Lesson 13
How To
Study the Bible Lesson 13: How To Use Commentaries.
By Shane Scott
The Role of Commentaries
Commentaries serve an important function. Ideally, they inform you about various scholarly approaches to the text of the Bible. In that sense commentaries are like getting a second opinion.
However, it is a misuse of commentaries to look to them before you carefully investigate God's word for yourself. That has been the whole point of this class! In fact commentaries won't be nearly as meaningful to you unless you do the proper homework first. That's why commentaries are a "second opinion" your own observations about the meaning of the text must come first. The role of commentaries is secondary to your own investigation of the Scriptures.
The Value of Commentaries
This does not mean that commentaries are useless. Commentaries are extremely valuable, for several reasons:
1) They inform you about the historical background of the Bible. Most of us do not have the training (or interest) to know much about ancient history. Yet the Bible is written in the context of ancient history. So a good commentary will inform you about relevant historical details.
2) They Inform you about significant grammatical points. Most of us have no training in Hebrew or Greek, the languages in which the Bible was penned. Yet there can be some significant aspects to a passage that our English translations miss. A good commentary will alert you to this.
3) They provide alternative interpretations. If "two heads are better than one," a commentary provides you with a well thought alternative (or set of alternatives) to the meaning of a passage. This has great value, because it helps you to be aware of rushing to judgment about the meaning of a text. Again, it must be stressed that you must first do your own homework before you consult a commentary.
An Assessment of Commentaries
The obvious danger of commentaries is that they are written by fallible men. This does not disqualify their value (any more than classes or sermons taught by fallible men are disqualified). But the reader needs to be forewarned about the various doctrinal positions of commentators. There are three things you need to look for.
1) What is the commentator's view of Scripture? Many commentaries are written by men who are liberal, which means they do not believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. They would therefore deny miracles, for example. Moderates believe the Bible contains the word of God, but also contains human language, which can be mistaken. Conservatives believe the Bible is the word of God.
2) What is the commentator's view of salvation? In Protestantism there are two basic schools of thought Calvinism and Arminianism. Calvinism believes that salvation is the unconditional work of God (He predestines certain sinners to become believers). Arminians believe God predestines those who choose to believe to salvation. We would be considered Arminian, yet even most Arminian commentators deny the biblical place of baptism, so be careful.
3) What is the commentator's view of the second coming? Most Protestant commentaries are premillennial (which means they suggest Jesus will return to earth and reign 1,000 years in Jerusalem). Very few are amillennial (which is what we are).
Let me say a few things about commentaries by brethren. First by brethren I mean all those who have been baptized for remission of sins. This includes brethren in institutional churches of Christ as well as elements of independent Christian churches. These representatives of the restoration are non-Calvinistic, amillennial, and generally conservative on issues of inspiration (although there are some exceptions to this latter point). Obviously you would need to be cautious when consulting one of these commentaries on the work, worship, or organization of local churches, but otherwise they would be fairly dependable.
Now I want to present you with a recommendation for commentaries. I have used almost all of these personally. In order to do this as briefly as possible, I will simply give the author's name and the series, if it belongs in one, unless there is a broader title than "Exodus" or whatever. I will also denote what doctrinal points to guard against with this
code-
LIB = Liberal view of Scripture
MOD = Moderate view of Scripture
CAL = Calvinistic
PRE = Premillennial
If the commentary is by a brother I will mark his name with an asterisk (), along with a description of whether he is institutional (IN) or from the Christian churches (CC).
One Volume Commentaries
The Eerdmans Bible Commentary (formerly the New Bible Commentary). Usually CAL and PRE.
Series on the Whole Bible
Barnes Notes. A favorite among brethren, but is quite outdated. Slightly CAL
Bible Commentary by E. M. Zerr*. Only commentary on the entire Bible by a brother. Very superficial.
Old Testament Series
Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament. Slightly PRE.
New International Commentary on the Old Testament (hereafter abbreviated as NICOT). PRE or CAL, and unfortunately sometimes MOD.
Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (hereafter abbreviated as T0T). Very good! PRE and, CAL, depending on the author.
New Testament Series
College Press NIV Commentary* (IN and CC). Pretty good, especially Cottrell on Romans.
Daily Bible Study Series. This is William Barclay's series. He has a knack for outlines, and provides a wealth of historical and grammatical background material. However, he is MOD.
Gospel Advocate Series.* Published by brethren in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Very weak on grammatical and historical matters.
Hendriksen William. His series is actually called New Testament Commentary, and Simon Kistemaker is finishing the volumes Hendrisken didn't complete before his death. Pretty good, but adamantly CAL.
Lenski. Lutheran commentator.
New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT). Very good, varies in PRE and CAL.
Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (TNTC). Good, but not as good as OT. Some PRE and CAL.
Individual Books
Genesis: Ronald Youngblood (CAL and PRE).
Exodus: Moses and the Gods of Egypt, by John Davis (CAL and PRE).
Leviticus: R.K. Harrison, TOT. (PRE and CAL).
Numbers- Gordon Wenham, TOT. (unsure).
Deuteronomy: J. A. Thompson, NICOT (MOD).
Joshua:
Judges: Distressing Days of the Judges, Leon Wood (CAL and PRE).
Ruth: Paul P. Enns (CAL and PRE).
Samuel: Willard W. Winter* (CC).
Kings: James E. Smith* (CC).
Chronicles:
Ezra: J. Carl Laney (CAL and PRE).
Nehemiah: Charles Swindoll (CAL and PRE).
Esther:
Job: Homer Hailey*
Psalms: Derek Kidner, TOT (unsure)
Proverbs: Derek Kidner, TOT (unsure)
Ecclesiates: Derek Kidner (unsure)
Song Solomon: A Song for Lovers, S. Craig Glickman (unsure)
Isaiah- Homer Hailey*
Jeremiah LA. Mott*
Ezekiel: Jim McGuiggan* (IN)
Daniel: Edward J. Young (CAL)
Minor Prophets: Homer Hailey*
Matthew:
Mark:
Luke:
John: The Gospel of Belief, Merrill Tenney (CAL)
Acts: Gareth L. Reese' (CC)
Romans: Jack Cottrell, College Press NIV * (CC)
1 Cor.: Mike Willis, Truth
2 Cor- A Heart Opened Wide, Homer Kent (CAL and PRE)
Galatians: Mike Willis, Truth *
Ephesians: Colly Caldwell, Truth
Philippians: Walton Weaver, Truth
Colossians:
1 and 2 Thess:
1 and 2 Tim. and
Titus: William Hendriksen (CAL)
Philemon:
Hebrews: Jesus Christ Today, by Neil Lightfoot* (IN)
James:
1 Peter Clinton Hamilton, Truth 2 Peter and Clinton Hamilton, Truth Jude:
Revelation: Homer Hailey
Questions for Review
1. What is the proper role of commentaries?
2. What three doctrinal points are critical in evaluating a commentary?
3. What is the value of commentaries?
PROJECT- I want you to find three possible interpretations to the phrase "because of the angels" in 1 Corinthians 11.10. Let me know what commentary (or commentaries) you used. A good commentary should list several different options.