Helpful Resources For Teaching Proverbs

Written by Jon Akin

My doctoral dissertation is on Proverbs, and I am currently preaching through the book. I often get asked about the best resources for Proverbs. There are many helpful resources for Proverbs, so here I try to list some that have been most helpful to me.

Commentaries: 

• Bruce Waltke’s 2 volume in NICOT– This is the best and most comprehensive work on Proverbs out there. It is a very scholarly but accessible and pastoral work.

• Tremper Longman – This is the best commentary for preaching proverbs because it combines scholarly, theological and pastoral insights in a relatively concise 1 volume. Also, it has a topical appendix at the back that breaks down some of the main subjects in Proverbs. This appendix provides a summary of that particular subject in the book as well as a list of verses that touch on it. This is very helpful for thematic preaching of Proverbs.

• Graeme Goldsworthy – This commentary is difficult to get your hands on, and if you want a thorough treatment of every verse in Proverbs, then this is not the commentary for you. But, if you are looking for a commentary that gives you tools for a Christ-centered approach to Proverbs, then this is the best commentary for you.

• Duane Garrett in NAC – very helpful

• Roland Murphy in NIBC – This one is shorter, cheaper and more accessible than the Word commentary.

• Derek Kidner in Tyndale

• Steinmann in Concordia – This work is large and expensive, but it also attempts to address Proverbs in a Christ-centered manner.

Audio:

• Russell Moore “Walking the Line” – This is the best overview and Christocentric presentation of Proverbs out there.

• Bruce Waltke “Fundamentals for Preaching Proverbs” at DTS – very helpful intro to preaching Proverbs

Other:

• Tremper Longman How to Read Proverbs – Great overview of how to approach the book as well as how it points to Christ

• Peter Leithart Wise Words – The message of Proverbs presented as children’s fairy-tale like stories. A GREAT resource for parents.

• Graeme Goldsworthy Gospel & Wisdom – a gospel-centered approach to Proverbs