The next level from the top is the “semi-technical” commentary. Examples of these types of commentaries are the Word Biblical Commentaries, the New International Greek Text Commentary, the Baker Exegetical Commentaries, and the Anchor Bible Commentary. Some of the comments and discussion is difficult to follow if one does not have knowledge of Greek or Hebrew vocabulary and grammar, some grounding on the context and historical events surrounding the text, and knowledge of theology and textual criticism. The usually contain the author’s own translation of the text. These commentaries are very detailed, use an abundance of original language material, and generally assume that the reader is very familiar with Greek and Hebrew. The most detailed and difficult type of commentary is the “technical” commentary. There are several different levels of difficulty of commentaries. If you are concerned about being unduly influenced by a particular commentary, I recommend you read two or three on the same passage, which will serve as a ‘check and balance’ on one another.” They can also help you get a better grasp of major Bible themes and topics and see the flow of the author’s argument better in a given passage of scripture. They help even the casual user to avoid misunderstandings and mistakes about the Bible. One professor put it this way, “Although some Bible students shy away from using commentaries, not wanting to be ‘influenced’ by the teaching of others, commentaries provide a good way to check your own understanding of scripture and your own interpretations of passages. They may provide insight and approaches to the text that the student has never thought of, and help the student to refine his approach to a particular text, or on the other hand, possibly expand his thoughts and views on a text that are too narrow. So commentaries are very helpful, and should be used extensively by students of the Bible. It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others.”
If you are of that opinion, pray remain so, for you are not worth the trouble of conversion, and like a little coterie who think with you, would resent the attempt as an insult to your infallibility. Of course, you are not such wiseacres as to think or say that you can expound Scripture without assistance from the works of divines and learned men who have laboured before you in the field of exposition. These observations and comments are usually in Scriptural order, and follow the text closely.Ĭharles Spurgeon, in his book Commenting and Commentaries, stated: “In order to be able to expound the Scriptures, and as an aid to your pulpit studies, you will need to be familiar with the commentators: a glorious army, let me tell you, whose acquaintance will be your delight and profit. What are commentaries? These are books that comment, explain, or expound on the text of the Bible. Commentaries are an extremely useful tool that can often greatly aid in the study of the Bible.
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