A List of Expository Books -- By: Sumner Osborne

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 109:433 (Jan 1952)
Article: A List of Expository Books
Author: Sumner Osborne


A List of Expository Books

Sumner Osborne

[Editor’s note: By special request the bibliography to follow was prepared for readers of Bibliotheca Sacra. The Editor asked for its preparation by a Bible teacher who has besides managed a Christian book store for many years. The scope of its pages will indicate wide and practical reading.]

A few comments on the following list may be in order. First, it makes no pretense of being complete. There are undoubtedly many worthwhile volumes that have not been included; but it is hoped that the student will be helped to a wider knowledge of the field of expository literature, and, perhaps through the use of some of the books which are listed, come to learn of others also. Secondly, the list is intended to aid the student of the English Bible. Critical volumes on the Hebrew or Greek text have not been included, unless they were adapted to the use of the English reader. This does not mean that expository books are of little use to the student of the original text. In fact, for sound interpretation and spiritual content, many have found far more help in this class of books than in most critical commentaries. Then also it should be noted that the list, for the most part, is made up of authors who hold the premillennial view of the Scriptures. There are some exceptions, but this is the rule. In the opinion of the compiler, the Word of God as a whole—and especially the prophetic sections—are best understood by this class of interpreters.

Mention is here made of three whole sets of expository books rather than to repeatedly list them under different headings. They are: Synopsis of the Books of the Bible by J. N. Darby, five volumes covering the whole Bible; The Numerical Bible by F. W. Grant, seven volumes covering

Genesis to 2 Samuel, Psalms, Ezekiel, and all of the New Testament;1 Introductory Lectures by William Kelly, five volumes covering Genesis to 2 Samuel and all of the New Testament. One cannot recommend too highly the contents of these sets, and especially Darby’s Synopsis which has been a rich blessing to thousands of Bible students and teachers. Of this set the late Dr. H. A. Ironside wrote, “They opened up the Scriptures in their comprehensiveness in a way that nothing else has ever touched.”2

Finally, it must be added that not all the titles listed are in print. Nevertheless it was thought good to include some out-of-print titles inasmuch as it is often possible to secure them second-hand, and also many such are being reprinted in our day.

Genesis

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