Our church library is almost completed, and books can now be borrowed. Thanks to all who have contributed volumes and have worked to set up the library, including especially Allie Thompson, Kelsea Molitor, and Melita Matzko (from a distance!)
I said almost: we still have a few things to do. 1) place bookplates in the books, 2) place labels on the shelves that will help you navigate properly through the sections 3) alphabetize the topical books and 4) adjust some shelves and add some bookends (does anybody have such?).
Following are the sections of the library:
- New Testament Commentaries
- Old Testament Commentaries
- Systematic Theologies (both comprehensive volumes and individual treatments: i.e., soteriology, ecclesiology etc)
- Topical books (by author) – Really anything that doesn’t fall into any other category (e.g., Andrew Murray books)
- Church History
- Biography
- Christian Counseling (i.e., advice on marriage, child-rearing, life skills)
- Apologetics
- Books on Prayer
- Evangelism Helps
Books that are purportedly Christian should follow John the Baptizer’s lead. In John 3 the Baptizer referred to himself as akin to the “friend of the bridegroom.” In 1st century Judean culture, this friend would do much to plan the wedding ceremony and to generally put forward the groom as the appropriate headliner of the ceremony.
In short, the Baptizer said, “[Christ] must increase; I must decrease.” He says, If everything goes according to God’s plan, you’ll notice less of me and more of Christ.
The proper effect of Christian books, and especially commentaries, is also that they should decrease, and Christ increase. Does this book prepare you to receive Christ’s words more clearly? Does it move your thoughts to Him? Does it encourage you in your obedience to Him? Does it exhibit something of His majesty?
The author of the commentary should fade in the background and the text (which after all exegetes Christ who exegetes God!) must come into the light. Must.
Sometimes the commentary author inadvertently cuts into the limelight and the effect is distressing. We are burdened by his weighty erudition. His cleverness leaves us thirsty. Hey, leave off a few of those footnotes, won’t you?
Sometimes we see the author dancing, whirling… but always around our question and the point of the text!
Sometimes—and even though I love the old guys, this can be their fatal defect—we see the author tripping over himself with affectation and tremulous pietisms.
You don’t have to (I mean it’s not necessary), but I commend the use of a commentary in your daily Bible reading. But use a commentary that puts Christ forward, instead of obfuscating, or dancing, or anything else that distracts.
Here are some guidelines for selecting commentaries to help you in your daily Bible reading:
- A painful truth: Generally new commentaries are better than old ones.
- Use a commentary that does not call itself devotional. Most of the time devotional commentaries tend toward the mawkish and don’t bring your understanding forward. So convinced I am of this that I profit more from a commentary by a liberal author who deals seriously with the text (e.g., Robert Alter) than your typical devotional volume.
Of course the best of commentaries are sprinkled with insights that could be called devotional or inspirational. But they’re not constantly straining for them, that’s the difference.
- Waltke, Carson, Fee, Longman, Moo, Hughes, Kidner – names to look for when selecting a commentary. Read 1 Corinthians with Gordon Fee. Read John’s Gospel with D.A. Carson. Read Genesis with Bruce Waltke. Read Song of Solomon with Tremper Longman (and your wife!)
- I highly recommend the Pillar New Testament Commentary series. Also, the Tyndale OT and NT set. One more: The New American Commentary series.
- Of course, some helpful commentaries are jewels among not-so-valuable sets. Look at Philippians in the Anchor Bible. Hey, Wright’s Commentary on Romans even in the New Interpreters set has been helpful. If you’re looking for recommendations for commentaries on individual books, I’m glad to give you some.
- Read the text first, then read the commentary, then pray from your reading. Day by day by day…
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Sovereign Lord, let us diligently seek you in your Word daily. Give us thoughts that spur us on to find answers to questions from your Word, and so to pursue you. Let your Word come to us in understanding. Keep us from foolish men, cunning and deceitful doctrine; instead lead us into faith that is at once knowledgeable and obedient. And we would see Jesus.
-Amen
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