Bible Interpretation, Student Workbook, SW05

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B I B L E I N T E R P R E T A T I O N

5. Homiletic (pulpit) commentaries

a. Purpose: to give the busy preacher or teacher the resources to prepare and deliver sermons and/or Bible lessons based on the texts of Scripture

b. Lawrence O. Richards, The Teacher’s Commentary, MatthewHenry’s Commentaries.

C. Use of commentaries

1. Cautions

a. Commentaries should never be substituted for study of the text. Never begin your study with reference to commentaries .

b. Understand that all commentaries are operating from a vantage point, according to a particular perspective .

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c. Use the exegetical commentaries as the first type when engaged in your own study.

d. Never take any commentary’s assessment as truth without seeking to verify for yourself its claims directly from the text, and the larger teaching of Scripture.