Commentaries

     Someone i know is avidly reading Luke and planning to read through the other gospels afterwards. As they read there are questions and things that are not understood. The natural response is to seek out more knowledgeable opinion like a commentary. For those who understand English there are many options from different writers over the centuries. At one time I had Matthew Henry, Jamison, Faucet & Brown from the 1850's, the Tyndale series, a few individual book commentaries including a three volume set on Isaiah, and even a new Africa commentary by African brothers. However I do not recommend any of these or any others unless one has first read the entire Bible carefully and prayerfully at least five and preferably ten times first.
    Why do i take this stand? Unlike the Bible, the commentaries are not inspired by the Holy Spirit. ( 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21.) Certainly most writers of commentaries have studied long and hard in the original languages. Yet it is instructive to note how people poring over the same texts can come to very different conclusions. Unfortunately this quest for knowledge can also lead to intellectual and spiritual pride. World class theologian Wayne Grudem in his Systematic Theology writes, "Historically, false doctrine often seems to be adopted by the theologians first, by the pastors second, and by the informed laity, who are daily reading their Bibles and walking with the Lord, last." ( pg. 922) If our adversary wants to undermine the Church, it makes sense that he would attack those with the most influence.
     Now i grant that most Christians of my experience are Biblically illiterate, tossed about by every wind of doctrine. ( Ephesians 4:14) Still the potential is there to study daily, asking the Holy Spirit to fulfill His ministry of teaching us all things ( John 14:26), guiding us into all truth (John 16:13, cf. 17:17), and knowing the things given us by God. ( 1 Corinthians 2:12-13) Will we understand perfectly? No. We are still part of a Body which has received gifts such as teachers ( Ephesians 4:11) and elders ( 1 Timothy 3:2, 5:17, Titus 1:9) to instruct us.
    So I advocate lengthy reading prior to wading into the commentaries so that we have some basis on which to evaluate these writings.