Best Commentaries on the Pastoral Epistles: 1–2 Timothy and Titus

Barcley sees how many of the questions the early church wrestled with—how women should participate in church, the importance of a church’s preaching ministry, the significance of a church’s responsibility to the poor, and what type of leadership the church should have—are matters church leaders still wrestle with today.

Tabb’s helpful small group study highlights gospel glimpses and whole-Bible connections in the pastoral epistles. Excellent for training Christians to read these books in light of the larger gospel story.

Hughes and Chapell emphasize how Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus compel contemporary church leaders to communicate the gospel clearly in today’s diverse and pluralistic society.

Carson says that these volumes “will be treasured by preachers.” With warm clarity typical of Stott, these volumes show how the gospel orders Christian life in the church, the family, and the world.

Kitchen’s commentary is both exegetical and expositional, and he emphasizes using the pastoral epistles in biblical counseling—including discussion questions and “ministry maxims” for each section in the letters. The appendices are extraordinarily valuable for preachers. They include helpful preaching outlines, an annotated bibliography, and a topical index of ministry topics.

Exegetically rigorous, theologically faithful, brimming with rich insights, and majoring on what’s important. He works from the Greek text but only cites it in footnotes. A top pick for both pastors and scholars.

Carson describes Knight’s NIGTC volume as “cautious, conservative and thoughtful.” Knight was a seasoned Orthodox Presbyterian minister and scholar. His work includes a detailed look at the meanings and interrelationships of Greek words as they appear in the text.

A go-to resource for advanced students in their research. As Tabb observes, “Köstenberger presents a complementarian perspective on 1 Timothy 2:9–15 and frequently makes judicious exegetical decisions with a special focus on the letters’ contribution to biblical theology.” The commentary includes an extensive treatment of major biblical themes like mission, the church, and the last days.

Pastors and students reading the Greek text of Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus will want to have Mounce’s commentary at the ready. It blends rigorous scholarship, conservative and complementarian theological convictions, and pastoral sensibilities. While Mounce’s comments are detailed and thorough, his explanation sections helpfully synthesize and apply the text’s message in a way that is accessible to readers regardless of their knowledge of Greek.