I (Getting Started): A painless way (160 pages) to grasp Paul’s flow of thought in Romans. Grieb substantially gleans and digests the newer Pauline approaches in ways that will provide priceless orientation for those new to the subject.

Another excellent choice for a commentary readable enough to provide basic orientation to the book. Achtemeier excels at presenting the book in a lively way so that it’s relevance for today is vitally opened up without too much artificiality.

A highly recommended entry level intro to Paul and his thought that is packed with substance. You'll find stimulating NP insight throughout. A great way to approach a Romans study in a more knowledgeable way.

A highly recommended mid-level commentary to get a hold of the book through a helpful digestion of rhetorical and NP approaches. This would be in the most-bang-for-the-buck category, giving the reader the substance of a critical commentary but with readable accessibility for the general reader. And though a Catholic produced series, any serious student of Romans of any stripe will greatly profit.

This commentary is especially helpful because of it’s close attention to Paul’s use of ancient rhetoric in his argumentation. Neglecting Paul’s use of rhetorical devices is to possibly misunderstand and distort Paul’s overall intention in his flow of thought. Witherington really pumps the commentaries out and one may wish he was less prolific, spending more time wrestling with the text.

For an innovative approach to understanding the audiences Paul is addressing in Romans, this is highly influential. Particularly helpful is his discussion of Romans 12-14 as to what groups composed the “weak” and the “strong”. Not a commentary in the strict sense but will help open up the book to understand what the fuss was all about.

Another good resource to read Romans within it’s 1st century cultural matrix rather than imposing later categories onto it. Stowers sees the central purpose of Romans arrived at in 12-14. Stowers sees the dilemma of Romans as more moral rather than theological.

III (Misc.) This probably should be in the library of every serious student of Paul. Gorman fleshes out all of Paul’s letters going passage by passage while providing a brief introduction to the situational context. 74 pages for Romans! There is also discussion of theological themes especially pertinent to Paul’s thought. Helpful are lists for further study.

For understanding Dunn’s development of the NP on Paul, this would be it. Those who wish to start with E.P. Sanders contribution may want to tackle his “Paul, the Law, and the Jewish People” or “Paul and Palestinian Judaism: A Comparison of Patterns of Religion”.

A recommended presentation of the various positions to the issues raised by the NP. Koperski highlights the various approaches as trying to answer the question “what is wrong with the law” and then summarizes the main options. Her material is presented in a very readable manner that will be extremely helpful to the beginning student.

If you like Westerholm's work above, then you'll want to check this out in your study of Romans.

A great handbook of entries to help bridge the gap to the cultural world of Paul. You’ll find scholarly discussion of everything from Greco-Roman rhetoric to patrons & clients to slavery to families & households and on and on! The source index shows a full four pages of references to the book of Romans alone.