Commentaries for the Seminary Student-Interim Youth Pastor

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Wynteriii

Puritan Board Freshman
I've heard a lot of good things about the New American Commentary series, but I don't know. I'm looking for a expository commentaries and would like to know if you guys have any favorites on which sets to buy. These books should help me with bible study (with is book by book) and my expository preaching which I love to do.

Any reviews on R.C Sproul's St. Andrews Commentary series?
 
NAC is rather inconsistent in my judgment. Greenbaggins has posted a recommended commentaries list (by book, no less); you may access the post by clicking here.

Sproul's is good but will not qualify for verse-by-verse study at any great depth...I have Mark and John and have enjoyed them, but as expositional commentaries go, I would personally take Boice over Sproul.

The best expositional commentators, in my judgment, are Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, or John Calvin.

BTW, I checked out your blog. Glad to see another Chapel Library man on the PB! I know those guys (we're from P'cola) -- very godly, faithful laborers in the vineyard.

Grace to you in your studies.
 
First, I do not generally recommend an entire series.

Second, as to be expected, the individual volumes in the NAC range from exceptional to mediocre.

Third, I know it looks good, and makes us feel even better, to see lots of commentaries on our bookshelves. But unless you are loaded with cash, I believe it is a far more efficient use of money and energy to buy commentaries for a given book of the Bible when you are about to study that book. Then you can buy the best commentaries across the many series that exist. For your "whole Bible" needs, just use Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, etc.
 
I think I'll wait till the my seminary instructor tells me what commentary to get for what book. The instructors normally use NAC but I have seen Tyndale.
 
I think Ben has given some pretty solid advice. I was able to find Matthew Henry's six volume commentary on the whole Bible for $30 and also made use of Banner of Truth's sale on J.C. Ryle's commentary on the Gospels. Take advantage of sales and special offers (I was able to get Dr. Sproul on Mark for a donation to Ligonier) and purchase individual commentaries that you will use.
 
If you are at a seminary with a library, I'd hold off on commentaries buying and use the library's commentaries. Then you can use the money for other non-reference type books.
 
This is an excellent resource A Guide to Biblical Commentaries and Reference Works John Evans is a second (or third?) generation Presbyterian pastor and began making recommendations to his fellow seminary students 25 years ago. That developed into this reference. His rating system can be quite insightful as he includes books recommended from a reformed perspective, but also "standard" works that are part of the scholarly lexicon.
 
BTW, I checked out your blog. Glad to see another Chapel Library man on the PB! I know those guys (we're from P'cola) -- very godly, faithful laborers in the vineyard.

Grace to you in your studies.
'
Thank you for taking a look at my blog. I love Chapel's Library and it is a blessing to those who wish to know the thought of church fathers. I'm reading "Holiness" by John C. Ryle.
 
Thank you for taking a look at my blog. I love Chapel's Library and it is a blessing to those who wish to know the thought of church fathers. I'm reading "Holiness" by John C. Ryle.

Good for you! Ryle is one of my favorites, even if he's not officially a Puritan. :)

I second Ben's advice above. Most of the modern sets are generally not as good as the old dead guys in terms of whole-Bible commentaries.

Though I will qualify that remark with these 2 comments: 1)I don't have Hendriksen & Kistemaker, but have heard good things from solid expositors.

2) One series I have found several helpful volumes in: IVP's "The Bible Speaks Today" (edited by John Stott). I am not endorsing the series as a whole, but simply saying (along the lines of Ben's response) that there have been several helpful volumes (Stott, Clowney, etc.). It's not technical or critical (i.e., exegetically) by any means, but the volumes I own are typically faithful, insightful, and accessible expositions which clearly are the fruits of sound exegesis. I know it was out of print for a while so you may have to dig a bit to find out more.

Grace to you as you study and grow in the knowledge of God's precious word.
 
Following Ben's point above about conserving cash:

Wait! Before you buy anything, Calvin, Gill, Henry, Poole, and many others are available online for free.

Some links:

Matthew Poole

Poole, Henry, Gill, Calvin, et al

Too many Puritans to list at the Puritan Library. Various expositional works.

Though not a commentary/exposition, even a Brakel's "A Christian's Reasonable Service" is online for free.

Other resources:

Free Online Library: Main Bibliographic Divisions
Welcome to the CCEL - Christian Classics Ethereal Library
The Baptist Standard Bearer, Inc., Free Audio Sermons - many of the titles here can be found online at either archive.org or google books.

Ryle's is also online as an ebook for free.
 
JohnGill/Chris,

You're exactly right!

Wynter,

I'd encourage you to look at E-sword Bible software (if you don't already have a Bible study software package). It's free, and many of the excellent Puritan/Reformed commentaries and books that JohnGill referenced may be downloaded (legally) for free as well.
 
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I prefer not using Bible study software. I prefer cracking open multiple books and setting them around my desk if not in my room. There is certain feeling I get when study God's word this way instead of software.

Call me old fashion
 
I prefer not using Bible study software. I prefer cracking open multiple books and setting them around my desk if not in my room. There is certain feeling I get when study God's word this way instead of software.

Call me old fashion

You could always print out the pdfs. In some places this can be a lot cheaper than buying the books.
 
Wynter, totally agree with you on preferring print to electronic -- but due to budget constraints, free electronic will win over paid print in my studies!

Grace to you.
 
I ordered a couple days ago

Treasury of David
Matthew Henry Unabridged
Matthew Poole Unabridged
A set on Isaiah (I believe this could have been an impulse buy, but the deal was twenty bucks that was forty yesterday)

Is it just me or do all people who study the bible get really excited when they add books to their library.
 
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