A Question Concerning a Bible Commentary

[kib]

Hello,

Today I bought a Bible Commentary on the New Testament, written by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, published by Funk and Wagnalls, at a used bookstore. When I first looked through the book, it seemed fairly straightforward and non-denominational, but now I don’t think so. In the introduction to Galatians it reads: “His protest against Peter in Ch. 2: 14-21 disproves the figment, not merely of Papal, but even of that apostle’s supremacy; and shows that when Peter, save when specially inspired was fallible like other men.”

This surprised me as the authors cite Church Fathers, and also Pope Clement, I believe; (although they don’t use the title “Pope”) when establishing that Paul wrote the epistle. Which lead me to think it would be suitable for Catholic Bible study.

I did a google search of the book and had a lot of hits on it, but nothing that told me much about it.

Has anyone used this commentary before, or know much about it? I bought the book so I could learn more about scripture, and to help with the weekly Bible study I lead at my University. Do you think this would be safe for a Catholic to use?

Thanks for (name removed by moderator)ut,
Kib

 

[Ron_Conte]

If I owned that book, I would throw it away.

 

[juliamajor]

Hello,

Today I bought a Bible Commentary on the New Testament, written by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, published by Funk and Wagnalls, at a used bookstore. When I first looked through the book, it seemed fairly straightforward and non-denominational, but now I don’t think so. In the introduction to Galatians it reads: “His protest against Peter in Ch. 2: 14-21 disproves the figment, not merely of Papal, but even of that apostle’s supremacy; and shows that when Peter, save when specially inspired was fallible like other men.”

This surprised me as the authors cite Church Fathers, and also Pope Clement, I believe; (although they don’t use the title “Pope”) when establishing that Paul wrote the epistle. Which lead me to think it would be suitable for Catholic Bible study.

I did a google search of the book and had a lot of hits on it, but nothing that told me much about it.

Has anyone used this commentary before, or know much about it? I bought the book so I could learn more about scripture, and to help with the weekly Bible study I lead at my University. Do you think this would be safe for a Catholic to use?

Thanks for (name removed by moderator)ut,
Kib

If you know your onions then it’s not ‘dangerous’- I mean you just proved it by spotting a mistake.I’ve got mainly Catholic commentaries but I’ve got Harper Collins which has a mixture of Protestant ,catholic and Jewish.Always look first -who printed it, authors, what universities.I always look for the Order initials
Just try to be discerning as possible .Try to get a 'test ’ verse or book and look and see what they say about it. If it doesn’t fit what the Magesterium don’t buy it or take it with a big grain of salt

 

[COPLAND_3]

That commentary is free online on a number of different sites. I have some Protestant commentaries on my bookshelf, but I don’t use them in order to find insights on important things, and to be honest I rarely use them period. The Catholic Church has plenty of commentaries to need our desires.

My suggestion is this, if you are going to keep it I would avoid any dependance on it at all, only use it after you have exausted your search in Catholic commentaries.

 

[kib]

I think I have made the same decision that all of you suggested. It’s not worth leading myself or my bible study group into err. Luckily it was used, so I am only out $11. Thanks for the advice.

 

[tobinatorstark]

I would recommend the commentary that is found in the Douay-Rheims / Haydock Edition. The commentary is great. Even if you aren’t a fan of the Douay-Rheims the commentary is worth it.