Philippians
Philippians may at first appear to be insignificant compared with other Pauline epistles but it contains some important theological statements and shows how Paul dealt with practical issues in one of his less troublesome congregations.
R.P.Martin has written a good commentary for the general reader in the Tyndale series (new paperback edition, 1983) and in the New Century Bible series (1981). The latter contains more interaction with modern scholarship but adopts some disputable solutions to certain exegetical problems.
William Hendriksen’s work (Banner of Truth, 1962) is less controversial and provides a carefully structured analysis of the argument of Philippians for the general reader. The Bible Speaks Today commentary on Philippians is by Alec Motyer (1983), offering exegesis and application at a popular level.
Gerald Hawthorne furnishes the most detailed and up-to-date commentary in the Word series (1983), with considerable attention to the Greek text and difficult exegetical issues. Hawthorne has also written the first of a series of Word Biblical Themes, focussing on the main theological ideas of the epistle. It is simply entitled Philippians (Word, 1987) and would form a good introduction to the careful study of Paul’s letter.
P.T. O’Brien is writing a volume on Philippians for the New International Greek Testament Commentary series which hopefully will be published in 1989.
Ezra and Nehemiah
These two short books, probably a single book originally, tell the story of the return of the Jewish exiles to the land of Israel after many years in exile in Babylon. After God’s judgement had fallen on his people in that exile, the pressing question was: What now will become of the people of God? Is it all over for ‘Israel’? The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are part of the Old Testament’s answer to those questions.
Considering the small attention these books generally receive, it is surprising to find quite a number of substantial commentaries on them. Perhaps the best, if you want detail, is H.G.M. Williamson, Ezra, Nehemiah, Word Biblical Commentary 16 (Word Books, 1985). Despite well over 400 pages of comment, it is readable, and easy to skip over the more technical details if desired.
There is a much briefer commentary in the Tyndale series by Derek Kidner (Ezra and Nehemiah [IVP, 1979]), whose writings are always a fund of godly wisdom. It provides a concise guide through the main difficulties of the text, and precise comment.
D.J.A. Clines, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, New Century Bible Commentary (Eerdmans, 1984) is a first rate scholarly commentary, briefer than Williamson, but not quite as readable by the ‘non-specialist’ (an awful term for a Bible student, but I hope you know what I mean!). F.C. Fensham, The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah, New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Eerdmans, 1982) makes careful use of the historical background to the books to illuminate the text, but gives less attention than, say Williamson, to theological matters.
Two commentaries from less conservative writers are Jacob M. Myers, Ezra. Nehemiah, Anchor Bible 14 (Doubleday, 1965) and F.C. Holmgren, Israel Alive Again, International Theological Commentary (Eernmans, 1987). The latter is not a verse by verse commentary, but more a running discussion of the theological issues raised by the text. A good thought provoker.
