Commentator and Theologian -- What is the difference?

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Alexander Whyte

Puritan Board Freshman
What is the difference between a Bible Commentator and Theologian? What are the earmarks of good Bible Commentator? Good Theologican? Have there been many who have excelled at both?
 
It's just a different field of endeavor. One is immediately laboring to elucidate the meaning of Scripture as it stands in a particular place. The other is attempting to faithfully articulate the teaching of Scripture on a particular topic, on the basis of all its utterances. Each needs, and each contributes to, the other.

Yes, there have been several who have contributed substantially in both fields: e.g., Theodoret of Cyrrhus, John Calvin, John Davenant, Patrick Fairbairn, Charles Hodge. There are many others who have written in both fields, with varying degrees of success.
 
I am not sure I would agree that Hodge's Commentaries are really that good. I do not think he was of a generation that appreciated the various incites of orthodox Reformed Theology and critical biblical scholarship, though he was certainly aware of it given his travels! I think a much better example is John Murray. His commentary on Romans is still one of the best and his notes on systematic theology (see vol. 2 of his collected writings).
 
Hodge has idiosyncrasies, to be sure; but he is not inconsiderable. And it's not like Murray was free of idiosyncratic views! While I haven't read either one completely through, I have found more help from Hodge on Romans than I have from Murray (though compared to Goodwin's, Hodge's explanation of 4:25 is unbearably thin).
 
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