I understands the red flags that often come up when talking about this issue, and I am in no way trying to say that commentaries are flawless and cannot be misused, I just want this particular thread to be about the positive side…not the destructive habits one can pick up by not developing their own thoughts through meditation and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I know there are many views about whether one should consult them at all, but I hope that discussions takes place in a different thread.

So…let’s talk about commentaries.

I really enjoy commentaries and biographies for that matter. I think A.W. Tozer said it best when he said: "These people know God, and I want to know what they know about God and how they came to know it,"


I often pick one up and just start reading. As deep as we can get in our studies it’s still amazing to see what some of the saints of old had to say about a particular scripture; I look at it like asking my Grandpa or an elder at Church.

I like old commentaries. As a matter of fact all I have are old commentaries. There’s something special about reading the words of a man that never knew what electricity was. We often forget what it was like back in the day. These men not only didn’t watch sports center they had no idea what a TV was let alone a computer or cell phone.

I have really enjoyed The Pulpit Commentary. It’s a massive amount of info. I have never consulted it without learning something beneficial.

So…what commentaries have blessed you?

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TJ

I love old commentaries also, I did notice and I think an important observation that the older the better, I bought one printed in 2001 and compared some thoughts to a 1950 pulpit commentary, the newer one was pretty weak on some tough topics, also remember that liberalism was sneaking into the church soon after the azuza street revival, so back in around 1909 a group of scholars came up with the fundamentals.
once was a 13 volume set but now you can get it in print in a two volume set, quite eye opening.
when intreperting scripture we try not to allow what's popular or what society is doing to sway our view of what God is saying.
Some views of mine in my circle of friends gets me labeled as a legalist, but I guess saul thought Samuel was being legalistic as well.
you have a great day :-)

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howard

I have the two volume set and you are right...very eye opening.

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TJ

In my limited use of it, the Macarthur Study Bible has been very useful and easy to access. Also, using the commentary has opened up some questions I would not have come to myself, which is very refreshing.

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Kelsey

Generally speaking, I have found the New International Commentaries on the OT (NICOT) and NT (NICNT) series to be the best. They are written by the best of conservative evangelical scholars, but aren't written merely for the academy, but for the local church setting. Most of the commentaries in this series are generally up to date with the latest of scholarship.

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Jimmy H

I sometimes consult a commentary, however there is one commentator that has done very well in his expository of the Bible, his name is G. Campbell Morgan. What I enjoy in his writings is that the Spirit of God flows through the pages, I feel like I am getting a meal every time. I also have some of Jimmy Swaggarts commentaries as well.

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TJ