What Is the Best Bible Commentary?

What is the best Bible commentary for you? That's actually a complex answer with a number of answers. We'll get to that in just a moment.

First, we recommend that read everything on this page. It's very important information.

But if you don't have time to read all the content on this page, please click here for a chart of Bible commentaries we've created just for you. We have also created a Best Bible Commentary Widget to help you choose the best commentary for your needs. Bookmark this page so that you can read it later. Then click here to find the widget.

Okay. On with the show!

Kinds of Commentaries

Bible commentaries come in several categories. So figuring out which is the best Bible commentary for your situation depends on one important thing. What are you going to use it for?

Each commentary is designed to meet different needs in study and teaching. Critical, exegetical, expository, application, and homiletical commentaries all approach Scripture from unique angles. They range from scholarly analysis to pastoral encouragement.

So the best Bible commentary for you is the one that will give you the information you're looking for. Let's talk about this a little more.

How to Use Commentaries

Each type of commentary is best used with a specific goal in mind. Critical and exegetical deepen understanding of the text itself. Expository, application, and homiletical commentaries bridge the gap between teaching and living.

Do you want an accurate and simple definition of a word in context? Use a critical commentary.

Do you want a little more than just the mechanics of a text? Use an exegetical commentary.

Do you want more practical yet still textual insights on a passage? Use an expository commentary.

Do you want very practical advice that allows you to apply the passage to life? Use an application commentary.

Do you want to teach the passage but are stalled for a good teaching application? Use a homiletical commentary.

You see, there's a commentary for everyone. For every situation. For all seasons. You just have to pick the best Bible commentary for your situation.

You can even combine these categories for a better Bible study experience. Using technical works for accuracy and pastoral volumes for clarity and relevance will only make Bible study better.

Let's take an even closer look at these.

The Best Bible Commentary for Your Situation

Critical

Critical commentaries focus on historical background, textual issues, and original languages. They are best for advanced study and academic research. Trusted series include the International Critical Commentary (ICC) and the Word Biblical Commentary (WBC). These works often engage in scholarly debates and provide detailed notes on Hebrew and Greek.

I use these sparingly. With that said. I still use them. They can give your study time a meatier taste.

They aren't for the faint-hearted though. These are very in-depth and very technical. These are only for the most advanced students. So if you're just starting out or don't have a firm grasp of biblical languages, skip these.

One caveat: Often, these kinds of commentaries take a more liberal viewpoint. You may find they challenge authorship or inspiration. This is very concerning but not a deal-breaker to their usefulness.

There's a little wiggle room with these commentaries because they are so technical. Not as much commentary. A whole lot more objective material.

The reason why I mention this is because you need to watch out. Don't subscribe to people's opinions of the text if they challenge God's hand in it all. Just because they have more degrees than a thermometer after their name doesn't mean they're right.

Be careful!

Exegetical

Exegetical commentaries provide verse-by-verse analysis, explaining grammar, syntax, and theological meaning. They are less technical than critical commentaries but more technical than expository commentaries. They cut the balance nicely between objective analysis and practical observations.

The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament (NICOT/NICNT) and the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (BECNT) are widely respected among pastors and scholars.

You can really benefit from these if you're an intermediate student or beyond. These volumes help readers grasp the author’s intent and the theological weight of each passage. They bring color to the black-and-white analysis of critical commentaries.

If you're a beginner, I would caution using these until you're more comfortable. They may not be the best Bible commentary for you because you could get lost in the details. You don't need to be discouraged. You need to be uplifted!

Expository

Ahhhh. Here's where the rubber meets the road (whatever that means!).

Expository commentaries aim for clarity and accessibility. This makes them ideal for teaching and preaching or just discovering something deeper than most application commentaries can provide. These can really deepen your Bible study time.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Revised) and the Tyndale Commentaries are strong series that cover the entire Bible. Individual authors like J. Vernon McGee, with his Thru the Bible series, and William Barclay, with his Daily Study Bible, provide approachable explanations that resonate with everyday readers.

One of the best is the MacArthur New Testament Commentary series if you don't mind a dispensational/Reformed perspective. Even if you aren't in those camps, his commentaries are well-organized and well-written.

For me, the backbone of my study happens here. I'm trained in biblical languages. So I use only a few critical and exegetical commentaries because I do a lot of the language study myself.

Expository commentaries are very different. They take the text and make it real. This is where you experience the text. Not quite application. More than just technical information. When I want to experience the text, I turn to these wonderful commentaries.

I have no reservations recommending expository commentaries to anyone at any level. You can really benefit from an accurate handling of the text AND a practical viewpoint that brings it all together.

One caveat here regarding a specific commentary: I like Barkley for his practicality and his ability to illustrate a point so that it's really practical. I don't subscribe to some of his understanding of Scripture. Most of the time he sounds Reformed and conservative. At other times, he comes across very liberal. Be careful. Study with discernment!

Application

Application commentaries bridge the gap between ancient text and modern life. If all the other commentaries tell us what the text means (original context), this is where we find out what the text means to us (current context).

The NIV Application Commentary (NIVAC) and the Life Application Bible Commentary are excellent resources for personal devotion and small group study. And J. Vernon McGee (Yup! Him again!) and his Thru the Bible commentaries actually fit into this category as well. In fact, in my humble opinion, this is where he should be!

These works emphasize how Scripture speaks to contemporary issues and daily living. When Bible principles are transported from the world of the Bible to modern life, the Bible becomes even more actionable.

One caveat: Don't start here. If you do, you might misinterpret what the text says. Start with what it means. Then move to what it means to you. It has to happen in that order.

Homiletical

Homiletical commentaries are designed for preaching. They offer outlines, illustrations, and rhetorical guidance.

The Preaching the Word Series (PtW) and The Bible Speaks Today (BST) provide sermon-ready material with a pastoral tone. These volumes help pastors move from study to proclamation, shaping messages that are faithful and engaging.

These are mainly used by pastors and preachers. Teachers sometimes use them. Rarely others, which is a shame. They are packed with practical ways to live out life. If you can, dabble in these delightful commentaries.

Don't forget the chart below boils all this down and gives even more suggestions. Check it out!

The Search for the Best Bible Commentary for You

A balanced library includes commentaries from multiple categories. By combining depth, clarity, and application, you can study Scripture faithfully. This will help you communicate the message of the gospel more effectively to others.

But here's an important point to remember. The best Bible commentary is the one that motivates you to be what God has called you to be.

After all, the end of Bible study should always be living it to the glory of God. That's the point. And if we glorify God, maybe, just maybe, others will see Jesus in us and ask why.

God bless.

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