Church of Christ commentary recommendations

Nathan Morales
Nathan Morales Member Posts: 45 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

Hi everyone, I was looking to buy a commentary from Church of Christ preachers and I was looking for recommendations. I just recently came across the Coffman Commentary Series and I use that one free on studylight.org. Has anyone read any of the Truth for Today commentaries? How do you enjoy them? And any other recommendations from Church of Christ are welcomed. I recently started attending a Church of Christ Church here in my city, I'm still trying to learn their perspectives. Thanks and God bless you all.

Comments

  • DAL
    DAL Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭

    Here’s another CoC commentary on the NT: https://www.logos.com/product/206601/gospel-advocate-complete-new-testament-commentary 

    What would you like to know about the church of Christ? Perhaps you can email me or others to ask on the “perspectives” you’re interested in. My email is iglesiadecristo3 at yahoo dot com I write it this way so spambots won’t pick it up and email me junk.

    DAL

  • Nathan Morales
    Nathan Morales Member Posts: 45 ✭✭

    Well I was wanting a commentary set to understand their interpretations. I have commentaries of other denominations but none from Church of Christ. And with me recently attending a COC I wanted to know their doctrines more. Thanks for the recommendation. 

  • xnman
    xnman Member Posts: 2,956 ✭✭✭

    Sad to say, Logos doesn't recognize Church of Christ as a bonafide church and therefore doesn't have lots of books and things for the Church of Christ. But there are a few....

    I'd recommend "Truth for Today" commentaries most definitely. They are good. Cloer, Roper and the guys did an excellent work with them.  Also check out their website at "biblecourses.com". Lots of good information there. These guys do an excellent job of keeping to contextual biblical truth. Also check out ChristianCourier.com.  Lots of Wayne Jackson (another deep thinker) articles there

    I'd also suggest for your library: New Nave's Topical, New Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, Halley's Bible Handbook, Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary and Thayer's Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament.

    I think Logos will sell you millions of dollars of books and stuff. But the above will do the job of helping you get a good foundation for your studies.

    There are books by Thomas B. Warren available on Logos. He's a great deep thinker. Also books by Alexandar Strauch, Garland Elkins.

    And in the Logos program : Learn to use Exegetical Guide, Important Passages, Passage Lists, and Notes to help with your studies. Once you get set up you'll have good tools for study. There are others, but these will get you a foundation.

    These are just suggestions. Logos is a monster to learn, but it is a good solid program.

    I wish you well.

    Edit: and above all, stick to the word!

    xn = Christan man=man -- Acts 11:26 "....and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch".

    Barney Fife is my hero! He only uses an abacus with 14 rows!

  • Nathan Morales
    Nathan Morales Member Posts: 45 ✭✭

    Thank you very much for your recommendations! This helps a lot. It's pay day today so I'm ready to buy some commentaries lol. One of the commentaries I want to get from Truth for Today is the gospel of John from David Lipe. And I will definitely look into the other resources you mentioned. Thanks again!

  • Rick
    Rick Member Posts: 2,018 ✭✭✭

    xnman said:

    I'd recommend "Truth for Today" commentaries most definitely.

    xnman, are the “Truth for Today” commentaries available in Logos? If they are, can you please provide a link? I’ve searched and I don’t think the web site is giving me the correct products. Thanks.

  • Nathan Morales
    Nathan Morales Member Posts: 45 ✭✭

    I don't think they are available on logos. I searched for them the other day. 

  • xnman
    xnman Member Posts: 2,956 ✭✭✭

    Rick said:

    xnman said:

    I'd recommend "Truth for Today" commentaries most definitely.

    xnman, are the “Truth for Today” commentaries available in Logos? If they are, can you please provide a link? I’ve searched and I don’t think the web site is giving me the correct products. Thanks.

    No, they are not available that I can find. They are written by people who are members of the the Church of Christ, which Logos does not recognize as a church.... [:(]

    xn = Christan man=man -- Acts 11:26 "....and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch".

    Barney Fife is my hero! He only uses an abacus with 14 rows!

  • xnman
    xnman Member Posts: 2,956 ✭✭✭

    Thank you very much for your recommendations! This helps a lot. It's pay day today so I'm ready to buy some commentaries lol. One of the commentaries I want to get from Truth for Today is the gospel of John from David Lipe. And I will definitely look into the other resources you mentioned. Thanks again!

    You'll enjoy David Lipe. He's an easy writer to read for me.

    xn = Christan man=man -- Acts 11:26 "....and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch".

    Barney Fife is my hero! He only uses an abacus with 14 rows!

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,523

    xnman said:

    Logos doesn't recognize Church of Christ as a bonafide church

    Logos isn't in the business of "recognizing" churches, so this is misleading. 

    • As for selling resources, FL sells resources from many different kinds of "communities of faith." Logos sells resources when they make sense financially and agreements can be reached. Not all resources make sense financially nor can agreements always be made. 
    • As for categories of resources, when there are enough resources from a particular background, I am sure FL would create a new category. 

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
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  • Morgan
    Morgan Member Posts: 511 ✭✭✭

    While not a commentary, you'll get quite a bit from the Florida College Lectures. This is representative of conservative or 'non-institutional' congregations. David McClister runs their bible department and can be seen on the forums sometimes.

    While not part of a church of Christ series, Kevin Youngblood, who teaches at Harding University, wrote the ZECOT Jonah commentary.

  • Ryland Brown
    Ryland Brown Member Posts: 165 ✭✭✭

    While not strictly from the non-instrumentalists, the College Press commentary series comes from the Restoration Movement. 

  • DAL
    DAL Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭

    Rick said:

    xnman said:

    I'd recommend "Truth for Today" commentaries most definitely.

    xnman, are the “Truth for Today” commentaries available in Logos? If they are, can you please provide a link? I’ve searched and I don’t think the web site is giving me the correct products. Thanks.

    They’re not even available in Kindle format! I wish they would even do audiobook versions of some of their books.  So far only the two volumes on the life of Christ have audiobook versions.

    DAL

  • Bill Shewmaker
    Bill Shewmaker Member Posts: 753 ✭✭✭

    While not strictly from the non-instrumentalists, the College Press commentary series comes from the Restoration Movement. 

    Standard Publishing Company was several resources listed in the "store" that can be purchased. Standard is not a non-instrument source, but they are another publishing source for the Restoration Movement and compiled by very capable, conservative, authors.

  • Bill Shewmaker
    Bill Shewmaker Member Posts: 753 ✭✭✭

    While not strictly from the non-instrumentalists, the College Press commentary series comes from the Restoration Movement. 

    Standard Publishing Company was several resources listed in the "store" that can be purchased. Standard is not a non-instrument source, but they are another publishing source for the Restoration Movement and compiled by very capable, conservative, authors.

  • xnman
    xnman Member Posts: 2,956 ✭✭✭

    xnman said:

    Logos doesn't recognize Church of Christ as a bonafide church

    Logos isn't in the business of "recognizing" churches, so this is misleading.

    Maybe ... but Logos sure lists a lot of denominations in its lists.... [8-|]

    xn = Christan man=man -- Acts 11:26 "....and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch".

    Barney Fife is my hero! He only uses an abacus with 14 rows!

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 55,148

    xnman said:

    They are written by people who are members of the the Church of Christ, which Logos does not recognize as a church.... Sad

    Most of the Logos classifications are streams of related churches/theologies not specific churches. The Church of Christ is in the Restoration stream which is the typical classification although I know you disagree.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Sean
    Sean Member Posts: 1,807 ✭✭✭

    xnman said:

    Sad to say, Logos doesn't recognize Church of Christ as a bonafide church and therefore doesn't have lots of books and things for the Church of Christ. But there are a few....

    Well, from what I've seen from threads of this nature, by the second page you all will be arguing who really is or is not Church of Christ, so it's certainly not an easy task for an outsider.

  • xnman
    xnman Member Posts: 2,956 ✭✭✭

    Sean said:

    xnman said:

    Sad to say, Logos doesn't recognize Church of Christ as a bonafide church and therefore doesn't have lots of books and things for the Church of Christ. But there are a few....

    Well, from what I've seen from threads of this nature, by the second page you all will be arguing who really is or is not Church of Christ, so it's certainly not an easy task for an outsider.

    There is no argument. The Church of Christ was at Pentecost, was before the Restoration Movement, was during the Restoration Movement and is after the Restoration Movement. In fact, truth be known, the Restoration Movement was all about getting back to the Church of Christ. Just because people (like Logos) don't recognize Church of Christ as a bonafide church doesn't make it any less so.

    What if they "lumped" all churches into being Catholic?

    Edit: This thread is about Church of Christ material and the quest for Church of Christ material to study from. You don't like to discuss that, there are other threads.

    xn = Christan man=man -- Acts 11:26 "....and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch".

    Barney Fife is my hero! He only uses an abacus with 14 rows!

  • DMB
    DMB Member Posts: 14,465 ✭✭✭✭

    Sean said:

    Well, from what I've seen from threads of this nature, by the second page you all will be arguing who really is or is not Church of Christ, so it's certainly not an easy task for an outsider.

    Yep, that's a problem.  The sign outside the building doesn't necessarily translate to the doctrine inside.  Although, modern times have resurrected creedal lists (for the COC, and even the cOC) in the form of web-site 'What We Believe'.  In our little town, we have two COC's and they're completely opposite in doctrine. One has lots of cars on Sunday morning (complete with purchasable burial urns/storage too!).  The other ample/empty parking.

    But saying that FL doesn't recognize the COC, is a bit of a cheap-shot.  More accurately, it doesn't see a reliable market.

    "If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.

  • DAL
    DAL Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭

    DMB said:

    Sean said:

    Well, from what I've seen from threads of this nature, by the second page you all will be arguing who really is or is not Church of Christ, so it's certainly not an easy task for an outsider.

    Yep, that's a problem.  The sign outside the building doesn't necessarily translate to the doctrine inside.  Although, modern times have resurrected creedal lists (for the COC, and even the cOC) in the form of web-site 'What We Believe'.  In our little town, we have two COC's and they're completely opposite in doctrine. One has lots of cars on Sunday morning (complete with purchasable burial urns/storage too!).  The other ample/empty parking.

    But saying that FL doesn't recognize the COC, is a bit of a cheap-shot.  More accurately, it doesn't see a reliable market.

    That’s what I’ve been saying all along! We all have a creed and the slogan, ”No creed but the Bible” is so cliché is not even funny, and it didn’t even originate with coC’s, but some believe it to be true thanks to those holding on to the Restoration Movement roots. The one true church did not begin with the restoration movement, but some still don’t get that.

    Unfortunately, divisions affect everyone, including churches of Christ!

    Anyway, here’s a True Thought for FL to consider and start making money: A Restorationist Base Package doesn’t have to include books that are exclusive to churches of Christ; after all, we use Adam Clark, John, Wesley, John Calvin, and Charles Spurgeon, to prove why we don’t need instrumental music in the church.  We use BDAG to ascertain the meaning of “eis” in Acts 2:38, we use Ceslas Spic also and many other commentaries and lexicons that corroborate our doctrine.

    So FL could throw in Gospel Advocate, College Press NIV, Coffman, McGarvey, BW Johnson, Thomas B. Warren, Jack Cottrell, BDAG along with Clark, Wesley, Calvin, IVP NT commentaries, etc. and create a Restorationist Base Package that would include all branches of the Restoration movement.  Not necessarily the title I like for that package but it will sell because many identity themselves with that term.

    Me, personally, though not official, I already own such a base package since I own all those resources. So if a base package with the Restoration or Restorationist name comes along or not, it really makes no difference to me. I can still study God’s Word without owning such a Package. But hey if it will sell, why not? With dynamic pricing and all, It’ll probably be free for me 😂😂😂

    DAL

  • DMB
    DMB Member Posts: 14,465 ✭✭✭✭

    DAL said:

    But hey if it will sell, why not? With dynamic pricing and all, It’ll probably be free for me

    Yes, it would!  I wonder, when they consider new 'base packages', do they look at whether the advocates already own 'it' ... 'restorationists' already own a proposed restoration package?

    My wondering about the market is symbolized in the Florida College Lectures.  Years back, they intro'd them, and they often show up in my searches.  But that was that ... no takers?  Or no producers?  Or too much hassle to update?  Is the market too fragmented?  And whatever happened to Abilene's books?  Just Everett?

    "If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.

  • DAL
    DAL Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭

    DMB said:

    DAL said:

    But hey if it will sell, why not? With dynamic pricing and all, It’ll probably be free for me

    Yes, it would!  I wonder, when they consider new 'base packages', do they look at whether the advocates already own 'it' ... 'restorationists' already own a proposed restoration package?

    My wondering about the market is symbolized in the Florida College Lectures.  Years back, they intro'd them, and they often show up in my searches.  But that was that ... no takers?  Or no producers?  Or too much hassle to update?  Is the market too fragmented?  And whatever happened to Abilene's books?  Just Everett?

    LOL I love Everett, but he’s considered liberal 😂 I’m more of a prove all things and take the good! I don’t have to agree with everything an author writes to like him!

    But yep, maybe Abilene books became liberal too 😂 I remember the Crux of the Matter being labeled that way and The Transformed Word commentary.  People should learn to read for learning not to label what books they like or dislike.

    DAL

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 55,148

    xnman said:

    There is no argument. The Church of Christ was at Pentecost, was before the Restoration Movement, was during the Restoration Movement and is after the Restoration Movement. In fact, truth be known, the Restoration Movement was all about getting back to the Church of Christ. Just because people (like Logos) don't recognize Church of Christ as a bonafide church doesn't make it any less so.

    Cut the theological "historical" stuff and behave. I'd already said you wouldn't agree so you wouldn't have to go there.

    To bring some possible reality into the discussion. IIRC some time ago with regards to another major movement, Logos commented that conservative Press A resisted licensing their books because they didn't want them mixed with books from liberal Press B -- liberal vs. conservative being defined from within the tradition. As electronic books have moved into the mainstream, I am sure such resistance has lessened but we shouldn't ignore the possibility that the publishers rather than Logos is the stumbling block. We simply do not know. I know that I personally paved the way for the Logos/Saint Vladimir's Seminary partnership. Perhaps, some effort from Logos users in smoothing the way with the Church of Christ publishers would be helpful here.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • xnman
    xnman Member Posts: 2,956 ✭✭✭

    MJ. Smith said:

    xnman said:

    There is no argument. The Church of Christ was at Pentecost, was before the Restoration Movement, was during the Restoration Movement and is after the Restoration Movement. In fact, truth be known, the Restoration Movement was all about getting back to the Church of Christ. Just because people (like Logos) don't recognize Church of Christ as a bonafide church doesn't make it any less so.

    Cut the theological "historical" stuff and behave. I'd already said you wouldn't agree so you wouldn't have to go there.

    To bring some possible reality into the discussion. IIRC some time ago with regards to another major movement, Logos commented that conservative Press A resisted licensing their books because they didn't want them mixed with books from liberal Press B -- liberal vs. conservative being defined from within the tradition. As electronic books have moved into the mainstream, I am sure such resistance has lessened but we shouldn't ignore the possibility that the publishers rather than Logos is the stumbling block. We simply do not know. I know that I personally paved the way for the Logos/Saint Vladimir's Seminary partnership. Perhaps, some effort from Logos users in smoothing the way with the Church of Christ publishers would be helpful here.

    Behave? Does that apply to you? This thread was not about any of that. It was about study material for the Church of Christ.... Explain hijacking again?

    xn = Christan man=man -- Acts 11:26 "....and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch".

    Barney Fife is my hero! He only uses an abacus with 14 rows!

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 55,148

    xnman said:

    Does that apply to you?

    Yes. And I believe a reference to a possible roadblock and a proven action item are relevant.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."