Another one-volume work that will be a valuable addition to any preacher's library is Jon Courson's Application Commentary — New Testament (Thomas Nelson). Courson is a pastor who understands communication — he led his Oregon church in 25 years from 20 persons to more than 7,000 attenders weekly. He now serves with Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa. This 1,800-page book is a devotional commentary with an emphasis on biblical application, drawn from Courson's years of studies and radio messages. In addition to the commentary material itself, the book includes nearly 200 topical studies/sermons on various New Testament texts. This will be a valuable tool for pastors seeking application insights; it certainly will find a lasting place on my bookshelf.
Yet another one-volume commentary released this year is The People's New Testament Commentary (Westminster John Knox), by M. Eugene Boring and Fred B. Craddock. Both Boring and Craddock are distinguished New Testament scholars, and Craddock is widely-known as a major influence in homiletics over the past generation. The authors write from the perspective of their central thesis that "the New Testament is the people's book. The book and the community of faith belong together, and out of the conversation between the text and the people come the preaching, teaching, believing, and behaving of the church." While both authors write from their mainline Protestent theological perspective — many evangelicals will have some bones to pick about authorship and some textual issues — the commentary will nevertheless prove helpful to preachers seeking exegetical insights on New Testament texts.
The IVP New Testament Commentary Series — edited by Grant Osborne and published by InterVarsity Press — is another excellent collection for evangelical pastors. The two most recent releases are 1-2 Thessalonians by G.K. Beale, and Romans by Osborne. All volumes in this series have in common a commitment to Biblical authority, solid exegetical insights in reader-friendly language, and helpful preaching and teaching insights. These commentaries are helpful tools for pastors and teachers.
Another series we have praised year after year is the Ancient Christian Commentary in Scripture (InterVarsity), for which Thomas Oden serves as general editor. The ACCS — which is about half-way to its ultimately goal of 28-volumes — is a patristic commentary which draws on seven centuries of early Christian writers, compiled so as to allow us to explore scripture through the eyes of the early church fathers. The most recent release we've seen is Volume XIV, The Twelve Prophets, edited by Alberto Ferreiro. The contemporary biblical expositor will profit greatly from the opportunity to counsel with our brothers of long ago, gaining intriguing insights into the meaning of scripture.