Book Review: ESV Expository Commentary
Over the last few years, Crossway has released a new Biblical commentary series called ESV Expository Commentary. Of course, with their publication, every new Bible commentary series must answer the same fundamental question: what—if anything—sets it apart?
Do We Really Need Another Bible Commentary Series?
Pastors, teachers, scholars, and lay readers all ask this whenever a new series is announced. The field is already crowded, and commentaries now appear in nearly every conceivable form. Some, like the handy NIV Application Commentary, emphasize practical use and focus on modern-day relevance. Others, such as the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, are unapologetically academic, dwelling on textual minutiae and sometimes devoting pages to the interpretation of a single verse. Still others, like the excellent Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture or Reformation Commentary on Scripture from IVP, seek to bridge the gap between contemporary readers and the historic church, curating voices from the past for the present.
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Theological and Practical Concerns
Theological positioning is just as important. Is a series meant as a broad Christian resource, or is it written primarily for a Roman Catholic, Reformed, or other confessional audience? Does it quietly advance one tradition’s agenda while presenting itself as “for all Christians”? More seriously still, does it risk veering into doctrinal error or even outright heresy? And beyond confessional identity, how does it handle hot-button issues where Christians often diverge, such as sex, gender roles, money, and violence? Does it acknowledge the diversity of the global church, or does it flatten the conversation to reflect only one tradition’s convictions?
Practical concerns matter too. At one end of the spectrum are volumes produced for the academy, which are prohibitively expensive and realistically accessible only to well-funded libraries. At the other end are budget-priced series, whose very affordability can raise doubts about their quality. Since money, shelf space, and reading time are always limited, the real question is whether a commentary is genuinely worth the investment.
With these questions in mind, how should we assess the ESV Expository Commentary series?
A Balance of Academic and Accessible
Launched in 2018 with Daniel–Malachi (Volume 7), Ephesians–Philemon (Volume 11), and Hebrews–Revelation (Volume 12), and completed in 2025 with the long-awaited Genesis–Numbers (Volume 1), Crossway envisioned the series to “strengthen the global church with a widely accessible, theologically sound, and pastorally wise resource for understanding and applying the overarching storyline of the Bible.” As its title suggests, the commentary primarily addresses pastors and teachers, offering a steady, text-driven approach that works verse by verse, passage by passage, and chapter by chapter to draw out Scripture’s meaning in its original context and demonstrate its relevance for the life of the church today.
In this sense, we could best describe the ESV Expository Commentary as a medium-level resource, appealing to both ordained ministers and serious lay readers alike. Its prose is consistently clear and approachable, avoiding unnecessary technicalities, and most sections remain concise, rarely extending beyond a few paragraphs. Each entry illuminates key elements of language, historical and literary context, symbolism, and theology in a manner that is substantive yet not overwhelming to the reader. At the same time, the series provides meaningful engagement with broader academic conversations, offering accessible entry points into significant debates. These include, for example, why most scholars regard Mark as the earliest Gospel, the distinctive character of John in relation to the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), questions concerning the authorship of the Pastoral Epistles, the dating and historicity of the Exodus, and the scale of violence depicted in the book of Joshua, among others.
Defending and Applying Scripture
At the beginning of each biblical book, commentators provide substantial introductions that address questions of Title and Author, Date and Occasion, Genre and Literary Features, Theology, Relationship to the Rest of Scripture and to Christ, Preaching, and Interpretive Challenges. These sections serve as a quick refresher for sermon preparation. However, one could just as easily share them in a Bible study to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the text.
The introductions frequently defend traditional positions—for example, that Moses composed the bulk of Genesis, that the Gospels originated with the four men whose names they bear, that Paul wrote all the letters bearing his name, and that the Apostle John authored the Book of Revelation. They also tend to argue for earlier datings of biblical texts, such as placing the completion of Acts of the Apostles around A.D. 62, rather than in the 90s, as some critical scholars have proposed. While not exhaustive, these defenses offer concise and pointed arguments, highlighting weaknesses in skeptical theories, raising objections to common critical claims, and presenting positive reasons for affirming traditional views.
Pastoral Care Apologetics
In this way, the commentary serves as a form of pastoral care apologetics. In an era when skeptical arguments about the Bible circulate widely, whether in university classrooms, online articles, or social media posts, these introductions help readers respond with greater confidence, or at the very least, provide thoughtful counterpoints and substantial food for reflection. More serious students, of course, will need to turn to additional sources if they wish to engage these scholarly debates at a deeper level.
But one of the most pastorally valuable features of the ESV Expository Commentary is the way each section concludes with a “Response.” These brief reflections are designed to bridge the gap between the ancient world of the text and the present realities of the congregation. They do not (and should not) write one’s sermons or lessons, but they serve as excellent starting points for preaching and teaching, pairing theological insight with practical wisdom and with the everyday concerns likely to be on the minds of people in the pews.
In this respect, the series reminds me of the New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, which offers a similar feature but with far more uneven results. By contrast, the ESV Expository Commentary consistently delivers orthodox, thoughtful, and pastorally sensitive guidance. For preachers who feel adrift in a difficult passage and unsure how to handle it faithfully, this series offers a steady and trustworthy companion.
Attractive in Presentation and Price
Beyond its theological and pastoral value, the ESV Expository Commentary is also a handsomely produced series. The volumes are sturdily bound with Smyth-sewn bindings, printed on thick, cream-colored paper that gives them a weighty, durable feel. Each includes a ribbon marker, a small but genuinely helpful feature for keeping one’s place during study or sermon preparation. While looks aren’t everything, these volumes are downright beautiful and look impressive on a bookshelf.
Just as importantly, the set is remarkably affordable. With a free Crossway+ membership, you can purchase the entire twelve-volume series for just over $400. Every order from Crossway includes free eBook editions, an extraordinary bargain for pastors or students building their library. As much as I love the experience of rolling over to my shelf and pulling down the hard copy when a question strikes, the digital editions are invaluable in their own right. Having a search function makes locating themes, passages, or key terms effortless, which is especially helpful in the rush of sermon preparation.
For those with a church library budget or personal study allowance, this investment more than pays for itself. Still, for clergy or lay leaders on a tighter budget, starting with Volume 8 (covering Matthew, Mark, and Luke) would be a wise first step, as it aligns with the lectionary’s steady rhythm of gospel preaching, with the option of expanding to the rest of the series over time.
A Fitting Companion for Anglican Preaching and Teaching
But how well suited is the ESV Expository Commentary for Anglicans? The series identifies itself as “broadly Reformed.” While that label may shape initial impressions, it’s not a barrier for Anglicans or others outside the Calvinist tradition. Because the commentary is devoted to exposition rather than systematic theology, it largely avoids staking positions on contentious doctrinal debates. For example, in discussing the household baptism of Acts 16:33, the Acts volume refrains from speculating whether infants or children were included, leaving the question open for readers from differing traditions.
The roster of contributors reflects both denominational diversity and a shared evangelical mission. Baptists, Presbyterians, and even one Anglican—the Rt. Rev. Dr. Michael Stead, Bishop of South Sydney and lecturer in Old Testament at Moore Theological College, who authors the commentary on Haggai in Volume 7—stand side by side. The overall posture is not denominationally narrow but evangelically open-handed, seeking to serve a broad readership of Christians who affirm the authority and clarity of Scripture without pressing narrower sectarian distinctives. Naturally, the series will resonate with Reformed evangelicals and low-church Anglicans, but Anglo-Catholics and charismatic Anglicans will also find much to appreciate. Its commitment to careful exegesis, theological orthodoxy, and practical application ensures that it has something to offer across the full Anglican spectrum.
The ESV and Anglican Life
This breadth is further underscored by the prominent place the English Standard Version holds within the life of the Anglican Church in North America. Officially commended for liturgical use and deeply shaped by the influence of J.I. Packer, the ESV has already become an integral part of the norms of Anglican worship and teaching. Of course, no single commentary series can do it all. Those seeking a deep dive into distinctively Anglican theology or biblical scholarship written primarily by Anglicans will need to supplement this series with other works. Yet within its own scope, what the ESV Expository Commentary sets out to do, it does with admirable clarity and consistency. In that context, the ESV Expository Commentary stands out as a fitting companion: rigorously exegetical, pastorally attentive, and refreshingly hospitable across denominational lines.
Image of the ESV Expository Commentary ©Crossway.
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