Bible Commentaries in Sermon Preparation

TheWinDork · Jun 14, 2006

I started this subject elsewhere, and was advised to start a new topic. So here goes!

What does everyone think of Bible Commentaries? I Love them, myself, there are some KJV, Fundies who hate them, I'll never understand them simple minded people, at all.

The one I wanna get soooooo bad is... this one..:

http://www.northstarministries.com/understanding.htm

I have some on e-sword as well... They are...:

Core group:

1. MATTHEW POOLE
2. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible
3. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible
4. A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown

Others:
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
John Lightfoot,A Commentary of the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica.
Synopsis of the Old and New Testaments by John Nelson Darby
1599 Geneva Bible Translation Notes
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible by Dr. John Gill
John Calvin's Commentary
Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
The Treasury of David by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (For Psalms)
WORD PICTURES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Archibald Thomas Robertson
Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition) by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield
A Testimony of Jesus Christ: Commentary on the Book of Revelation By Anthony C. Garland.
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others
Vincent's Word Studies by Marvin R. Vincent, D.D.
John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible

also... reason Scofield isn't in the core group... is because I already own a Scofield Bible.

Now, if I could get all those in hard print... I'd have to buy my own house! :laugh:

Okay, my question is this, which one of the above do you use in your aid to preparing sermons? If it's not listed, please feel free to share which one you use and why. If you use any of the above, please share as to why you like using it. I'll do the same here...:

1. MATTHEW POOLE --- I like Matthew Poole because for one, his commentary was written a little after the KJV was finished. and also because it complements the King James Version rather than tries to correct it, also, I enjoy it, because it's not overly Calvinistic. There's a scant reference to the Elect in one spot. But other than that. it's fine.

2. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible - I enjoy Matthew Henry's writing style, Now I'll be honest with you, there's a couple places where Henry gets into his own personal opinion or uses his imagination. (Case in Point: when noah releases the Bird after then flood.) But over all it's a decent commentary.

3. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible - I enjoy this commentary because of it's complexity and because it breaks down things where I can understand it, I don't read this one constantly... just when I'm stumped on something and need an opinion.

4. A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown -- See above #4

Anyone else?

-WTD

PastorSBC1303 · Jun 14, 2006

Commentaries are a great tool. However I think some (myself included at times) turn too quickly to them instead of soaking in the text and forming your own thoughts.

StefanM · Jun 14, 2006

I really enjoy the NIV Application series. Typically, the authors don't run from the issues, but they also try to bridge the gap to the modern age.

For more indepth, technical studies, the Word Biblical Commentary series is superb.

Though I haven't used a whole lot of them, the Baker Exegetical Series is very good.

And, if you can afford it, the New International Greek Testament commentary is very, very good.

I do usually consult Robertson's Word Pictures. It's very good for exegesis.

pituophis · Jun 14, 2006

MacArthur, Preaching the Word series (Kent Hughes), and others

John Ellwood Taylor · Jun 15, 2006

I agree with PastorSBC1303 that it's too easy to consult the commentaries to early in the process rather than study the passage yourself first. WE must guard aginst this!

As StefanM said Robertson's is good for the NT. I would offer the Expositor's Bible Commentary (Gaebelein) and NICNT (Fee) series as a whole and it's companion, the NICOT for Old Testament study.

Here's link to two excellent articles on commentaries:

http://www.tms.edu/tmsj/tmsj4h.pdf

http://www.tms.edu/tmsj/tmsj4d.pdf

Enjoy!

mnw · Jun 15, 2006

I like your list windork.

I like a lot of Gill's writings but he can be too calvinistic for my liking in some places. His writing on John 3:16 is a real eye opener.

Ironsides commentaries are good and so too are Phillips.

Commentaries certainly have a high place, but when sermons simply become a conglomerate of commentaries rather than helps and supplements to what the Lord has given then they are a problem.

TheWinDork · Jun 15, 2006

mnw said:

I like your list windork.

I like a lot of Gill's writings but he can be too calvinistic for my liking in some places. His writing on John 3:16 is a real eye opener.

Ironsides commentaries are good and so too are Phillips.

Commentaries certainly have a high place, but when sermons simply become a conglomerate of commentaries rather than helps and supplements to what the Lord has given then they are a problem.
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You mean this?

Joh 3:16 - For God so loved the world,.... The Persic version reads "men": but not every man in the world is here meant, or all the individuals of human nature; for all are not the objects of God's special love, which is here designed, as appears from the instance and evidence of it, the gift of his Son: nor is Christ God's gift to every one; for to whomsoever he gives his Son, he gives all things freely with him; which is not the case of every man. Nor is human nature here intended, in opposition to, and distinction from, the angelic nature; for though God has showed a regard to fallen men, and not to fallen angels, and has provided a Saviour for the one, and not for the other; and Christ has assumed the nature of men, and not angels; yet not for the sake of all men, but the spiritual seed of Abraham; and besides, it will not be easily proved, that human nature is ever called the world: nor is the whole body of the chosen ones, as consisting of Jews and Gentiles, here designed; for though these are called the world, Joh_6:33; and are the objects of God's special love, and to them Christ is given, and they are brought to believe in him, and shall never perish, but shall be saved with an everlasting salvation; yet rather the Gentiles particularly, and God's elect among them, are meant; who are often called "the world", and "the whole world", and "the nations of the world", as distinct from the Jews; see Rom_11:12, compared with Mat_6:32. The Jews had the same distinction we have now, the church and the world; the former they took to themselves, and the latter they gave to all the nations around: hence we often meet with this distinction, Israel, and the nations of the world; on those words,
""let them bring forth their witness", that they may be justified, Isa_43:9 (say (b) the doctors) these are Israel; "or let them hear and say it is truth", these are "the nations of the world".''
And again (c),
"the holy, blessed God said to Israel, when I judge Israel, I do not judge them as "the nations of the world":''
and so in a multitude of places: and it should be observed, that our Lord was now discoursing with a Jewish Rabbi, and that he is opposing a commonly received notion of theirs, that when the Messiah came, the Gentiles should have no benefit or advantage by him, only the Israelites; so far should they be from it, that, according to their sense, the most dreadful judgments, calamities, and curses, should befall them; yea, hell and eternal damnation.
"There is a place (they say (d),) the name of which is "Hadrach", Zec_9:1. This is the King Messiah, who is, חד ורך, "sharp and tender"; sharp to "the nations", and tender to "Israel".''
And so of the "sun of righteousness", in Mal_4:2, they say (e),
"there is healing for the Israelites in it: but the idolatrous nations shall be burnt by it.''
And that (f).
"there is mercy for Israel, but judgment for the rest of the nations.''
And on those words in Isa_21:12, "the morning cometh", and also the night, they observe (g),
"the morning is for the righteous, and the night for the wicked; the morning is for Israel, and the night for "the nations of the world".''
And again (h),
"in the time to come, (the times of the Messiah,) the holy, blessed God will bring "darkness" upon "the nations", and will enlighten Israel, as it is said, Isa_60:2.''
Once more (i),
"in the time to come, the holy, blessed God will bring the nations of the world, and will cast them into the midst of hell under the Israelites, as it is said, Isa_43:3.''
To which may be added that denunciation of theirs (k).
"woe to the nations of the world, who perish, and they know not that they perish: in the time that the sanctuary was standing, the altar atoned for them; but now who shall atone for them?''
Now, in opposition to such a notion, our Lord addresses this Jew; and it is as if he had said, you Rabbins say, that when the Messiah comes, only the Israelites, the peculiar favourites of God, shall share in the blessings that come by, and with him; and that the Gentiles shall reap no advantage by him, being hated of God, and rejected of him: but I tell you, God has so loved the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, that he gave his only begotten Son; to, and for them, as well as for the Jews; to be a covenant of the people, the Gentiles, the Saviour of them, and a sacrifice for them; a gift which is a sufficient evidence of his love to them; it being a large and comprehensive one, an irreversible and unspeakable one; no other than his own Son by nature, of the same essence, perfections, and glory with him; begotten by him in a way inconceivable and expressible by mortals; and his only begotten one; the object of his love and delight, and in whom he is ever well pleased; and yet, such is his love to the Gentiles, as well as Jews, that he has given him, in human nature, up, into the hands of men, and of justice, and to death itself: that whosoever believeth in him, whether Jew or Gentile, should not perish, but have everlasting life; See Gill on Joh_3:15.
(b) T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 2. 1. (c) Ib. fol. 4. 1. Vid. T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 91. 2. & Bereshit Rabba, fol. 11. 3. (d) Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 24. 1. Jarchi & Kimchi in Zech. ix. 1. (e) Zohar in Gen. fol. 112. 2. (f) Zohar in Exod. fol. 15. 1, 2. (g) T. Hieros. Taaniot, fol. 64. 1. (h) Shemot Rabba, sect. 14. fol. 99. 4. (i) Ib sect. 11. fol. 98. 3. (k) T. Bab. Succa, fol. 55. 2.
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I like it. alot of truth in it.

-WTD

GARick · Jun 15, 2006

To reiterate advice offered previously in the thread, I begin with prayer and contemplation and refer to commentaries later in the process. Two of my favorites are:

The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Dr. Constables Expository Notes (www.soniclight.com - click “Study Notes” then the Bible book of your choice.)

Bible Commentaries in Sermon Preparation

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