Romans commentaries

At a weekly lunchtime study a few of us are going through Paul's epistle to the Romans. Though we should build upon our own reading and study of Romans, we will also find some commentaries helpful.  

In choosing and keeping commentaries for each book of the Bible, I like to have at least one commentary in each of these categories: 1) exegetical, that is, focusing on the text in its original language; 2) expositional, which is a running commentary on the verses, both in meaning and application; and 3) devotional, relating more to the personal application of the biblical truths in that book of the Bible. Of course, some commentaries overlap these categories. 

In the process of downsizing my own personal library (i.e., the physical books) over the last couple of years, I've been faced with choosing which commentaries to keep. On Romans, I have kept (and use) the following volumes: 

Romans (Exegetical Commentary), by Thomas R. Schreiner (Baker Academic, 1998). Schreiner is professor of New Testament interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. This is a scholarly and comprehensive work. In my experience this is the best exegetical commentary on Romans. 

Epistle to the Romans (NICNT), by John Murray (Eerdmans, 1968). An excellent exposition of the English text of Romans by Westminster Seminary professor of systematic theology. Expositional, with attention to theology. If I kept only one commentary it would probably be this one.  

Discovering Romans, by S. Lewis Johnson (Zondervan, 2014). This is a passage-by-passage exposition of Romans by a NT scholar and professor at Dallas Seminary and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. This book was gleaned from his Sunday morning messages at Believers Chapel in Dallas. 

The Finished Work of Christ, by Francis Schaeffer (Crossway, 1998). This is a compilation of talks that Schaeffer gave to students who met with him in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the 1960s. It is clear, devotional, and practical in its application of Paul's doctrine. He covers only the first eight chapters of Romans, and some of this material overlaps with his work published during the same time, True Spirituality.

My go-to online resource: The NET Bible (aka Lumina) with its excellent exegetical notes by Dan Wallace (and others) and expository notes by Tom Constable.  

Photo above: Cafe Vieux-Lausanne, with Lausanne Cathedral behind, where Francis Schaeffer met with students at lunch to study Romans. [Google photo.]