commentaries

[samuelholder]

if you were to make a list of the top commentaries...which ones would be on there?

[Dan Phillips]

if you were to make a list of the top commentaries...which ones would be on there?

When I used to work in Christian bookstores, and was asked to recommend a commentary, I'd answer "For what?" Then generally I'd recommend a few, and suggest that the person pick a favorite passage, or a difficult passage, and look it up in all of them. See which writer "scratched" where he "itched."

So for instance, take Proverbs, a long-favorite of mine, and the book whence came my Master's thesis. For a good general read, I'd recommend Kidner in the TOTC series. Obviously a great depth of scholarship, and yet a wonderful writer and communicator as well (though too squishy on the authorship of 1—9 ). For preaching (not exegesis), Charles Bridges is hard to beat; his footnotes alone are worth the price of the book. For dealing with the Hebrew, it's hard to recommend anything. Toy will do it, but he's theologically nuts. McKane, ditto. Delitzsch will deal with the Hebrew, and is worth the read, though he's very dated. Murphy is more up to date, but theologically tone-deaf at best.

And so forth.

Dan

[tcblack]

if you were to make a list of the top commentaries...which ones would be on there?

As the previous post comments, "For What?" is probably the best question to ask when it comes to choosing commentaries. You have all sorts of things to consider:

1. The author's view of Biblical Innerancy (a big influence on the results.)
2. Liberal / conservative theology
3. Arminian/ Calvinistic / Other (?)
4. level of scholarship required to get anything out of it.

Having said that, I use a multitude of commentaries, and generaly start buying just before a book study starts; but FWIW I like the following in NO particular order.

• ICC = International Critical Commentaries by T&T Clark.
• Word Biblical Commentaries
• MacArthur's assortment
• Interpretation Biblical Commentary
• Bakers New Testament Commentary Series.
• And for "Devotional" content Matthew Henry is a great "emotional" commentary. (Don't flame me, it's my opinion.)

[samuelholder]

i have the "emotional" commentary by henry. i should give it to some of the "emotional christians" that plague the school i attend.

i'm sorry that i didn't identify particularly what i was looking for.

i'm not necessarily interested in a whole set, but rather the best volumes for each biblical book..

or perhaps names of recommended exegetical scholars.

[Believing Sojourner]

I value the three volume set on the minor prophets, edited by Thomas Edward McComiskey, and published by Baker Book House. Otherwise, I have limited exposure to modern commentaries, but the exposure I have causes me to step aside.

I have read extensively in the 10 volume Keil and Delitzch Commentary on the Old Testament. I have also read a lot in the 14 volume Barnes' Notes on the Entire Bible. I preferred Carl Keil's commentary on Genesis to the the commentary by James P. Murphy, contained in Barnes' Notes.

I have never seen Matthew Henry's Commentary described as "emotional," but rather as "devotional." I have never gravitated toward it myself, but so many people I know value it that I do look at it from time to time and even formulated a plan to read the set in a four year period. That plan has been set aside for now.

Both Keil and Delitzch and Barnes' Notes on the Entire Bible are available for free download from www.e-sword.net. You will have to install the free e-sword Bible program before these and several other free commenatries can be accessed.

Scott L. Adams

[tcblack]

Ok so my "emotional" comment was about as clear as mud I guess. :-D
<explanation> Some commentaries appear to be completely devoid of any emotion or relationship to Christ from them as they are mostly if not completely academic. Matthew Henry however was not ashamed to let his Love for Jesus bleed through his commentary - something I've come to appreciate. </explanation>

As for a favorite "one volume" commentary. I really enjoyed C.E.B. Cranfields International Critical Commentary on Romans.
Volume one
Volume two

To a lesser degree I enjoyed Kaseman's Commentary on Romans as well.

In addition to the several others I referenced while preaching through Romans for three years, these I rate the best of the bunch. If you buy just "one" buy the Cranfield volumes.

[Mark Langley]

Thomas gave a good 4 pointer in one of his previous posts. One’s view of scripture and slant in theology will normally be a guide in picking commentaries.

For sets I personally like and find helpful Calvin, Gill, Lange, Lenski, Keil and Delitzch, and I too would include Henry and Poole.

Individual books would be something like this (short list):

Alexander - Matthew, Mark, Acts, Psalms, Isaiah
Murphy - Psalms
Barnes- Psalms
Bruce - Acts
Hodge - Romans, I&II Corinthians, Ephesians
Murray - Romans
Haldane - Romans
Owen on Hebrews
Beale - Revelation
Isaiah, Daniel - Young
Broadus - Matthew (as well as the set in which Broadus' commentary came from).
John Brown's commentaries on individual books.
Hendrickson's commentaries on individual books.
I also enjoy reading and find helpful reading through the puritan writers on individual books of scripture.
Etc.

This, of course, is just my likes.

[barry]

if you were to make a list of the top commentaries...which ones would be on there?

www.puritan-books.com

[MGVH]

This is by no means exhaustive, but it includes a list of suggested commentaries we compiled here at LTSG and links to a few other commentary listings.

http://www.gettysburgsem.org/mhoffma...bresources.htm