Christian preaching, at its heart, is a proclamation of God's truth as revealed in the pages of scripture. Over the centuries preaching has attempted to do many other things, but it has never made a lasting impact when it has focused on anything other than the Word.

That is why effective preachers spend so much time in the pages of scripture: reading it, meditating on it, praying over it, chewing it up, wrestling with it, explaining it, illustrating it, applying it and proclaiming it. The Bible is our foremost tool, our foundation, our lodestar.

Given the significance of the Bible for the preaching task, it is no wonder good preachers give so much attention to finding helpful tools which will aid in the study of scripture. While nothing can substitute for the reading of the biblical text itself, it is clear that the use of such aids as commentaries and other biblical reference materials can enhance our ability to accurately and effectively communicate God's truth to a contemporary congregation.

Commentaries

Each year seems to bring yet another crop of quality commentaries which will be of value to preachers. The major challenge is in determining where to spend an always limited book budget!

No matter how limited your budget, it is hard to go wrong with the Pillar New Testament Commentary series from Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. Joining four previous volumes already available (including Matthew and Romans by Leon Morris and John from D.A. Carson) are two new volumes: The Letter of James from Douglas J. Moo and The Letters of John by Colin G. Kruse. Moo is Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, while Kruse is a Lecturer in New Testament at the Bible College of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. These two outstanding volumes are of value to serious Bible students yet accessible to those with less training. Filled with valuable exegetical insights and quality exposition, these commentaries deserve a place at the top of your book list for Christmas!

In last year's survey I introduced the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture by calling it "one of the most unique publishing projects of recent years, and a series of remarkable value to preachers and students alike." My opinion hasn't changed over the past year, and serious students of scripture will join me in welcoming the two most recent volumes in the series: volume IX (Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon), edited by Peter Gorday, and volume XI (James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude), edited by Gerald Bray. Gorday is a clinical staff member with the Georgia Association for Pastoral Counseling and priest-associate at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Atlanta. Bray is professor of Anglican Studies at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham. Thomas C. Oden serves as general editor of the series, which is published by InterVarsity Press.

With each successive volume, the series becomes a more valuable addition to the preacher's library. Using computer technology, the compilers have sifted through the voluminous works of the early church fathers, sifting out the portions in which those early Christian writers commented on various passages of scripture. The resulting material has then been organized and presented in a most readable format. Using this series enables the 21st century pastor to have access to the work of those commentators closest to the biblical era, drawing on such writers as Chrysostum, Irenaeus, Augustine, Tertullian, Ambrose and many more. In an age when anything prior to 1960 is considered ancient history, these volumes offer a rare opportunity to feast on the riches of the ancient Christian community.