17 replies to this topic

[StandingFirm]

I am curious whatyour thoughts on the commentaries are. What are your favorite commentaries? What is it that you like about them? What perspective are they written from - historical, devotional, exegetical, dispensational, etc? How do you use them - do you only refer to them when studying a specific text of scripture to see what the commentators have said, or do you read them from cover to cover? Thanks for your thoughts.

[pfpeller]

Hi Standing Firm,

I mostly use commentaries to see what others have said about specific scriptures I am studying. I rarely read one cover to cover. Occasionaly, I might read a entire commentary on just one book of the Bible.
It is hard to pick favorites, but if I had to pick I would say:

Ironside Notes on Selected Books
Chuck Smith
Biblical Illustrator
Ray Stedman
Constable's Notes
Believers Bible Commentary
McGee
Wiersbe
Bridgeway (for its simplicity)
Courson

Most of these are expository in nature and most (except Biblical Illustrator and Bridgeway) are dispensational.

I refer also to many of the Greek commentaries like Alford and also to Pulpit, EB, and many others. I like to get a variety of perspectives.

There are too many others to list, I am guilty of using too many at times.

[exscentric]

I usually study a book at a time (of the Bible) and study the text first and determine what it says then read what each commentary has to say to be sure I haven't missed anything and find the different views of "problems" and application.

I use about everything offered on this site, If there is a word in the verse that grabs my attention I usually do some study on how it is normally used, that sort of thing.

I guess I would put Barnes, Pulpit Comm. at the top. Enjoy Stedman for application and illustrations. Use Robertson's Word pictures and Vines a lot as well.

[BaptizedBeliever]

I use commentaries as I prepare sermons, just to see if there is something I hadn't considered about the passage. If I find a passage somewhat confusing, i might check some to see what they say.

Favorites that I have:

Burton Coffman
JW McGarvey (his commentary on Acts is unsurpassed even after 150 years).
People's NT
Vincents Word Studies
Robertson's Word Pictures
Cobb Commentary (had to plug my own, right?)

[pfpeller]

Another thought on commentaries is that Bible teachers are a gift of Jesus to the church (Ephesians 4:11)

Pro 11:14, Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

I also look at commentaries as my "multitude of counselors" about a passage of scripture to make sure I am not allowing my imagination to go wild and mistaking it as the leading of the Holy Spirit.

However, commentaries cannot take the place of personal one on one time prayerfully communicating with the Lord as you study and meditate on the scripture.

[Tim Butterfield]

I teach an adult level Sunday School class, and do it the hard way. I write the lesson plan myself. Text to be studied, about a dozen questions to aid in studying the text and two pages of expository commentary covering the the text. First I write my own exposition, then I read several commentaries (about 20 pages for every one I write). Some times a commentary says what I want to say better than I expressed it, sometimes it reminds me (or shows me) of something I wanted to say but didn't.....and finally to make sure that I am not off on some theological limb.

I have some over all favorites, (J. Vernon McGee for one) the commentary I like best depends upon the scripture I am studying, some seem better for OT ...others for NT...some for prophecy...others for history and so on.

The thing to remember about commentaries is that they are not inspired as the Bible is, but the efforts of Biblical scholars to help their their readers understand the precepts of the scriptures. (I make no claim of scholarship on my own part, I have no formal theological education, but it is the reason I include commentary in my Sunday School class lessons because I hope it will aid my class in understanding the scriptures and expressing their understanding during the discussion. At least they are have begun to take a more active part in class discussion since I started including commentary.)

[journey]

First, I think that many excellent comments have already been made. It's true that each commentary may have special strengths for certain tasks or certain portions of the Bible. As an easy example, some may excel for dispensational study while others may excel in ancient languages. I use nearly all of the ones listed here plus some, and it would be impossible to name a favorite. I especially like to use commentaries for difficult portions of Scripture. I also like to use commentaries for historical perspectives and customs of the time and/or location.

[Tim Butterfield]

I agree that there are many excellent comments already made (and by no means do I include what I write for my class lessons among them). Unfortunately, the vast majority of the people in my Sunday School class have no access to any of them, nor would they delve into them even if they did. It is only a small portion of the class that actually reads the two pages I distill from the 40 plus pages of commentary I read in creating the lesson.

[journey]

I agree that there are many excellent comments already made (and by no means do I include what I write for my class lessons among them). Unfortunately, the vast majority of the people in my Sunday School class have no access to any of them, nor would they delve into them even if they did. It is only a small portion of the class that actually reads the two pages I distill from the 40 plus pages of commentary I read in creating the lesson.

Brother, I was talking about the comments already made in this thread, not your post about the extra work you go to for your class. I applaud your extra efforts for your class, and I hope that you don't let any of your students discourage you in those extra efforts. I firmly believe that God will use your extra efforts.

Most of us live in a part of the world where we can safely have as many Bibles and Christian materials as we want to. In stark contrast, Christians in some parts of the world risk their lives by simply possessing a portion of the Bible or even a Bible Tract. The point is that we are rich in Godly materials to use in this part of the world, and we may not fully appreciate our wealth. Sadly, many self-professing Christians aren't spiritually hungry, and being spiritually fed is a low priority. Those who labor for the Lord need to always remember God's Promise that His Word will never return void:

Isaiah 55:6-13 KJV Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

[Tim Butterfield]

Brother, I was talking about the comments already made in this thread, not your post about the extra work you go to for your class. I applaud your extra efforts for your class, and I hope that you don't let any of your students discourage you in those extra efforts. I firmly believe that God will use your extra efforts.

I find some comfort in the idea (occasionally reinforced by the Spirit) that my gifting requires and reinforces my hunger for the word, theirs requires less of that hunger, but more in some other area (as someone with a gift of service sees jobs undone and wonders why others don't jump in and so on.). "That isn't my gifting" doesn't release us from our responsibility to study, serve or give, but it does mean that it will not be our greatest "hunger", nor will our specific hunger be the same in degree as that of others of a different gifting. Where gifts = grace or gifts denoting extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating on their souls by the holy spirit (Thayer’s Greek Definitions)

1st Corinthians 12:14-19 NASB (14) For the body is not one member, but many. (15) If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. (16) And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? (18) But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. (19) If they were all one member, where would the body be? (this could legitimately run down through verse 31.)

Most of us live in a part of the world where we can safely have as many Bibles and Christian materials as we want to. In stark contrast, Christians in some parts of the world risk their lives by simply possessing a portion of the Bible or even a Bible Tract. The point is that we are rich in Godly materials to use in this part of the world, and we may not fully appreciate our wealth. Sadly, many self-professing Christians aren't spiritually hungry, and being spiritually fed is a low priority. Those who labor for the Lord need to always remember God's Promise that His Word will never return void:

In this instance it is sort of the "flip side" of the situation above. In both cases it boils down to the fact that we are responsible for what we do with what we have, be it gifting or resources.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.(Luke 12:48b NASB)