One of the most significant contributions of the past year (it actually came out in late 2002) is Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary (Baker) by Harold W. Hoehner. I. Howard Marshall calls it "probably the most detailed modern English commentary on the Greek text of Ephesians." Hoehner, who is Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary, has provided a remarkable and comprehensive treatment of Ephesians which should be in the hands of every preacher approaching this text.
Another significant commentary released late last year is Grant Osborne's Revelation (Baker), part of the outstanding Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Osborne, who is Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, has written a massive (869 pages) yet manageable treatment of the New Testament's concluding book. While clearly conversant with current scholarship, the commentary is written with the pastor or teacher in mind, and will be of real value to anyone planning to preach in Revelation.
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The newest release in the BECNT series from Baker — due out in November — is David Garland's major work on 1 Corinthians. Garland teaches New Testament at Baylor's Truett Theological Seminary, and his work reflects both careful scholarship and a concern for those who preach and teach the text. This commentary is likely to become one of the standard works to which preachers turn in studying Paul's fisrt epistle to the Corinthian church.
As we pointed out in last year's survey, one of the finest and most unique resources available for biblical study is the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (InterVarsity Press), for which Thomas Oden serves as General Editor. The ACCS will eventually be a 28-volume patristic commentary which draws on seven centuries of early Christian writers, from Clement of Rome in the late first century AD to the mid-eighth century. It offers a remarkable opportunity to study scripture through the eyes of the early church fathers.
This year's releases in the ACCS series include Genesis 12-50, edited by Mark Sheridan, and Luke, edited by Arthur A. Just, Jr. Expository preachers will benefit from the insights of early Christian writers (such as Origen and Justin Martyr) as they approached these same biblical texts.
Another popular series for preachers is the Interpretation commentary, published by Westminster John Knox Press. Three additions to this series have been released in recent months: Joshua by Jerome D. Creach (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary), Judges by J. Clinton McCann (Eden Theological Seminary), and Leviticus by Samuel E. Balentine (Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond). Written primarily for an audience of mainline ministers and teachers, the Interpretation volumes include many solid insights which will be of value to preachers and teachers.