Defining True Leadership

Since we're reading this book together, I wanted to get the ball rolling with a quote from chap 1:

"True greatness, true leadership, is found in giving yourself in service to others, not in coaxing or inducing others to serve you. ... the true spiritual leader is focused on the service he and she can render to God and other people.... We must aim to put more into life than we take out" (15).

Tell me, what passages of Scripture does this quote remind you of? Also, does this describe your heart's desire when it comes to spiritual leadership?

2007 DG National Conference

In Minneapolis this weekend Desiring God hosted its 2007 National Conference. The theme was Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints, and the speakers included John Piper, John MacArthur, Jerry Bridges, Randy Alcorn and Helen Roseveare.

If you're interested, the conference audio us available for free here.

What's in it for God?

I came across this quote from Dr. Michael Horton's book Made in America, and had to share it here:

"The older theology tended to produce character. By the end of the twentieth century, we have become God's demanding little brats. In church, we must be entertained. Our emotions must be charged. We must be offered amusing programs. We give up a lot to become Christians and what little teaching we do get must cater to our pragmatic, self-centered interests. Preaching must be filled with clever anecdotes and colorful illustrations with nothing more than passing references to doctrine. I want to know what this means for me in my daily experience. Have we forgotten that God is a monarch? He is the king, by whom and for whom all things were made and by whose sovereign power they are sustained. We exist for his pleasure, not he for ours. We are on this earth to entertain him, please him, adore him, bring him satisfaction, excitement and joy. Any gospel that seeks to answer the question, "What's in this for me?" has it all backwards. The question is, "What's in it for God?"

I have nothing to say in response except I think he's dead right.

The 49 New Testament One Anothers

Using biblegateway.com I just finished a quick study of the one another commands in the NASB New Testament and this is what I discovered:

If you leave out the four commands to greet one another with a holy kiss (Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Pet 5:14) there are 49 one another commands in the NT.

The largest category of one anothers are the commands to love (John 13:34-35, 15:12, 17; Rom 12:10, 13:8; 1 Thess 3:12, 4:9; 2 Thess 1:3; 1 Pet 1:22, 4:8; 1 John 3:11, 4:7, 11-12; 2 John 5).

In second place are the commands to edify one another (Rom 14:19; 15:14; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16; 1 Thess 5:11; Heb 3:13, 10:24-25) and a chose third goes to the commands to unite with one another (Mark 9:50; Rom 12:16, 14:19, 15:5, 7; Phil 2:3; 1 Thess 5:13).

Finally, there are almost 20 of what I called miscellaneous one anothers because they could go in multiple categories. These include the commands to give preference to (Rom 12:10), care for (1 Cor 12:25), serve (Gal 5:13; 1 Pet 4:11), tolerate (Eph 4:2), be kind to (Eph 4:32), submit to (Eph 5:21), not lie to (Col 3:9), bear with (Col 3:13), comfort (1 Thess 4:18), not judge (Rom 14:13; 1 Thess 5:13), do good to (1 Thess 5:15), not slander (James 4:11), not complain about (James 5:9), confess sins to (James 5:16), be hospitable toward (1 Pet 4:10), be humble towards (1 Pet 5:5) one another.

I hope that serves you and is helpful. Do you obey and receive the benefits of these commands at your church? What would our churches be like if we actually sought to live them all out?

Chritians are Satisfied in Vanity Fair

Carl Trueman writes this a penetrating article about how evangelicals tend to domesticate our radicals, referring specifically to Jesus, but spending most of his time on C.S. Lewis and John Bunyan--very interesting!

At the end of the article, he explains the sinful reasons why we tend to domesticate our radicals in this very insightful paragraph:

"Given the way in which evangelical culture in America is so deeply embedded in the systems, practices and aspirations of American culture in general–-from its colleges and seminaries to its publishing houses to its relentless vision of `big is best’ to its personality cults of celebrity theologians to its mega-ministries to its amazing ability to transform anyone – even the patrician Anglican C S Lewis and the radical tinker John Bunyan – into friendly evangelical allies, the outlook is not bright. To put it bluntly, we live in Vanity Fair, and we seem to be quite happy there."

People, pastors and churches that don't address this reality will have a very difficult time experiencing sanctification while being so unknowingly and satisfyingly embedded in the sin-driven culture that we tend to love so much.

My Life Verse

Today was the day I read the most convicting passage in the Bible for me, which just so happens to double as the qualification standard any pastor-teacher-elder-overseer must have. If a man does not meet this, he may have the desire, but he's not qualified and has no business in pastoral ministry.

1 Timothy 3:2-7

"...an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil."

Because I try to read two chapters of the NT each day (along with 3 OT and 1 Psalm or 1 Proverb chapter), I also read what became my life verses a few years ago.

1 Timothy 4:12-16

"Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you."

Famine for God

If this is not a description of most churches in the West and most churches in Orange County where I live, than I don't know what is. I pray that God is gracious to us and relents of this particular judgment on us:

Amos 8:11-12

"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "when I will send a famine on the land--not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it."

First, notice who's speaking and who's acting. This is a sovereign act of Adonai Yahweh, God our Lord, our Master.

Second, what does our Lord do? HE sends the famine. Notice, the effects of the famine are the same--hungering, thirsting, wandering, running to and fro for an unfulfilled desire. However, the object being sought after for consumption is not food or water, but it is the Word of God.

Today, it's en vogue in church to teach everything at church but God's Word. When that's an accurate general description of the church, I think this passage should arrest us and cause us to ask "Are things like this because of God's judgment?" Is this more than an educational issue? Is mass repentance in order?

Third, notice the result of what God does. Despite the passionate search, God's Word is not found.

I can't tell you have many conversations I've had in the last decade about this, especially in Orange County, California--people hopping from church to church to simply hear someone explain the Bible. I'm convinced there are thousands of Christians, right here, who're dying to hear God's Word, even poorly explained, at church. They don't want to hear about the latest cultural fads, the current trends in psychology, philosophy, social issues, business management, relationship therapy, etc.

They are asking one question. They care about one thing. What does God say? What does He say about Himself? What does God say about me? What does He say about salvation? What does God say about relationships? What does He say about good and evil and truth and integrity?

God! God! God! It's all about Him. Christianity is NOT about me! Christians instinctually know this, and are longing for a place where they will hear God speak.

So, are you part of the solution, or part of the problem?

Worship, Pastoring & The Savior

Here are some highlights from my Bible reading today.

A psalm of worship...

Psalm 67

0 A Psalm. A Song.
1 God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us-- Selah.
2 That Your way may be known on the earth, your salvation among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth. Selah.
5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.
6 The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us.
7 God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.

...a mission statement for pastors...

"We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me" (Colossians 1:28-29).

...and to exalt the Savior.

Jesus "is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross" (Colossians 1:15-20).

Passion & Pastoring

These are some excerpts from my Bible reading today that God used to really minister to me. The first has to do with a person's passion, and the second has to do with the role and responsibilities of a church and its pastor(s).

I'm convinced that the key to reading anything well, especially the Bible, begins with reading slowly, so give it a try and let me know what you think.

Psalm 63:1-4

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Ephesians 4:11-16

And [Christ] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Warning to Pastors (Ezek 34)

Pastors, please take heed, listen to, and beware of these words spoken to you by the prophet Ezekiel from God Himself:

The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them (vv. 2-10 ESV).

Notice, I counted six times in ten verses God making it very clear that we're not to marginalize these words because they are His, they come from Him.

God is indicting His shepherds for using His people, rather than serving them. Among other things, He is condemning the kind of professional attitude that has arisen in American Christianity where pastors use their congregations for their own personal gain and aggrandizement.

These are sobering, James 3:1 type words that I need to keep very close to my heart to let them dictate my life, relationships and ministry.

Warning to Pastors (Ezek 33)

The authors of Scripture didn't have commands for bold or italics or underline so in order to emphasize something important they would repeat themselves.

In my readings in Ezekiel today God repeated Himself from chapter 3, and all Christians but especially pastors need to hear Him when He says:

"Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me. When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand. But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life" (33:7-9).

As a pastor, your job is to hear a message from God's Word and give the people that message. If you do not give them the warnings as well as the blessings of Scripture because you're afraid of coming off like a fundamentalist, or a fire and brimstone Puritan, or because you think you're being loving and encouraging, heed this warning from God through Ezekiel.

There will always be people who do not want to hear what God has to say:

"They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain. Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them" (33:31-32).

These kinds of people are not a neutral marketing segment for your gospel product. They rebelliously want God / spirituality on their terms not His. If you seek their approval as your highest goal, God will judge you for silencing Him.

Warnings to Pastors (Ezek 22)

In my daily reading of Ezekiel I was brought to these words:

"Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them" (v. 26).

God's things, especially God's Word, is holy. It is distinct from ALL other common or "profane" things.

There are vast movements within Christendom that make no distinction between God's holy Word and all the ologies and osophies and fads of mankind. They call for integration when God calls for distinction.

However, by making no distinction, these well-meaning but misled people are doing violence to God's word, which leads to disregard for God, then disobedience of God because He and His Word are being treated as common when He and His Word are anything but common.

This treating as common of God and His Word happens all the time. It was part of the reason for the rebuke of Psalm 50:21 "You thought I was just like you" when He and His Word are anything but.

Warnings to Pastors (Ezek 2, 3, 13)

If you are a Christian it is important you read this post, but if you're pastor or if you're close to your pastor, PLEASE take a moment to read these critical passages from Ezekiel.

There are large movements within Christianity today that need to take God's message through this little-read prophet VERY seriously because He makes scathing indictments of ministry philosophies and strategies that are very popular today.

Ezekiel 2:6-7 "And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious."

Priority #1 for your pastor is to preach and teach God's Word (cf. 2 Tim 4:1-5) regardless of the results ("whether they listen or not") because lack of response to God's Word does not mean we need to "do church" differently, but it means rebellion marks the people.

Ezekiel 3:17-19 "Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. When I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself."

God will judge you for keeping God's warnings of judgment from people. Being "encouraging" with a "positive message" at the expense of warning people with God's Word about their sin, in the end, is a totally discouraging, unloving, disheartening and negative message because being silent or speaking a peace God does not give is fake and it keeps God's message of rescue from them, and therefore, from you.

And, not talking about sin robs the Father of the glory He deserves for planning our salvation, it robs Jesus of the glory He deserves for defeating sin, death and hell on the Cross, and it robs the Spirit of the glory He deserves for His work of opening the eyes of sinners to their sin and need for a Savior.

Ezekiel 13:3, 6-8, 10 "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing. ... They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, "The LORD declares," when the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word. Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, "The LORD declares," but it is not I who have spoken?' Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you,' declares the Lord GOD. ... It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, "Peace!" when there is no peace.'"

Don't get caught up with the references to visions and divination. The point here is they're saying "God says" when He never did for the purpose of making the people feel good with messages of "Peace" when there really is no peace for them. In other words, God does not support liars who say He says things He never did.

Regardless of the results, God is against you if you preach ANYTHING other than God's Word. If results were the measure of success, Joel Osteen (the supposed most successful pastor in the US who Larry King wondered may be the successor to Billy Graham [read transcript here]) is woefully unsuccessful compared to Roman Catholicism, Islam and Mormonism who God must be blessing because their results are so spectacular.

Bottom line: Preach God's Word, convenient or inconvenient, because you will "incur a stricter judgment" (James 3:1) as a pastor. Live and serve with the results of your judgment in mind.

Scripture & Depression (Jer 38)

Before I comment, read this short passage of Scripture from Jeremiah 38:1-5:

"Now Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah heard the words that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people, saying, Thus says the LORD, 'He who stays in this city will die by the sword and by famine and by pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans will live and have his own life as booty and stay alive.' Thus says the LORD, 'This city will certainly be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon and he will capture it.'" Then the officials said to the king, "Now let this man be put to death, inasmuch as he is discouraging the men of war who are left in this city and all the people, by speaking such words to them; for this man is not seeking the well-being of this people but rather their harm." So King Zedekiah said, "Behold, he is in your hands; for the king can do nothing against you."

What were the words Jeremiah was speaking to them? In case we skimmed and missed it (like I do all the time), "Thus says the LORD" is stated twice in three verses so that we know the source of his words. The source of Jeremiah's words was God (cf. 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:19-21).

Now, why did the officials pass the death sentence on Jeremiah? What does it say? They wanted him dead for discouraging people!

So, what is an expected result of speaking God's Word? It's not the winning of friends, or the influencing of people. Here, it got Jeremiah public rejection because it discouraged people. No wonder so many churches avoid the Bible.

God's Word still does this to people today because God wounds before He heals.

The irony is that these words of "discouragement" were only for the well-being of the people, something they could not see because they were blinded to it by their feelings of discouragement. What about you?

The Best OT Commentaries (Pt 2)

Here's the rest of the OT Commentary list. If you want to know how it was compiled, check the archives for the NT Commentary post which explains it. What did I leave out? What should I put in and where? Let me know what you think.

Job
1. Andersen, Francis I. Job (TOTC)
2. Dhorme, Edouard. A Commentary on the Book of Job
3. Hartley, John E. The Book of Job (NICOT)

Psalms
1. Spurgeon, Charles. The Treasury of David
2. Leupold, Herbert. Exposition of the Psalms
3. Kidner, D. Psalms 1-72 and Psalms 73-150 (TOTC)
HM. Perowne, John. The Book of Psalms
HM. Wilson, Gerald. Psalms 1-72, vol. 1 (NIVAC)

Proverbs
1a. Kidner, Derek. Proverbs (TOTC)
1b. Bridges, Charles. An Exposition of Proverbs.
2. Garrett, Duane. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NAC)

Ecclesiastes
1. Kidner, Derek. A Time to Mourn and a Time to Dance
2a. Leupold, Herbert. Exposition of Ecclesiastes
2b. Eaton, M. Ecclesiastes (TOTC)
3. Hengstenberg, Ernst. Commentary on Ecclesiastes

Song of Solomon / Songs
1. Carr, G. Lloyd. Song of Songs (TOTC).
2a. Gledhill, Thomas. The Message of the Song of Songs (BST).
2b. Ironside, Henry. The Song of Solomon.
2c. Provan, Iain. Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NIVAC)

Isaiah
1. Young, Edward. The Book of Isaiah (NICOT)
2. Motyer, J.A. The Prophecy of Isaiah
3a. Oswalt, John. Isaiah 1-39 & Isaiah 40-66 (NICOT) (2 vol.)
3b. Alexander, Joseph. Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah

Jeremiah
1. Thompson, J.A. The Book of Jeremiah (NICOT)
2a. Holladay, William L. Jeremiah, 2 vols (Herm)
2b. Jensen, Irving. Jeremiah: The Prophet of Judgment
2c. Laetsch, Theodore. Bible Commentary: Jeremiah
HM. Feinberg, Charles. Jeremiah, A Commentary

Lamentations
1. Hillers, Delbert R. Lamentations (AB)
2. Kaiser, Walter C. A Biblical Approach to Personal Suffering

Ezekiel
1. Feinberg, Charles. The Prophecy of Ezekiel.
2. Zimmerli, Walther. Ezekiel 1 and 2 (Herm).
3a. Duguid, Iain. Ezekiel (NIVAC)
3b. Block, Daniel. Ezekiel 1-24 & Ezekiel 25-48 (NICOT) (2 vol.)

Daniel
1a. Young, Edward. The Prophecy of Daniel: A Commentary
1b. Walvoord, John. Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation
2a. Wood, Leon. A Commentary on Daniel
2b. Montgomery, James. A ... Commentary on ... Daniel (ICC)
3. Goldingay, John. Daniel (WBC)

Hosea
1. Andersen & Freedman. Hosea (AB)
2a. Feinberg, Charles. Hosea: God’s Love for Israel
2b. Garrett, Duane. Hosea and Joel (NAC)
2c. Kidner, Derek. The Message of Hosea (BST)

Joel
1. Allen, Leslie. Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah (NICOT)
2. Finley, Thomas J. Joel, Amos, Obadiah (WEC)
3. Wolff, HW. Joel and Amos (Herm)
HM. Feinberg, Charles. Joel, Amos, and Obadiah
HM. See Hosea 2b.

Amos
1. Andersen & Freedman. Amos (AB)
2. Mays, James. Amos: A Commentary
3. See Joel 2 above

Obadiah
1. Baker, Alexander and Waltke. Obadiah, Jonah, Micah (TOTC)
2. Feinberg, Charles. Obadiah: Doom Upon Edom
3. Wolff, HW. Obadiah and Jonah

Jonah
1. See Obadiah 1 above
2. Feinberg, Charles. Jonah: God’s Love for All Nations
3a. Fairbairn, Patrick. Jonah: His Life, Character, and Mission
3b. Stuart, Doug. Jonah (WBC)

Micah
1a. See Obadiah 1 above
1b. Barker & Bailey. Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (NAC)
2a. Andersen & Freedman. Micah (AB)
2b. Feinberg, Charles. Micah: Wrath Upon Samaria and Jerusalem

Nahum
1. Maier, Walter. The Book of Nahum
2a. Robertson, O Palmer. Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (NICOT)
2b. Baker, David. Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah (TOTC)
3a. Patterson, Robert. Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (WEC)
3b. Feinberg, Charles. Nahum: Judgment on Nineveh

Habakkuk
1. Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn. From Fear to Faith
2. Feinberg, Charles. Habakkuk: Problems of Faith
3a. See Nahum 3a above
3b. See Nahum 2a above

Zephaniah
1a. Feinberg, Charles. Zephaniah: The Day of the Lord
1b. See Nahum 2a above
1c. See Nahum 3a above

Haggai
1. Verhoef, Pieter. The Books of Haggai & Malachi (NICOT)
2a. Merrill, Eugene. Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi (WEC)
2b. Feinberg, Charles. Haggai: Rebuilding the Temple

Zechariah
1. Feinberg, Charles. Zechariah: God Remembers
2a. Unger, Merrill. Zechariah: Prophet of Messiah’s Glory
2b. Leupold, Herbert. Exposition of Zechariah

Malachi
1. Morgan, G. Campbell. Wherein Have We Robbed God?
2a. See Haggai 1 above
2b. Hill, Andrew. Malachi (AB)
3. Feinberg, Charles. Malachi: Formal Worship

The Best OT Commentaries (Pt 1)

As promised, here is the OT commentary list. It was generated the same way as the NT list below (if you want to know the procedure, it is explained at the beginning of that post). Let me know what you think. I’ll post the rest in a couple days.

Genesis
1. Wenham, Gordon. Genesis (WBC)
2. Leupold, Herbert. Exposition of Genesis
3. Hamilton, Victor. The Book of Genesis (NICOT)
HM. Kidner, Derek. Genesis (TOTC)
HM. Davis, John. Paradise to Prison: Studies in Genesis

Exodus
1. Childs, B.S. The Book of Exodus: A ... Commentary (OTL)
2. Davis, John. Moses and the Gods of Egypt
3. Bush, George. Notes, Critical and Practical, on the Book of Exodus

Leviticus
1a. Wenham, Gordon. The Book of Leviticus (NICOT)
1b. Bonar, Andrew. A Commentary on the Book of Leviticus
2. Rooker, Mark. Leviticus (NAC)
3. Ross, Alan. Holiness to the Lord.

Numbers
1. Wenham, Gordon. Numbers (TOTC)
2. Bush, George. Notes, Critical ... Book of Numbers
3. Harrison, R.K. Numbers (WEC)

Deuteronomy
1. Craigie, Peter. The Book of Deuteronomy (NICOT)
2. Merrill, Eugene. Deuteronomy (NAC)
3a. Driver, Samuel. A Critical ... on Deuteronomy (ICC)
3b. Reider, Joseph. The Holy Scriptures: Deuteronomy ...

Joshua
1. Woudstra, Marten. The Book of Joshua (NIC)
2. Davis, John. Conquest and Crisis

Judges
1. Moore, George. A Critical ... Commentary on Judges (ICC)
2. Cundall & Morris. Judges and Ruth (TOTC)
3. Bush, George. Notes, Critical and Practical on the Book of Judges

Ruth
1. Hubbard, Robert L. The Book of Ruth (NIC)
2. Campbell, Edward F. Ruth (AB)
3. Atkinson, David. The Message of Ruth (BST)

1 & 2 Samuel
1. Gordon, Robert P. 1 and 2 Samuel: A Commentary
2. Bergen, R.D. 1, 2 Samuel (NAC)
3. Klein, Ralph & Anderson, Arnold. 1 & 2 Samuel (WBC)

1 & 2 Kings
1. Montgomery, James. A Critical ... the Books of Kings (ICC)
2a. Wiseman, Donald. 1 & 2 Kings (TOTC)
2b. House, Paul R. 1, 2 Kings (NAC)

1 & 2 Chronicles
1. Braun, Roddy & Dillard, Ray. 1 & 2 Chronicles (WBC)
2. Wilcock. Michael. The Message of Chronicles (BST)
HM. Selman, Martin. 1 & 2 Chronicles. 2 vols. (TOTC)

Ezra & Nehemiah
1. Kidner, Derek. Ezra and Nehemiah (TOTC)
2. Fensham, F. Charles. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (NIC)
3. Williamson, H.G.M. Ezra-Nehemiah (WBC)

Esther
1. Baldwin, Joyce G. Esther (TOTC)
2. Whitcomb, John. Esther: Triumph of God’s Sovereignty (EBC)
3a. Breneman, Mervin. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (NAC)
3b. Bush, Frederic. Ruth, Esther (WBC).

The Best NT Commentaries

While reading 5-10 books that survey and recommend NT commentaries (among these 5-10 are books by D.A. Carson, Doug Moo, James Rosscup, John Glynn and Cyril Barber), I wanted to know which were the overall most and highest recommended. So, I gave each commentary a score based on how the surveyer liked/rated it. I have revised this list when other commentary surveys came out, and/or when previous surveys were revised. After tallying up the scores this is a summary of the results (Note: The titles given for the commentary are either full names with the series in parenthesis, or there is enough info to find it at a bookfinder.com type of website):

Matthew
1. Broadus, John. Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew.
2. Carson, D.A. Matthew (in Expositor's Bible series).

Mark
1. Cranfield, C.E.B. The Gospel according to St. Mark
2. Lane, William. The Gospel of Mark (NICNT)
3. Hiebert, D.E. The Gospel of Mark

Luke
1. Marshall, I.H. The Gospel of Luke (NIGTC)
2. Plummer, Alfred. A Critical and Exegetical...Luke (ICC)

John
1a. Brown, Raymond. The Gospel According to John (AB)
1b. Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to John (NICNT)
2. Barrett, C.K. The Gospel According to St. John

Acts
1. Bruce, F.F. The Book of Acts (NICNT)
2. Marshall, I.H. The Acts of the Apostles (TNTC)

Romans
1. Cranfield, C.E.B. Romans, 2 vols (ICC)
2. Murray, John. The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT)
3. Moo, Doug. The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT)

1 Corinthians
1. Robertson & Plummer. A Critical...Corinthians (ICC)
2a. Fee, Gordon. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT)
2b. Barrett, C.K. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (BNTC)

2 Corinthians
1. Hughes, Phillip. Commentary on the Second...Corinthians (NICNT)
2a. Martin, Ralph. 2 Corinthians (WBC)
2b. Barrett, C.K. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (BNTC)

Galatians
1a. Bruce, F.F. A Commentary on...Galatians (NIGTC)
1b. Burton, Ernest. A Critical and Exegetical...Galatians (ICC)
2. Lightfoot, Joseph. The Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians.

Ephesians
1. Hoehner, Harold. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary
2. O'Brien, Peter. The Letter to the Ephesians (PNTC)
3. Lincoln, Andrew. Ephesians (WBC)

Philippians
1a. Hawthorne, Gerald. Philippians (WBC).
1b. Lightfoot, Joseph. St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians.
2. O'Brien, Peter. The Epistle to the Philippians (NIGTC)

Colossians & Philemon
1. O'Brien, Peter. Colossians, Philemon (WBC).
2. Bruce, F.F. The Epistles to the Colossians...Ephesians (NICNT)
3. Lightfoot, Joseph. St. Paul’s Epistles...Colossians...Philemon.

1 & 2 Thessalonians
1. Bruce, F.F. 1 and 2 Thessalonians (WBC)
2a. Hiebert, D.E. 1 & 2 Thessalonians
2b. Best, Ernst. A Commentary on...Thessalonians (BNTC)

1 & 2 Timothy, and Titus
1. Kelly, J.N.D. The Pastoral Epistles (BNTC)
2a. Mounce, William. The Pastoral Epistles (WBC)
2b. Knight, George. The Pastoral Epistles (NIGTC)

Hebrews
1. Bruce, F.F. The Epistle to the Hebrews (NICNT)
2. Westcott, B.F. The Epistle to the Hebrews
3. Hughes, Philip. A Commentary on...Hebrews (NICNT?)

James
1. Davids, Peter. The Epistle of James (NIGTC)
2. Mayor, Joseph. The Epistle of James.

1 Peter
1. Selwyn, Edward. First Epistle of St. Peter.
2. Kelly, J.N.D. A Commentary on ... of Peter and Jude (BNTC)

2 Peter & Jude
1. Bauckham, Richard. Jude, 2 Peter (WBC)
2. Green, Edward. Second Epistle...Jude (TNTC)
3. Mayor, Joseph. The Epistle of St. Jude and...Peter.

1-3 John
1. Stott, John. The Epistles of John (TNTC).
2. Smalley, Stephen. 1, 2, 3 John (WBC)

Revelation
1. Walvoord, John. The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
2. Beale, G.K. The Book of Revelation (NIGTC)
3a. Swete, H.B. The Apocalypse of St. John.
3b. Thomas, Robert. Revelation, 2 vols (WEC)

Let me know if you have questions, comments, disagreements, or want further details.