Preferred Commentary: Advice?

I was wondering if the 'community' had any recommendations on which 'preferred commentary' should be listed first in one's library. Granted that's going to come down to personal preference. But I'm hoping to glean some tips and recommendations to help me make that decision.

Theologically, I'm in the Protestant, Evangelical, Reformed section of Christianity. Smile

I was thinking it might be good to select a single volume or set that covered the entire Bible, so that when I'm first getting started, it would be consistent. Currently, I have the Bible Knowledge Commentary set as the first 'preferred commentary' but I'm wondering if there are suggestions for something better?

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Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

Logos wiki => Logos Resource Reviews includes UBS New Testament Handbook Series and UBS Old Testament Handbook Series that have Key concepts to translate plus cross cultural comments and textual criticism along with samples plus links: e.g. Logos 4 Blog: Quickly Access the UBS Handbooks (helped me many years ago to prioritize UBS Handbooks as my primary commentary)

After UBS translation handbooks, now have a custom series with Top 2 Commentary volumes per Bible Book => https://www.bestcommentaries.com/topcommentaries/ (albeit my library lacks many Top 2 volumes so custom series includes 3rd or 4th highest rated - March Madness 2018 is providing incentive to acquire more Top 2 volumes)

FYI: manually added prefix titles to my English commentaries => https://community.logos.com/forums/p/139386/890581.aspx#890581

Keep Smiling [:)]

Mattillo

I was wondering if the 'community' had any recommendations on which 'preferred commentary' should be listed first in one's library. Granted that's going to come down to personal preference. But I'm hoping to glean some tips and recommendations to help me make that decision.

Theologically, I'm in the Protestant, Evangelical, Reformed section of Christianity.

I was thinking it might be good to select a single volume or set that covered the entire Bible, so that when I'm first getting started, it would be consistent. Currently, I have the Bible Knowledge Commentary set as the first 'preferred commentary' but I'm wondering if there are suggestions for something better?

I guess one of my favorites and go to's is: New American Commentary. That covers the entire bible I believe (at least I don't think it is missing any) though if you want single volume stuff another good one is the Moody Bible Commentary or a study bible might be of us too (MacArthur Study Bible or ESV Study Bible). After that will be all preference. Like Keep Smiling mentioned, every book has its own set of recommended commentaries so it might be better to pick and choose as time goes on and you see what you like. Some of my favorites are: MacArthur New Testament Commentary, NICOT/NICNT, BECNT, ZECNT, EEC, Tyndale) I'm sure I forgot a few but those are the ones I usually go to first.

Mark Smith

Mine (I'm everything you mentioned but Reformed) are:

NICOT/NICNT
New American
Tyndale
Word
ICC
Baker Exegetical
Pillar

I've obviously favored commentaries that cover all or most of the Bible in my top four.

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/967616#Comment_967616

I’m similar to others. I prioritize the commentaries that cover (almost) the entire Bible first and then the newer works on the NT follow. Hence, my top 10 are:

1. NICOT/NT

2. WBC

3. UBS Handbooks

4. College Press OT/NT

5. Tyndale OT/NT

6. EBC original edition

7. Understanding the Bible Commentary OT/NT

8. BECNT

9. PNTC

10. NIGTC

The rest of my list is set up from younger to oldest commentaries. I have a separate collection for my Study Bibles and One Volume Commentaries for quick reference.

DAL

Ps. Me, I keep it simple, I am a Christian 👍😁👌

scooter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/967854#Comment_967854

I’m similar to others. I prioritize the commentaries that cover (almost) the entire Bible first and then the newer works on the NT follow. Hence, my top 10 are:

1. NICOT/NT

2. WBC

3. UBS Handbooks

4. College Press OT/NT

5. Tyndale OT/NT

6. EBC original edition

7. Understanding the Bible Commentary OT/NT

8. BECNT

9. PNTC

10. NIGTC

The rest of my list is set up from younger to oldest commentaries. I have a separate collection for my Study Bibles and One Volume Commentaries for quick reference.

DAL

Ps. Me, I keep it simple, I am a Christian 👍😁👌

NAC: may I ask your opinion of it??

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/967868#Comment_967868

I’m similar to others. I prioritize the commentaries that cover (almost) the entire Bible first and then the newer works on the NT follow. Hence, my top 10 are:

1. NICOT/NT

2. WBC

3. NAC

4. UBS Handbooks

5. College Press OT/NT

6. Tyndale OT/NT

7. EBC original edition

8. Understanding the Bible Commentary OT/NT

9. BECNT

10. PNTC

11. NIGTC

12. Exegetical Summaries (great series!)

13. Lexham Guides (great series also!)

The rest of my list is set up from younger to oldest commentaries. I have a separate collection for my Study Bibles and One Volume Commentaries for quick reference.

DAL

Ps. Me, I keep it simple, I am a Christian 👍😁👌

NAC: may I ask your opinion of it??

Sorry, (List revised), I omitted NAC somehow. It sits at number 3. I like it and it’s very useful, more than some people want to give it credit for. I go to it a lot. Right now, since I just got the NIC series, I’m trying to use it as much as I can. So far so great 😀

DAL

scooter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/967873#Comment_967873

(List revised

1. NICOT/NT

2. WBC

3. NAC

Thank you, Dal.

Greg Corbin

If you have them....

1. NICOT/NICNT

2. NAC

3. WBC

4. EBC

5. Tyndale

6. UBS Handbooks OT/NT

7. Tom Constable Notes (don't be fooled, this is a commentary on the entire Bible)

8. Baker NT Commentary

9. Pillar NT Commentary

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/967908#Comment_967908

I always like to start of with New Interpreters Bible. Fairly consistently good and informative always feels like it delivers more to me than many multi volum works. It’s 12 volumes covers the entire Alexandrian canon so it is great for Catholic and Protestant alike. I have said it before and will happily again, I wish ever Christian could own a copy. After over 20 years of use I still find it is still extremely helpful.

-dan

Pam Larson

For New Testament I always start with the Exegetical Summaries. They basically summarize what the major commentaries say on a verse-by-verse basis. I also like the available Lexham Bible Guides for similar reasons. Although they're not verse by verse they boil down what the commentaries say on major words and issues.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/967927#Comment_967927

For New Testament I always start with the Exegetical Summaries. They basically summarize what the major commentaries say on a verse-by-verse basis. I also like the available Lexham Bible Guides for similar reasons. Although they're not verse by verse they boil down what the commentaries say on major words and issues.

[Y] exegetical summaries are the bomb.

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/967917#Comment_967917

I always like to start of with New Interpreters Bible. Fairly consistently good and informative always feels like it delivers more to me than many multi volum works. It’s 12 volumes covers the entire Alexandrian canon so it is great for Catholic and Protestant alike. I have said it before and will happily again, I wish ever Christian could own a copy. After over 20 years of use I still find it is still extremely helpful.

-dan

It’s there and I missed it too. My NIB sits at #4 and then the list goes on. Psalms is awesome! Along with Romans by NT Wright 👍😁👌

Dave Thawley

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/967944#Comment_967944

I think I am with most of the people above. NIC/NAC/WBC/EBC/Tyndale - I would also list NIV application as well though. I did'nt see this above and while its not in my top 5 it is in my top 10 :-)

Francis

Theologically, I'm in the Protestant, Evangelical, Reformed section of Christianity

This is only moderately helpful to choose a good commentary. A good commentary is one that extracts meaning from the text and hopefully this is where theological positions should come from rather than the other way around. I don't know the denominational background of most of the authors whose commentaries I use. I only care to see how they treat the Scriptures and whether what they do with it is helpful and fair. I have found some commentators from other persuasions to be better commentators than some whose confession is closer to my own.

Put differently, a commentator who does the job right will be helpful to anyone who seeks to understand (and apply) the Bible better. Commentators who superimpose a heavily slanted hermeneutical grid to make Scriptures say what they want it to say are bad commentators. This being said, denominational distinctives tend to be more discrete in technical and academic commentaries and more pronounced in popular ones.

So, if I may suggest so, the leading questions are what you need the commentaries most for (academic, ministry, personal) and what level you are at (original languages? biblical education? beginner?). From these considerations, it is easier to recommend this or that series.

Josh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/967540#Comment_967540

Logos wiki => Logos Resource Reviews includes UBS New Testament Handbook Series and UBS Old Testament Handbook Series that have Key concepts to translate plus cross cultural comments and textual criticism along with samples plus links: e.g. Logos 4 Blog: Quickly Access the UBS Handbooks (helped me many years ago to prioritize UBS Handbooks as my primary commentary)

Yes! The UBS Handbooks are in the number one spot on my preferred list. This is followed by the NET Bible notes.

I then cluster the rest of my favorite commentaries into groups: textual, exegetical/critical, background, application, single-volume (including study bibles), vintage, etc.

Michael S.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/967944#Comment_967944

Along with Romans by NT Wright 👍😁👌

Not friendly for Reformed folks though...

Liam Maguire

I was wondering if the 'community' had any recommendations on which 'preferred commentary' should be listed first in one's library. Granted that's going to come down to personal preference. But I'm hoping to glean some tips and recommendations to help me make that decision.

Theologically, I'm in the Protestant, Evangelical, Reformed section of Christianity.

I was thinking it might be good to select a single volume or set that covered the entire Bible, so that when I'm first getting started, it would be consistent. Currently, I have the Bible Knowledge Commentary set as the first 'preferred commentary' but I'm wondering if there are suggestions for something better?

Hi Bill,

Great question, I had a similar thought a while ago. In the end, I decided to use the scores on BestCommentaries.com and Tim Challies/Ligonier Ministries recommendations to create my own personal 'Best commentaries set'. You can do this by clicking on the info of a commentary and then editing its series.

I've made this my high prioritised series too. This way I can have I don't have to choose between Pillar for Carson on John or EBC for Carson on Matthew or NICNT for Bruce on Hebrews because they are all part of my custom series. As a result, when I link to my open Bible, it automatically pulls up the 'best' commentary in my library for that portion of scripture. When I open my passage guide, the 'best' commentary in my library is always first in the commentaries section.

My approach is simple, why have one series prioritised above the rest, when you can prioritise the best offerings from all of them!

I hope that helps.

Chi Shun Cheung

If you are from a Protestant, Evangelical, Reformed section of Christianity (which I am too),

and you want a commentary series that covers the old to the new,

Then the New American Commentary is probably the best for you.

1. It's very conservative (more than NICOT/NT and much more conservative than WBC), meaning the authors have a high view of inerrancy.

2. It's almost COMPLETE. It covers every book except for Psalms and Ephesians (whiel the others have 3 or more volumes missing.

3. It's also acclaimed by scholars (especially the OT volumes).

4. Also, if you are a premillennialist, then this series is especially for you. For it is premil almost consistently

Yasmin Stephen

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/968084#Comment_968084

My approach is simple, why have one series prioritised above the rest, when you can prioritise the best offerings from all of them!

LearnLogos had a webinar last night (Mastering the Use of Commentaries for Bible Study) and this exact tip came up. It was a great webinar, I learned a lot.

SineNomine

I was wondering if the 'community' had any recommendations on which 'preferred commentary' should be listed first in one's library. Granted that's going to come down to personal preference. But I'm hoping to glean some tips and recommendations to help me make that decision.

The ACCS should be up there. It provides perspectives unique among the many commentary sets sold by FaithLife. It draws heavily from the very best in early Christian scholarship without losing pastoral applicability.

Phil Tuften

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/968200#Comment_968200

I agree with what everyone say, but put at number spot a 1 volume comentary. By placing a 1 volume commentary on top gives me a brief context and highlights the main points of the passage in a small read.

Stephen

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/968164#Comment_968164

Why doesn’t NAC not have psalms and Ephesians?

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/968616#Comment_968616

By placing a 1 volume commentary on top gives me a brief context and highlights the main points of the passage in a small read.

Yep. That's why I use BKC.

Phil Tuften

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/968617#Comment_968617

Not written, or not in Logos as yet.

Stephen

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/968619#Comment_968619

I see ephesians available on NAC print sets? Not sure about psalms. Is logos actively working on Ephesians I wonder?

Phil Tuften

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/968620#Comment_968620

Someone from FL will have to coment on this as I do not know if they are doing it, one would hope so.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/968616#Comment_968616

I agree with what everyone say, but put at number spot a 1 volume comentary. By placing a 1 volume commentary on top gives me a brief context and highlights the main points of the passage in a small read.

Normally, I'd agree.

But if you park an Explorer panel nearby, you can mouse and scan your top 5 choices. At verse level, often it's all she wrote. I rarely get past my top 5.

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/968623#Comment_968623

Normally, I'd agree.

But if you park an Explorer panel nearby, you can mouse and scan your top 5 choices. At verse level, often it's all she wrote. I rarely get past my top 5.

Good rebuttal!

GaoLu

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/968627#Comment_968627

I wish Logos would actively work on putting BECNT on sale. How long has it been? Even a paltry 32% would be nice.

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/968200#Comment_968200

Oh boy, I’m going to have to revise my list. I didn’t include MacArthur’s NT Commentary, Hermeneia, Interpretation series, New Testament Library series, Lenski, REC, PtW and others. I might end up with a top 20 prioritized list.

DAL

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/967540#Comment_967540

After UBS translation handbooks, now have a custom series with Top 2 Commentary volumes per Bible Book => https://www.bestcommentaries.com/topcommentaries/ (albeit my library lacks many Top 2 volumes so custom series includes 3rd or 4th highest rated - March Madness 2018 is providing incentive to acquire more Top 2 volumes)

March Madness was unkind to wallet [:'(]

After UBS and custom Top 2 Commentary Series, am liking => Poor Man's Old and New Testament Commentary (12 vols.) whose product description includes:

Charles Spurgeon exhorted his students, “Gentlemen, if you want something full of marrow and fatness, cheering to your own hearts by way of comment, and likely to help you in giving to your hearers rich expositions, buy Dr. Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary . . . he sees Jesus, and that is a sacred gift which is most precious.”

Thankful for friendly discussion so prioritized Exegetical Summaries as # 3.

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus [:)]

David Ames

Don't listen to us - figure it out for yourself. [[unless you are using 'our' advice on what to buy next]]

How do you figure that out? Do two short studies - One each OT & NT. Use every resource in your Logos library. Let your library tell you which to use.