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Logos is running a great sale on the New International Commentary series published by Eerdmans This All volumes in this long-running series, both Old and New Testament are only $19.95 each.By far the best deal in this sale is Doug Moo’s Romans Commentary (Second Edition). The hardback print version of this 2018 commentary is $79.95 retail, so an electronic copy for $19.95 is hard to pass up. David Toshio Tsumura’s two volumes on First and Second Samuel are excellent, all four of the Gospels volumes are standard reference commentaries (R. T. France on Matthew, Joel Green on Luke, and Ramsey Michaels on John).

Like most commentary series, the NICOT and NICNT have replaced a number of volumes over the years. Sometimes the older commentary is more brief, primarily since commentaries have grown thicker in recent years (yes, I am looking at you, Craig Keener). Not all the older volumes of this series are available in Logos format, but a few are. Some readers may prefer a classic commentary by F. F. Bruce. I notice the original John volume by Leon Morris is still available. For some reason both the first and second edition of Fee’s commentary on 1 Corinthians is for sale, I so not see much reason to buy the first edition. Ronald Fung’s excellent commentary on Galatians is still available although it was replaced by deSilva, F. F. Bruce on Colossians Philemon and Ephesians is still for sale even though Scot McKnight has an updated volume on Colossians and Philemon. The same is true for Bruce’s Hebrews commentary, it has now been replaced by Gareth Lee Cockrill’s 2012 commentary. James Adamson’s 1976 James commentary has been replaced by Scot McKnight in 2011.

For more recent volumes, have reviewed several of NICNT commentaries, so click through to the full reviews on these volumes.

Nancy J. DeClaissé-Walford, Rolf A. Jacobson, and Beth LaNeel Tanner. Psalms (2014)
Mark J. Boda, Zechariah (2016)
Mignon Jacobs, Haggai and Malachi (2018)
Douglas J. Moo, Romans. Second Edition (2018)
Gordon Fee, 1 Corinthians, Revised Edition (2014)
David A. deSilva, The Letter to the Galatians (2018)
Scot McKnight, Colossians (2018)
Scot McKnight, Philemon (2017)

If you do not have Logos Bible Software download the free Logos Basic or Logos 8 Fundamentals for only $99. With either minimal package you can download and use these sale books as well as the Logos free book every month.

I do not see an expiration date for this sale, but I cannot imagine it will last long. Head to the Sale page and load up on excellent professional commentaries for your Logos library.

I am frequently asked my opinion on the “best” commentary available. Often this come from a student who is graduating and a relative wants to buy them a commentary set as they head off into ministry. Sometimes I hear this from pastors who are planning on preaching through a book and want to know what commentaries are the best for their preparation. For some reason students think that getting the most expensive commentary set they can find is best, but while it certainly makes them most of the generosity of their relatives, it rarely is the wisest decision.

I usually advise people not to buy a full set of commentaries as a single purchase for several reasons. First, rarely does a “full series” of commentaries have equally valuable volumes. While I think that Brown’s commentary on John in the Anchor Bible is a classic, Matthew and Mark and not particularly helpful, and Genesis is not really worth buying. Similarly, Craig Evans’ commentary on Mark in the Word series is excellent, while Ralph Smith’s volume on the minor prophets is not very good. I cannot imagine many pastors buying the full International Critical Commentary, but if they did, the volumes on Genesis and Deuteronomy are so old that they are of little value beyond their place in history. The later volumes in the ICC (Cranfield on Romans, Goldengay and Payne on Isaiah 40-55) are extremely valuable.

The second reason I do not recommend buying a full set of commentaries is that it is unlikely any pastor will make good use of a full set of commentaries in their ministry. A new pastor, for example, might preach through a short book or do a series of Bible studies on a section of the Bible, but never would they use enough of a 30 volume set to make the purchase worthwhile.

A third problem with full sets is that many popular sets come from a single author. It is possible that this will not bother some readers, but a steady diet of the same perspective is not very stimulating. When I graduated from college I bought a full set of Lenski’s commentary on the New Testament. There is nothing wrong with Lenski’s commentary, but the perspective is not always what I need when studying a text. The same is true for the popular MacArthur Commentary.

Aside from looking intimidating on the shelf, there is not much reason to buy a full set of commentaries.

Instead of a full set, I recommend buying commentaries on sections of the Bible you intend to work through as part of your sermon preparation. For example, since I know I was going to be preaching through John over the last year, I collected four of five serious commentaries on John. This allows me to have more than one commentary on the book I am studying and I spent far less than I would have if I had bought a “full set.”

There are some exceptions to this. I have often suggested to new pastors who want a “full set” to look at something like the Expositor’s Bible Commentary from Zondervan. The set is evangelical, if not conservative evangelical. The sections of the set I have used interact with the original languages, but do so in footnotes so that someone without familiarity with Greek and Hebrew (or, failing memory of Greek and Hebrew) can use the reference without difficulty. With respect, I often recommend this set to youth pastors who have limited time to prepare for Bible studies, or laymen who may be overwhelmed by Cranfield’s ICC volume on Romans.

Another exception might be a full set of commentaries in the Logos library, especially if they are on sale. I bought the full New American Commentary series a few years ago when it was available at a special price. If the deal is good, perhaps a full set is a good buy. Usually this doesn’t happen very often, though.

Over the next few weeks I plan to work my way through the New Testament and give some recommendations for the “top five commentaries” on individual books. This will allow me to offer my opinion on a number of excellent commentaries, but also allow readers to offer their suggestions for additions to my brief list.