Here are some
Recommended Commentaries
and other Books of Theology
From time to time, I'm asked about which
commentaries I like or use. That's a little like asking what kind
of ice cream one likes. Generally, I like just about every kind
of ice cream (except chocolate!), but I do like some flavors
better than others. What flavor I prefer also depends on what
mood I'm in. Commentaries are like that. Do I want something
that's analytical, or something more devotional? That said,
here's my list.
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Frederick Godet Godet was a 19th
century commentator from Neuchatel, Switzerland. His
commentaries are hard to find and expensive. Although
he's not a strong Calvinist, there's just something I
like about the way he handles a text. We have his
commentaries on Luke, John and Romans in our church
library. Highly recommended!
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John Brown (of Edinburgh) Also a 19th century commentator, but this time
from Scotland. I find him quite refreshing and a
surprisingly independent thinker. We have his
commentaries on Hebrews, Galatians and First Peter in our
church library. Also, I highly recommend his
"Discourses and Sayings of Our Lord", which
deal with our Lord's longer discussions with His
Disciples in the Gospels, e.g. the Sermon on the
Mount.
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Charles Hodge
Hodge was a Presbyterian
scholar at Princeton around 1920. We have his
commentaries on First & Second Corinthians and
Ephesians. Very helpful.
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Martin Lloyd-Jones Lloyd-Jones, of
course, ministered for many years at Westminster Chapel
in London. The commentaries published under his name were
usually drawn from his addresses given there. As a
result, they are almost always warm, devotional, and
challenging. I don't always agree with his stance (e.g.
on Rom. 7), but I always gain something from his
thoughts.
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Someone may be asking, does this guy read
anyone still alive? Well, two names come to mind.
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D.A. Carson Carson's commentary on John is topnotch. I had
the opportunity of hearing Dr. Carson preach on John 3 in
Canada, and that may well be the best sermon I've ever
heard!
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Philip Hughes
Hughes is an Anglican
commentator (of the old, conservative variety). His
commentary on Hebrews is first-rate.
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No doubt, other writers would come to mind if I
thought about this longer, but maybe this list will be helpful to
some. But, as a disclaimer, I remind you that commentators are
like flavors of ice cream--and we all have our personal
favorites. What suits my taste may well not suit yours!