The differences between the various editions of Bucer's commentaries on the Synoptic Gospels have long been a source of interest. They have been used, often uncritically, to show the changes or developments in his theology between 1527–8,1530 and 1536. By contrast his commentaries on Ephesians have been neglected.

Bucer lectured on the Pauline Epistles in Strasbourg in the 1520s and in 1527 published a commentary on Ephesians. He lectured on Ephesians again in Cambridge in 1550–1 and notes of these lectures were published, after his death, in 1562. It is in fact remarkable that after his early biblical commentaries (on the Gospels, Ephesians, St John, Zephaniah and the Psalms) in the years 1527 to 1529, Bucer published no other commentary except on Romans in 1536 and on Judges. Yet on Ephesians there are two commentaries, even if one was published from his notes after his death.

Among reasons for choosing one book rather than another as the subject for lectures or exposition are the needs or concerns of the listener or the lecturer. For example, in Zurich in the 1520s Zwingli preached on the books in the New Testament which he saw as meeting the situation in Zurich and the needs of the people there.

The concerns of the hearer or situation are clear in both of Bucer's commentaries on Ephesians, especially in the second. But Bucer's own concerns and emphases are also evident.