The combination of ‘current scholarship’ and a ‘devotional aspect’ is not always easy to find, but it’s great when you do discover one that meets your requirements (usually it is ‘one’, rather than a whole series, which are often uneven in quality).

Nevertheless, I’ve been impressed by the following:

The Interpretation series (A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching), which includes 1 Corinthians, by Richard Hays; Genesis by Walter Brueggemann, etc. (from John Knox Press) — a very readable, challenging series.

The Word Biblical Commentary Series (Word Books, Dallas) (which includes Romans by James Dunn). This is available on disk as well, much more cheaply than in book form. It’s a little more technical and heavy than the Interpretation series, but still generally very good.

The New Interpreter’s Study Bible and The Pastor’s Bible Study that goes with it (which includes notes from Thorwald Lorenzen, just retired from Canberra Baptist Church) is the best Study Bible on the market, IMHO.

(Prof.) Keith Dyer