The Epistle to the Romans

The Epistle to the Romans.
Douglas Moo.
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1996. ISBN: 9780802823175.

​Douglas Moo’s The Epistle to the Romans is a large, academically serious yet pastorally oriented commentary in the New International Commentary on the New Testament series, widely regarded as one of the strongest evangelical expositions of Romans available. It’s one of three commentaries recommended by the Best Commentaries website. It is over 1,100 pages in its revised edition, with detailed exegesis of each pericope and verse. It’s orientation is Reformed and broadly Calvinistic on issues like election, perseverance, and Romans 9–11, while carefully engaging other views. It took me close to a year to read the book. Strengths often noted are (i) Depth and thoroughness: Frequently recommended as the single best all-round evangelical commentary on Romans at the intermediate–advanced level. (ii) Clarity on Romans 9–11: Many reviewers single out his handling of Israel, election, and “all Israel will be saved” as especially helpful. (iii) Pastoral usefulness: Though technical, it consistently keeps an eye on “practical divinity” and the life of the church.
 
Douglas J. Moo (born March 15, 1950) is an American Calvinistic New Testament scholar best known for his extensive work on Paul and his major commentaries on Romans, James, Galatians, and other epistles. Moo earned his M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1975. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, in 1980, writing a dissertation on the use of the Old Testament in the Gospel passion narratives. He taught New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School for about 24 years, serving as chair of the New Testament department, editor of Trinity Journal, and director of the PhD programme. In 2000 he moved to Wheaton College Graduate School, where he was Blanchard Professor and later Kenneth T. Wessner Professor of New Testament, founding and directing the PhD program until his retirement (Professor Emeritus) around 2023. Moo is a prominent evangelical, Reformed-leaning interpreter of Paul, with research centred on Romans, Pauline theology and exegesis, and, in recent years, creation and environmental theology.
 
Moo is married to Jenny; they have several grown children and a growing number of grandchildren, and they enjoy travel and photography.