Top Bible Commentaries and Reference Guides
by Gary LintonPosted in Church Planting 8 Comments
Listed below are several commentaries and Bible reference books that will help you gain a deeper understanding of God’s word, strengthen your faith, and expand your ability to create a meaningful message. Most of the reference books can be found at your local Christian bookstore, or online at Christainbook. Remember, the only way to communicate the gospel effectively is to study, pray and then pray some more!
Bible Commentaries and Sermon Outlines
Studying commentaries and sermon outlines from other teachers is a must if you want to be a good expositor of the word. God doesn’t want us to casually throw things together. "We must study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). It’s foolish not to tap into the insight that God has given to others who have spent a lifetime studying the Bible.
Studying the works and insights of others helps to insure that we don’t get off track theologically. I would suggest never using less than three references during your study. This insures that you are not just using one man’s opinion. You will come away from your study confident that you have adequately researched your passage and have heard from God regarding how He wants the message to be applied.
John MacArther: In his studies you will find an excellent exposition of scripture. He comes from a very conservative, Calvinistic and anti-charismatic view point. As with any commentary, we must take from it what we can use and not worry with what we cannot use. You’ll find most of his teachings on this site.
J. Vernon McGee: This is a very simple and easy to use online study tool. You will get brief explanations along with excellent insight. This site also offers MP3 downloads of his radio program.
Chuck Smith: Pastor Chuck is one of the best bible teachers of our time. He has a unique ability to make God’s word simple and easy to understand. He has both survey as well as in depth studies. This link offers a huge collection of his teachings for free.
Charles Stanley: Dr. Stanley’s messages typically focus on prayer, the character of God, fellowship through the Holy Spirit, and the Person of Jesus Christ. Quite a few of the radio and TV messages archived on his website are also available as sermon outlines.
William Barclay: Barclay’s Daily Bible Study series brings with it a wealth of colorful background facts. It will give you insight into the time and context of your passage, as well as an understanding of the original language. I almost always use this work when studying a book of the bible. I would however be cautious as you study because in certain places in the scriptures he leans strongly toward liberal interpretations. It is good to use, but I would never use it alone. Always use it in conjunction with other conservative commentaries.
Henry Ironside: This is another author and preacher from yesteryear. His teachings are very simple and easy to understand and will give you a lot of practical applications. Most of his writings were birthed from what he preached.
Martin Lloyd Jones: This man is considered by many to be one of the foremost bible expositors. His are not brief teachings. If you are looking for an in-depth study of the word his writings are a must.
Bible Reference Books
The reference books listed below are a few of the most fundamental works for the study of God’s word. They are especially good for those who are new to preaching and the ministry.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: A necessary tool for any Bible student, especially beginners. You can look up any word and find every place it appears in the Bible. This is a great tool for topical messages. It also includes Greek and Hebrew dictionaries so you can look up the word’s basic meaning from the original.
Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon: This is a Greek dictionary that allows you to look up the original meanings of words in the Bible. The numbers next to each word in both Strong’s and Thayer’s correspond with each other for easy use.
Vines Expository Dictionary: This is also good for looking up key words in your study. In this dictionary you’ll be able to find not only the meaning of the word, but also whether it’s a verb or noun, etc. A must have for every serious Bible student.
Word Studies: There are also multiple word studies you can tap into. Some of these include Wuest, Vincent, and Robertson’s Word Pictures.
About Gary Linton
With over 30 years of teaching, church planting and ministry experience, Gary Linton helps pastors, ministers and church leaders pursue their call to ministry. Pastor Linton is also available for seminars, leadership conferences and speaking engagements for churches both large and small.8 responses to “Top Bible Commentaries and Reference Guides”
Take a look at Les Feldick as one of the great Bible teachers. Les has a program on TV called “Thru the Bible” and it took 3 years to go through the entire Bible. Very in depth study and the program is only 30 min. not too long as the listener will fall asleep. LOL Les is a layperson and a farmer not a preacher. What ever he teaches it is backed up with scripture of the KJV Bible. Highly Reccomended.
Beloved in Christ,
Receive many Christians greetings in the precious name of our Lord and saviour Jesus. It si indeed good to be able to know you and to learn of the common faith that we do share which was once delivered into the saints. Once again ,I thank God for directing us unto you and your church for closer relationship. Your teachings and believes are very sound and inspirational that we yarn to be laid and founded in.Grateful to God for calling you to the ministry and making you instrumental to its end.
We arer requesting for much of your of your prayers to many of our people that they may grow more and more in the sound teachings of your ministry and hence help us get more books and teachings materials.
May God’s blessing be upon you as you labor in the ministry and as you seek to partner with us in Kenya . Looking forward for your response soon.
Pastor omare
Respected pastor.
Greeting in the name of our lord jesus christ who,s our saviour.I visited your website and inspir to see your ministry work.May GOD increase your ministry all world.Please keep our ministry in your daily prayer.
I have come to know about your Bible program and its teaching which is very well needed in this period of time when we are seeking the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. The Bible doctrines and teachings are adecuate for the lost children of God. I am truly impressed by the sermons and other Bible related material which will be very fruitful for the people of Pakistan as well.
Dear Sir / Mam ,
It is really privileged for me to write to your ministry and I pray may Lord bless you abundantly. I am Gulnaz from Pakistan . Five years before I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and I trust in Him as my rock and try to walk in Him, as the Word of God says don’t be lazy in struggle. As I was visiting your site I found that you are doing the work of translation into native languages. I am able to translate the good stuff of you into my native language Punjabi and national language Urdu. There are two purposes to request you the first one are to know the Word of God more deeply and second one to be supportive my family and to run. our Ministry. We will also teach your stuff in our working areas with our people . My suggestion for you is to create your material in my language of Urdu and Punjabi also. It will bring lots of blessings of the Word of God for the Pakistani and Indian Urdu and Punjabi speaking people. For that purpose I as a translator will bring your material into Urdu languages and into Punjabi language as well. Although it will take your low expenses as well, as fund for the Word of God to reach out to the deserving people. As a translator I will take the expenses that will be spending just for the Word. I will be looking for your kind words on this my humble request as soon as possible.
In Jesus,
Gulnaz
Pakistan
It is really privileged for me to write to your ministry and I pray may Lord bless you abundantly. I visit your website and its really wonderful and amazing work which you are doing .I desire that I become the part of your Ministry and your stuff is really very good and kindly start work with us we will translate this . I am Faisal Anwer from Pakistan. Five years before I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and I trust in Him as my rock and try to walk in Him, as the Word of God says don’t be lazy in struggle. Yours prayer and moral support is extremely needed and highly appreciated.
I am really thankful to all my brothers and sisters for showing interest in my sermons. My next sermon will be available on line on 8th Jan and I have a program to create more than sixty sermons in year 2010. I do feel like producing audio bible in Punjabi language in my voice. I have written for permission from the publishers of Punjabi bible to do so but the permission has yet not come. If it is His plan, He will provide the necessary resources for its growth. Please keep my growing ministry in prayers. Rev Dr Jasjit Singh
I am Christian Lady belong to Pakistan and work for the Lord. I am working with children and women.I have a small prayer group . In pakistan we are in Minority and our christian people are financially very poor. Majority of Christians are uneducated they dont know about christianity and God and Jesus.