Commentaries give you the opportunity to see what scholars have written about the text you are studying. You will find both full-scale or multi-volume commentaries (a set with any number of volumes where individual books within the set are devoted to a small section, book or few books of the Bible), and single-volume commentaries (one single book which covers the entire Bible).
The Library's collection contains many items in the Reference Collection, in the Main Collection, and online.
Anchor Bible Series
This new translation of First Corinthians includes an introduction and extensive commentary that has been composed to explain the religious meaning of this Pauline epistle. Joseph Fitzmyer discusses all the usual introductory problems associated with the epistle, including issues of its authorship, time of composition, and purpose, and he also presents a complete outline. The author analyzes the epistle, pericope by pericope, discussing the meaning of each one in a comment and explaining details in the notes. The book supplies a bibliography on the various passages and problems for readers who wish to investigate further, and useful indexes complete the volume. First Corinthians will be of interest to general readers who wish to learn more about the Pauline letters, and also to pastors, college and university teachers, graduate students studying the Bible, and professors of Biblical studies.
The International Critical Commentary on the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments by
ICC
The New Interpreter's Bible by
Reference BS491.2 .N484
12 vols.
Sacra Pagina by
What makes this commentary on Luke stand apart from others is that, from beginning to end, this is a literary analysis. Because it focuses solely on the Gospel as it appears and not on its source or origin, this commentary richly and thoroughly explores just what Luke is saying and how he says it. Luke Timothy Johnson is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
The New International Commentary on the New Testament
New volume in a favorite Bible commentary series Writing a commentary on Galatians is a daunting task. Despite its relative brevity, this Pauline letter raises a number of foundational theological issues, and it has played a vital role in shaping Christian thought and practice over the centuries. In this replacement of Ronald Y. K. Fung's 1988 New International Commentary volume, David deSilva ably rises to the challenge, providing a coherent account of Galatians as a piece of strategically crafted communication that addresses both the immediate pastoral challenges facing Paul's converts in Galatia and the underlying questions that gave rise to them. Paying careful attention to the history, philology, and theology of the letter, and interacting with a wealth of secondary literature on both Galatians and the rest of the Pauline corpus, deSilva's exegetically sound commentary will serve as an essential resource for pastors and theological students.
Interpretation: A Commentary for Preaching and Teaching by 
Word Biblical Commentary
This landmark commentary by Dr. Frederick Bush fills a void in Old Testament studies. Ruth and Esther are among the most neglected books in the canon of Holy Scripture. None of the early church fathers wrote a commentary on Esther, and the list of serious contemporary analyses of both Ruth and Esther is woefully short. So pastors and scholars alike will welcome Dr. Bush's thorough treatment of these intriguing texts. Drawing upon recent studies on the genre and discourse structure of biblical narrative, Bush shows how the loving loyalty of Ruth, the kindness and sagacity of both Boaz and Naomi, and God's gracious provision of fruitfulness for field and womb provide a son to reverse the death and emptiness that had afflicted Naomi. It was an outcome of utmost significance, for it preserved the family line that ultimately led to David. In the course of his investigation, Bush deals at length with the difficult question of the role that the social customs of the levirate law and the redemption of the land play in this powerful story. Bush's careful linguistic study sheds new light on the difficult question of the date of the book. From its earliest days, the book of Esther has posed huge problems for Bible students. What do you do with a book of the Bible that never overtly speaks of God? Does a book this secular really belong in our Bibles? Some of the ancient rabbis said no. Is it possible that a "proto" version of Esther was amended in the Masoretic Text to make a solid case for the popular feast of Purim? Bush's exhaustive analysis of the literary structure of the book of Esther provides numerous clues that this may be so. While offering numerous insights into the technicalities of language and textual transmission, Bush also uses his expertise in Near Eastern studies to stir our hearts with a fresh look at the courage of Queen Esther and her loyal kinsman Mordecai. Like all the volumes of the Word Biblical Commentary, this commentary has been written for advanced Bible scholars. The clear division of technical notes from more popular explanation and comment sections makes it a useful tool for pastors and serious students of the Word. Readers with widely varying skills will welcome: use of the literary tools of narrative poetics and discourse analysis to help determine the theme, purpose, and theology of these stories extensive bibliographical sources to aid further study application of the tools of linguistic analysis to help in dating the text of the book of Ruth perceptive assessments of how both of these books reflect the self-awareness of the Jews as a resilient, resourceful people new insights into how and why Esther has come to us in its present form Dr. Bush's perceptive exegesis of these texts will fill a gap on the shelves of Old Testament scholarship.
The New International Commentary on the Old Testament
?In the Old Testament we read God?s word as it was spoken to his people Israel. Today, thousands of years later, we hear in these thirty-nine books his inspired and authoritative message for us.? These twin convictions, shared by all of the contributors to The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, define the goal of this ambitious series of commentaries. For those many modern readers who find the Old Testament to be strange and foreign soil, the NICOT series serves as an authoritative guide bridging the cultural gap between today?s world and the world of ancient Israel. Each NICOT volume aims to help us hear God?s word as clearly as possible. Scholars, pastors, and serious Bible students will welcome the fresh light that this commentary series casts on ancient yet familiar biblical texts. The contributors apply their proven scholarly expertise and wide experience as teachers to illumine our understanding of the Old Testament. As gifted writers, they present the results of the best recent research in an interesting manner. Each commentary opens with an introduction to the biblical book, looking especially at questions concerning its background, authorship, date, purpose, structure, and theology. A select bibliography also points readers to resources for their own study. The author?s own translation from the original Hebrew forms the basis of the commentary proper. Verse-by-verse comments nicely balance in-depth discussions of technical matters ? textual criticism, critical problems, and so on ? with exposition of the biblical writer?s theology and its implications for the life of faith today.
Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary
Check Library Catalog for titles in Reference and Main collections.
Africa Bible Commentary by 
Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible by 
Harpercollins Bible Commentary by 
Mercer Commentary on the Bible by 
The New Interpreter's Bible One Volume Commentary by 
The Oxford Bible Commentary by 
Women's Bible Commentary by 
Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries by
Available from Ministry Matters.
Abingdon New Testament Commentaries by
Available from Ministry Matters.
Anchor Bible Series
The Anchor Bible Series
The library has access to several volumes of this commentary series online. Click here to see which volumes are accessible online.
Black's New Testament Commentaries
Several volumes of the Black's New Testament Commentaries series may be accessed online. Click here to see which ones are available.
More volumes of this title are available in hard copy in the Main Collection.
Old Testament Library Series by
A number of the Old Testament Library series are available through the databases. Click here to see which ones are available online.
Print copies are also available in the Reference and Main Collections of the Dover Library.
New Testament Library Series by
Almost from the earliest days of the church, John's distinctive presentation of Jesus has provoked discussion about its place among the other Gospels. One cannot help but see the differences from the Synoptics and wonder about the origins and character of John. In this new volume in the New Testament Library series, Marianne Meye Thompson explores the ministry and significance of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the Gospel of John, paying special attention to the social, cultural, and historical contexts that produced it. John's Gospel, Thompson posits, is the product of a social-cultural world whose language, commitments, and contours must be investigated in order to read John's narrative well. In doing so, Thompson studies the narrative, structure, central themes, and theological and rhetorical arguments found in the Fourth Gospel. Thompson's expert commentary unpacks and illuminates John's unique witness to Jesus--who he was, what he did, and what that means. The New Testament Library series offers authoritative commentary on every book and major aspect of the New Testament, providing fresh translations based on the best available ancient manuscripts, critical portrayals of the historical world in which the books were created, careful attention to their literary design, and a theologically perceptive exposition of the biblical text. The contributors are scholars of international standing. The editorial board consists of C. Clifton Black, Princeton Theological Seminary; M. Eugene Boring, Brite Divinity School; and John T. Carroll, Union Presbyterian Seminary.
Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary
Pauls preaching of the gospel, with its radically Christ-centered character, went beyond the understanding of other early believers. The importance and place of the Law of Moses for both Jews and Gentiles in the church was a hotly contested issue. In Galatians, Paul endeavored to prevent the Gentile converts in churches he had founded from embracing a version of the gospel that insisted on their observance of a form of the Mosaic Law. He saw with a degree of clarity not shared by many that such a message reduced the crucified Jesus Christ, who alone was the heart of the gospel, to being a mere agent of the Law. For Paul, the gospel of Jesus Christ alone, and him crucified, had no place in it for the claim that Law-observance was somehow necessary for believers in Christ to experience the power of Gods grace.
Women's Bible Commentary by
There is also a copy of this commentary in the Reference Collection.
Interpretation: A Commentary for Preaching and Teaching by Word Biblical Commentary
This landmark commentary by Dr. Frederick Bush fills a void in Old Testament studies. Ruth and Esther are among the most neglected books in the canon of Holy Scripture. None of the early church fathers wrote a commentary on Esther, and the list of serious contemporary analyses of both Ruth and Esther is woefully short. So pastors and scholars alike will welcome Dr. Bush's thorough treatment of these intriguing texts. Drawing upon recent studies on the genre and discourse structure of biblical narrative, Bush shows how the loving loyalty of Ruth, the kindness and sagacity of both Boaz and Naomi, and God's gracious provision of fruitfulness for field and womb provide a son to reverse the death and emptiness that had afflicted Naomi. It was an outcome of utmost significance, for it preserved the family line that ultimately led to David. In the course of his investigation, Bush deals at length with the difficult question of the role that the social customs of the levirate law and the redemption of the land play in this powerful story. Bush's careful linguistic study sheds new light on the difficult question of the date of the book. From its earliest days, the book of Esther has posed huge problems for Bible students. What do you do with a book of the Bible that never overtly speaks of God? Does a book this secular really belong in our Bibles? Some of the ancient rabbis said no. Is it possible that a "proto" version of Esther was amended in the Masoretic Text to make a solid case for the popular feast of Purim? Bush's exhaustive analysis of the literary structure of the book of Esther provides numerous clues that this may be so. While offering numerous insights into the technicalities of language and textual transmission, Bush also uses his expertise in Near Eastern studies to stir our hearts with a fresh look at the courage of Queen Esther and her loyal kinsman Mordecai. Like all the volumes of the Word Biblical Commentary, this commentary has been written for advanced Bible scholars. The clear division of technical notes from more popular explanation and comment sections makes it a useful tool for pastors and serious students of the Word. Readers with widely varying skills will welcome: use of the literary tools of narrative poetics and discourse analysis to help determine the theme, purpose, and theology of these stories extensive bibliographical sources to aid further study application of the tools of linguistic analysis to help in dating the text of the book of Ruth perceptive assessments of how both of these books reflect the self-awareness of the Jews as a resilient, resourceful people new insights into how and why Esther has come to us in its present form Dr. Bush's perceptive exegesis of these texts will fill a gap on the shelves of Old Testament scholarship.
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