Post by Cindy on Nov 11, 2017 10:20:24 GMT -5
I'd like to share some comments from some of my commentaries as they also say that we should never assume that a commentary is infallibly correct and everyone else is wrong. Any commentary or exposition that we use to study God's Word, is written by ordinary people who have a sin nature just like we do. Therefore we need to check what they say against what God's Word says to be sure their comments are true. God shows us in His Word that we are to do this: “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11) Tools such as bible commentaries, bible dictionaries, theology books, etc. These are all great tools, but don't ever forget that they are just that, a "tool". They are NOT necessary to have in order to study your Bible. God can and will teach you everything you could learn from them without you having one. How do I know? Because He taught me that way. On the other hand, if you can get one, that’s fine, as long as you remember not to use it as your teacher. It’s only a tool. God is your teacher. Never make the mistake of reading a bible commentary (no matter who wrote it or when) and assuming that it's 100% correct, or even 99%! When studying a passage or subject, it's great to read what various commentaries say about it, but do it to get ideas from, to get possible meanings, cross references from, the historical and cultural background etc. There are no short cuts.
God wants us learning from Him, and from His Word, not just from what John MacArthur says, or Spurgeon, or anyone else. Always remember that God is your teacher and your school book is His Word, not what someone else says about His Word. Way to often today, people, even whole churches or small groups, are "studying the Bible" by studying a book someone wrote about what the Bible says about something, or what the Bible says in one of it's books. That's not how it's done though. We need to study the Bible itself, not what someone else said about it! (including me!) It's not wrong to read those books or articles or commentaries; what's wrong is making them our primary book, instead of making the Bible our primary book. Today people are often looking at these books as though they are the Bible and the Bible is just some dusty old book that no one could understand without them. But God tells us that we CAN understand it because the Holy Spirit Himself will teach us. We seriously don't need those other books for anything more then just something "extra" to enjoy.
You are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Utley, R. J. Paul Bound, the Gospel Unbound: Letters from Prison
The studies in this guide are offered with the prayer that they will help you understand more clearly the life our Savior lived on earth and His earthly ministry. They are written to direct your attention to God’s infallible word, the four Gospels in particular; but the studies themselves make no claim to be infallible. The best any study help can do is to spur the reader to a thorough examination of the Scriptures, and that is what these helps are intended to achieve. This study guide is designed to be read with an open Bible before you, for it, and it alone, must be our authority. Never hesitate to question the accuracy of my understanding, but never make the mistake of questioning the accuracy of Scripture, for to do so is to substitute your own judgment and intelligence for the Bible’s authority, and that is unwise, for what can natural man know about spiritual matters? ...
Above all, pray to the Author of the Bible asking that He graciously enlighten you and enable you to understand His Word; He commended such prayer by inspiring Ps 119:18 (look it up!). We must never forget that the four individual Gospels we are studying are God’s infallible Word, and that these notes and the Consolidation are simply aids to assist in studying that Word.
Let us keep in mind Paul’s inspired injunction to young Timothy, “Work hard to present yourself approved to God … handling accurately the Word of God” (2 Tim 2:15). An approved believer is thus one who accurately handles God’s word, and that position can only be achieved through diligent application—God says so! A knowledge of God’s word is foundational to all satisfactory Christian effort, for it is our only authority and guide in Christian living. His Word was not given to be an intellectual stimulus, it is given as a guide to living; so as you study seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance on how you should apply the instruction you receive in your life. (You will certainly find your study intellectually stimulating, but that is a bonus, not the object of study.)
Mills, M. S. The Life of Christ: A Study Guide to the Gospel Record
I have heard it said: “The Bible throws a lot of light on commentaries.” This is not meant to be a depreciating comment about study aids, but rather a plea for an appropriate timing for their use. We must be able to support our interpretations from the Bible text itself.
Utley, R. J. D. You Can Understand the Bible!
Such works are useful to the earnest, serious student. It is necessary, however, to distinguish carefully between what the Bible says and what the commentary notes say about the Bible.
Harris, R. L. Exploring the basics of the Bible
Looking to Commentaries is Always the Last Step
When looking to commentaries, reflect on how their interpretations relate to the original context of the Bible—remembering that each commentary is only one scholar’s view and is not necessarily representative of scholarship at large.
DIY Bible Study
God wants us learning from Him, and from His Word, not just from what John MacArthur says, or Spurgeon, or anyone else. Always remember that God is your teacher and your school book is His Word, not what someone else says about His Word. Way to often today, people, even whole churches or small groups, are "studying the Bible" by studying a book someone wrote about what the Bible says about something, or what the Bible says in one of it's books. That's not how it's done though. We need to study the Bible itself, not what someone else said about it! (including me!) It's not wrong to read those books or articles or commentaries; what's wrong is making them our primary book, instead of making the Bible our primary book. Today people are often looking at these books as though they are the Bible and the Bible is just some dusty old book that no one could understand without them. But God tells us that we CAN understand it because the Holy Spirit Himself will teach us. We seriously don't need those other books for anything more then just something "extra" to enjoy.
You are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Utley, R. J. Paul Bound, the Gospel Unbound: Letters from Prison
The studies in this guide are offered with the prayer that they will help you understand more clearly the life our Savior lived on earth and His earthly ministry. They are written to direct your attention to God’s infallible word, the four Gospels in particular; but the studies themselves make no claim to be infallible. The best any study help can do is to spur the reader to a thorough examination of the Scriptures, and that is what these helps are intended to achieve. This study guide is designed to be read with an open Bible before you, for it, and it alone, must be our authority. Never hesitate to question the accuracy of my understanding, but never make the mistake of questioning the accuracy of Scripture, for to do so is to substitute your own judgment and intelligence for the Bible’s authority, and that is unwise, for what can natural man know about spiritual matters? ...
Above all, pray to the Author of the Bible asking that He graciously enlighten you and enable you to understand His Word; He commended such prayer by inspiring Ps 119:18 (look it up!). We must never forget that the four individual Gospels we are studying are God’s infallible Word, and that these notes and the Consolidation are simply aids to assist in studying that Word.
Let us keep in mind Paul’s inspired injunction to young Timothy, “Work hard to present yourself approved to God … handling accurately the Word of God” (2 Tim 2:15). An approved believer is thus one who accurately handles God’s word, and that position can only be achieved through diligent application—God says so! A knowledge of God’s word is foundational to all satisfactory Christian effort, for it is our only authority and guide in Christian living. His Word was not given to be an intellectual stimulus, it is given as a guide to living; so as you study seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance on how you should apply the instruction you receive in your life. (You will certainly find your study intellectually stimulating, but that is a bonus, not the object of study.)
Mills, M. S. The Life of Christ: A Study Guide to the Gospel Record
I have heard it said: “The Bible throws a lot of light on commentaries.” This is not meant to be a depreciating comment about study aids, but rather a plea for an appropriate timing for their use. We must be able to support our interpretations from the Bible text itself.
Utley, R. J. D. You Can Understand the Bible!
Such works are useful to the earnest, serious student. It is necessary, however, to distinguish carefully between what the Bible says and what the commentary notes say about the Bible.
Harris, R. L. Exploring the basics of the Bible
Looking to Commentaries is Always the Last Step
When looking to commentaries, reflect on how their interpretations relate to the original context of the Bible—remembering that each commentary is only one scholar’s view and is not necessarily representative of scholarship at large.
DIY Bible Study