Bible Commentaries

Which of the many bible commentaries is a good fit for you? Check out this resource which breaks down some of the best Bible commentaries available.  It is in no particular order but should be an impartial listing. Investing in a quality resource like this is critical if you desire to grasp and even teach the Bible more fully.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible

Matthew Henry, the 17th and early 18th Century minister in Chester, England, takes us from Genesis to Revelation with sharp application, strong insight and scholarly brilliance. He has a deep comprehension on the context and meaning of passages throughout all scripture. Matthew Henry’s commentaries have been a huge resource to students and Christians leaders throughout the world.

More recently the only complete and unabridged version in existence was published. This is a one-volume edition of his well-known commentary writings in a slimmer format. It is perfect for all those who read the scriptures and desire a thorough and accessible commentary. It is very affordable as you can see. Owning one of these Bible commentaries yourself gives you greater flexibility and the chance to make it your own with highlights, notes and greater longevity with repeated use. New is definitely you. Check it out here.

John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes

This is a really timeless commentary that effectively explains hard phrases in the Bible and makes a point to bring clarity to the meaning of a text. A huge benefit to this work is it’s breadth. It covers the whole Bible, which not all Bible commentaries do, and provides shortened summaries of passages to allow readers a fluid experience as apposed to having to sift through chunks of separated comments.

This study tool gives it’s readers insight to most Bible verses. This point alone gives John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes a huge advantage. Nearly every verse has a comment and explanation. Now that is a resource you can’t afford to miss! Many of Wesley’s notes are summaries of his preaches which gives them an edge to communicators. Check it out here.

The Fourfold Gospel by J. W. McGarvey

Many commentaries are hard to read. But not this one. It proves to be an incredibly easy read. This work has been described as one of the best harmonizations of the four gospels. The format of this work is unique and allows not just for a great learning experience but presents the commentary material with the text and enables you to view the differences between each gospel rather than needlessly having to search back and forth.

Among Bible commentaries this is referred to as a Harmony of the Four Gospels. It is a helpful resources as it gives a total chronology of Christs life which is shorted into titled sections and sub sections. Comments are inserted directly into the text. The authors J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton have done a fantastic job with providing us with a clear leader in the gospel commentary arena. Check it out here.

Word Biblical Commentary CD-ROM Mac Edition (CD-ROM) by Thomas Nelson

If you value building theology from a base of Biblical study then this widely accepted series is an excellent option for both the student or the seasoned professional. It combines work from leading scholars and leans heavily on linguistic analysis, textual evidence and structural observations. This gives balance and depth into the application and meaning of scripture.

This Bible Commentaries Mac version is well organized and very easy to use. Volumes start with full articles that open up the important subjects of authorship, purpose and date. Up-to-date archaeological findings and recent textual critiques are drawn upon to make this a relevant resource. Critical theological subjects for today are also a key focus. This is not inexpensive, but it is a highly beneficial study tool. Check it out here.

Bible On CD

After owning the Bible on CD for a number of years now I can confidently say that it was one of the smartest investments I’ve ever made.

A large amount of Christians are ashamed at their lack of discipline when it comes to delving into the Bible on a regular basis. If it’s the primary way that God has revealed himself to us then why wouldn’t we be more diligent in reading it? Not out of obligation, but out of dedication. This is where a Bible on CD can be a helpful tool to kick start and augment your devotions.

Why purchase a Bible on CD?

1. They are affordable.
2. Unlike a physical Bible it wont wear out. It will come across as crisp as the day you bought it! No worn pages.
3. Listening is easier than reading. You will be able to get through those long and more challenging Old Testament sections with less chance of giving up.
4. If you have a lot of drive time or frequently use public transportation, take some breaks from the radio,  pop in the Bible on CD or use your ipod.
5. If you are doing something monotonous or something that requires low concentration, either on the computer or some other activity, then insert a Bible on CD and start taking in God’s word.
6. If you are constantly multi-tasking then remain flexible and listen to the Bible as long as you can actually take in what you hear. The Bible on CD is a great option for busy people.

Be Careful:

There are some things to consider with this approach. Listening to the scriptures does not always allow moments of pause and meditation. Concentration and reflection is still critical in grasping the word and allowing it to shape you. There is something powerful to be said about also writing down your thoughts. Nothing can replace this personal and inspired activity. Using a Bible on CD is a good way to help increase your knowledge and understanding of the Bible, and it can help build consistency, but it should not totally replace Bible reading. Everyone needs to learn how to read the Bible for themselves.

Don’t let your schedule dictate your level of devotions nor assume that you can’t fit in Bible reading to your day. And, if you have a Bible reading challenge or plan then get a head start and use a Bible on CD. I recommend either the ESV or the Message version on CD. The narrative form of the Message makes the audio a real treat.

Buy a Bible on CD today

Herding Cats

I like this advert a lot: 

I guess life feels like this for lots of us lots of the time. If you are reading this blog (nice to have you!) you are almost certainly a cat herder. Tech is great, but I could spend my whole life reading blogs, twittering and surfing YouTube. On my more distracted days trying to get some thoughts straight and meaningful work accomplished feels like herding cats – a twitch here, a mouse there and suddenly I’m off task and wasting time again.

Technology is conditioning us to have the attention span of a kitten.

“More than 140 characters? Not interested. LOL”

This ad is pretty cool as well: 

Life is like that – it’s the little things that will drag you down. Just another SMS, just one more email…

“Hey, where’s Jesus gone?!”

All this technology can give me a spiritual headache. I need to get out into the clean cool air, and walk with Jesus.

For me this is literally as well as metaphorically true. And its one of several reasons why I like this time of year – longer days mean I need less sleep and can get up earlier, and that means more time out in the cool clean air when no-one else much is around and I can walk and talk with my Lord.

I don’t know why I don’t do it every single day, even in the winter. When I don’t, that cat herding just gets all the worse and the squirrels tear at my ankles all the more. 

But then I’ve got two dogs, and they’re not so keen on cats and squirrels. Dogs make it easier to get up and walk – they make you do it. And if people hear you talking while you’re walking they think you’re talking to the dogs, which is ok, because if they knew you were praying they’d think you were mad.

Get a dog and go for a walk.

You’d be mad not to.

(Hey, even you Americans can walk you know. You weren’t born with wheels!)

iPod, iPhone, iTunes, iDol, iDon’tKnow

Turn it off.

Walk.

Talk.

Pray.

What Do You See When You Read the Bible?

Because life is experienced in the context of people, it’s so very easy for our perspective to be shaped by others.  It even happens when we read the Bible.  I saw this for myself the other day as I was reading Judges 9.

(vs. 52-53)  Abimilech followed them to attack the tower.  But as he prepared to set fire to the entrance, a woman on the roof dropped a millstone that landed on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.  (vs. 56) In this way God punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 

As I read, I thought to myself, what a great story about the power of a single idea.  Here’s a woman in the top of a tower and she’s about to die.  But before she (and others) are killed, she gets an idea.   And in the execution of that single idea, she not only saves her own life, but the lives of others, and turns away an entire army.  The power of a single idea is indeed amazing.  As my friends in full time ministry would say, “That will preach!”

Another possible perspective would be a kind-of “least of these” interpretation.  A wicked king is brought to his end by a lowly woman.  Moral of the story: Never disqualify yourself from doing great things.  Wow, I feel a sermon coming on right now.  

While both interpretations have merit to them, they do not present the full spectrum of the event.  Yes, the woman had an idea and she put it into action and won the day.  Yes, a person of low social status brought down a great and mighty king.  But behind both these perspectives are the hands of a sovereign God, at work bringing His will to pass.  In the end, our perspective determines the object of our hope.  Do I want my hope to be in ideas that seem to seldom come my way?  Is my hope found in the fact that I can do anything I set my mind to?  In the end, I’m going with hoping in God, because He is faithful, gracious and merciful to those who call on Him.

When you read the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to show you where God is found in the text you’re reading.  As the Spirit reveals God’s presence to you, you find your hope in God growing day by day.

Where Did Jesus Go?

I grew up in a Pastor’s family and I went to a Christian College. After college I went to churches where I was basically paid to take care of church members. For the first 30 years of my life I was sheltered from the non-Christian world. I moved to Portland, Oregon in 1999 to start a church but God had a lot to teach me so we didn’t start Church! at Bethany until 2006. For several years I spent time working various jobs in secular environments and the result was that I began to love lost people.

As a church planter I have the responsibility of setting my own schedule, which is both a blessing and curse. A lot of pastors find themselves in offices barricaded behind the church doors away from lost people. Our tendency as Christians is to separate ourselves from the world. We have Christian concerts and Christian schools and Christian TV but is that what Jesus did?

Lately I’m asking myself where did Jesus go? As a follower of Jesus I want to do what He did and go where He went.

When I read the Gospels I discover that Jesus went where lost people were gathered. He went to wells and weddings and tax collector’s houses. Jesus spent his time out in the community ministering to people. When I look at our culture I think that Jesus would hang out at coffee shops and go to sporting events and I think Jesus would be involved in the local community.

Because of that belief I have purposely scheduled a majority of my time to be out in the community. Before we started the church I joined the local Chamber of Commerce. I took a Leadership class sponsored by the city and Chamber to learn about the history, social needs, culture, and government of the community. For the past year I have served on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce developing relationships with several business and government leaders.

Instead of spending lots of money on leasing an office I spend my time in coffee shops. Instead of spending money on expensive real estate we meet in a public school. Even my leisure time is spent with people from the church and community attending public sporting events. I spend time coaching in the local basketball league and volunteer at the public school where my kids attend.

For past couple years God has been using me to plant and water seeds. He has moved me from behind a desk out into the community.

Jesus’ last words to his disciples were this: “Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (emphasis mine).

Where are you going?

ExeJesus

In seminary, we as pastors are trained to do biblical exegesis. Exegesis is the critical study of the biblical text so that we can understand the context (historical & cultural) of the passage in order to gain its relevance. Not in our 21^st century context, but in the context of when it was written.

Too often we try to make the Bible about us and how we can relate it to our lives. However, I believe God calls each of us to know him through his Word (the Bible) before we can understand how to relate it to our own lives. We must see the context from God’s perspective first and foremost!

When we read and study the gospels, we try to make it about how we can be more like Jesus. Instead, I think it is important that we first understand who Jesus was and why he came, died, and was resurrected. We should understand the context of who Christ was before we can commit to be more like him.

We need to do some exeJesus!

Paul called upon us not to miraculous signs, nor to worldly wisdom; instead we are to preach Christ crucified. Christ is the power of God:

1 Corinthians 1:21-25:

²¹For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²²Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,²³but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Let us make a commitment to learn more of who Christ was by studying him in the historical and cultural context of first century Jerusalem and learn of how he fulfilled prophecies and performed miracles in his own authority. If we learn to look at Christ as the power of God from the eyes of first century Jews & Gentiles, imagine how much greater that power will be for us as we walk in the world today.

Seize Your Life! Part 2 - Taking Responsibility

In Part 1 we talked about making room in your life for the Word. The Bible is God’s most direct way to speak to us – it communicates His thoughts, feelings, and commands perfectly. If we are not just blowing smoke at God, then spending time in His Word and praying are going to build our closeness to God.

If you’re at all like me though, you have questions for God that aren’t spelled out the way you want in the Bible. The Bible doesn’t tell you which college to attend. The Bible doesn’t tell you which job to take. The Bible doesn’t tell you if your girlfriend is “the one”. For a number of years after I became a Christian I had no idea where God was taking me. In many ways I was like a leaf on the ocean, blown to and fro by invisible wind and obscure currents. I knew God was keeping me afloat, but I didn’t know where life was taking me.

It was around that time that I came across a verse that I mentioned in part 1: “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4. I pondered what it meant. I had many desires – a wife, a wicked job, a seaside house with a boat, truck and a quad. Even children. Did it mean that if I went after God, he will give me all my desires? In a moment of insight, the Holy Spirit revealed to me what it really means. When you find your delight in the Lord, he becomes the desires of your heart, and reveals himself to you. What did that mean for me? It meant that I needed to make a decision. Will I or will I not delight myself in the Lord?

I had to take responsibility for my faith. If I was going to follow God, I had to make a decision. I had to cease to be borne along by emotion and dedicate myself to the task. It was unfamiliar territory for me. My first step in that direction came after dropping out of University. I chose to go into Forestry School because there were great seasonal jobs that paid well, and it afforded me to go to school where I chose and not incur debt. That choice of where to go after that was a commitment I made to God to attend Bible College for a year.

That commitment got me work that I enjoyed – I got to ride quads, drive trucks, and explore the mountains and forest which were all incredibly fun for me. The goal of Bible College led me to the west coast, where I began to connect with people – and met my wife. Not at Bible College incidentally… but that’s another story. I would have never met her if I had not gone into Forestry to enable me to go to Bible College, and had I not chosen to go to Bible College on the west coast. He gave me the desires of my heart in his time, when I chose to delight myself in the Lord.

Since that time, I have had to make many other choices. One thing that has been consistent through it all – as I have chosen to follow him, he has blessed me. In my obedience, he has given me what I needed. Even through something as mundane as deciding to read my children Bible stories at night, it met my desire to spend more time in the Word with him. My opportunity to disciple my children became an opportunity to disciple myself.

When we reach for God, he shows us where he wants us. John 14:21 says, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” It’s that simple. We obey him and love him, and he loves us back and reveals himself to us. And if you have had contact with the risen Lord, you won’t be wondering what he would have of you anymore.

Did You Know Jesus Prayed For You?

Although we read often of the sayings and works of Jesus throughout the Gospels, we often forget that there are things that Jesus did once and for all. Of course, the main act of his sacrifice on the cross for our sins and the sins of all mankind is one we remember. However, another act Jesus did once and for all was to pray for you:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I also pray for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” –John 17:20-23

Jesus prayed for his disciples in John 17:6-19, but beginning in verse 20 he prays for all of us who will become believers through their preaching of the gospel to all nations. As a believer in Christ, Jesus prayed for you. Notice the theme of that prayer? Jesus prayed for unity within the body of believers. It’s almost as if he knew in advance what would happen to his church once he ascended!

As a Christian believer, the one thing I’d like you to focus on living in peace with your fellow brothers and sisters. As the Apostle Paul stated in Ephesians 4:2-7:

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you were called – on Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Let us honor Christ’s prayer for us by being patient and humble and exhibiting grace to our fellow man. We should live as one body, under one God and Father of all. May we take Jesus’ prayer to heart and also remember that as we live out the good news of the gospel, that God will call upon us to do our part to share his good news with others. Jesus prayed for us as believers, but also prayed for those that will believe through our example as well. Be encouraged…be faithful…be thankful that Christ knew your name even before the creation of the universe and that he prayed for you to live in unity and let his Spirit shine through you in peace and humility.