces of the good news—rather than the whole picture. If we put those map fragments together, we discover a beautiful, coherent picture. Faithmapping invites Christians to see that map, exploring a whole gospel that forms a whole church who carries that glorious news to the whole world.” (Learn more or buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead by Thomas A. Miller. “How can a respected scientist believe in the resurrection? Can I trust the Bible’s account that Jesus actually rose from the dead? If the resurrection really occurred, of what importance is it to you and me? Our ready embrace of the authority of science has left many doubting that Jesus’s resurrection was a verifiable, historical event. Yet Thomas Miller, an experienced scientist and well-respected surgeon, challenges the notion that modern medicine has disproved the possibility of the resurrection. Through careful investigation of the evidence and evaluation of its reliability, Dr. Miller demonstrates that science and religion are not incompatible and makes a compelling case for the reality of the resurrection.” (Learn more or buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

The Church Planting Wife by Christine Hoover. “‘Nothing in my life goes untouched by my husband’s calling.’ Christine Hoover’s words in the first chapter describe so well the life of a church planter’s wife, which is enormously difficult yet extraordinarily rewarding. To be married to a church planter is a calling all its own with richness all its own. In The Church Planting Wife, Hoover explores and encourages the hearts of her readers while teaching what it means to have heart prepared for this unique ministry. As the wife of a church planter, she knows well the highs and lows; glories and despairs. Christine speaks with clarity and poignancy to the reader about what it looks like to be part of the church planting ministry and to grow a heart that wholly reflects Jesus. Spread throughout these pages are stories and interviews from church planting wives. Christine Hoover empathetically and pointedly builds off these testimonies to uplift the reader and offer lessons of hope in the midst of a challenging ministry.” (Learn more or buy it at Amazon.)

Series Introduction: I live in a small house. I work in a small office in a small church. For those reasons and others I will never have a huge library. When I add a book I almost always remove a book, a practice that allows me to focus on quality over quantity. Over the past couple of years I have focused on building a collection of commentaries that will include only the best volumes on each book of the Bible. I know when I'm in way over my head, so before I began I collected every good resource I could find that rated and reviewed commentaries. I studied them and then began my collection on the basis of what the experts told me. Since I did all of that work, and since I continue to keep up with the project, I thought it might be helpful to share the recommendations.

My focus is on newer commentaries (at least in part because most of the classics are now freely or cheaply available) and I am offering approximately 5 recommendations for each book of the Bible, alternating between the Old Testament and the New. Today I'll share what I learned about Mark. 

Mark

Of the five suggestions, the first three represent a very clear consensus from all the experts; the two that follow are still widely regarded as excellent, but there appears to be a significant gap between the best three and the rest.

R.T. France - The Gospel of Mark (New International Greek Testament Commentary). Most commentators on commentaries reserve the top spot for France’s volume (Note that he has also written a top-five commentary on Matthew). While the NIGTC is more scholary than most other series, and requires at least some knowledge of Greek, D.A. Carson says it is still “remarkably accessible and includes a healthy mix of history, theology, social context, even warmth.” By way of context, I have rudimentary knowledge of Greek (one year of university-level) and find that I am able to make my way through these commentaries, though with some difficulty at times. (Amazon, Westminster Books)

James Edwards - The Gospel According to Mark (Pillar New Testament Commentary). The Pillar series, edited by D.A. Carson, is consistently excellent, always conservative, and more widely accessible than the NIGTC. Edwards’ volume on Mark receives a recommendation from every conservative expert I consulted. Keith Mathison says “Edwards’ commentary on Mark is another fine contribution. His emphasis on the theology of Mark is especially helpful.” According to the publisher, “This commentary aims primarily to interpret the Gosepl of Mark according to its theological intentions and purposes, especially as they relate to the life and ministry of Jesus and the call to faith and discipleship.” (Amazon, Westminster Books)

William Lane - The Gospel According to Mark (The New International Commentary on the New Testament). Lane’s commentary is slightly older than the previous two and may be in some danger of being phased out as Eerdmans slowly replaces some of the older volumes in NICNT series. For that reason, it may be worth buying sooner rather than later. This is the one commentary on Mark that John Piper recommends. (Amazon, Westminster Books)

I love writing book reviews and I love reading them. Since I cannot possibly read and review all of the interesting books out there, I publish occasional round-ups of reviews written by other writers. Or even if I am able to review the book, it’s always good to get a second opinion. So here are a few notable links I’ve collected recently:

Sensing Jesus by Zack Eswine. Reviewed by Aaron Armstrong. “Sensing Jesus, by the author's own admission, is meant to be a slow burn. If you blast through this book, you're going to be sorely disappointed. "Apprenticeship needs meditation and time," as he puts it (27). Readers would do well to take Eswine at his word. Read slowly and thoughtfully. Make lots of notes. Be willing to recognize where you see yourself in its pages, and consider how God might challenge you through it to recover the humanity of your ministry.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

Mortality by Christopher Hitchens. Reviewed by Douglas Groothuis. “In the middle of a book tour for a memoir, Hitch-22, Hitchens came down with severe symptoms that were later found to be esophageal cancer, a rapid and rarely curable form of this perennial plague on humanity. Hitchens tells his story without self-pity or lugubrious detail. In fact, he writes with a kind of detachment--here are the facts; here are my reflections on them--but not without some pathos. This slim volume is a less a lament than a report, which is apt enough, given Hitchens' vocation. But it, nevertheless, discloses something of the sting of death, inflicted on one without the hope of the gospel. Hitchens remains a naturalist to the end: everyone dies; there is no afterlife; that is the way it is--and I might as well write about it.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon.)

Fools Rush In by Carl Trueman. Reviewed by Erik Raymond: “If you have not read any of Trueman, either on his blog or in his other books, this would be a terrific introduction into his writing. There is a certain style with which he writes that is simultaneously humorous, painful, prophetic, and pastoral. As a guy who is Reformed, (relatively) young, and pastor who has a blog-I am a prime candidate to be greatly offended by Trueman. But I'm not. I'm very thankful for him. His words were particularly helpful for me over my Christmas vacation.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

Series Introduction: I live in a small house. I work in a small office in a small church. For those reasons and others I will never have a huge library. When I add a book I almost always remove a book, a practice that allows me to focus on quality over quantity. Over the past couple of years I have focused on building a collection of commentaries that will include only the best volumes on each book of the Bible. I know when I'm in way over my head, so before I began I collected every good resource I could find that rated and reviewed commentaries. I studied them and then began my collection on the basis of what the experts told me. Since I did all of that work, and since I continue to keep up with the project, I thought it might be helpful to share the recommendations.

My focus is on newer commentaries (at least in part because most of the classics are now freely or cheaply available) and I am offering approximately 5 recommendations for each book of the Bible, alternating between the Old Testament and the New. Today I'll share what I learned about Exodus.

Exodus

Brevard S. Childs - The Book of Exodus (The Old Testament Library). There is near-unanimous praise for this volume by Brevard Childs even though it comes from the critical stream. Jim Rosscup of The Master’s Seminary recommends it with a caveat, saying it is “suitable for scholars or intense, advanced students who have discernment to weigh what is good and what is subjective theory pressed in.” This seems like a must-have commentary for the preacher, but he will want to have others available besides. It is probably not as useful or appropriate for the casual reader. (Amazon)

Peter Enns - Exodus (New International Version Application Commentary). This volume also receives many accolades from a wide variety of experts. Tremper Longman calls this an “incredibly insightful theological study” of the book of Exodus and says, “This commentary is ideal for those preaching on Exodus, because he so thoughtfully explores the book’s trajectory toward the New Testament gospel.”  (Amazon, Westminster Books)

I am in the unique and enjoyable position of receiving copies of most of the latest and greatest Christian books and I like to provide regular roundups of some of the best and brightest of the bunch. Here are some of the notable books that I’ve received:

The Kingdom of God edited by Morgan and Peterson. The fourth release in the Theology in Community series: “The kingdom of God is a very large biblical category indeed. Accordingly, a comprehensive understanding of the kingdom would illuminate many aspects of theology. With this in mind, Robert Peterson, Christopher Morgan, Bruce Waltke, Robert Yarbrough, Gerald Bray, Clinton Arnold, Gregg Allison, Stephen Nichols, and Anthony Bradley have collaborated to articulate a full view of the kingdom of God across multiple disciplines. One of the most important books on the kingdom since G. E. Ladd, this volume offers a robust theology and is corroborated by the very series in which it stands. Fourth in the noted Theology in Community series, The Kingdom of God establishes the significance of the kingdom across the Old and New Testaments, in eschatological literature, in church history, and in culture today.” (Learn more or buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

The White Umbrella by Mary Frances Bowley. “Sex trafficking. We hear about it on the nightly news and in special interest stories from around the world, but it occurs daily in communities all around us. Every year, thousands of young women are forced into sexual exploitation. Most are under the age of 18. The damage this causes to their emotions and souls is immeasurable, but they are not without hope. The White Umbrella tells stories of survivors as well as those who came alongside to help them to recovery. It describes the pain and the strength of these young women and those who held the ‘white umbrella’ of protection and purity over them on the road to restoration. This book offers principles and guidance to anyone with a heart for these hurting young women and a desire to help. It is an ideal resource for individuals or organizations seeking to learn what they can do to assist these victims in becoming whole again.” (Learn more or buy it at Amazon.)

Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John Piper. “In this revised and expanded edition of Brothers, We Are Not Professionals that includes a new introduction and select all-new chapters, best-selling author John Piper pleads through a series of thoughtful essays with fellow pastors to abandon the professionalization of the pastorate and pursue the prophetic call of the Bible for radical ministry.” This is a classic that should be in the library of every pastor! (Learn more or buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

February is very nearly upon us, and to get the month started right, here are some wallpapers calendars to dress up your computer, tablet or cell phone. This month’s designs come courtesy of Jeff Nine, of Global Missions Media. Global Missions Media is a team of communicators, designers, and strategists on mission that exists to help churches and ministries communicate who they are and what they are about to the world around them. With years of experience working with churches and ministries, the Global Missions Media team is equipped to help you, no matter your project. They can help you with: logo & brand development, print media & design services, video & photography productions, media strategy, campaign concepting & completion, and more.

A few notes: Your desktop or laptop may take any of the sizes, depending on your monitor size and a host of other considerations. You can click here to see what your resolution is. Generally you set one of these are your wallpaper by clicking on the link to the image, then right-clicking on the image (once it's open) and selecting "Set as Background," "Set as Desktop Background," or something similar. If you aren't sure, post a comment and we'll try to help you figure it out.

New Heart

With Calendar: 1024x768, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1200, 2560x1440

Without Calendar: Facebook Cover, iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPad, 1024x768, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1200, 2560x1440

This Is Love

With Calendar: 1024x768, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1200, 2560x1440

Without Calendar: Facebook Cover, iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPad, 1024x768, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1200, 2560x1440

Series Introduction: I live in a small house. I work in a small office in a small church. For those reasons and others I will never have a huge library. When I add a book I almost always remove a book, a practice that allows me to focus on quality over quantity. Over the past couple of years I have focused on building a collection of commentaries that will include only the best volumes on each book of the Bible. I know when I’m in way over my head, so before I began I collected every good resource I could find that rated and reviewed commentaries. I studied them and then began my collection on the basis of what the experts told me. Since I did all of that work, and since I continue to keep up with the project, I thought it might be helpful to share the recommendations.

My focus will be on newer commentaries (at least in part because most of the classics are now freely or cheaply available) and I will offer approximately 5 recommendations for each book of the Bible, alternating between the Old Testament and the New. Today I’ll share what I learned about Matthew.

Matthew

In his commentary on commentaries D.A. Carson points out that we are blessed to have an abundance of volumes on Matthew since as recently as twenty-five years ago the pickings were thin. As I read the opinions of the experts I saw that common pressing and divisive issues include the book’s authorship, views on divorce and remarriage, and eschatological concerns. The following recommendations are uniformly conservative, though they will vary on many particulars.

D.A. Carson - Matthew (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary). Carson’s work, an older but recently-revised one, consistently ranks in the top one or two for most commentators on the commentaries. You will want to purchase the revised edition (in place of the older two-volume paperback) that is packaged with Mark as Volume 9 of the hardcover EBC series. Of all the commentators, Carson himself seems least impressed with his own work; others are far more lavish with their praise. It ranks as the top suggestion from John Piper and Desiring God among many others. (Amazon, Westminster Books)

Leon Morris - The Gospel According to Matthew (Pillar New Testament Commentary). Morris is widely regarded as a superior commentator; he has contributed volumes on many books in a variety of commentary series. His volume on Matthew has received near-unanimous praise. Dr. Jim Rosscup of The Master’s Seminary says he “provides a thorough, clear, well-studied and mature tool based on the Greek but highly readable even for those who do not know Greek.” This neatly summarizes what I so enjoy about the PNTC series; it is scholarly and deep, yet readable for someone even with my rudimentary knowledge of Greek. (Amazon, Westminster Books)

R.T. France - The Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament). France has a volume in the Tyndale series that is highly regarded, but it has since been eclipsed by his much longer and more significant contribution to the NICNT. That series, like so many, is somewhat uneven, but France’s is said to be excellent. Keith Mathison says the “work is thorough and solidly evangelical and will be beneficial to pastors and all serious students of Scripture.” I expect to find a greater number of endorsements as the commentators catch up with newer volumes like this one. (Amazon, Westminster Books)

Craig Blomberg - Matthew (New American Commentary). If I am reading the experts correctly, there seems to be a significant gap between the first three titles on this list and everything that follows. If you would like to have three good commentaries on Matthew, I think the choices are quite clear and are reflected above. If you want a little bit more variety, then you will likely want to include the volume by Blomberg. Carson assures us it is “not to be missed.” (Amazon)

Craig Keener - A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew. Keener’s work receives high recommendations and significant warnings about the limits of its usefulness. It may also be going out of print since it is not available at Westminster Books and is currently available only from Amazon resellers. This is the kind of commentary I tend to avoid since I don’t consider myself sufficiently schooled to confidently sort through the weaknesses. However, most experts do recommend it with certain caveats. (Keener has since released The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary, but I have found few expert reviews of the newer work.) (Amazon)

I am very eager to read expert reviews of Grant Osborne’s Matthew contribution to the new Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series (Amazon, Westminster Books). I am quite enjoying the series, including its unique layout and format, but am awaiting expert opinions).

Likewise, I am eager to read reviews of Doriani’s contribution to my favorite series, the Reformed Expository Commentary set (Amazon, Westminster Books), a series based on sermons. I have not had many opportunities to use the volumes on Matthew, but have benefited greatly from every other volume in the series.

Finally, let me close with a question: What are your preferred commentaries on Matthew? Are there some you’ve found particularly helpful?

I live in a small house. I work in a small office in a small church. For those reasons and others I will never have a huge library. When I add a book I almost always remove a book, a practice that allows me to focus on quality over quantity. Over the past couple of years I have focused on building a collection of commentaries that will include only the best volumes on each book of the Bible. I know when I’m in way over my head, so before I began I collected every good resource I could find that rated and reviewed commentaries. I studied them and then began my collection on the basis of what the experts told me. Since I did all of that work, and since I continue to keep up with the project, I thought it might be helpful to share the recommendations.

My focus will be on newer commentaries (at least in part because most of the classics are now freely or cheaply available) and I will offer approximately 5 recommendations for each book of the Bible. I will alternate between the Old and New Testaments, first going to Genesis, then Matthew, then back to Exodus, and so on. Today I’ll share what I learned about Genesis.

Genesis

There is no shortage of commentaries on Genesis and, thankfully, no shortage of recommendations. The most pressing and divisive issues include the authorship of the book and, of course, the most faithful understanding of creation. Here, according to the experts, are the top commentaries on Genesis:

Gordon J. Wenham - Genesis 1-5 and Genesis 16-50 (Word Biblical Commentary). This series is certainly not known for being user-friendly; the volumes are also uneven with some being far superior to others. However, most experts rate Wenham’s work as one of their top recommendations for Genesis. Tremper Longman rates Wenham as “one of the finest evangelical commentators today” and says that his “commentary on Genesis shows a high level of scholarship and his exegetical sensitivity.” His approach to Genesis is conservative and he stresses the unity of the biblical text. (Amazon: Volume 1, Volume 2. Westminster Books: Volume 1, Volume 2)

Victor P. Hamilton - The Book of Genesis Chapters 1-17 and Chapters 18-50 (The New International Commentary on the Old Testament). Most commentators on commentaries commend Hamilton for his thoroughness in examining the interpretive difficulties in Genesis and his generally conservative conclusions (though some are frustrated that he ends up ambiguous regarding Mosaic authorship). After a helpful examination of the various ways of understanding the creation story, he advocates a literary interpretation of Genesis 1. (Amazon: Volume 1, Volume 2. Westminster Books: Volume 1, Volume 2)

Allen Ross - Creation & Blessing. Ross’ text is not a commentary per se but more of an exposition meant to help the preacher. He holds to a six-day creation and to Mosaic authorship. Instead of going verse-by-verse, he proceeds section-by-section in the way he recommends preaching the book. Keith Mathison calls it “an invaluable resource for expositors” and insists “if you are a pastor, you should not be without this book.” I have used this volume several times and have found it a very helpful aid. (Amazon, Westminster Books)

John D. Currid - Genesis Volume 1 and Genesis Volume 2 (Evangelical Press Study Commentary). Derek Thomas provides a very strong recommendation for this two-volume set which he says features “easy to read yet biblically robust expositions that seek to bridge the gap between technical and popular commentaries.” Currid advocates Mosaic authorship and a literal six-day creation. (Amazon: Volume 1, Volume 2. Westminster Books: Volume 1, Volume 2)

Derek Kidner - Genesis (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries). Kidner’s work, like his other volumes in the TOTC series, is far shorter than the other recommendations. This, along with his conversational style, make it eminently readable. The short format necessitates great concision which can be both a help and a disappointment; the preacher will definitely need to supplement with more thorough volumes. Still, this makes an excellent commentary to begin with and an excellent choice for those looking to bypass some of the scholarly works. Nearly every scholar gives it his recommendation. (Amazon, Westminster Books)

I love book reviews. Since I cannot possibly read all of the interesting books out there, I publish occasional round-ups of reviews I have found at other blogs. Or even if I am able to review the book, it's always good to get a second opinion. Here are a few of the notable links I've collected recently:

First off, here are two reviews of one of my favourite books of 2012, The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler:

Douglas Wilson writes: “Mohler starts by saying that he wants to do something different, and I think he succeeds in this. He states in the first lines that he wants to “change the way you think about leadership.” Mohler is clearly conversant with the current literature on leadership, and what he says overlaps with the best of what’s out there, but he clearly has the whole thing pointed in a different direction. But however good this book is, and it is, it still needs to be applied.”

And here is Mitch Chase’s take: “A common denominator appears early in the book and underlies the overall tone and argument: stewardship. Mohler wants leaders to steward their position well because they will answer to God. Leadership is a temporary stewardship and is exercised in light of the final judgment.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon.)

The Church by Mark Dever. Reviewed by Nathan Finn. “The Church is a helpful introduction to Baptist ecclesiology. Perhaps because of its genesis as a lengthy chapter in a systematic theology textbook, Dever provides a good balance between description and prescription. The book's structure (introduction, exegesis, history, practice) lends itself to wide usage in the seminary classroom, among pastors and church staff, and in ministerial internship programs. Non-Baptist evangelicals will likely reject many of Dever's conclusions, though many who appreciate the importance of ecclesiology will still resonate with much of the book.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books.)

A Puritan Theology by Joel R. Beeke and Mark Jones. Reviewed by David Steele. “A Puritan Theology is a labor of love that should be cherished by the church for years to come. It should be read for helpful theological insight. It should be read devotionally. The contents are bound to equip, encourage, and rebuke. For me personally, the Puritans have been a deep source of encouragement, especially concerning the nature of God, the promises of God, the sovereignty of God, the lordship of Christ, sanctification, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Of course, no one surpasses the courage demonstrated by the Puritans as they sought to faithfully live the Christian life in the power of the Spirit.” (Learn more and shop at Amazon or Westminster Books.)