I’ve been addicted to Bible study since becoming a Christian in high school. And addicted is the right word. Once I had read through the Bible as a sophomore, I moved on to Strong’s numbers and a concordance. After a year of that, I wanted something else. One happy, glorious morning (okay, I’m embellishing a little) I discovered commentaries. I wasn’t quite in Bible “nerdvana,” but I could see it over the horizon. Honestly, what public high school senior takes commentaries to school to read in study hall? Been there, done that.
In case you still haven’t discovered commentaries, I should explain what they are. For those of you who already know (and for those who will know after hitting the bottom of this page), I’ll be spending some time in another chapter on the different types of commentaries. They’re certainly not all created equal.
A commentary is a book about the Bible, but not in the sense that the author is strictly talking about the Bible’s history, backgrounds, sections, characters, or theology. A commentary guides the reader through the Bible, either section by section or verse by verse. It’s as though you have your own private scholar watching over your shoulder as you read the Bible, and that scholar takes time to comment (hence “commentary”) on what you’re reading. Commentaries partner you with an experienced student of Scripture to help you study.
Commentaries differ widely in the level of detail contained in comments about what the Bible says. But one thing they have in common is the goal to take the user beyond merely reading their translation of the Bible. A commentary is naturally geared to help you pause and reflect on the material. That might mean discussing the possible meanings of a particular word, alerting you to how some element of ancient culture explains a particular phrase, or making a historical observation that situates the content of the passage in a particular time period or civilization.
Commentaries also seek to highlight how a passage or book provides practical insights for wise living and deepening your relationship with God. After all, the Bible is no mere collection of facts. It’s about a relationship with God through Christ. Commentaries don’t just inform. They can rebuke and encourage as well.