The 2008 Preaching Survey of Bibles and Bible References

Klyne Snodgrass’s Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus (Eerdmans; hb., 846 pp.) delivers on the claim of its subtitle making it a great one stop resource for teaching and preaching the parables.

David Turner’s Matthew (BECNT; Baker; hb., 828 pp.) is a good, thorough, evangelical commentary focusing on how this gospel works rather than on perceived changes from Mark. He does a good job with Matthew’s use of the OT.

Two recent more technical studies on Matthew include Jonathan Pennington’s Heaven and Earth in the Gospel of Matthew (Brill; hb., 399 pp.) and Built Upon the Rock: Studies in the Gospel of Matthew, ed. D. Gurtner & J. Nolland (Eerdmans; pb., 331 pp). Pennington’s book is technical and expensive but has a valuable discussion on how we interpret Matthew’s phrase ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ and other uses of the word ‘heaven’ in this gospel. Built Upon the Rock is primarily academic in orientation but has some helpful material for preaching. Jim Hamilton’s essay on Matthew’s use of OT, for example, is helpful in understanding how OT prophecy is being fulfilled.

Bock’s much anticipated Acts (Baker; hb., 848 pp.) is now the standard comprehensive evangelical commentary on this book. This is one to definitely purchase and to use as the first step in careful exegesis passage by passage. It is more technical but also points to application. Acts for Everyone: Part One and Part Two by N. T. Wright (WJK; pb., 212 & 268) continue the format of the previous volumes in this series with Wright’s clear and engaging writing combining exposition and illustration. Though no substitute for a more thorough commentary these are helpful for understanding the overall story and especially for communicating them well. John Calvin’s Sermons on the Acts of the Apostles: Chapters 1-7 (Banner of Truth; hb., 657 pp.) is now available for the first time in English. The translation is clear and much more readable than the older translations we often have of Calvin’s other works. These sermons are good examples of exposition vigorously applied, and thus will be helpful in sermon preparation.