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Favorite Commentaries

Discussion in '2000-02 Archive' started by TomVols, Nov 23, 2001.

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  1. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    I asked a question about commentaries on another thread, and it leads me to this question: What are your favorite commentary sets for each Testament? Maybe we'll talk individual commentaries at another point. Just curious.
     
    #1 TomVols, Nov 23, 2001
  2. Rev. Joshua

    Rev. Joshua <img src=/cjv.jpg>

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    I'm a big fan of the New Interpreter's Bible, and I'm impressed with what I've seen of the new Smyth & Helwys series (their Revelation volume is fantastic, and Brueggemann did Kings). I use the Interpretation series a good bit in sermon preparation, and sometimes the Word commentary if I need the sort of Rhetorical-critical stuff they do so well.

    Joshua
     
    #2 Rev. Joshua, Nov 23, 2001
  3. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    I never really thought about breaking it up by testaments, but the two that I enjoy reading the most is Word and Hermeneia.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
    #3 Joseph_Botwinick, Nov 23, 2001
  4. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Shortly into my first pastorate, I realized the need for many books and views on the particular NT or OT book I was exegeting and expositorily preaching.

    So instead of buying big sets covering all books, I bought individual commentaries on the focused books for that year. I have 20+ commentaries on Matthew, Romans, Peter, Joshua, Psalms, Genesis, etc

    I only have a couple of "sets", none of which I would care to recommend as all that "great"! :cool:
     
    #4 Dr. Bob, Nov 24, 2001
  5. Biblethumper1611

    Biblethumper1611 New Member

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    All though I am not a Pastor or even a preacher I feel the best modern commentaries are by a fellow by the name of John Phillips. His are fully outlined and are rich in material.

    I am currently reading one by John MacAurthur on the book of Hebrews.

    Another good commentator is H. A. Ironside. Overall I think Dr. Bob has a good idea when it comes to getting commentaries. Buy ones on the current and next book you will be preaching or teaching out of.
     
    #5 Biblethumper1611, Nov 24, 2001
  6. John Wells

    John Wells New Member

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    For Genesis to Revelation, the Bible Knowledge Commentary and IVP (Inter-Varsity Press) are good. For in-depth "book for a book" commentary, John MacArthur is awesome! His study Bible is available on CD under the Logos Software system ($30) and is a treasure for biblical understanding.

    [ November 24, 2001: Message edited by: John Wells ]
     
    #6 John Wells, Nov 24, 2001
  7. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    I ususally buy only specific, good commentaries on individual books that I'm preaching through. Just wanted to throw this topic out there to see what people's favorites were.

    I really like the New International Commentary sets on the OT and NT (Incomplete as of this time). Those would have to be my favorites. Matthew Poole's Commentaries (3 volume set) is also a fabvorite of mine.
     
    #7 TomVols, Nov 24, 2001
  8. dfd2

    dfd2 New Member

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    I dont have any complete sets in the old testemant at this time, but for the new testemant, as far as sets go, I like the new testemant commentary. Also, although its more evotional in nature, i like the bible exposition commentary by Wiersbe.
     
    #8 dfd2, Nov 25, 2001
  9. Chick Daniels

    Chick Daniels Member

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    Commentary Sets are traps laid by publishers to get unsuspecting Pastors and students to fill out whole series so that the common binding will look impressive on the study bookshelves. Almost without exception, each commentary set will have klunkers on some books, and masterpieces on others. They key, as some have pointed out, is to buy only the best from each set--unless you like wasting money on klunkers.

    D. A. Carson's New Testament Commentary Survey and Tremper Longman's Old Testament Commentary Survey (both published by Baker) offer excellent advice (from a conservative evangelical perspective) demonstrating which books are best--not just the most conservative books--but the most useful for exegesis.

    Having said all this, I do heartily recommend the New International Greek Testament Commentary (Eerdmans), the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the NT (Baker), the Pillar Commentary (Eerdmans). I have never yet been disapointed by any of the volumes in these three sets (none are complete).
    Some of the best Evangelical commentary writers include:
    D. A. Carson (Matthew, John)
    Peter T. O'Brien (Ephesians, Colossians/Philemon, Philippians)
    Gordon Fee (1 Corinthians, Philippians, Pastoral Epistles)
    Darrell Bock (Luke)
    Doug Moo (James, Romans)
    Leon Morris (Matthew, Romans, John)
    R.T. France (Mark)
    I.H. Marshall (Luke, Pastoral Epistles, 1 Peter, Thessalonians, Acts)

    Furthermore, the SBC has given us the yet to be completed New American Commentary (Broadman & Holman). Most of the volumes in this set are quite good--and conservative in approach.

    My all time favorite commentary is D.A. Carson's John commentary.

    Chick

    [ November 26, 2001: Message edited by: Chick Daniels ]

    [ November 26, 2001: Message edited by: Chick Daniels ]
     
    #9 Chick Daniels, Nov 26, 2001
  10. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    I'm hearing people rave about the Baker Exegetical series. I can't wait to start adding them to my library.
    I"m staunchly SBC and I'm a conservative's conservative, but with only a few exceptions, Broadman and Holman's NAC is a disappointment. Has too many clunkers, to borrow Chick's term.

    [ November 28, 2001: Message edited by: TomVols ]
     
    #10 TomVols, Nov 28, 2001
  11. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    I am not a big fan of the NAC. I have a few volumes (maybe just the wrong ones). They seem a bit too "surface" if you are really digging into the text. The BECNT is a great series so far (the few volumes that I have).
     
    #11 Pastor Larry, Nov 28, 2001
  12. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Pastor Larry:
    I am not a big fan of the NAC. I have a few volumes (maybe just the wrong ones). They seem a bit too "surface" if you are really digging into the text. The BECNT is a great series so far (the few volumes that I have).<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    True, with the exception of Galatians (Timothy George), Romans (Mounce); Luke (Stein) Judges-Ruth (Block), and a few others. The rest are as you say, surface level only.
     
    #12 TomVols, Nov 28, 2001
  13. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Pastor Larry:
    I am not a big fan of the NAC. I have a few volumes (maybe just the wrong ones). They seem a bit too "surface" if you are really digging into the text. The BECNT is a great series so far (the few volumes that I have).<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    True, with the exception of Acts (Polhill); Galatians (Timothy George), Romans (Mounce); Luke (Stein) Judges-Ruth (Block), and a few others. The rest are as you say, surface level only.
     
    #13 TomVols, Nov 28, 2001
  14. Chick Daniels

    Chick Daniels Member

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    Pastor Larry and TomVols,

    Your corrective comments are in order on the NAC--I probably presented it overly optimistic. The ones you listed positively in the last post are the ones I am most familiar with, although I would add Blomberg on Matthew. The series as a whole is not designed to go into the depth you will see in the Baker Exegetical set, NIGNT, or Word Biblical. As a surface level commentary set, the set as a whole is worth considering, but these volumes alone will NOT suffice for the student attempting careful exegesis.

    Best wishes,
    Chick
     
    #14 Chick Daniels, Nov 30, 2001
  15. tyndale1946

    tyndale1946 Well-Known Member
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    John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
    The best I found for Old School Baptist. The print was really small but now it's online. I am also partial to anything by Spurgeon... Brother Glen [​IMG]
     
    #15 tyndale1946, Nov 30, 2001
  16. TomVols

    TomVols New Member

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    I left out the Matthew volume by mistake. Thanks for pointing that out. There are probably a couple other good ones but they just don't leap off of the page right now. Daniel Akin will be writing one on the letters of John which I'm sure will be a good addition to the NAC series.
     
    #16 TomVols, Nov 30, 2001
  17. rhoneycutt

    rhoneycutt New Member

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    I would reccomend The Believers Church Bible Commentary Series. I have Mathew, Mark & Jeremiah. THey are IMO very good! I believe they are published by a Mennonite Publishing House, Ill check when I get home to make sure.
    Russell
     
    #17 rhoneycutt, Nov 30, 2001
  18. Roadrunner

    Roadrunner New Member

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    I haven't read a lot of different Bible commentaries, but I have never seen one that good top Matthew Henry.
     
    #18 Roadrunner, Dec 2, 2001
  19. Circuitrider

    Circuitrider <img src=/circuitrider2.JPG>
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    I use a set like the Bible Knowledge Commentary by Dallas Seminary for overall context and dispensational approach (of course you have to wade through the NIV text which doesn't always follow the Bible text). :D :D

    Dr. Weeks my college homiletics professor taught me to buy individual books on the books of the Bible rather than a lot of sets (with klunkers). So I have primarily build my library book by book as I have preached through the Bible. He also taught us to "court" a book by borrowing it before buying, so we did not have a bunch of "klunkers" on our shelves. Good advice!! ;)

    [ December 06, 2001: Message edited by: Circuitrider ]
     
    #19 Circuitrider, Dec 6, 2001
  20. ATeenageChristian

    ATeenageChristian New Member

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    I have no comment. Sorry :(
     
    #20 ATeenageChristian, Dec 6, 2001
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