Where Are Commentaries?
Commentaries can be found in both the reference collection and the stacks - some commentary titles can even be found in both sections. You can find commentaries in the following call number sections:
BS 490 - BS 511
(Old & New Testament Sets)
NOTE: One exception to this is the Anchor Bible Commentary set - this is located in the BS192.2 section that includes Bibles since it contains an original translation of the biblical text.
BS 1150.2 - BS 1151.3
(Old Testament Sets)
BS 1221 - BS 1615.53
(Pentateuch & Individual Old Testament Books)
BS 2333.2 - BS 2341.3
(New Testament Sets)
BS 2574 - BS 2826
(Individual New Testament Books)
Theological/Application Commentary Sets
Genesis by
The NIV Application Commentary (NIVAC) series shows you how to bring the Word’s ancient message into our postmodern context. It explains what the Bible meant and how it speaks so powerfully today. It treats all the elements of traditional exegesis, and its authors bridge the gap between the Bible’s world and the world of today, between the original context and the contemporary context by focusing on both the timely and the timeless aspects of the text. The NIV Application Commentary discusses the Bible in a way that engages contemporary life and culture. - Logos
Call Number: VariousISBN: 0310206170
Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary by
Written by accomplished scholars with all students of Scripture in mind, this innovative new commentary series is designed to make quality Bible study more accessible. Pastors, professors and students of Scripture are discovering that this commentary is a wonderful new tool for enhancing interpretation.
Call Number: VariousISBN: 1573120677
What Are Commentaries?
Bible commentaries go through a particular book of the Bible in order by verse, and the author "comments" on the verses. Commentaries provide some sort of analysis of the Biblical text. Some are more detailed and academic than others, and others might choose to focus more on theology and/or application. Below, you'll see an excerpt from the Word Biblical Commentary (one of the more analytical commentaries) on Genesis 2:14.
Analytical/Academic Commentary Sets
Anchor Bible by
The Anchor Bible Commentary Series, created under the guidance of William Foxwell Albright (1891–1971), comprises a translation and exegesis of the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Intertestamental Books (the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Deuterocanon/the Protestant Apocrypha; not the books called by Catholics and Orthodox "Apocrypha", which are widely called by Protestants "Pseudepigrapha"). For each biblical book, the series includes an original translation (with annotations, including alternative translations) of ancient texts, using modern knowledge of the ancient languages; overviews of the historical, critical, and literary evolution of the text; an outline of major themes and topics; a verse-by-verse commentary; treatment of competing scholarly theories; historical background; and photographs, illustrations, and maps of artifacts and places associated with biblical figures and sites. Lengthy or complex biblical books are covered in more than one volume. -Wikipedia
Call Number: BS192.2 .A1ISBN: 0385008546
The JPS Torah Commentary by
The JPS Torah Commentary series guides readers through the words and ideas of the Torah. Each volume is the work of a scholar who stands at the pinnacle of his field. Every page contains the complete traditional Hebrew text, with cantillation notes, the JPS translation of the Holy Scriptures, aliyot breaks, Masoretic notes, and commentary by a distinguished Hebrew Bible scholar, integrating classical and modern sources. Each volume also contains supplementary essays that elaborate upon key words and themes, a glossary of commentators and sources, extensive bibliographic notes, and maps.
Call Number: BS1151.2 .J67ISBN: 0827603266
New International Commentary on the Old Testament by
New International Commentary on the Old Testament
[NICOT]
Purpose & Scope
Each volume in the NICNT/OT series uses all the tools of critical scholarship yet remains committed to evangelical principles of inspiration. It is a multi-faceted commentary dealing with exegetical and theological issues while also giving a comprehensive review of scholarship. All technical remarks (e.g. use of Greek or Hebrew) are typically confined to notes and appendixes. - Christianbook.com
Call Number: BS491.2 .N48ISBN: 0802824935
Word Biblical Commentary by
The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship. Overview of Commentary Organization Introduction--covers issues pertaining to the whole book, including context, date, authorship, composition, interpretive issues, purpose, and theology. Each section of the commentary includes: Pericope Bibliography--a helpful resource containing the most important works that pertain to each particular pericope. Translation--the author's own translation of the biblical text, reflecting the end result of exegesis and attending to Hebrew and Greek idiomatic usage of words, phrases, and tenses, yet in reasonably good English. Notes--the author's notes to the translation that address any textual variants, grammatical forms, syntactical constructions, basic meanings of words, and problems of translation. Form/Structure/Setting--a discussion of redaction, genre, sources, and tradition as they concern the origin of the pericope, its canonical form, and its relation to the biblical and extra-biblical contexts in order to illuminate the structure and character of the pericope. Rhetorical or compositional features important to understanding the passage are also introduced here. Comment--verse-by-verse interpretation of the text and dialogue with other interpreters, engaging with current opinion and scholarly research. Explanation--brings together all the results of the discussion in previous sections to expose the meaning and intention of the text at several levels: (1) within the context of the book itself; (2) its meaning in the OT or NT; (3) its place in the entire canon; (4) theological relevance to broader OT or NT issues. General Bibliography--occurring at the end of each volume, this extensive bibliography contains all sources used anywhere in the commentary.
Call Number: BS491.2 .W67ISBN: 0310521769
Commentaries From Particular Perspectives
You will find several commentaries below that come from particular perspectives (feminist, African-American, etc). These are all one-volume commentaries.
Africa Bible Commentary by
The Africa Bible Commentary is a unique publishing event - the first one-volume Bible commentary produced in Africa by African theologians to meet the needs of African pastors, students, and lay leaders. Interpreting and applying the Bible in the light of African culture and realities, it furnishes powerful and relevant insights into the biblical text that transcend Africa in their significance. The Africa Bible Commentary gives a section-by-section interpretation that provides a contextual, readable, affordable, and immensely useful guide to the entire Bible. Readers around the world will benefit from and appreciate the commentary's fresh insights and direct style that engage both heart and mind. for Africa - and for the world; section-by-section interpretive commentary and application; more than 70 special articles dealing with topics of key importance in to ministry in Africa today, but that have global implications; 70 African contributors from both English- and French-speaking countries; and, it transcends the African context with insights into the biblical text and the Christian faith for readers worldwide.
Call Number: BS491.3 .A47 2006ISBN: 0310264731
Five Books of Miriam: A Woman's Commentary on the Torah by
Weaving together Jewish lore, the voices of Jewish foremothers, Yiddish fable, midrash and stories of her own imagining, Ellen Frankel has created in this book a breathtakingly vivid exploration into what the Torah means to women. Here are Miriam, Esther, Dinah, Lilith and many other women of the Torah in dialogue with Jewish daughters, mothers and grandmothers, past and present. Together these voices examine and debate every aspect of a Jewish woman's life -- work, sex, marriage, her connection to God and her place in the Jewish community and in the world. The Five Books of Miriam makes an invaluable contribution to Torah study and adds rich dimension to the ongoing conversation between Jewish women and Jewish tradition.
Call Number: BS1225.3 .F67 1998ISBN: 006063037X
The IVP Women's Bible Commentary by
What does the Bible say to a young mother at home nursing her baby?What role models for intelligent, talented women can we find in Scripture?What was everyday life like for women in biblical times?What does Scripture say to women who have been abused or raped?What can men learn from women by viewing Scripture through their concerns and insights?This surprising commentary searches Scripture in light of the many theological, biblical, sociological and psychological concerns of women. Led by editors Catherine Clark Kroeger and Mary J. Evans, an international team of contributors offers thoughtful, engaging insight to complement more traditional approaches that have viewed Scripture primarily through the experiences and understanding of men. Fresh, practical and helpful, the IVP Women's Bible Commentary shows how relevant Scripture is to the legitimate concerns of men and women alike--and just how transforming God's Word can be when viewed from unaccustomed perspective.This reference work will be welcomed by pastors developing sermons, by Bible study teachers and leaders preparing lessons, by college and seminary students researching study assignments, and by individual readers who want to broaden their understanding of the richness of biblical revelation.
Call Number: BS521.4 .I97 2002ISBN: 083081437X
Women's Bible Commentary by
The Women's Bible Commentary is a trusted, classic resource for biblical scholarship, written by some of the best feminist scholars in the field today. This twentieth anniversary edition features brand new or thoroughly revised essays to reflect newer thinking in feminist interpretation and hermeneutics. It comprises commentaries on every book of the Bible, including the apocryphal books; essays on the reception history of women in the Bible; and essays on feminist critical method. The contributors raise important questions and explore the implications of how women and other marginalized people are portrayed in biblical texts, looking specifically at gender roles, sexuality, political power, and family life, while challenging long-held assumptions. This commentary brings modern critical methods to bear on the history, sociology, anthropology, and literature of the relevant time periods to illuminate the context of these biblical portrayals and challenges readers to new understandings.
Call Number: BS491.3 .W66 2012ISBN: 066423707X
Find Commentaries
You can always find all the commentaries for a particular book of the Bible by doing a Subject search in the library catalog using the following format for search terms: bible [book of Bible] commentaries. Here are some search links to get you started:
- Bible - Genesis - Commentaries
- Bible - Isaiah - Commentaries
- Bible - Job - Commentaries
- Bible - Samuel - Commentaries
To find online commentaries, follow these directions:
- Go to the advanced search of the library catalog.
- In the top search box, type the following words: bible [book of the Bible] commentaries. So, you might type in "bible genesis commentaries."
- Select EBOOKS from the Material Type drop-down menu.
- Click Submit.