Commentary recommendations

Following is a list of commentaries written by scholars who believe that the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today.

However, it should not be deduced that inclusion on this list means that the scholars are "pushing" a charismatic agenda in their commentaries. Rather, the benefit I am suggesting is that none of them are in opposition to charismatic gifts, leaving charismatic and pentecostal readers free to enjoy the fruit of their scholarship without having to "read around" antagonistic sections.

I don't believe, though, that it is presumptuous to hope that the authors' openness to the Holy Spirit will have resulted in empowerment of even their exegesis.

Some are charismatic, some are pentecostal. They cross the christian spectrum from Vineyard Movement (Peter Davids), to Methodist (Ben Witherington), to Episcopalian (again, Peter Davids), to classical pentecostal (several).

As with commentaries from any persuasion, we approach them as the noble Bereans approached the Apostle Paul's teaching: "... they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." (English Standard Version)

I have tried to prepare an exhaustive list. Please e-mail me with any omissions and I will gladly update the list. I have also provided a short review of two one-volume commentaries on the New Testament by the same type of scholars. You can read that item here.

(Clicking on the scholar's name will link you to information about his commentary ... in many cases you will be linked to a preview of part of the commentary. Clicking on the scholar's school will link you to biographical information, in most cases.)

JUDGES

Lee Roy Martin, Church of God Theological Seminary

JEREMIAH

Michael Brown, forthcoming, Zondervan

MATTHEW

Craig Keener, Palmer Theological Seminary

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

MARK

Larry Hurtado, University of Edinburgh

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

Rikki Watts, forthcoming, Eerdmans

LUKE

Ben Witherington, forthcoming, Cambridge University Press

JOHN

Craig Keener, Palmer Theological Seminary

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

ACTS

French Arrington, Church of God Theological Seminary

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

Craig Keener, forthcoming, Hendrickson

ROMANS

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

Craig Keener, forthcoming, Wipf & Stock

I CORINTHIANS

Craig Keener, Palmer Theological Seminary

Richard Hays, Duke Divinity School

Gordon Fee, Regent College

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

II CORINTHIANS

Craig Keener, Palmer Theological Seminary

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

GALATIANS

Richard Hays, Duke Divinity School

Gordon Fee, Regent College

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

EPHESIANS

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

PHILIPPIANS

Gordon Fee, Regent College

COLOSSIANS

Peter Davids, St. Stephen's University

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

I THESSALONIANS

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

Gordon Fee, Regent College

II THESSALONIANS

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

I TIMOTHY

Gordon Fee, Regent College

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

II TIMOTHY

Gordon Fee, Regent College

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

TITUS

Gordon Fee, Regent College

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

PHILEMON

Peter Davids, St. Stephen's University

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

HEBREWS

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

JAMES

Peter Davids, St. Stephen's University

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

I PETER

Peter Davids, St. Stephen's University

Wayne Grudem, Phoenix Seminary

Rebecca Skaggs, Patten University

II PETER

Peter Davids, St. Stephen's University

Rebecca Skaggs, Patten University

I JOHN

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

John Christopher Thomas, Church of God Theological Seminary

II JOHN

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

John Christopher Thomas, Church of God Theological Seminary

III JOHN

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

John Christopher Thomas, Church of God Theological Seminary

JUDE

Peter Davids, St. Stephen's University

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

Rebecca Skaggs, Patten University

REVELATION

Craig Keener, Palmer Theological Seminary

Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary

Gordon Fee, forthcoming, Wipf & Stock

Rebecca Skaggs & Patricia Benham, Patten University