Select Resources for the Study of Romans
Season Five of the Blessed Hope Podcast — “God Justifies the Ungodly”
A Deep Dive Bible Study into Paul’s Letter to the Romans
Supporting Materials (Charts, etc.) Referenced in the Podcast:
The Ten Commandments in the New Testament
Christ-Adam in Justification-Sanctification
Nygren’s Contrast Between Romans 6 and 7
Reformed Commentaries on Romans:
John Calvin, Commentary on Romans. A masterpiece of lucidity and brevity
Robert Haldane, Romans (Geneva Series of Commentaries)
William Hendricksen, Romans. Long out of print. Solid, but dated (written before the rise of NPP)
Charles Hodge, Romans. For many years, the Reformed standard
John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans. Helpful on theological issues, weak on background matters
J. V. Fesko, Romans: The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary. The most recent of expositions, built around sermons like other volumes in the series
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. They are ranked in order of importance and helpfulness (in my estimation) to the reader of Romans
Douglas Moo, The Letter to the Romans: New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT). Solid and defends the “Lutheran view” of justification in response to NPP
Frank Thielman, Romans: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. A very good piece of work. Thielman is PCA
Richard N. Longenecker, The Epistle to the Romans (New International Greek Testament Commentary). Very thorough on lexical and background materials
Colin Kruse, Paul’s Letter to the Romans (Pillar New Testament Commentary). Consise and clear
David. E. Garland, Romans: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries). Garland is the best writer of the bunch and I cite him often
Thomas Schreiner, Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Solid, but quirky in places
Other Favorite Commentaries:
Gerald Bray, Romans: Volume 6 (Volume 6) (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture). A compendium of the church fathers on Romans drawn from their commentaries, and writings
F. F. Bruce, Romans: Tyndale New Testament Commentary. Now out of print and replaced by Garland’s volume in the series. Still a wise and sane piece of work as typical of professor Bruce
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 divergent views, give the reasons for them, and then make the case as to which you think is right
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 this is old guard British Evangelicalism at its best. A real gem and I cite him often
Anders Nygren, Commentary on Romans (hard to find used), Commentary on Romans (Internet Archive). This is one my all-time favorites. Eminently readable. Short on detail and now dated. It was written in the 1940s), but offers a wonderful big picture sweeping narrative of Romans, and very strong on Paul’s two-age categories
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 a great biographical study of Paul’s life and times
Paul Barnett, A Short Book About Paul. A good introduction
Pauline Theology and Background:
G. K. Beale, Union with the Resurrected Christ: Eschatological New Creation and New Testament Biblical Theology. Understanding Paul’s doctrine of our Lord’s bodily resurrection is essential to understand Paul
Michael Bird and Scot McKnight eds., God's Israel and the Israel of God: Paul and Supersessionism. An important study of the relationship between the church and Israel in Romans 11
Constantine Campbell, Paul and the Hope of Glory: An Exegetical and Theological Study. A detailed summation of every passage in Paul discussing eschatology, arranged topically. Very helpful in pointing out the specifics of the two ages in Paul’s letters
J. V. Fesko, Death in Adam, Life in Christ: The Doctrine of Imputation (Reformed Exegetical Doctrinal Studies series). An important statement and defense of the Reformed understanding of imputation
Richard Gaffin, In the Fullness of Time: An Introduction to the Biblical Theology of Acts and Paul. Based upon Gaffin’s lecture notes from his Acts and Paul course, taught for decades at WTS. Supplements and updates his earlier volume, Resurrection and Redemption
David Holwerda, Jesus and Israel: One Covenant or Two? A very helpful study of Romans 9-11
Guy Manuell, The People in Paul’s Letters: A Compendium of Characters. This is a great aid to reading Paul’s letters. Manuell gives a biographical account of very person named in Paul’s letter. Some entries are brief (if there’s nothing known of the person), some are extensive (such as Timothy and Titus)
Scott McKnight, ed., Dictionary of Paul and His Letters: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship (The IVP Bible Dictionary Series, 2nd edition). I own the first edition and cite from it often in this series
Douglas J. Moo, A Theology of Paul and His Letters (2021). A helpful big-picture survey of Paul’s theology and epistles
John Murray, Imputation of Adam's Sin. An important look at Romans 5:12-21 and the doctrine of original sin
Herman Ridderbos, Paul: An Outline of His Theology. A systematic treatment of Paul’s theology—brilliant in many areas, not so brilliant in others
James P. Ware, Paul's Theology in Context: Creation, Incarnation, Covenant, and Kingdom. A solid look at these themes in Paul from a Roman Catholic Scholar, you’d never know was Roman Catholic
Guy P. Waters, The Life and Theology of Paul. A great introduction. There is also a DVD edition available from Ligonier
Stephen Westerholm, Perspectives Old and New on Paul: The "Lutheran" Paul and His Critics. A great book and a compelling response to the New Perspective reading of Paul. Highly recommended
Stephen Westerholm, Romans: Text, Readers, and the History of Interpretation. If you love Romans, this is must reading
Stephen Westerholm,Understanding Paul: The Early Christian Worldview of the Letter to the Romans. Very helpful and a great read
David Van Drunen, Divine Covenants and Moral Order: A Biblical Theology of Natural Law (Emory University Studies in Law and Religion). An important look at natural law (what Scripture teaches about it) and especially helpful on Romans 2:1-29 and Romans 13:1-7
Geerhardus Vos, The Pauline Eschatology. This groundbreaking book introduced many of us to Paul’s two-age eschatology
Books Frequently Mentioned in Season Five
Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology. Any Reformed library missing Louis Berkhof’s famous ST, is seriously deficient
Michael Horton, The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way. The best of the one volume Reformed, and contemporary systematic theologies. Highly recommended
Michael Horton, Justification, Volume 1 (New Studies in Dogmatics), volume 2. The best statement and defense of the confessional Protestant view of justification in print. Solid and thoughtful responses to the various challenges raised by the New Perspective
Meredith Kline, Kingdom Prologue: Genesis Foundations for a Covenantal Worldview. An important and panoramic look at the fiber of redemptive history.
Harrison Perkins, Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction. This is the best (and current) volume available on covenant theology