The Best Commentary on Romans: A Review of The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT) by Douglas Moo

You will be hard-pressed to find a better, more in-depth commentary on the book of Romans than The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT) by Douglas Moo. Moo is a professor at Wheaton College Graduate School in Wheaton, Illinois, and has, in fact, written more than one good commentary on the book.

Like other commentaries in the New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT), its target audience is one with a more technical knowledge of the New Testament. A knowledge of Koine Greek isn’t required but at least a familiarity with the letters and language is helpful. Most Greek citations are located in the footnotes so they aren’t terribly distracting. For theologians and very serious Bible students, this is the commentary you’ll want. Others may find his volume in the NIV Application Commentary series more useful (see note below)

The mark of a good Bible scholar is a willingness to set aside his previous understanding of the text when his ongoing study leads him to a new interpretation. Moo does that when he comes to Romans 6. His conclusions will likely cause some to rethink the significance of baptism in the conversion process.

Moo writes from a conservative/evangelical perspective and he does occasionally show a preference for a dispensational approach. Even so, he generally does a fair job of presenting the alternatives.

I don’t think you’ll find a better commentary on Romans…if you’re up to handling very substantial discussions of a theologically deep book. Many will find Moo’s commentary on Romans in the NIV Application Commentary to be of great help, either as a substitute for the NICNT volume or as a companion to it.

The Epistle to the Romans, New International Commentary on the New Testament by Douglas Moo. The book includes a subject index, author index, scripture index and an index of extrabiblical literature. Suggested retail price is $62. Available from Amazon.com.

Our take: Highly Recommended

Other works by Moo:

Romans: The NIV Application Commentary

An Introduction to the New Testament