An Introduction To Bible Commentaries
Bible Commentaries: What Are They? (An Introduction)
Frankly, when many people think of Bible study tools, they think only of Bible commentaries. They imagine that all that is required in Bible study is to simply look up what is written in some type of commentary, and voila!- you are finished!
Nothing could be farther from the truth! In fact, if you are going to use a Bible commentary it is best to use it towards the end of your study, rather than at the beginning. Why? Because if all you do is use a Bible commentary all you know is the interpretation/conclusions of the author - you will simply be repeating their opinions - and because you did not take the time to actually study the Bible for yourself, you will have no frame of reference, no way to judge the correctness of the interpretations offered to you in that commentary.
In other words, all you will be capable of doing is repeating what someone else has said, and won't even be able to tell if those opinions are correct! Far too much of what passes for "Bible teaching" today is nothing more than a passing around of someone else's views. So remember, Bible commentary last!
That being said, why even bother with a Bible commentary? They are useful for a number of reasons. First of all, the better ones are written by acknowledged authorities on that particular book of the Bible, oftentimes men and women who have spent years and years studying that book in detail. So they definitely have something to share!
In addition Bible commentaries often give details about the historical period, the culture, the language, manners and customs, information that would take you much time to compile. Often commentaries will discuss difficult doctrinal or theological problems associated with a particular Bible passage. In short, the better commentaries place vast amounts of Biblical research at your fingertips.
Commentaries are also particularly useful for checking your own work. You can check several Bible commentaries to see if others understand and interpret a Bible passage the same way you do. If recognized authorities are saying one thing, but you are seeing something different, beware! People who claim to have "fresh light" or "insights that no one else has" are usually wrong. Make sure that isn't you -- check your opinions/conclusions against the insights gathered by the people of God through the ages.
