1. Surveys & Introductions

2. The Bible:  Texts & Translations

3. REFERENCE WORKS: Dictionaries, Concordances, & One-Volume Commentaries

4. New Testament Greek:  Grammars & Other Language Tools

5. Biblical Interpretation:  Issues & Methods

6. Commentary Series

7. The Formation of the Bible & Canon

8. The World of the New Testament

• Raymond E. Brown, An Introduction to the New Testament, Anchor Bible Reference Library (New York: Doubleday, 1997) hardcover, $45. In August, 1998, Raymond Brown, one of the great biblical scholars of the 20^th century, died suddenly. Over the course of his long career, he had edited the great one-volume Jerome Biblical Commentary (1968; revised., 1990) and had authored massive and masterful commentaries on John, on the infancy narratives (The Birth of the Messiah, 1977) and on the passion narratives (The Death of the Messiah, 1994). This book is a major work, the fruit of a lifetime of work on the scriptures. Must reading for students of all levels.
• Schuyler Brown, The Origins of Christianity: A Historical Introduction to the New Testament, rev. ed., Oxford Bible Series (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993) paperback, $12.
• John Court, Reading the New Testament, New Testament Readings (New York: Routledge, 1997) paperback, $18.
• Bart D. Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996) paperback, $25.
• Morna D. Hooker, Beginnings: Keys That Open the Gospels (Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1998) paperback, $12.
• Luke Timothy Johnson, The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation, rev. ed., (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1999) paperback, $35. One of the best textbook surveys, newly revised.
• Howard Clark Kee, Understanding the New Testament, 4^th ed. (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1983).
• Helmut Koester, Introduction to the New Testament, 2 vol. (Berlin: Walter de Gruyer, 1982).
• Helmut Koester, Ancient Christian Gospels: Their History and Development, 2 vol. (London: SCM Press / Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1990) paperback. Eccentric.
• Werner Georg Kummel, Introduction to the New Testament, rev. ed., trans. Howard Clark Kee (Nashville: Abingdon, 1975).
• Pheme Perkins, Reading the New Testament: An Introduction, 2^nd ed. (New York: Paulist Press, 1988) paperback, $13. Very simple, for beginning undergraduates.
• Norman Perrin & Dennis Duling, The New Testament: An Introduction; Proclamation and Paranesis, Myth and History, 3^rd ed..(New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1993) paperback, $38.
• Mark Allan Powell, Fortress Introduction to the Gospels (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997) paperback, $14.
• Mitchell G. Reddish, An Introduction to the Gospels (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997) paperback, $20.
• Robert A. Spivey & D. Moody Smith, Anatomy of the New Testament: A Guide to Its Structure and Meaning. 5^th ed. (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1996) hardcover, $60.
• Graham N. Stanton, The Gospels and Jesus, Oxford Bible Series (New York: Oxford University Press, 1989) paperback, $12.
• Gerd Theissen, The Gospels in Context: Social and Political History in the Synoptic Tradition (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1992).
• N.T. Wright, The New Testament and the People of God, Vol. 1 of Christian Origins and the Question of God (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992) paperback, $30.

• Bruce M. Metzger, ed., The New Oxford Annotated Bible: New Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991) hardcover, $40. Most scholars recommend the use of the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) if one wants to do serious scripture study. This edition has the NRSV translation and includes very valuable introductions, cross-references, and footnotes.
• Robert K. Brown & Philip W. Comfort, trans. J.D. Douglas, The New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament, NRSV translation, 4^th ed. (Tyndale House, 1993) hardcover, $40.
• Bart D. Ehrman, The New Testament and Other Early Christian Writings: A Reader (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997) paperback, $23. Contains the NRSV, plus non-canonical gospels and acts.
• Fred O. Francis & J. Paul Sampley, Pauline Parallels, rev. ed. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1984) hardcover, $25.
• Alfred Marshall, ed., The Interlinear NIV Parallel New Testament in Greek and English (Grand Rapid: Zondervan, 1998) hardcover, $40.
• Donald Senior, ed., The Catholic Study Bible: New American Bible (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990) hardcover, $40.
• Burton H. Throckmorton, Gospel Parallels: A Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels, 5^th edition, NRSV translation (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1992) hardcover, $22.
• Biblia Hebraica—Stuttgartensia, 4^th edition (New York: American Bible Society, 1990 / Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgessellschaft) softcover, $46.
• Greek-English New Testament, 27^th Nestle-Aland edition (New York: American Bible Society, 1986 / Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgessellschaft) softcover, $33.
• Latin Vulgate Bible, ed. Bonifatio Fischer (New York: American Bible Society, 1994 / Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgessellschaft) softcover, $53.

• Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, ed., The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, revised edition (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1990) hardcover, $75. This revised edition is the best one-volume commentary of the Bible in English. It is a remarkable achievement, signaling the leadership of Catholics in contemporary biblical scholarship. The best place to start.
• David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Bible Dictionary, 6 vol. (New York: Doubleday, 1992) hardcover, $40 per volume. A valuable tool, with up-to-date entries and scholarship. The place to start when researching key figures and themes.
• Paul J. Achtemeier, ed., The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1986) hardcover, $45.
• Dianne Bergant & Robert L. Karris, The Collegeville Bible Commentary (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1989) hardcover, $19.
• W.R.F. Browning & Graham Stanton, A Dictionary of the Bible (New York : Oxford University Press, 1996) paperback, $18.
• Michael Coogan, The Oxford History of the Biblical World (New York: Oxford, 1998) hardcover, $50.
• Edward Goodrick, The NIV Exhaustive Concordance (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990) hardcover, $40.
• Joel Green, Scot McKnight, & L. Howard Marshall, eds., Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1992) hardcover, $40.
• Gerald Hawthorne, Ralph Martin, & Daniel Reid, eds., Dictionary of Paul and His Letters: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1993) hardcover, $40.
• James Harpur and Marcus Braybrooke, The Collegeville Atlas of the Bible: A Visual Guide to the Word in Biblical Times (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1999) paperback, $25.
• Howard Clark Kee, Eric M. Meyers, John Rogerson, Anthony Saldarini, eds., The Cambridge Companion to the Bible (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997) hardcover, $50.
• John R. Kohlenberger, Edward W. Goodrick, James A. Swanson, eds. The Exhaustive Concordance to the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995) hardcover, $50.
• John R. Kohlenberger, ed., The NRSV Concordance: Unabridged (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991) hardcover, $40.
• John R. Kohlenberger, ed., The Concise Concordance to the New Revised Standard Version (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993) paperback, $15.
• Ralph P. Martin & Peter H. Davids, eds., Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments (Downer Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1998) hardcover, $40.
• Herbert G. May, Oxford Bible Atlas, 3^rd ed., revised by John Day (New York: Oxford University Press, 1985) paperback, $18.
• James L. Mays, ed., Harper’s Bible Commentary (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1988) hardcover, $45.
• J.R. Porter, The Illustrated Guide to the Bible (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998) paperback, $23.
• Carroll Stuhlmueller, The Collegeville Pastoral Dictionary of Biblical Theology (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1996) hardcover, $75.
• Richard Whitaker, The Analytical Concordance to the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1997) hardcover, $30.

• Walter Bauer, ed., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Christian Literature, 4^th edition, revised by Frederick Danker (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1999) hardcover, $65. NEW edition. This is the standard dictionary for the Greek New Testament. This is the first new edition is some 20 years.
• L. William Countryman, Read It In Greek: An Introduction to New Testament Greek (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1999) paperback, $15. NEW.
• James M. Efird, A Grammar for New Testament Greek (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1990) hardcover, $20.
• James Allen Hewett, New Testament Greek: A Beginning and Intermediate Grammar (Peabody, MA: Hendrikson, 1986) hardcover, $20.
• A.G. Liddell & R. Scott, Greek-English Lexicon with a Revised Supplement, 9^th ed. by Stuart Jones & McKenzie (New York: Clarendon / Oxford University Press, 1996) hardcover, $125.
• William D. Mounce, The Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993) hardcover, $43.
• William D. Mounce, Basics of Greek Grammar (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993) paperback, $18.
• Barclay M. Newman, Jr., A Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament (New York: United Bible Societies, 1993) softcover, $13.
• Thomas A. Robinson, Mastering Greek Vocabulary, 2nd ed., (Peabody, MA: Hendrikson, 1990) paperback, $10.
• Joseph H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon on the New Testament (reprint of 1896 edition: Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996) hardcover, $30.
• Warren C. Trenchard, The Student’s Complete Vocabulary Guide to the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992) paperback, $15.
• Daniel B. Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997) hardcover, $45.
• Max Zerwick & Mary Grosvenor, A Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament, 5th rev. ed. (Rome: Editrice Pontificio Instituto Biblia, 1996) softcover, $36.

• A.K.M. Adam, What is Post-Modern Biblical Criticism?, Guides to Biblical Scholarship (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995) paperback, $11.
• John Barton, ed., The Cambridge Companion to Biblical Interpretation (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998) paperback, $20. NEW.
• Raymond E. Brown, The Critical Meaning of the Bible (New York: Paulist Press, 1981) paperback, $10.
• Raymond E. Brown, Responses to 101 Questions on the Bible (New York: Paulist Press, 1990) paperback, $9.
• David L. Dungan, A History of the Synoptic Problem, Anchor Bible Reference Library (New York: Doubleday, 1999) hardcover $38. NEW.
• John Hall Elliott, What is Social-Scientific Criticism?, Guides to Biblical Scholarship (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1991).
• Joel B. Green, Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1995) paperback, $20.
• Daniel J. Harrington, Interpreting the New Testament, New Testament Message 1 (Wilmington: Michael Glazier / Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1979).
• Edgar Krentz, The Historical-Critical Method, Guides to Biblical Scholarship (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1975).
• André Lacocque & Paul Ricoeur, Thinking Biblically: Exegetical and Hermeneutical Studies (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998) hardcover, $30.
• Burton L. Mack, Rhetoric and the New Testament, Guides to Biblical Scholarship (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1990).
• Bertrand de Margerie, An Introduction to the History of Exegesis, 3 volumes (Petersham, MA: St. Bede’s, 1995) paperback, $20 per volume.
• Edgar McKnight, What is Form Criticism?, Guides to Biblical Scholarship (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969).
• Robert Morgan & John Barton, Biblical Interpretation, Oxford Bible Series (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988) paperback, $21.
• Daniel Patte, What is Structural Exegesis?, Guides to Biblical Scholarship (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1976).
• Norman Perrin, What is Redaction Criticism?, Guides to Biblical Scholarship (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969).
• Stanley E. Porter, Handbook to Exegesis of the New Testament (Leiden: Brill, 1997) hardcover, $165.
• Stephen Prickett, Reading the Text: Biblical Criticism and Literary Theory (Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, 1991).
• Mark Allan Powell, What is Narrative Criticism?, Guides to Biblical Scholarship (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1991) paperback, $12.
• Vernon Robbins, Exploring the Texture of Texts: A Guide to Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation (Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International, 1996).
• Stephen Neill & Tom Wright, The Interpretation of the New Testament, 1861-1986 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988) paperback, $18.
• James Sanders, Canon and Community: A Guide to Canonical Criticism, Guides to Biblical Scholarship (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984) paperback, $10.
• Elizabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Bread Not Stone: The Challenge of Feminist Biblical Interpretation (Boston: Beacon Press, 1995) paperback, $14.
• Sandra Schneiders, The Revelatory Text: Interpreting the New Testament as Sacred Scripture (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1999) paperback, $22. NEW.
• Fernando F. Segovia & Mary Ann Tolbert, eds., Reading from This Place (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995).
• Fernando F. Segovia, ed., Teaching the Bible: The Discourses and Politics of Biblical Pedagogy (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1998) paperback, $28.
• Randolph W. Tate, Biblical Interpretation: an Integrated Approach (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1991).
• Nils Wilhelm, Chiasmus in the New Testament: A Study in the Form and Function of Chiastic Structures (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1992).

• Leander Keck, ed., The New Interpreter’s Bible, 6 vol. to date (Nashville: Abingdon, 1994-) hardcover, $45 volume. This replaces the older Interpreter’s Bible, a standard reference work for preachers. The New Testament volumes are as follows:
  • Volume 8: General Articles on the New Testament, Matthew, Mark (1995)
  • Volume 9: Luke, John (1995).
  • Volume 10: Marions Soards, J. Paul Sampley, & N.T. Wright, eds., Acts-Corinthians (2000).
  • Volume 11: J. Paul Sampley & Abraham Smith, Judith Gundry-Volf, Corinthians-Philippians (2000).
  • Volume 12: Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, Revelation (1998).
• David Noel Freedman, ed., The Anchor Bible, 50 vol. (New York: Doubleday, 1964- ) hardcover, about $40 per volume. A massive, detailed commentary, generally with a full-length volume (and sometimes more) devoted to each book of the Bible. Still not complete. The series as a whole is quite good, but there are some glaring weaknesses: the volumes on Matthew and Mark are very disappointing, while those on Luke and John are classics. Some of the weaker volumes are slowly being replaced by more up-to-date ones.
• Victor Paul Furnish, ed., Abingdon New Testament Commentaries, 12 volumes to date (Nashville: Abingdon, 1996- ) paperback, $20-25 per volume. A valuable new series.
• Daniel J. Harrington, Sacra Pagina series, 8 vol. to date (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991- ) hardcover, $30 per volume. Perhaps the best recent biblical commentary series.
• Wilfrid P. Harrington & Donald Senior, ed., New Testament Message, 18 vol. (Wilmington: Michael Glazier / Collegeville, MN, 1980s).
• James L. Mays, Patrick D. Miller, & Paul J. Achtemeier, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, 33 volumes to date (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 1980s- ) hardcover, $25-30 per volume.
• Thomas C. Oden & Christopher H. Hall, ed., The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, 4 volumes to date (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1998- ) hardcover, $40 per volume. This revives the medieval tradition of the glossa ordinaria, taking the biblical text verse by verse and then quoting what various Church Fathers said about it. It is projected to be 27 volumes.
• Hermeneia, 25 vol. to date (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1970s- ). Technical, but generally excellent. Some are translations from a German series while others have been written especially for the series. It includes a few volumes beyond the New Testament canon (Letters of Ignatius of Antioch, Shepherd of Hermas).

• P.R. Ackroyd & C.F. Evans, eds., Cambridge History of the Bible, 3 vol. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1963-1970) paperback. Dated, but valuable articles.
• Paul M. Blowers, The Bible in Greek Christian Antiquity (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1997).
• Hans von Campenhausen, The Formation of the Christian Bible (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1972).
• Harry Y. Gamble, Books and Readers in the Early Church: A History of Early Christian Texts (New Haven: Yale, 1995) paperback, $25. A superb and original study of how early books were made, collected, and used.
• James L. Kugel & Rowan A. Greer, Early Biblical Interpretation, Library of Early Christianity 3 (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1986) out of print.
• Joseph T. Lienhard, The Bible, the Church, and Authority: the Canon of the Christian Bible in History and Theology (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1995) paperback, $18. Brief; a good place to start.
• Bruce Metzger, The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance (New York: Clarendon / Oxford University Press, 1987) paperback, $20.
• Bruce Metzger, The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origins, Transmission, and Limitations (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977) hardcover, $45.

8. THE WORLD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

• C.K. Barrett, ed., The New Testament Background: Writings from Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire That Illuminate Christian Origins, rev. ed. (San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco, 1995) paperback, $18. A reprint of an older edition. An anthology of texts that illustrate the world of the New Testament..
• Mary Beard, John North, & Simon Price, Religions of Rome, Volume 1: A History; Vol. 2: A Sourcebook (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998).
• David R. Cartlidge & David Dungan, eds., Documents for the Study of the Gospels (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993) paperback, $16.
• John J. Collins, Between Athens and Jerusalem: Jewish Identity in the Hellenistic Diaspora, 2^nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1999) paperback, $32. NEW.
• Wendy Cotter, ed., Miracles in Graeco-Roman Antiquity: A Sourcebook, Context of Early Christianity 1 (New York: Routledge, 1999) paperback, $25. NEW.
• Everett Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity, 2^nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1993) paperback, $35. A valuable anthology of source documents.
• Joseph A. Fitzmyer, The Semitic Background of the New Testament, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1997).
• Sean Freyne, The World of the New Testament, New Testament Message 2 (Wilmington: Michael Glazier, 1980).
• Martin Hengel, Judaism and Hellenism, 2 vol. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1974).
• Simon Hornblower, ed., Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999) hardcover, $55. NEW.
• Simon Hornblower, ed., Oxford Classical Dictionary, 3^rd ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996) hardcover, $100.
• Richard A. Horsley & J. Hanson, Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs: Popular Movements at the Time of Jesus (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1985).
• Richard A. Horseley, Galilee: History, Politics, People (Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International, 1995).
• Joachim Jeremias, Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1975) paperback, $17. A classic.
• Abraham J. Malherbe, Moral Exhortation: A Greco-Roman Sourcebook, Library of Early Christianity 4 (Philadelphia: Westminster John Knox, 1986).
• Bruce J. Malina, The New Testament World: Insights from Cultural Anthropology, rev. ed. (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 1993) paperback, $18.
• Bruce J. Malina, Windows on the World of Jesus: Time Travel to Ancient Judea (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 1993).
• Wayne A. Meeks, The Moral World of the First Christians, Library of Early Christianity 6 (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1986).
• Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, The Holy Land: An Oxford Archaeological Guide from Earliest times to 1700, 4^th ed., Oxford Archaeological Guides (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998) paperback, $19.
• Carolyn Osiek, What are they saying about the Social Setting of the New Testament? (New York: Paulist Press, 1992) paperback, $8.
• John J. Pilch, The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1998) paperback, $17.
• John Riches, The World of Jesus: First-Century Judaism in Crisis, Understanding Jesus Today (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990) paperback, $10; ISBN 0-521-38676-4.
• John E. Stambaugh & David L. Balch, The New Testament in Its Social Environment, Library of Early Christianity 2 (Philadelphia: Westminster John Knox, 1986).
• Stanley K. Stowers, Letter Writing in Greco-Roman Antiquity, Library of Early Christianity 5 (Westminster John Knox, 1986).
• Gerd Theissen, Sociology of Early Palestinian Christianity, trans. J. Bowden (Philadelphia: Fortress Press).
• Gerd Theissen, The Social Setting of Pauline Christianity, trans. John Schutz (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1982).
• Gerd Theissen, Social Reality and the Early Christians: Theology, Ethics, and the World of the New Testament (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1999) hardcover, $45.
• L. Michael White & O. Larry Yarbrough, The Social World of the First Christians: Essays in Honor of Wayne A. Meeks (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995) hardcover, $54.
• Stephen Wylen, The Jews in the Time of Jesus (New York: Paulist, 1996) paperback, $15.