The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians

Since its appearance nearly thirty-five years ago, Black's New Testament Commentary Series has been hailed by both scholars and pastors for its insightful interpretations and reliable commentary. Each book in the series includes: an insightful introduction to the important historical, literary, and theological issues; key terms and phrases from the translation highlighted in the commentary where they are discussed; explanations of special Greek or foreign terms; references to important primary and secondary literature; and a Scripture index. The 1974 estimate by Interpretation that Ernest Best's volume on 1 & 2 Thessalonians "is probably the best exegetical study of I and II Thessalonians available . . . a superb commentary" continues to ring true nearly twenty years later. This is indeed one of the finest commentaries on 1 & 2 Thessalonians available--in any language. The Journal of Theological Studies called it "exhaustive" and concluded by saying that the commentary is "reliable, judicious, and nearly always lucid. [Best] . . . takes us as far as we can reasonably go in understanding the mind of Paul as it expressed itself in these writings."