Bible Commentators
 

Call volume has been fairly high this week, so I don't know how much I will be able to participate in this thread today (until later this afternoon). Anyway, on another thread, someone made a point about commentators and I told him that I don't really pay much attention to what commentators have to say about the Word of God. He thought it was arrogant to think that way. So, I thought I would ask the forum how much stock y'all place in commentators. Do you refer to commentators such as Matthew Henry? How much stock do you place in commentators in the first place?

Re: Bible Commentators
 

Rico I agree with you in part. I rarely look at commentaries. I do from time to time on passages for references or something but I really don't rely on them per se. They are about like preachers they are pretty much just personal opinion.

Re: Bible Commentators
 

I use them not as Gospel, or on par with the Word, nut just for another opinion-cuz that is what it is.

Rico, to a certain extant we are all "Bible Commentators" but that doesn't make us or them right.

Re: Bible Commentators
 

You know I disagree with you. MH??? C'mon you can do better than that. How can you discount those with an understanding of the language and the grammar? No it is not on par with Scripture but it can be a great aid to interpreting Scripture.

Re: Bible Commentators
 

I agree on this. I use them as mentioned before but I don't grasp them as you mentioned and put them equal to scripture. I love listening to preaching which in reality is nothing but a subject commentary for the most part.

Re: Bible Commentators
 

I'm not sure why anybody wouldn't consult the opinion of some of the most intelligent, articulate, and educated minds of church history when studying Scripture. Especially if the student is someone who teaches/preaches the Word. Would you go to a doctor who refused to consult medical journals and such to confirm your diagnosis? I sure wouldn't.

Granted, you can't be stupid and turn your brain off when you read commentaries. They're opinions, nothing more. But they're helpful in stimulating your thought as you read and consider their opinion. It's similar to coming on this forum and asking everyone's opinon about at topic. Especially those who disagree with your position because they may cause you to consider something you'd overlooked. You assimilate the opinions and form your own.

Re: Bible Commentators
 

Commentators are valuable when it comes to cultural customs and practices we are unfamiliair with, in addition to handling nuance of ancient language mere cross referencing is incapable of delivering. But again...it will always be an opinion based on known information. I have a few commentators that I trust to know the language, culture, customs, geography, etc....their opinions do have an impact on my opinion but sometimes the Holy Ghost will hold me closer to just what the text says...even when considering Apostolic commenators.

Adam Clarke and Matthew Henry are personal faves of mine.

Re: Bible Commentators
 

Some things we'd be total lost on...here's a great example...the parable of the lost coin...what is it's meaning? (Based soley on the text and no additional commentary of course!)

Luke 15:8-10
{15:8} Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if
she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the
house, and seek diligently till she find [it? ]{15:9} And
when she hath found [it,] she calleth [her] friends and [her]
neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have
found the piece which I had lost. {15:10} Likewise, I say
unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God
over one sinner that repenteth.

From my understanding it wouldn’t have been difficult for this woman to replace a piece of silver. So the question is; without commentary...why was she so intent on finding it and why did she rejoice so much when she found it?

Re: Bible Commentators
 

I will say this when studying opposing opinions and I am writing a paper on a subject in the sense of debate etc... I use commentaries quite a bit! As you can go right to that scripture and get opinions per that authors pursuasion etc.. vs a book. They are very helpful.

Re: Bible Commentators
 

Commentators can offer valuable information on certain texts in the area of the historic context, sometimes the greek language and other areas. You do have to be careful though as not all commentaries will agree so obviously some may be biased towards their own doctrinal preference or theology