Which Bible Commentary Do you use?

[Brandon C. Jones]

For really old school commentaries online nothing beats CCEL.
They have a worldwide study Bible (which has some kinks in it) and a Bible browser. Of course, you can also search their database for particular passages. There's also the entire Church Father's series online (some commentaries and many sermons in there). It's a good place to check out.

 

[ANewCreature]

I have been thinking of getting MacArthur's, there are several volumes of his commentaries in our church book store. Thanks for the feedback on that.

I use Online Bible software, given to all of us students in Dr. Charles Wagner's Pastoral Leadership course for free a couple years ago. It has the word pictures mentioned, plus commentaries by Matthew Henry, Poole, Gill, Calvin, and a variety of others, plus ones on individual topics. I've been reading A. W. Pink and enjoying him in what he has on the program.

I, too, prefer going by what the Spirit teaches me, but also believe it's important to go to others to see what they have said; especially if I'm stuck on something. However, I wouldn't rely on just one, either. When our pastor preached through Revelation earlier this decade (I'm serious, it took 2.5 years , it was after a few years of not touching it, and then he said he would look at about 12 different commentaries for some of it. Just to make sure he wasn't miassing anything. Becasue that is a very meaty book. (And he wasn't afraid to say he didn't know, either, which I was impressed by, something I need to cultivate. Just telling the different options and which one I think might be right, rather thn being too dogmatic; we can still be loving brothers and disagree about whether it's literally going to be Moses and Elijah, or Elijah and Enouch, or just men in the spirit of...you knwo what I mean?)

Sorry, got off track. To get the topic back on, I think using a variety of commentaries helps me to not be so dogmatic, realizing that there are other views on some Scripture, yet still preaching with conviction.

 

[TCGreek]

I go for more biblically language-oriented commentaries like the WBC, BECNT, NICOT, NICNT, NAC and Pillar--some are better than others.

 

[Timsings]

For teaching SS lessons I use mostly the Anchor Bible series. I also use The Broadman Bible Commentary. Unfortunately I do not have a copy of the original first volume. I also use some books related to specific books: Walter Brueggemann (Genesis), Stanley Hauerwas (Matthew). And I use some general books: Walter Brueggemann (Old Testament Theology), Brevard Childs (Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments).

Tim Reynolds

 

[thomas15]

Single volume:
The Bible Knowledge Commentary
Jamieson, Faussett & Brown
Matthew Henry

Mulit-volume:
NICNT
"Be books"

NT Word Studies:
A. T. Robertson's Word Pictures
Vincent's Word Studies
and a few others

(2) dozen study Bibles

I'm trying to decide if I want another multi volume series and I need some Old Testament books, thinking about The Expositor's Bible Commentary set.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Good thread!

I bought entire commentary sets when entering ministry (in another dispensation, when no one had any fun). Now, as I work through a Book expositionally, I buy volumes from MANY sets.

General sets I have en toto - K&D, Calvin, Ellicott, Afred, Henry, Barnes, Expositors Bible, Lenski, and many multi-volume references

Preaching from Matthew I puchased individual volumes by MacArthur (4 vol), G Campbell Morgan, Tyndale series, NT Commentary set by Word, etc

Preaching from Romans I use - Boice (4 vol, top of the line), MacArthur (2 vol), W Griffith Thomas, Shedd, Barclay, DeHann, Stott, etc

Find it much wiser to invest in volumes here/there, often picked up cheaply than to have impressive-looking sets on the shelf.

CBD is still my friend!!

 

[cowboymatt]

CBD is great, as is Amazon Marketplace. My favorite place to pick up commentaries though has to be when a pastor sells all the books in his library. You can generally get an entire bag full of books for less than $20!

I do most of my academic work right now in Philippians, thus, I have almost every commentary on Philippians. The ones by Bockmeuhl, Fee, and Hawthorne/Martin are good and O'Brien's is great!

 

[LeBuick]

G Campbell Morgan

 

[saturneptune]

Lately, I have been using commentaries on Blue Sword. David Guzik, along with others, are very good reading.

 

[jesusrules3]

i use halley's bible handbook its very useful with alot of backround information

 

[Rob_L]

I use Matt. Henry's Concise comm. alot. I get the gist of what he's saying without as much wordiness,lol.

 

[hawg_427]

Since posting this about Bible commentaries I have looked at quite a few. I really liked the Bible Exposition commentary by Warren Wiersbe. It reads like a book, flows very well. Thru the Bible by McGee is also a close second for me. Goes into more verse by verse detail but doesn't flow like Wiersbe. Thanks to all for your comments.

 

[Bob Alkire]

I use;
Tom Constable's Expository Notes on the Bible
Thru the Bible Commentary
The Bible Knowledge Commentary
Believer’s Bible Commentary
KJV Bible Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary
Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament
John Phillips' Exploring The Bible
Also commentaries of a single book in the Bible by, John R. Rice, Dr. Henry Morris, Oliver B. Greene, John Walvoord, Stewart Custer, W. A. Criswell, John Whitcomb, H. A. Ironside, Merrill Tenney, Alva J. McClain, David Baron, Elwood McQuaid, Renald E. Showers and David M. Levy to name some.

 

[tinytim]

I just bought a Wycliffe Bible Commentary at Goodwill this evening...
Does anyone else own one, and is it any good?

 

[TCGreek]

I just bought a Wycliffe Bible Commentary at Goodwill this evening...
Does anyone else own one, and is it any good?

It's a single volume of the entire Bible. It has a lot of good stuff in it. :thumbs:

 

[reformedbeliever]

One of my favorites...... I use many....... is Gill. I read Gill probably more than most, but don't get me wrong... I spend many hours a day in study, and read a variety of commentators. Theology is my profession... and when I'm not doing that I enjoy my hobby, which is theology. :laugh:

 

[TCGreek]

One of my favorites...... I use many....... is Gill. I read Gill probably more than most, but don't get me wrong... I spend many hours a day in study, and read a variety of commentators. Theology is my profession... and when I'm not doing that I enjoy my hobby, which is theology. :laugh:

RB,

That's a lot of theology.

So who is your favorite theologian, whether dead or alive?

 

[reformedbeliever]

RB,

That's a lot of theology.

So who is your favorite theologian, whether dead or alive?

I suppose an alive one would be R.C. Sproul. Is it fair to say that the one I probably admire most is one of my best friends.... and he is a local guy. His name is Terrell Suggs.

 

[reformedbeliever]

I should have pointed out that Terrell Suggs is not the football player. :laugh:

 

[TCGreek]

I suppose an alive one would be R.C. Sproul. Is it fair to say that the one I probably admire most is one of my best friends.... and he is a local guy. His name is Terrell Suggs.

Sproul has taught so many. Alive, I really like Piper.

I thought that was TO for Dallas.