This week I am posting the latest installment from our Curator’s Guide series. Each week has brought you an expertly compiled list (put together by Rob Bowman) of helpful books to guide your study of the New Testament. This segment will contain the bibliographies for Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Galatians.

Romans:

Note: This bibliography lists not five but six books on Romans, which has attracted more commentators than most other books of the Bible.

Byrne, Brendan, S.J. Romans. Sacra Pagina 6. Edited by Daniel J. Harrington, S.J. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press—A Michael Glazier Book, 1996. Detailed commentary by a Jesuit scholar that supports at crucial points the correctness of the Protestant interpretation.

Dunn, James D. G. Romans. 2 Vols. WBC. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1988. Controversial, stimulating commentary by a neo-evangelical theologian who supports the unconventional view (known as the New Perspective on Paul) of Paul’s critique of first-century Judaism.

Jewett, Robert. Romans: A Commentary. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2006. Standard liberal commentary, a massive work drawing heavily on ancient literature, making full use of new critical methods, and treating Romans more culturally and ideologically than theologically.

*Kruse, Colin G.  Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Pillar NT Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2012. One of the very best and most recent commentaries on Romans, critiquing the New Perspective.

Moo, Douglas. The Epistle to the Romans. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996. Excellent scholarly commentary by an evangelical scholar, sensitive to theological issues.

Schreiner, Thomas. Romans. BECNT 6. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998. Evangelical exegetical and theological commentary that is critical of the approach taken by Dunn and other scholars.

 

Paul’s Epistles to the Corinthians:

*Ciampa, Roy E., and Brian S. Rosner. The First Letter to the Corinthians. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010. Perhaps the best overall, up-to-date commentary on 1 Corinthians.

Fee, Gordon D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. NICNT. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987, 2014. Magisterial commentary by the premier Pentecostal New Testament scholar.

Fitzmyer, Joseph A. First Corinthians: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Yale Bible 32. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2008. Best commentary representing mainstream critical scholarship, by a renowned Roman Catholic scholar.

Garland, David E. 1 Corinthians. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003. Massive commentary by an evangelical NT scholar.

Harris, Murray J. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans; Milton Keynes, UK: Paternoster, 2005. Exegetical commentary by a scholar especially noted for his close reading of the Greek text.

Malcolm, Matthew R. The World of 1 Corinthians: An Exegetical Source Book of Literary and Visual Backgrounds. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2013. A commentary that focuses on explaining the historical and cultural references and contexts using numerous quotations from ancient sources as well as photographs and other visual aids.

Martin, Ralph P. 2 Corinthians. WBC 40. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014. Standard academic commentary on 2 Corinthians by a renowned neo-evangelical Pauline scholar.

*Seifrid, Mark A. The Second Letter to the Corinthians. Pillar NT Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2014. Just published, but reviews suggest this may now be the best commentary on 2 Corinthians.

Thiselton, Anthony C. The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. NIGTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans; Carlisle: Paternoster, 2000. Massive, philosophically and exegetically sophisticated commentary, notable for its standout, vigorous defense of the materiality of the resurrection body in 1 Corinthians 15.

Witherington, Ben III. A Week in the Life of Corinth. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2012. And now for something completely different: Witherington has written a novel about a Corinthian through whose eyes we come to understand Corinth, in the process illuminating our understanding of Paul’s epistles to the church there.

 

Galatians:

De Boer, Martinus C. Galatians. New Testament Library. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011. Standard mainline Protestant commentary, interpreting the epistle as an “apocalyptic sermon.”

Martyn, J. Louis. Galatians: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries 33A. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1997. Standard mainline Protestant commentary, generally reflecting the New Perspective on Paul.

*Moo, Douglas J. Galatians. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2013. Arguably the best evangelical commentary on Galatians, though Schreiner’s is certainly also worthy.

Nanos, Mark D., ed. The Galatians Debate. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002. Essays, generally by liberal and secular scholars, exemplifying rhetorical and socio-historical approaches to NT studies and contemporary academic scholarship on the interpretation of Galatians.

Schreiner, Thomas R. Galatians. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010. Excellent evangelical commentary by the leading Southern Baptist Pauline scholar.

I continue our Curator’s series this week by bringing you Rob Bowman’s recommendations for the Gospel of John.

John:

Blomberg, Craig L. The Historical Reliability of John’s Gospel: Issues and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2002. Short introduction and commentary by an evangelical, comparing John to the Synoptics and defending its historical credibility.

Edwards, Mark J. John. Blackwell Bible Commentaries. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2004. One of the first NT commentaries focusing on “reception criticism,” considering how John impacted the thought, literature, and life of its readers from the Gnostics to Dorothy Sayers, and engaging modern critical views and interpretations in that light.

Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of John: A Commentary. 2 vols. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003. An absolute must: an evangelical historical and exegetical commentary grounded in a mastery of the ancient background sources.

Köstenberger, Andreas J. John. BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004. Relatively modest in length yet still detailed exegetical commentary by a leading evangelical Johannine scholar.

Lincoln, Andrew T. The Gospel according to Saint John. Black’s NT Commentary. London: Continuum, 2005; reprint, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013. One of the few good, recent commentaries reflecting mainline, moderately critical scholarship.

Here is the second half of the two-part installment of the books Luke and Acts, a list produced by Rob Bowman. Each book will bring insight into the world of Luke, detailing Jesus’ life and ministry, as well as the birth of the first century church.

D. Eschatology in Luke-Acts

Boyd, W. J. P. “Gehenna – According to J. Jeremias.” In Studia Biblica 1978: II. Papers on the Gospels, ed. E. A. Livingstone, 9-12. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1980.

Carroll, J. T. Response to the End of History: Eschatology and Situation in Luke-Acts. SBLDS 92. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1992.

Osei-Bonsu, J. “The Intermediate State in Luke-Acts.” IBS 9 (1987) 115-30.

E. Parables in Luke

Bailey, K. E. Poet and Peasant. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976.

Bailey, K. E. Through Peasant Eyes. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980.

Blomberg, Craig L. Interpreting the Parables. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1990.

Forbes, Greg W. The God of Old: The Role of the Lukan Parables in the Purpose of Luke’s Gospel. JSNTSup 198. Sheffield, England: Sheffield Academic Press, 2000.

Hintzen, J. Verkündigung und Wahrnehmung: Über das Verhältnis von Evangelium und der Leser am Beispiel Lk 16,19-31 im Rahmen des lukanischen Doppelwerkes. BBB 81. Frankfurt: Hain, 1991.

F. Passages in Luke

1. Luke 1:1-4

Alexander, L. “Luke’s Preface in the Context of Greek Preface Writing.” NovT 28 (1986) 48-74.

Dillon, R. J. “Previewing Luke’s Project from His Prologue (Luke 1:1-14).” CBQ 43 (1981) 205-27.

Du Plessis, I. I. “Once More: The Purpose of Luke’s Prologue (Lk i 1-14).” NovT 16 (1974) 259-71.

Moessner, David P., ed. Jesus and the Heritage of Israel: Luke’s Narrative Claim upon Israel’s Legacy. Luke the Interpreter of Israel. Trinity Press International, 2000. Analysis of Luke-Acts focusing on the purpose and genre of the book as seen in Luke 1:1-4.

2. Luke 1:5-2:52

a. General Works

Brown, Raymond E. “The Annunciation to Mary, the Visitation, and the Magnificat (Luke 1:26-56).” Worship 62 (May 1988): 249-59.

Brown, Raymond E. “The Annunciation to Zechariah, the Birth of the Baptist, and the Benedictus (Luke 1:5-25, 57-80).” Worship 62 (November 1988): 482-496.

Brown, Raymond E. “Gospel Infancy Narrative Research from 1976 to 1986: Part II (Luke).” CBQ 48 (1986): 660-80.

Coleridge, Mark. The Birth of the Lukan Narrative: Narrative as Christology in Luke 1-2. JSNTSup 88. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993.

Farris, Stephen C. “On Discerning Semitic Sources in Luke 1-2.” In Gospel Perspectives: Studies of History and Tradition in the Four Gospels, Vol. 2, ed. R. T. France and David Wenham, 201-37. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1981.

Fitzmyer, Joseph A. “‘Peace upon Earth among Men of His Good Will’ (Lk 2:14).” In Essays on the Semitic Background of the New Testament, 101-4. London: Chapman, 1971.

Houghton, Carol Lee. “The Identity of Mary in Luke’s Infancy Gospel: A Biblical Study: Luke 1:26-46, 56.” Ph.D. diss. Pontifica Studiorum Universitas a S. Thoma in Urbe, 1980.

Malick, David E. “A Literary Approach to the Birth Narratives in Luke 1—2.” In Integrity of Heart, Skillfulness of Hands: Biblical and Leadership Studies in Honor of Donald K. Campbell, ed. Charles H. Dyer and Roy B. Zuck, 93-107. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.

Martin, James P. “Luke 1:39-47.” Int 36 (1982): 394-99.

Oliver, H. H. “The Lucan Birth Stories and the Purpose of Luke-Acts.” NTS 10 (1964) 203-26.

Ramsay, William M. Was Christ Born at Bethlehem? A Study on the Credibility of St. Luke. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1898.

Turner, Nigel. “The Relation of Luke 1 and 2 to Hebraic Sources and to the Rest of Luke-Acts.” NTS 2 (1955-56) 100-115.

Winter, Paul. “The Cultural Background of the Narrative in Luke I and II.” Jewish Quarterly Review 45 (1954) 159-67, 230-42.

Winter, Paul. “Proto-Source of Luke 1.” NovT 1 (1956) 184-99.

Winter, Paul. “Some Observations on the Language in the Birth and Infancy Stories of the Third Gospel.” NTS 1 (1954) 111-21.

b. The Hymns of Luke 1

Bemile, P. The Magnificat within the Context and Framework of Lukan Theology: An Exegetical Theological Study of Lk 1:46-55. Regensburger Studien zue Theologie 34. Frankfurt am Mein: Lang, 1986.

Buth, R. “Hebrew Poetic Tenses and the Magnificat.” JSNT 21 (1984) 67-83.

Farris, Stephen C. The Hymns of Luke’s Infancy Narrative: Their Origin, Meaning and Significance. JSNTSup 9. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1985.

Grigsby, B. “Compositional Hypotheses for the Lucan ‘Magnificat’—Tensions for the Evangelical.” EvQ 56 (1984) 159-72.

Winter, Paul. “Magnificat and Benedictus—Maccabaean Psalms?” BJRL 37 (1954) 328-47.

c. The Census of Luke 2

Hayles, D. J. “The Roman Census and Jesus’ Birth: Was Luke Correct?” 2 parts. Buried History 9 (1973) 113-32; 10 (1974) 16-31.

Hoehner, Harold W. Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1977.

“Publius Suplicius Quirinius and the Syrian Census,” Restoration Quarterly 34 (1992):193-206.

d.  Jesus’ Childhood

De Jonge, H. J. “Sonship, Wisdom, Infancy: Luke ii.41-51a.” NTS 24 (1977-78) 317-54.

Van Iersel, B. M. F. “The Finding of Jesus in the Temple: Some Observations on the Original Form of Luke ii 41-51a).” NovT 4 (1960) 161-73.

3. Luke 15

Aus, R. D. “Luke 15:11-32 and R. Eliezer Ben Hyrcanus’s Rise to Fame.” JBL 104 (1985) 443-69.

Bailey, K. E. Finding the Lost: Cultural Keys to Luke 15. St. Louis, Mo.: Concordia, 1992.

Batten, A. “Dishonour, Gender and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.” TJT 13 (1997) 187-200.

Kozar, J. V. “Absent Joy: An Investigation of the Narrative Pattern of Repetition and Variation in the Parables of Luke 15.” TJT 8 (1992) 85-94.

Miller, Donald G., trans. Exegesis: Problems of Method and Exercises in Reading (Genesis 22 and Luke 15). By Gerald Antoine, Louis Beirnaert, et. al. Pittsburgh Theological Monograph 22. Pittsburgh: Pickwick Press, 1978. Includes eight readings on Luke 15 (the Prodigal Son).

Tolbert, M. A. “The Prodigal Son: An Essay in Literary Criticism from a Psychoanalytical Perspective.” Semeia 9 (1977) 1-20.

Via, D. O. “The Prodigal Son: A Jungian Reading.” Semeia 9 (1977) 21-43.

4. Luke 16:1-18

Ireland, D. J. Stewardship and the Kingdom of God: An Historical, Exegetical and Contextual Study of the Parable of the Unjust Steward in Luke 16:1-13. NovTSup 70. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1992.

5. Luke 16:19-31 (Lazarus and the Rich Man)

Agustin, Alfredo G. The Interpretation of the Concept Hades Described in Luke 16:19-31 — the Rich Man and Lazarus in the Light of the Historical-Grammatical Method. Thesis (Ph. D.)–Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, 2008. AU (Ctr. Adv. Res.): BT378.D5 A38 2008

Bauckham, Richard. “The Rich Man and Lazarus: The Parable and the Parallels.” NTS 37 (1991): 225-46.

Bullinger, E. W. The Rich Man and Lazarus: The Intermediate State. Open Bible Trust, 1992.

Cave, C. H. “Lazarus and the Lukan Deuteronomy.” NTS 15 (1969): 319-25.

Derrett, J. D. M. “Fresh Light on St. Luke xvi: II. Dives and Lazarus and the Preceding Sayings.” NTS 7 (1960-1961): 364-80.

Dunkerley, R. “Lazarus.” NTS 5 (1958-1959): 321-27.

Emmrich, Martin. At the Heart of Luke: Wisdom and Reversal of Fortune. Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Publications, 2013. AU: BS2595.52 .E45 2013

Gressman, H. Vom reichen Mann und armen Lazarus: Eine Literargeschichtliche Studie. Berlin: Verlag der königlich Akademie der Wissenschaft, 1918.

Grobel, K. “‘…Whose Name Was Neves.’” NTS 10 (1963-1964): 373-82.

Hauge, Matthew Ryan. The Biblical Tour of Hell. Library of NT Studies 485. London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2013. CC/AU: BS680.H43 H38 2013

Hock, R. F. “Lazarus and Micyllus: Greco-Roman Backgrounds to Luke 16:19-31.” JBL 106 (1987): 447-63.

Kreitzer, L. “Luke 16:19-31 and 1 Enoch 22.” ExpTim 103 (1992): 139-42.

Lehtipuu, Outi. The Afterlife Imagery in Luke’s Story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. NovTSup 123. Leiden: Brill, 2007. AU: BS2290 .N6 v. 123

North, Brownlow. The Rich Man and Lazarus: A Practical Exposition of Luke XVI., 19-31. 4th ed. London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1968. PRTS: BT378.D5 N6 1960 (1st ed.); CC: BT378.D6 N6 (1964, 3rd ed.); KC: BT378.D5 N6 1968 (4th ed.)

Standen, A. O. “The Parable of Dives and Lazarus and Enoch 22.” ExpTim 33 (1921-1922): 523.

Szukalski, John A. Tormented in Hades A Socio-Narratological Approach to the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Thesis (Ph. D.–Biblical Studies)–Catholic University of America, 2012. No nearby libraries.

Szukalski, John A. Tormented in Hades: The Rich Man and Lazarus. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2013. AU (due 4/12/15): BT378.D5 S98 2013

White, Ellen G. “A Great Gulf Fixed.” In Christ Object Lessons. Reprinted as The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, n.d.

6. Luke 20:34-36

Bianchi, Ugo. “The Religio-historical Relevance of Lk. 20:34-36.” In Studies in Gnosticism and Hellenistic Religions, ed. R. van den Broek, et. al., 31-37. Leiden: Brill, 1981.

Kilgallen, John J. “The Sadducees and the Resurrection from the Dead.” Biblica 67 (1986) 478-95.

Lang, Bernhard. “No Sex in Heaven: The Logic of Procreation, Death, and Eternal Life in the Judaeo-Christian Tradition.” In Mélanges bibliques et orientaux en l’honneur de M. Mathias Delcor, ed. André Caquot, et. al., 237-53. Neukirchen: Neukirchener Verlag, 1985.

7. Luke 22

Kilgallen, John J. “Jesus’ First Trial: Messiah and Son of God (Luke 22,66-71).” Biblica 80 (1999): 401-414. “Luke, according to the Two-Source Theory, read Mark. At the first trial of Jesus, that before the Sanhedrin, Mark has together, “Messiah, Son of God”. Luke has intentionally separated the two titles. The present essay finds the explanation for separating Son of God from Messiah in the Annunciation scene of the Gospel. It is Luke’s intention that the reader understand Son of God in a way that admittedly the Sanhedrin did not. The laws of narratology indicate that Luke 1,35, a part of the Lucan introduction, be used by the reader to interpret Son of God at Luke 22,70.”

8. Luke 23:42-43

Bowman, Robert M., Jr. Understanding Jehovah’s Witnesses: Why They Read the Bible the Way They Do. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1991.

Hong, Joseph. “Understanding and Translating ‘Today’ in Luke 23.43.” Bible Translator 46 (1995) 408-17.

McArthur, H. K. “Paradise.” In Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, 3:655-56. Nashville: Abingdon, 1976.

O’Neill, J. C. “The Six Amen Sayings in Luke.” JTS ns 10 (1959) 1-9.

Snodgrass, Klyne R. “Amen.” In Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, ed. Walter A. Elwell. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1988.

Stafford, Greg. Jehovah’s Witnesses Defended: An Answer to Scholars and Critics. 2d ed. Huntington Beach, CA: Elihu Books, 2000.

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. “Does the Bible Promise an Earthly Paradise?” Watchtower, Oct. 15, 1983.

__________. “You Will Be With Me in Paradise,” Watchtower, Oct. 15, 1991.

G. Acts

Fitzmyer, Joseph A. The Acts of the Apostles: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. AB 32. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1998. The best representative commentary on Acts from a moderate critical perspective, by a renowned Roman Catholic NT scholar.

Keener, Craig S. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary. 4 vols. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012-2015. All four volumes of this massive commentary are now available; it will almost certainly be the standard reference for many years to come. Evangelical scholarship at its best, drawing on the author’s extensive knowledge of both Jewish and Greco-Roman literature, engaging modern critical scholarship effectively, and demonstrating the historical reliability of Acts at every turn.

Mauck, John W. Paul on Trial: The Book of Acts as a Defense of Christianity. Nashville: Thomas Nelson—Nelson Reference, 2001. Insightful analysis by a lawyer, not a biblical scholar, interpreting Acts as a legal brief in defense of Paul.

Pervo, Richard I. Acts: A Commentary. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2009. The now standard liberal commentary, highly skeptical of the narrative of Acts.

Schnabel, Echhart J. Acts. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the NT. Clinton E. Arnold, gen. ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012. Excellent recent evangelical commentary. If you need something not as exhaustive as Keener’s, this may be the best one-volume commentary on Acts.

 

Mark Galli of Christianity Today wrote another insightful piece. Sage wisdom here for a very divided evangelical community.