Among the significant commentaries released in the past year, preachers will welcome Mark F. Rooker's volume, Leviticus in the New American Commentary Series (Broadman & Holman). Rooker makes a significant contribution towards our understanding of this important book from the Pentateuch. It may well be that few preachers venture into Leviticus for preaching texts. Rooker helps us to see that this important book has much to say to the contemporary church as well as to ancient Israel.

One of the most important commentaries of the past year is the Letter to the Ephesians (Eerdmans) in the Pillar New Testament Commentary Series. Written by Peter T. O'Brien, the commentary provides ample exegetical investigation and good theological analysis. O'Brien is Vice-Principal and Senior Research Fellow of New Testament at Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia. He will be recognized as the author of the volume on Philippians in the New International Greek Commentary.

Commentaries written for preachers by preachers are often especially helpful. This is always the case in the successive volumes of the MacArthur New Testament Commentary. John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA, is one of the most widely known and respected preachers in America today. MacArthur has now completed his two-volume work on the book of Revelation. Revelation Commentary (Moody Press) will be appreciated by all preachers who address the book of Revelation in preaching. Word Publishing has also released the MacArthur Topical Bible. This work is far more than a concordance, since the verses are actually printed according to subject matter in the text. Any preacher will find this volume of considerable assistance in preaching, Bible studies, and personal devotions.

Andreas J. Kostenberger assists pastors through Encountering John (Baker Book House). Kostenberger identifies the Gospel of John as "the theological pinnacle of the gospel tradition," and his commentary address historical, literary, and theological issues in the exposition of this important gospel. Preachers will appreciate the accessible format and conversational style of this commentary.

Mark A. Seifrid has contributed an important volume in Christ, Our Righteousness: Paul's Theology of Justification (Apollos). Seifrid, a very competent Pauline scholar, here responds to the proposals made by John Sanders and N. T. Wright. Seifrid insists that "there can be no justification of the sinner which is not simultaneously a justification of God in His wrath against the sinner: the revelation of the saving righteousness of God is based upon the righteousness of God's wrath which is revealed against all idolatry and hypocrisy." Therefore, Seifrid argues for a forensic understanding of justification that underlines the great Reformation theme of sola gratia

Other helpful works released this past year include The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation by Vern S. Poythress (Presbyterian and Reformed); Reframing Paul: Conversations in Grace and Community by Mark Strom (InterVarsity); Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations by Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. (Baker); The Fall of Interpretation: Philosophical Foundations for a Creational Hermeneutic by James K.A. Smith (InterVarsity); and The Gods of the Nations: Studies in Ancient Near-Eastern National Theology by Daniel I. Block (Baker).