Best 1-2 Thessalonians Commentaries | Reviews for Preaching, Teaching, and Bible Study

The best 1-2 Thessalonians commentaries are listed below. There are exegetical commentaries, scholarly and technical commentaries, as well as commentaries that are easy to understand. The “Top 10″ list is based on aggregate reviews.

This list of commentaries is intended to help the reader understand and apply Paul’s message in the books of 1-2 Thessalonians. They are not suggested as a replacement for prayer, the Holy Spirit, and the reader’s own diligent study of Scripture.

It is hoped that these books will aid the Christian pastor, preacher, teacher, student, as well as any Bible reader that wants to understand more about 1-2 Thessalonians.

May each reader’s aim be to glorify God in Jesus Christ; to strengthen Christ’s bride, the Church; and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost.

After browsing the commentaries below, see the best one-volume bible commentaries, based on aggregate reviews.

10 Best 1-2 Thessalonians Commentaries

Please read: The “Top 10” list below is a starting point for learning about 1-2 Thessalonians commentaries. It is not intended to be the “final word” because of its limitations.

Nevertheless, a list based on aggregate reviews is likely to point many people in the right direction to find the right resource for their purposes.

#1

1 & 2 Thessalonians
Word Biblical Commentary
by F.F. Bruce

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1-2 Thessalonians commentary by F.F. Bruce

Reviews and Accolades:

• Desiring God: #1 recommended commentary on 1-2 Thessalonians

• D.A. Carson: “especially valuable in its introductory remarks, its careful delineation of the background, and its useful excursus on the Antichrist”

• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a solid commentary based on the Greek text”

• Keith Mathison: #3 ranked commentary on 1-2 Thessalonians; “The fruits of a lifetime of New Testament study shine through on every page. Highly recommended.”

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Bruce takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

Bruce is well-known for his exegetical and historical insights. He also wrote the Galatians commentary in the NIGTC series, which is considered one of the best Galatians commentaries.

The publisher notes that the WBC series “emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology.”

See more about the Word Biblical Commentary series.

Please also see Best Commentary Series: The Top 50. Based on aggregate reviews.

#2

The Letters to the Thessalonians
Pillar New Testament Commentary
by Gene L. Green

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1-2 Thessalonians by Gene Green

Reviews and Accolades:

• D.A. Carson: a “best buy” on 1-2 Thessalonians; offers “exegetical detail” and “considerable expertise in the Hellenistic context”

• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “useful exposition of the letters”

• Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary” on 1 and 2 Thessalonians

• Keith Mathison: #1 ranked commentary on 1-2 Thessalonians; “probably the best commentary on these letters currently available”

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Green takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

This volume is well-reviewed for its Greek exegesis. Green is well-known for writing the 2 Peter and Jude commentary in the BECNT series.

The publisher notes that the Pillar series combines “rigorous exegesis and exposition, with an eye alert both to biblical theology and the contemporary relevance of the Bible.”

See more about the Pillar New Testament Commentary series.

#3

The Epistle to the Thessalonians
New International Greek Testament Commentary
by Charles A. Wanamaker

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1-2 Thessalonians commentary by Charles Wanamaker

Reviews and Accolades:

• D.A. Carson: “for students and pastors who can handle Greek, this commentary falls into the ‘must’ column”

• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a technical and helpful exposition”

• Keith Mathison: #2 ranked commentary on 1-2 Thessalonians; “a very useful work for those doing in-depth study”

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Wanamaker takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is the Professor of Christian Studies at the University of Cape Town.

This commentary will be maximized by those who have been trained in Greek.

The publisher notes that “at a time when the study of Greek is curtailed in many schools of theology, we hope that the NIGTC will demonstrate the continuing value of studying the Greek New Testament.”

See more about the New International Greek Testament Commentary series.

#4

1-2 Thessalonians
The IVP New Testament Commentary
by G.K. Beale

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1-2 Thessalonians by G.K. Beale

Reviews and Accolades:

• D. A. Carson: a “best buy” on 1-2 Thessalonians; a “mix of exegesis, theology, and hints at contemporary application”

• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “the best non-technical commentaries for pastors”

• Keith Mathison: #4 ranked commentary on 1-2 Thessalonians; “Beale always has interesting food for thought”

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Beale takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is ordained in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Beale is a professor at Westminster Theological Seminary.

This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

Beale is well-known for his Revelation commentary in the NIGTC series, which is considered one of the best Revelation commentaries.

The publisher notes that the IVPNTC series is “informed by the best of up-to-date evangelical scholarship, presents passage-by-passage commentary based on the NIV along with background information on authorship, setting, theme and various interpretive issues.”

See more about the IVP New Testament Commentary series.

#5

The First and Second Letters to the Thessalonians
New International Commentary on the New Testament
by Gordon Fee

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1-2 Thessalonians by Gordon Fee

Reviews and Accolades:

• Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary” on 1 and 2 Thessalonians

• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a solid commentary based on the Greek text”

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Fee takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is associated with the Assemblies of God.

This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

This volume is known for its theological reflection. Fee is well-known for his 1 Corinthians commentary in the same series, which is considered one of the best 1 Corinthians commentaries.

The publisher notes that NICNT series is “undertaken to provide earnest students of the New Testament with an exposition that is thorough and abreast of modern scholarship and at the same time loyal to the Scriptures as the infallible Word of God.”

See more about the New International Commentary on the New Testament series.

#6

1 & 2 Thessalonians
NIV Application Commentary
by Michael W. Holmes

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1-2 Thessalonians by Michael Holmes

Reviews and Accolades:

• Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary” on 1 and 2 Thessalonians

• D.A. Carson: “judicious in its pastoral application”

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Holmes takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. Holmes taught at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. This volume is well-reviewed for its helpfulness to pastors.

The publisher notes that the NIVAC series aims to “help you with the difficult but vital task of bringing an ancient message into a modern context.” See more about the NIV Application Commentary series.

#7

The Letters to the Thessalonians
The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries
by Abraham J. Malherbe

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1-2 Thessalonians from Anchor Yale

Reviews and Accolades:

• Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary” on 1 and 2 Thessalonians

• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a fine commentary by an expert in Hellenistic literature”

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Malherbe takes a critical approach to the text, yet comes to conservative theological conclusions. He taught at Yale Divinity School (d. 2012).

This commentary will be maximized by those who have been trained in Greek. Malherbe defends Pauline authorship of both letters.

The publisher notes that the Anchor seirs “vigorously pursues the goal of bringing to a wide audience the most important new ideas, the latest research findings, and the clearest possible analysis of the Bible.”

See more about the Anchor Bible Commentary series.

#8

1 and 2 Thessalonians
A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary
by Ben Witherington III

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Thessalonians commentary Ben Witherington

Reviews and Accolades:

• Keith Mathison: #5 ranked commentary on 1-2 Thessalonians; “The primary benefit of reading Witherington’s commentaries is the wealth of contextual background information he provides”

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Witherington takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Arminian.

This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

Witherington also wrote the Matthew commentary in the same series, which is considered one of the best Matthew commentaries.

The publisher notes that the SRC series approaches the text “using sociorhetorical criticism, the New Testament is interpreted within the context of the world in which it was written and read.” See more about the Socio-Rhetorical Commentary series.

#9

1-2 Thessalonians
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
by Jefferey A.D. Weima

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Thessalonians commentary Jeffrey Weima

Reviews and Accolades:

• Craig Blomberg, etal: a “priority” commentary” on 1 and 2 Thessalonians

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Weima takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Reformed. This commentary will be maximized by those who have been trained in Greek. Weima defends Pauline authorship of both letters.

The publisher notes that the BECNT series combines “scholarly depth with readability, exegetical detail with sensitivity to the whole, and attention to critical problems with theological awareness.”

See more about the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series.

#10

1 and 2 Thessalonians
Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
by Gary S. Shogren

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Thessalonians commentary Gary Shogren

Reviews and Accolades:

• D.A. Carson: “may well become the pastor’s first recourse to a Greek-language commentary of these epistles…unusually accessible”

Interview: See Best Bible Commentaries’ interview with Gary Shogren on this volume

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Shogren takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is a missionary and has taught at Costa Rica seminary.

This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers. This volume is well-reviewed for its helpfulness to pastors.

The publisher notes the ZECNT series “was refined over time by an editorial board who listened to pastors and teachers express what they wanted to see in a commentary series based on the Greek text.”

See more about the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series.

More Book of 1-2 Thessalonians Commentaries for Christian Ministry

Please read: Why are the 1-2 Thessalonians commentaries below not in the “Top 10”? It’s not necessarily because they have received poor reviews or because people haven’t found them helpful. The reasons vary:

  • Some are relatively new and haven’t been widely reviewed, read, or used yet.
  • Others haven’t been widely distributed, so it is difficult to get enough information to aggregate.
  • Still others may be outdated in relation to biblical scholarship or out of print and difficult to acquire.

The “Top 10” list is reviewed annually. Readers are encouraged to consider the volumes in this section before making a purchase. These 10 are not in any particular order.


1 and 2 Thessalonians
The New Century Bible Commentary
by I. Howard Marshall

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Thessalonians commentary Howard Marshall

Reviews and Accolades:

• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a brief and insightful exposition of the letters”

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Marshall takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Arminian.

This commentary best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

Marshall is well-known for writing the Luke commentary in the NIGTC series, which is considered one of the best Luke commentaries.

The publisher notes that the NCBC series utilizes “intends to provide a fresh look at biblical texts, taking advantage of the growing edges in Biblical Studies.”


The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians
Black’s New Testament Commentary
by Ernest Best

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Thessalonians commentary Ernest Best

Reviews and Accolades:

• Tom Schreiner: recommended; “a thorough investigation of various exegetical options”

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Best is Presbyterian. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

Best wrote the well-reviewed Ephesians commentary in the Anchor series, which is considered one of the best Ephesians commentaries.

The publisher notes that the BNTC series “has been hailed by both scholars and pastors for its insightful interpretations and reliable commentary.”


More Expository Commentaries


1 and 2 Thessalonians
Reformed Expositional Commentary
by Richard D. Phillips

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Thessalonians commentary Richard Patterson

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Phillips takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He is Reformed. This commentary is best for individual study, devotional reading, Bible studies, and adult Sunday school classes.

Phillips also wrote the John commentary in the same series.

The publisher notes that the REC series has “four fundamental commitments. First, these commentaries aim to be biblical… Second, these commentaries are unashamedly doctrinal… Third, these commentaries are redemptive-historical… Fourth, these commentaries are practical…”

See more about the Reformed Expository Commentary series.


The Message of 1 & 2 Thessalonians
The Bible Speaks Today
by John Stott

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Thessalonians commentary John Stott

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Stott  takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He was Anglican and Reformed (d. 2011).

This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

Stott also wrote the 1 John commentary in the same series, which is considered one of the best 1 John commentaries.

The publisher notes that the distinctives of BST series are (1) “BST authors are committed to a serious study of the text in its own integrity,” (2) that “expositors should not be antiquarians, living only in the remote past” but suggest application for living, and (3) “each book is intended to be both readable in style and manageable in size.”

See more about the Bible Speaks Today commentary series.


1-2 Thessalonians
New American Commentary
by D. Michael Martin Jr.

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Thessalonians commentary Michael Martin

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Martin takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

The publisher notes that the NAC series “has been designed primarily to enable pastors, teachers, and students to read the Bible with clarity and proclaim it with power.” See more about the New American Commentary series.


1 & 2 Thessalonians
Two Horizons New Testament Commentary
by Andy Johnson

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Thessalonians commentary Andy Johnson

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Johnson takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

The publisher notes that the Two Horizons series “offers section-by-section exegesis of the New Testament texts in close conversation with theological concerns.”


1 and 2 Thessalonians
Tyndale New Testament Commentary
by Leon Morris

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Thessalonians commentary Leon Morris

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Morris takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. He was Anglican and Reformed (d. 2006).

This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

The publisher notes that the TNTC volumes approach “the text section by section, drawing out its main themes. It also comments on individual verses and deals with problems of interpretation.”

See more about the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series.


I & II Thessalonians
New Testament Library
by M. Eugene Boring

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Thessalonians commentary Eugene Boring

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Boring takes a critical approach to Scripture. He denies Pauline authorship. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

Boring also wrote the Mark commentary in the same series.

The publisher notes that the NLT series “offers authoritative commentary on every book and major aspect of the New Testament, providing fresh translations based on the best available ancient manuscripts, critical portrayals of the historical world in which the books were created, careful attention to their literary design, and a theologically perceptive exposition of the biblical text.”


1 & 2 Thessalonians
Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Revised)
by Robert L. Thomas and Andreas J. Kostenberger

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Thessalonians commentary Expositor's

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Thomas takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, and experienced Bible readers.

The publisher notes that the REBC series reflects “scholarly evangelicalism committed to the divine inspiration, complete trustworthiness, and full authority of the Bible.” See more about the Expositor’s Bible Commentary series, original and revised.


1 & 2 Thessalonians
Understanding the Bible Commentary Series
by David J. Williams

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Thessalonians commentary David Williams

Theology, Audience, and Purpose: Williams takes an evangelical approach to Scripture. This commentary is best for expository preachers, Bible college and seminary students, church elders and teachers, experienced Bible readers.

Williams also wrote the Acts commentary in the same series.

The publisher notes that the UBCS “present a careful section-by-section exposition of the biblical books with key terms and phrases highlighted and all Hebrew transliterated.” See more about the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series.


Classic 1-2 Thessalonians Commentaries

1 and 2 Thessalonians
Crossway Classic Commentaries
by John Calvin

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Thessalonians commentary John Calvin

Synopsis: From the publisher: “For hundreds of years Christendom has been blessed with Bible commentaries written by great men of God highly respected for their godly walk and their insight into spiritual truth.

The Crossway Classic Commentaries present the very best work on individual Bible books, carefully adapted for maximum understanding and usefulness for today’s believers.”


Also see:

Compare 75 different commentary series on the Bible Commentary Series Comparison Chart

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