Phillip Cary's
Jonah (Brazos Theological Comm.; Baker) like the rest of the series seeks to focus on the overall meaning of the text rather than minute details. Unlike some other volumes, it handles the text clause by clause. It is readable and often suggestive, thus will be useful alongside a more detailed commentary. Walter Chantry's
Habakkuk: A Wrestler with God (Banner of Truth) contains good sermons on this oft-neglected prophet, which means this will be a useful resource.
New Testament - General
The Cradle, The Cross and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament (B&H) by Andreas Kostenberger, Scott Kellum and Charles Quarles is a very comprehensive, conservative introduction focusing on each book of the New Testament. In each book, it surveys the content and discusses theology.
The New Testament in Antiquity: A Survey of the New Testament Within Its Cultural Context (Zondervan) by Gary Burge, Lynn Cohick and Gene Green is in full color with more photos and more emphasis on cultural background. Of the two, however, I would prefer the B&H volume because it simply gives more information for each book.
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James Dunn's
Beginning from Jerusalem, Vol. 2: Christianity in the Making Series (Eerdmans) is a massive survey of the early church from the beginning of Acts to the deaths of Paul and Peter. It is informative though its bulk and price may be prohibitive.
Larry Helyer's
The Witness of Jesus, Paul and John: An Exploration in Biblical Theology (IVP) is an undergraduate textbook which can be helpful to pastors in several ways. Helyer summarizes the current discussion on how we do biblical theology thus providing a helpful reflection on how we understand the Bible as one cherent message. Then he gives his attempt at summarizing the central message of Jesus, Paul and John showing how they connect.
Eckhard Schnabel's
Paul the Missionary: Realities, Strategies adn Methods (IVP) is a major work on Paul, working through all his letters, examining the way in which he went about ministry. This book is very helpful not only in preaching these letters but also in thinking about how we do ministry.
Michael Bird's
Introducing Paul: The Man, His Mission and His Message (IVP) is a brief, readable, sensible summary of Pauline studies in an usable format. Of course, I don't agree with all his conclusions; but he provides a good overview in a helpful manner, summarizing key aspects of Paul's life and message along with a good dose of humor.
Raymond Collins'
The Power of Images in Paul (Liturgical Press) is a useful book on metaphor in Paul. Stephen Finlan's
The Apostle Paul and the Pauline Tradition (Liturgical Press) is a brief summary of each of Paul's letters form a mroe critical perspective, which adds little to the more substantive works.
Books on the life and theology of Paul are numerous, but such books on John are very rare. That is one reason why I have been so glad to see Andreas Köstenberger's
A Theology of John's Gospel and Letters (Zondervan). This is a very significant work by a prominent scholar who has spent much time in John. Köstenberger surveys each book or letter and deals with key theological themes. This volume is one of this year's "must-haves."
