Journal: Masters Seminary Journal
Volume: TMSJ 04:1 (Spring 1993)
Article: OT Commentaries for Bible Expositors, 1987—92
Author: James E. Rosscup

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MSJ 4:1 (Spr 93) p. 67

OT Commentaries for Bible Expositors,
1987—921

James E. Rosscup

Professor of Bible Exposition

Recent years have witnessed the publishing of an abundance of commentaries on OT books of the Bible. A survey of such volumes published from 1987 through 1992 can be quite beneficial to one’s study of the Bible for either public presentation or personal use. An annotated bibliography noting the books’ purposes and evaluating how well the authors have provided comments to help expositors is a good way to look quickly at a large number of sources. After a survey of the individual works, a classification and ranking of books on Genesis illustrates a good way to compare the volumes with each other by dividing them into categories according to their types of treatment and rating them according to the quality of their explanations.

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In an era of mushrooming information, publishing of tools for biblical study has not lagged behind literature in other fields. In a seemingly never-ending stream, books dealing with the Bible continue to appear. That has evoked what is perhaps the most frequently asked kind of question by those who thirst for a deeper understanding of the Word:

MSJ 4:1 (Spr 93) p. 68

“What is the best commentary on Genesis?” or “What is the best book for studying Old Testament backgrounds?” or “What is the best commentary set on the Old Testament?”

Such a question deserves a knowledgeable answer because the accuracy and consequent effectiveness of someone’s sermon or Bible-study lesson may hinge on the advice given. Yet it is not an easy question to answer. One reason it is not easy to answer is the rapidity with which new volumes are appearing.

The following remarks cite recent works that, for some reason, deserve such special attention. This is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of recent works, but the number of study tools cited should furnish a beginning answer to readers’ questions such as the ones cited above.

The descriptions are limited to some of the relatively recent volumes and sets, under the assumption that many will already know the merits of many of the older works. Anyone interested in a complete annotated bibliography should consult the information in note 1 above.

Commentaries on the Whole Bible

Several commentaries on the whole Bible have appeared and can be divided into two groups: those that follow a “synthesis” approach and those that are more analytical.

Works That Synthesize

The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove...

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