Craig Blomberg and colleagues provide eleven recommendations for each NT book. What's helpful is that they use three categories: (1) detailed, critical commentaries using the Greek text; (2) more mid-level works using the English text (some with references to the Greek in footnotes); and (3) commentaries that are briefer and/or have a special focus on application. For each category they mark at least one book with an asterisk for priority acquisition.
This can feel a bit overwhelming, so my recommendation would be to start with D.A. Carson's list of "best buys." Here's my rule of thumb for NT commentary buying: if you see the names Carson, O'Brien, or Moo on the cover, it's a good buy!
But back to the Denver list. Another helpful feature is that they have broken down the non-commentary books into ten categories:
- Textual Criticism
- Grammar
- Introduction
- Historical Background (Lexical Analysis, History and Religion, Primary Source Material)
- Theology
- Dictionary / Encyclopedia
- Criticism
- Hermeneutics
- Jesus and the Gospels
- Paul
As with the commentaries, they select certain books in each category as top priority for acquisition. ("Others would be good to have if and when finances allow.")
I thought it might be helpful to list below just the "top priority" volumes and provide the links to Amazon. (Remember that the full bibliography includes a number of additional books for each category.)
1. Textual CriticismA couple of notes:
Metzger, B. M. A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament. London & N.Y.: United Bible Societies, 1994.2
Wegner, P. D. A Student's Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible: Its History, Methods and Results. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2006.
2. Grammar
Black, D. A. It's Still Greek to Me. G.R.: Baker, 1998.
Wallace, D. B. Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics. G.R.: Zondervan, 1996.
3. Introduction
Carson, D. A. and D. J. Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament. G.R.: Zondervan, 2005.2
deSilva, D. A. An Introduction to the New Testament: Context, Methods and Ministry Formation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004.
4. Historical Background
A. Lexical Analysis
Bauer, W. (Danker/Arndt/Gingrich). A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. 3
Brown, C., ed. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, 3 vols. G.R.: Zondervan, 1975-1978.
Louw, J. P. and E. A. Nida. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains, 2 vols. New York: United Bible Societies, 1988.
B. History and Religion
Ferguson, E. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2003.3
Keener, C. S. The IVP Biblical Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1993.
Witherington, B., III. New Testament History: A Narrative Account. G.R.: Baker, 2001.
C. Primary Source Material
Evans, C. A. Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies: A Guide to the Background Literature. Peabody: Hendrickson, 2005.
5. Theology
Marshall, I. H. New Testament Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004.
Thielman, F. New Testament Theology. G.R.: Zondervan, 2005.
6. Dictionary / Encyclopedia
Green, J. B., S. McKnight, and I. H. Marshall, eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1992.
Hawthorne, G. F., R. P. Martin, and D. G. Reid, eds. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1993.
Sakenfeld, K. D., ed. New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, 6 vols. Nashville: Abingdon, 2006- . [vol. 1, vol. 2, vol. 3, vol. 4]
7. Criticism
Dockery, D. S. and D. A. Black, eds. Interpreting the New Testament. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001.2
McKnight, S. and G. R. Osborne, eds. The Face of New Testament Studies. G.R.: Baker, 2004.
8. Hermeneutics
Beale, G. K. and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. G.R.: Baker, 2007.
Klein, W. W., C. L. Blomberg and R. L. Hubbard, Jr. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Nashville: Nelson, 2004.2
9. Jesus and the Gospels
Bauckham, R. Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2006.
Blomberg, C. L. Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1997.
Wright, N. T. Jesus and the Victory of God. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996.
Wright, N. T. The Resurrection of the Son of God. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2003.
10. Paul
Dunn, J. D. G. The Theology of Paul the Apostle. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1998.
Gorman, M. J. Apostle of the Crucified Lord: A Theological Introduction to Paul and His Letters. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2004.
Polhill, J. B. Paul and His Letters. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1999.
Wright, N. T. Paul: In Fresh Perspective. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2005.
- Unless you need it right away, I'd hold off on getting Blomberg's excellent Jesus and the Gospels. The second edition is supposed to be published later this year.
- In the areas of Paul and NT Theology, I'd make Tom Schreiner's two volumes top priority: Paul, Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology and New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ.