From Mary Fairchild,
Your Guide to Christianity.
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Are you looking for a Bible commentary, but not sure which one is best suited for you? I've put together a brief overview of some of the best Bible commentators and commentaries to help answer your questions and narrow down your search.

R. Kent Hughes

R. Kent Hughes is my top choice among Bible commentators. He provides systematic explanation of the text in an easy to read and practically applicable format. He has written several volumes and series, so you will not come across them all in one neat set, however, they are easy enough to find. Hughes' commentaries are amplified with illustrations and applications to help pastors, teachers, students and lay people easily understand and teach the messages of Scripture. Here are a few to start with:

"Genesis: Beginning & Blessing"
Hardcover; 656 Pages.

"Acts: Preaching the Word Series"
Hardcover; 371 Pages.

"James: Preaching the Word Series"
Hardcover; 319 Pages.

Alan Redpath

Another favorite commentator is Alan Redpath, however, his books may be a little bit harder to get your hands on. His last of six books was published in 1978.

"Victorious Christian Living: Studies in the Book of Joshua"
Paperback; Reprint edition (August, 1993).

"The Making of a Man of God: Lessons from the Life of David"
Trade Paperback; 304 Pages.

William Barclay

William Barclay’s New Testament commentary on CD-ROM is very popular and easy to understand. I recommend Barclay's work strictly for historical background research and not for doctrinal reliability.

"William Barclay's New Testament Commentary on CD-ROM"
Description: These 17 volumes of Barclay's daily study Bible on one CD-ROM include his own translation of the Greek New Testament. It is compatible with the Logos Library System. 8MB RAM, Windows 3.1 or higher.
To order visit Christianbook.com.

John MacArthur Jr.

John MacArthur Jr.'s commentaries offer simple, systematic Bible exposition from a great Bible scholar. His theological perspectives lean toward fundamentalism and he teaches that all of the charismatic or spiritual gifts operated in the early church because they served a purpose then, however, because of abuses, they are no longer operative in the church today. MacArthur reflects a conservative, dispensational view of Scripture.

"The MacArthur Bible Commentary"
Description: Appropriate for preachers and teachers, as well as for individual Bible study, offering careful interpretation as well as practical illustrations and applications.

Warren Wiersbe

Warren Wiersbe possesses a very "accessible style" and brings extensive Bible knowledge to his commentaries. They emphasize personal life application, making them appropriate for pastors, students and anyone wishing to enrich their individual Bible study. Wiersbe's "The Bible Exposition Commentary" has several Old and New Testament volumes. Here are just two to begin with:

"The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament"
Description: This two volume set gives a clear, concise look at biblical life and meaning, compiling all of Wiersbe's New Testament "BE" books.
Hardcover; 1354 Pages.

"The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament History"
Description: Difficult passages of the Old Testament will come alive with Weirsbe's clear, non-technical explanations in easy to digest segments.
Hardcover.

David Guzik

David Guzik is the director of Calvary Chapel Bible College in Siegen, Germany. Formerly he served as the senior pastor at Calvary Chapel Simi Valley in California. His refreshing commentaries on the Bible are available online at Enduring Word Media.

More Resource Libraries

If you're looking to invest in a complete resource library of preaching and teaching materials, here are three great options to consider:

"Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament & New Testament"
Description: Edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, "The Bible Knowledge Commentary" is based on the NIV translation and features exposition and commentary on the entire Bible from members of the Dallas Theological Seminary faculty. The perspective is theologically conservative, evangelical, non-technical, and includes verse by verse, phrase by phrase commentary.

"The Preacher's Commentary CD-ROM"
Description: This ultimate resource for preachers and teachers presents itself in eBible's Libronix software. The complete thirty five volumes of "The Communicator's Commentary" are revised and updated, providing section by section comments, illustrations, and sermon helps, all in an easy to navigate format.