Bible Question: I would like to know your thoughts on study bibles with commentaries in terms of do you feel that they should be avoided to prevent any bias influence of the commentators and rely on none other than the Holy Spirit for the understanding of scripture, or otherwise? I have ran into some concerns with my own study bible, such as commentators using non biblical documents, although similar to events in the bible, some historical fact and otherwise to shed light on biblical truth which concerns me. Also, I feel that you run the risk of someonse elses interpretation that may not be completely accurate. I've been encouraged to only study from a bible that only uses cross references so that you are able to use scripture to interpret scripture in parallel. |
Bible Answer: fsc375: There is no way for us to know eveything about something that some Bible scholars have spent many years devoted to just one subject. To be sure there is a bias when someone writes on some Biblical thought or verse. An example is as there are three views of the endtimes, which ever viewpoint a person holds is going to reflect in their writting. Study Bibles sometimes have the same situation. Some may remember the Jimmy Swaggart Study Bible, or the Oral Roberts Study Bible. Both were, in my opinion worthless in the study notes. However, there are many excellent Study Bibles worth the investment, and using the notes to understand and grow in Christ. I highly reccommend. The NIV or NASN or NKJ Study Bible, the Life Application Bible comes in at least three Bible versions. I have a number of Study Bibles, and the two I like best and use the most are the NIV Study Bible, and the NASB Life Application Bible. I use the NASB the most. The Commentary I use most is THE EXPOSITERS BIBLE COMMENTARY published Zondervan and is a 12 volume set of the New Testament only, and is in the NIV version. The Expositors is excellent, I highly reccommend it. The NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY writen by Hendriksen PUBLISHED BY Baker is good, and reflects his Amillennialist view point, I use it on an occasional basis. If I might suggest a starting point would be a Exhaustive Concordance in the Bible version you intend to start out with. There is an Exasstive Concordance for every version of the Bible. Personally I have five and use the NASB and NIV Concordances the most. I would strongly suggest VINES EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS. This helps you to look at root words of the Greek and see exactly what the true meaning of the word is. This also works with the Exhaustive Concordance. There is also and excellent 5 volume set of THE INTERLINEAR BIBLE, which has the Old Testament and New Testament, that works super with the Exhaustive Concordance as well. Frankly, there are so many wonderful tools and helps that are solidly Biblical, to help you grow spiritually. Please do not let such a wonderful treat to grow pass you by. So many Christians around the world don't even have a Bible in their own native tongue. Every Christian should have enough Bible tools to have a small library. If we are serious about our faith in Christ we should be growing all the time, and constantly studing. I want to make my self very clear, study the Scripture first and formost, use these added tools for indepth study. Nothing replaces the knowing the Word of God. If you find you are using helps more than actually being in the Word then you are out of ballance. Who cares what the words mean if you don't have the Word of God in your heart. Now for non biblical documents, they too have a place in studing, but after you have a solid base in understanding the Scriptures. Maybe these documents need to be used in a class og w real teacher. You sound almost like a person in master level seminary studies. I can say without doubt Seminary was exciting, but it seemed there was never enough time to go deep enough to have my hunger filled for knowing more about the Word of God. I still feel that way today, years later. God bless you path in growing in Christ Jesus fcs375. justme |