Comment on the Commentaries

[Brian_Albin]

Can we start a catalog of descriptions of some of the Commentaries, telling their various types? Telling that Maldonatus wrote this way, and Estius wrote that way; Cardinal Bellarmine’s Comment on the Psalms is of this type and Bishop Agellius’ Comment on Psalms is that sort.

I know not how many varieties there are among Commentaries, but some seem to tell which verses support various Doctrines, while others talk about the culture of Bible times and will tell what sort of tent or pottery jar a verse is talking about.

I am trying to identify which Commentaries tell which passages are symbolic or metaphoric and better still if the Author can tell what the hidden meaning is. But for the benefit of other readers of this page, Please feel free to describe any Commentary you have read. For that matter, relay descriptions you have at second hand of a Commentary you have not read if you think the description worthwhile.

I ask that recommendations go on a separate forum thread. Tell here not which Commentaries you like or agree with, but which types they are.
Thank You

 

[COPLAND_3]

Great idea for a thread!

I love the Early Church Fathers, and among them are different types of exegesis. For starters, I love the commentaries by Theodoret of Cyrus(393 – 457). He takes an Antiochene approach which looked at the literal and historical interpretation, and less on the allegorical. Theodoret’s commentaries are concise, which is a charateristic that I appreciate in a commentary as long as it gives me a satisfactory explanation, which Theodoret usually does everytime. Some of the Church Fathers can get long-winded and think they have to take a passage and tell you all the ways that it should not be understood and then eventually get around to what it actually means, but not Theodoret, he gets to the point right away. I have lots of his commentaries here at home and on my website here litteralchristianlibrary.wetpaint.com/page/Bible+Commentaries-Fathers+and+Doctors

 

[COPLAND_3]

St. Augustine is another commentator that I love. Unlike Theodoret, Augustine can be very long-winded and also enjoyed giving the allegorical interpretation. But St. Augustine in my opinion was marvelous at providing a deeper allegorical interpretation but also staying mindful of the literal. He does have some actual Biblical commentaries where he interprets the Bible verse by verse, but some of his great interpretations are found throughout his many writings like the City of God which are not commentaries. You can find his commentaries here litteralchristianlibrary.wetp…rs+and+Doctors

 

[COPLAND_3]

St. Thomas Aquinas is another that I love. Though his commentaries are not for the beginner, he is hard to follow sometimes due to his very deep thought out explanations, but he was the grandmaster at interpreting the Bible by consulting the Church Fathers and giving you the best of what can be gleaned from them by applying the different senses of Scripture. He was a genius! litteralchristianlibrary.wetpaint.com/page/Bible+Commentaries-Fathers+and+Doctors

 

[COPLAND_3]

CORNELIUS À LAPIDE is another commentator that I love. He lived in the 16th and 17th century, and he is one of the best commentators I have ever seen. He, like St. Thomas Aquinas, gleaned all the insight from the Church Fathers. He is not nearly as hard to follow as Aquinas in my opinion. His commentaries can be found here too litteralchristianlibrary.wetpaint.com/page/Bible+Commentaries-Fathers+and+Doctors

 

[COPLAND_3]

Theophylact is another commentator that ranks up there as one of my very favorites. He relies upon the literal and historical understanding. litteralchristianlibrary.wetpaint.com/page/Bible+Commentaries-Fathers+and+Doctors

 

[David_Zampino]

Can we start a catalog of descriptions of some of the Commentaries, telling their various types? Telling that Maldonatus wrote this way, and Estius wrote that way; Cardinal Bellarmine’s Comment on the Psalms is of this type and Bishop Agellius’ Comment on Psalms is that sort.

I know not how many varieties there are among Commentaries, but some seem to tell which verses support various Doctrines, while others talk about the culture of Bible times and will tell what sort of tent or pottery jar a verse is talking about.

I am trying to identify which Commentaries tell which passages are symbolic or metaphoric and better still if the Author can tell what the hidden meaning is. But for the benefit of other readers of this page, Please feel free to describe any Commentary you have read. For that matter, relay descriptions you have at second hand of a Commentary you have not read if you think the description worthwhile.

I ask that recommendations go on a separate forum thread. Tell here not which Commentaries you like or agree with, but which types they are.
Thank You

I use both the Navarre Commentaries and the Ancient Christian Commentaries regularly (and have taught from both of them).

A lot depends on how you wish to use the commentary. Study? Devotional? Exegetical?

If you’re interested in how the Early Church Fathers interpreted Scripture, try looking at one of the Ancient Christian Commentaries.

Blessings,