Right hand Bible, left hand commentary?

Hello, I would like to recommend a great Bible and commentary in one called the "life in the Spirit study bible" formerly the "Full life study bible".It's put out by Zondervon. It's been a real blessing to me and my brothers and sisters in the Lord and is full of many enlightening articles on various and sensitive bible topics it gives a straight forward scriptural perspective on the word of God with many scriptural references to bolster any comments made. If you believe in sanctification and spiritual purity and holiness as a standard for God's people I would strongly recommend this study bible. As you know no commentary is inerrant but this study bible comes as close as I've seen to the Spirit that has inspired the written word of God. God bless you in Christ,Howie. :-)

Great question.

Matthew Henry is very "devotional", but also has good insights into the text.

Matthew Poole is briefer than Henry, and more focused on simply expositing the text. He usually doesn't elaborate as much as Henry.

John Gill is really solid. But pretty hefty at 8 volumes.

If I were going to pick one commentary set for the whole Bible, it would be hard for me to pick between John Gill and Matthew Henry. C.H. Spurgeon said that he would take Matthew Poole over any other set.

I would also mention John Calvin's commentaries, but he did not write one for every book in the Bible. However, the books he did finish are very good as well.

I think a good concordance will be much more valuable than a commentary. Your best bet is a KJV bible with a Strong's exhaustive. If you prefer "modern" English, go with a NASB; Zondervan has an exhaustive NASB concordance that is very good.

As far as commentaries (if you are looking), I second the e-sword idea. For what it's worth (not much I'm sure), I really am not impressed with John Gill or John MacArthur. Their theology clearly gets in the way of their exegesis in many instances, and they are not always very honest with the text. I agree with TaylorOrtwell that Henry can be a little too devotional at times, but he is very good, and tends to be very humble and more honest with the text than most.

In summary: go with a Bible/concordance, it will take you much farther.

Commentaries: I have come to appreciate some commentaries as a way to have fellowship with other believers.

Please do not misunderstand me. There is a place for commentaries and surely God uses them. But man is also likely to use them, and sometimes poorly. Many pastors point to the time they lost what turned out to be crucial communion with God by seeking out commentaries in preparing messages for those under their care. The growth of many “students” is stunted when think they have settled the issue (never true) having read a honestly great commentary.

When you ask which ONE commentary you should you choose, (“the best in all of history”), you may be asking which ONE has heard the most (more extensively, deepest truth, etc.) from the Holy Spirit. You might do best to never read them until long, long after you have heard from the Holy Spirit of God yourself. Your post suggests that you may even have had enough of commentaries for a while (God leading you?). I am sure you know that the writers of any commentaries you would want to read (“the best in all of history”) did just that, heard directly. Why would we want something “second-hand.” It is not that there is not truth in commentaries. Truth can be learned in several ways. But God IS Jealous and first-hand IS best. There is no way that you can forget first-hand revelation. It is living truth. There is the intimacy with God. The increased prayer. There is no question God has fed you. You have asked and He has answered. You can grow greatly in recognizing Him, how He leads. The indwelling Spirit of God knows exactly what and when to teach you very specific Truth for your growth and usefulness and God's glory.

[u]This is a long post for a short caution[/u]. What I would really like to know Brian, and what I am thanking God for, is What God is wanting to reveal to you that He brings you to the point of this question?

I think the people in this thread bring up some interesting points.

I don't think one needs to make concordances and commentaries mutually exclusive. I think, ultimately, it would be wise to own both (whether through e-Sword or print is up to you).

I don't mean to be contentious or wish to start an argument, but would like to present perhaps a different view of using commentaries than many on this site would advocate. I used to be of the notion that one shouldn't use a commentary until they've "heard from the Holy Spirit" themselves. I don't think you will really find any support for this Biblically. What I see in the Scripture is that we are to use the means available to us in order to understand the Scriptures, and we are to use the resources passed down to us by our fathers in the faith. So, if you don't understand a portion of Scripture, grab a commentary and don't feel bad about it. Thank the Lord for allowing us to have these resources and thank the Lord for working through these resources to enlighten our minds and hearts.

With care in Christ,
Taylor

I think many of the mentioned commentary are good to use, also concordance and dictionary's.

My self have used many different kinds and have been blessed by many. We have to find our own way so to speak, there are numerous methods to use aas an instrument for digging in Gods word, but the way some have been blessed dont necessarily will help you in your study.

There are a few principles and some things that are good to use as a guide, but i believe it comes down to find the way that reveals most to you personally, the way that makes you know God more and makes you practice what you get revelation on.

I have for my self used methods that gave me great knowledge in the bible and doctrines, but it dident really change my life, its good to know these things, but for me now i dont use a very advanced method, i just read the word and when my heart gets warmed and God speaks to me, i can stay with one single verse for a long time. Comparing it and looking at different commentary's ect and look at dictionaries and look other passages where that word occurs ect ect.

so what i am saying, if these methods and pointers by other help you to know God more and obey him more, wonderful, but seek God, find the way that gives you most. different ways works for different people.

some time ago i started searching for this myself, and set out on a long journey to find the "secret" in how to study the bible, i read much from many of the "heroes of faith" through out classic christianity, and compiled a thread, some of it i practiced and still do, some dont work for me, some blessed me, maybe you find something for you as well

[url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=15692&forum=36&88]how to get the most from reading your bible[/url]

what i do recommend is get a kjv widemargin bible, strongs concordance and dictionary, a few notebooks for longer writing that wont fit the widemargins, a treasure of scriptural knowledge and you have a few very powerful tools, in america you can get these items very cheap, i just spoke with a brother in finland that said the cheapest interlinear bible he had found was about 1200 dollars, a dictionary can cost up to 800 dollars, and if you know english you can get these items for under 80 dollars i think, so being able to read English is a huge blessing and advantage, many people can never use these tools due to economy and other things. So let us use these things with a great gratitude and privilege that they are.

God bless you

i just spoke with a brother in finland that said the cheapest interlinear bible he had found was about 1200 dollars, a dictionary can cost up to 800 dollars, and if you know english you can get these items for under 80 dollars i think, so being able to read English is a huge blessing and advantage, many people can never use these tools due to economy and other things. So let us use these things with a great gratitude and privilege that they are.

This was sobering. A good reminder to be thankful for what has been given to us and use it wisely.

Thank you Brian for your gracious reply. If I understand you better you might want to look at Zodhiates (Complete Word Study (Old and New Testament) and dictionary.

Before his death, God used him in my life to KNOW HIM (Phi 3:10) specifically through actual Greek. He had a great burden to do this with first Greek and later Hebrew. There may even be recordings of him teaching passages from the new testament so you could check him out that way.

My recollection from his testimony is evangelism flowed out of this labor to bring into English the riches he was flooded with from the Greek of the Word. I too have found great Glory of God hidden in God's choice of language. All translators wrestle with this. In case it encourages you, God revealed Himself as Jesus the Christ as I struggled to get the perfect English translation of the Greek word, Logos in John 1:1. (yea, I know odd) You probably know that in Greek, when you give the Logos, you give the “thing itself”. God was merciful to this clueless tiny one truly laboring to grasp the Truth of His word Logos. Thus I later appreciated Zodhiates and his burden from the time of his new birth.

All of this was long ago and I am certainly not the most knowledgeable on references. No one had mentioned him so I have.

For general commentaries I prefer Henry and Calvin.

For the Gospel's, Ryle's "Expository Thought on the Gospels" is an easy choice. For the Psalms, Spurgeon's "Treasury of David."

For concordances, I am only familiar with Strong's and Young's. Normally Strong's is enough. For me, comparing scripture with scripture is usually sufficient.

For the Gospel's, Ryle's "Expository Thought on the Gospels" is an easy choice.

I forgot about this one, but I really like what I have read from Ryle. I like Henry's devotional style, does Ryle have that same approach?

Ryle is exceedingly practical. His book "Holiness" is FIRST RATE.

Agreed. "Holiness" by Ryle was probably one of the first Puritan-esque books I laid hands on.