When to Use Commentaries (and When Not To)

by Krisan Marotta | Jul 18, 2012 | 04 Bible Study 101, Study Tools

Bible Study Tools #6: Commentaries

Commentaries can be useful for “getting your bearings” on a particular book or passage, but should not be a substitute for your own work (in my opinion).

I usually start by searching commentaries for background, historical and archeological evidence — which they typically do really well. Then I do my own study, generate a list of questions to answer. When I get stuck on the questions or want to see what others think, I come back to commentaries. Sometimes that generates more questions, and sometimes that confirms answers. I also turn to commentaries which I hit a “dead end” and don’t know what step to take next. (I call that “study block”, like writer’s block.)

You can buy multi-volume commentaries or one-volume commentaries. Before buying books, check your bible study software. Many times you can buy great commentaries as electronic add-ons and plug-ins to your software. Don’t forget to include online sermons and podcasts in your commentary search. There’s now a wealth of those online!

My commentary rules:

Always consult more than one commentary.

No single commentary gets everything right. Every author brings a unique background, training, and theological framework to the table, which means their insights can be incredibly helpful, but also incomplete. That’s why I always recommend reading more than one.

Think of it like asking three wise friends to help you understand a difficult passage. One might notice a historical detail you missed. Another might clarify the grammar. A third might point out how the verse fits into the bigger story of Scripture. By comparing their insights, you gain a more well-rounded, thoughtful understanding.

Commentaries are tools, not infallible answers. Use them to sharpen your thinking, not to replace it. And just like with any tool, the more skilled you become in your own study, the more wisely you’ll know how and when to use them.

Consult both classic and contemporary works.

When studying Scripture, it’s wise to consult both the voices of the past and the voices of the present. Classic works help us see how Christians throughout history have understood the Bible. They remind us that we’re part of a much bigger story, one that didn’t start with us and won’t end with us.

They also break us out of our modern presuppositions and assumptions. Every generation has blind spots, and we’re no exception. Older commentaries often raise questions we wouldn’t think to ask and highlight truths we might overlook. By stepping outside our own cultural moment, we gain a wider lens and a deeper appreciation for the timelessness of God’s Word.

But we also need contemporary voices. They help us engage with current questions, cultural assumptions, and the particular challenges of our time. Both perspectives matter.

The classics can anchor you; the contemporaries can sharpen you.