Season Five of the Blessed Hope Podcast — “God Justifies the Ungodly”

A Deep Dive Bible Study into Paul’s Letter to the Romans

Biographies of Paul:

Frank Thielman, Paul, The Apostle of Grace. This is an outstanding biography of Paul. Expensive but well worth it. Reviewers claim it replaces Bruce’s volume, but they really are two different books. I would own both!

F. F. Bruce, Paul: The Apostle of the Heart Set Free. A bit dated but still remains a useful biographical study of Paul’s life and times

Pauline Theology:

Douglas J. Moo, A Theology of Paul and His Letters (2021). A helpful big picture survey of Paul’s theology and epistles

Guy P. Waters, The Life and Theology of Paul (DVD series). A great introduction. There is also a print edition

Reformed Commentaries on Romans:

John Calvin, Commentary on Romans. A masterpiece of lucidity and brevity

Charles Hodge, Romans

John Murray: The Epistle to the Romans

William Hendricksen, Romans. Long out of print. Faithful, but dated (written before the rise of NPP).

J. V. Fesko, Romans: The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary

Recommended Evangelical Commentaries on Romans:

Note: you will not agree with all of these commentators all the time—I don’t. But they are committed to biblical authority and are first-rate scholars wrestling with the various controversies in Romans with care and judiciousness. There is still much to learn from those with whom you may disagree on the fine points of interpretation

Douglas Moo, The Letter to the Romans: New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT)

Frank Thielman, Romans: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament

Richard N. Longenecker, The Epistle to the Romans (New International Greek Testament Commentary)

Colin Kruse, Paul’s Letter to the Romans (Pillar New Testament Commentary)

David. E. Garland, Romans: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries)

Thomas Schreiner, Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

Other Favorite Commentaries:

Leon Morris, The Epistle to the Romans (The Pillar New Testament Commentary). Now out of print, and replaced by Kruse. Still one of my favorites. Weak on the response to NPP, but old guard British Evangelicalism at its best. A real gem.

C. E. B. Cranfield, The Epistle to the Romans 1-8 (Vol. 1) (International Critical Commentary Series), Vol. 2. Easily one of the best commentaries ever written. Even when I don’t agree with him, Cranfield’s wisdom and judicious approach in surveying possible interpretations is a masterclass in how commentators should handle controversies. You present all the views, the reason for them, and then make the case as to which you think is right.

F. F. Bruce, Romans: Tyndale New Testament Commentary. Now out of print and replaced by Garland. Still a wise and sane piece of work as typical pf professor Bruce.

Anders Nygren, Commentary on Romans (used), Commentary on Romans (Internet Archive). This is one my favorites. Eminently readable. Short on detail and dated, but a wonderful big picture sweeping narrative of Romans.