Sojourner #061: Why The ESV Expository Commentary Belongs In The Hands Of Global Disciple-Makers
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” (Psalm 119:18, ESV)
From the Ground Up: Why the ESV Expository Commentary (Volume I) Belongs in the Hands of Global Disciple-Makers
From the foothills of the Andes to the mountain villages of Intibucá, from urban house churches in Southeast Asia to remote outposts of gospel advance in Africa, pastors and Bible teachers across the world are crying out for clear, Christ-centered biblical resources that help them faithfully teach the whole counsel of God with clarity and conviction.
Volume I: Genesis–Numbers of the ESV Expository Commentary answers that cry, not with noise, but with clarity. Not with trends, but with the truth of the Scriptures carefully unfolded, by faith.
At Sojourner Magazine, we focus on frontline gospel work, where theology is not an academic luxury but a daily necessity . In many places, teachers of the Word are forming disciples without study Bibles, preaching through books they’ve never been trained to interpret, and shepherding congregations with few tools beyond the Scriptures themselves.
In those settings, and truly anywhere the gospel is advancing through slow, faithful labor, a resource like this is not a bonus. It’s not a luxury item for the well-resourced or an optional aid for the curious. It’s a vital tool for anyone committed to rightly handling the Word of truth.
Faithful study of Scripture requires more than good intentions. It requires clarity, context, and Christ-centered understanding, especially when leading others. This commentary doesn’t do the work for the teacher, but it makes the work possible and sustainable in places where training is limited, where doctrinal drift is a real threat, and where every opportunity to open the Word must count.
A Commentary That Serves the Church
This first volume of the twelve-part ESV Expository Commentary series offers in-depth, Christ-centered, passage-by-passage exposition of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. It is written not to impress academics but to equip pastors, train teachers, and strengthen churches around the world. The editors, Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar have drawn together respected scholars who also serve in the trenches of local church life and missions.
Each book of the Pentateuch is handled by a trustworthy voice:
Genesis — Iain M. Duguid (Professor of OT, Westminster Theological Seminary)
Exodus — Jay Sklar (Professor of OT and VP of Academics, Covenant Theological Seminary)
Leviticus — Christine Palmer (Old Testament scholar and educator)
Numbers — Ronald Bergey (Professor of OT and Hebrew)
The writing is crisp, the theology robust, and the structure highly usable. Every passage of Scripture is printed in full (ESV), followed by careful, theologically grounded commentary that draws out biblical meaning, connects it to the wider redemptive storyline, and offers application with pastoral sensitivity.
Why This Volume Matters on the Ground
Too often, Bible teachers in hard-to-reach or under-resourced places are given hand-me-down theology, fragmented study notes, or thin topical guides. What they need, and what this commentary offers, is biblical theology with roots and reach.
This volume matters because:
1. It Honors the Full Story of Scripture.
It refuses to reduce Genesis–Numbers to moral lessons or ancient trivia. Instead, it helps teachers trace the thread of redemption through covenant, law, wilderness, sacrifice, and promise, all of which are fulfilled in Christ. In doing so, it equips those on the frontlines to teach not just what the Bible says, but why it matters in the gospel.
2. It Builds Up Long-Term Faithfulness.
In unstable or persecuted areas, teachers don’t need hype, they need help. They need tools that deepen roots and prepare others to rightly divide the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). This volume trains men and women to handle Scripture in a way that strengthens churches, disciples leaders, and builds durable gospel movements.
3. It Equips the Indigenous Church.
As Ian Chew, a pastor in Singapore, puts it:
“It warms my heart to know these volumes are being provided to the church, with the intention to bless the nations with access to faithful, solid exposition of the Scriptures.”
This is not a Western product for Western needs. It is a globally minded resource, carefully written so it can be translated, adapted, or used in formal and informal settings alike. Its authors and editors understand that training is not just about content, but contextual clarity and theological integrity.
4. It Doesn’t Skip the Hard Parts.
Too many resources rush past Leviticus and Numbers. This volume doesn’t. It digs into priestly law, ritual sacrifice, census data, and rebellion, and shows how these difficult portions of Scripture are indispensable to understanding sin, holiness, covenant, and the gospel of Christ. It affirms that all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable (2 Tim. 3:16), and helps teachers prove it.
5. It Strengthens Preachers in Every Setting.
Whether you’re crafting a sermon for a city congregation or leading a village Bible study, this commentary gives structure, context, and Christ-centered insight for each passage. With clear outlines, theological summaries, interpretive notes, and application pointers, it is ready to be taught, not just studied.
Features at a Glance
1392 pages of biblical exposition
Full ESV text alongside commentary
Book introductions: authorship, date, outline, key themes, literary features, redemptive context
Tables, figures, and Scripture index
Premium hardcover designed for long-term use in field or study
Editorial vision rooted in the global church and Great Commission faithfulness
Endorsements That Reflect Its Strength
“The ESV Expository Commentary will be a welcome addition to the toolbox of those who are committed to expounding the inerrant and infallible Word of God… I look forward to using it in my own preaching and teaching ministry.”
— Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
“This twelve-volume set seems destined to become a standard Bible reference tool for serious students of Scripture around the world.”
— Philip Graham Ryken, President, Wheaton College
“Not only will readers find high-quality scholarship, but they will discover a readable, accessible, and well-designed commentary… Highly recommended!”
— David S. Dockery, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Sheer exposition… helpful to all students of the Bible… ideal for quick reference. This is a commentary I will refer to often.”
— Ajith Fernando, Teaching Director, Youth for Christ, Sri Lanka
The Joy of Reading the Bible as One Story
There is something irreplaceable about walking through Scripture verse by verse. It forms teachers. It shapes congregations. It deepens the soul. It reminds us that this is not a collection of disconnected texts, but a coherent story, the story of a holy God redeeming a sinful people through the blood of His Son.
In Genesis, we see the beginnings of covenant. In Exodus, the glory of deliverance. In Leviticus, the cost of atonement. In Numbers, the long road of sanctification and perseverance. In every book, we see the character of God and the coming of Christ.
For those who labor in remote villages, restricted nations, or resource-scarce settings, this kind of slow, reverent engagement with Scripture is not just enriching, it’s revolutionary. It builds churches that last. It forms leaders who endure. It teaches the Bible in a way that actually transforms lives.
A Word to Those in the Field
To the church-planting pastor training others to teach Genesis.
To the elder preparing his first expository series through Exodus.
To the missionary longing to help others grasp the gospel in Leviticus.
To the field team writing study guides for village churches in the language of Numbers.
This commentary was made for you.
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” (Psalm 119:18) is not a sentimental prayer, it is a missional prayer.
This book is one faithful answer to that prayer, and we commend it to you - by faith.
Note: We received a copy of this book from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.
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