As a young newly Reformed Pastor looking to engage in the context of today's culture what set looks the most promising to you?

If i am going to invest in one here are some characteristics that would be helpful to me.

1. a leaning toward Biblical theology rather than focusing on Systematics
2. Redemptive historic
3. Pastoral / preaching helps
4. Emphasis on literary genre
5. As close to free as possible
6. Hard cover
7. Presuppositional

I don't know you guys if i'm out of line here just slap me.

Help rescue me from Wiersbe!

__________________
Able
Lead Pastor (Nehalem Valley Community Church)
Baptist (Church -Non Denomination)
Jewell, Oregon

"Lord Jesus, give me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach. Help me chastely to flee it and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be Thine alone." (Valley of Vision)

Sooner or later you'll have to break down and get turriten's institutes. Might as well be sooner

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Brian E
Attending Falls OPC
Menomonee Falls, WI

Brian, what would the benefits be to exposition?
Would this be geared for systematic teaching or exposition?

Given your parameters, I would recommend the Baker NT Commentary series for $79 from Rejoice Software. Since you say in another thread you like to use the Logos format, this would be ideal for you and VERY thorough but exceedingly practical.

"Baker NT Commentary" Baker Libronix ($250.00) $79.95
Bible Software Products for Microsoft Windows

If you want the hardcover version, the $700 set is available for $99 @
http://www.christianbook.com/Christi...T%20Commentary

Hendriksen and Kistemaker are just VERY good.

There are other sets that are excellent. However the idea of recent + cheap makes for mighty slim pickins.

__________________
Dennis E. McFadden, Ex Mainline Baptist (in Remission)
Atherton Baptist Homes, CEO
First Baptist Church of Alhambra, Member, Transformation Ministries (CA)

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

I hope you already have them but i would say if you could only have one it should be Calvins commentaries.

Of course nowadays you can get loads of commentaries and useful works on a Bible software program like logos or PC study bible.

I would suggest these unless you don't like using a laptop and want to be able to take a book somewhere to read.

Personally I don't use most of my books anymore, with so much online and on CDs and in the Bible software. I used to lay out several commentaries, Strongs, Word studies, Atlases all over a big table and have them all spread out. Now its all packed in my computer and easily searchable.

Isn't the history of Redemption just making sure you keep the whole bible in context from Gen to Rev as you explain God's unfolding plan to save a people for Himself and manifest His glory?
As the Catechism says, What do he scriptures principally teach?
Know God and Know Duty!
Indicative and imperative, both !

__________________
DonP

The New Testament Commentary series by William Hendriksen and Simon Kistemaker is a bit older, but it is a must have for Reformed pastors.

__________________
Wes Bredenhof
Pastor, Providence Canadian Reformed Church
Hamilton, Ontario
www.bredenhof.ca
Gospel Talk Radio Program

I forgot to mention it . . .

The New Testament Commentary set I recommended (Hendriksen/Kistemaker) is ALSO available as an unlock for the free e-Sword software program for only $59.99 at e-Sword - the Sword of the LORD with an electronic edge.

NICNT, if you are looking for a good contemporary set. Not all fit your parameters, however. In my opinion an eclectic collection carefully selected piece by piece will serve you and your people better, and save you money.

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Mike Arnaud
OPC
Oak Harbor, WA

Here is a list my friend who is now attending Puritan Reformed Seminary sent me

It depends on what you are reading commentaries for. Commentary "sets" my favorite is by far Calvin. Also, Henriksen and Kistemaker have a good NT commentary. I'm not too sure about OT commentaries. John Owen's comprehensive 7 volume commentary on Hebrews is fabulous he leaves no stone unturned from the little that I have read of his 8000+ page commentary (but Owen is a stalwart and my favorite). Matthew Henry is decent, far more pastoral than exegetical. John Murray's commentary on Romans is outstanding one of the best (so is Douglas Moos')! Luther on Galatians is perhaps my single favorite commentary of all times. Machen has some good stuff on Galatians in "Letter to the Galatians." It was really good. Right up there with Luther is Thomas Manton's commentary on Jude, and William Jenkyn's is pretty good as well (but I haven't read Jenkyn's in it's entirety). I don't know that you can call them commentaries, but I always find a lot of worth in the Puritan's writings (e.g. Sibbes, Gurnall, Watson, Bunyan, Owen, Brooks, Boston etc). If you've read them, then you know they open the book with a single verse and the rest of the book expounds that verse and applies it. Probably not always exegetical, but always devotional and good for the spirit. However, sometimes their real commentaries suck, like John Cotton's Song of Solomon, it's horrible. If you can ever find JB Lightfoot's commentaries, get them. He was a good Westminster Divine and has some great stuff. Spurgeon's Treasury of Daivd (commentaries on the Psalms) is quite good. Have you seen the Reformed Expository Commentaries? Over the next 10 years they are hoping to do the whole Bible. We've only read the one on Esther and Ruth by Ian Duguid but they have Galatians, Hebrews, Gospels, and some other ones. They seem to be pretty solid. George Burrowes has a GREAT commentary on Song of Solomon (if you like the allegorical approach to the book, and Dan Fortner too). Dennis Johnson has two good commentaries one on Acts and the other on Revelation. Vern Poythress' The Returning King Commentary on Revelation is really good! Beza's study notes are helpful, but really short (they are in the Genevan Study Bible). Hodge's commentaries on the Corinthians, Ephesians, and Romans are good...very textual (Greeky), which can be hard to follow since I know VERY little Greek. More pastoral in the approach is JC Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospel, these are Rachel's favorites. Also Lloyd-Jones "sermons" on Ephesians seem to be pretty good, from what I have read. John Stott has some pretty decent ones out there. Jameson, Faucett, and Brown, from what I have used of them, have proven to be pretty good as well. John Gill's have been a surprising disappointment to me. His hyper-Calvinist tendencies are obvious in some texts.If you want "more" liberal, Barne's Notes aren't awful, just not super good. Also, Scofield's Study Bible if you want crappy dispensational theology. Wesley's commentaries aren't good. Okay...there you have it. You've exhausted my library of commentaries Like I said, it all depends on what you are looking for. I don't always like the dry linguistics, I like the stuff with meaty application. Hope this helps you out.Grace.

Here are some links to great/free Reformed Commentaries

Calvins--http://www.biblestudyguide.org/comment/calvin/comm_index.htm

Matthew Henry--http://www.apostolic-churches.net/bible/mhc/MHC01001.HTM

Hope this helps

__________________
~ Charles Stephen Barribeau ~
Christ Presbyterian Church , OPC (They sing alot of Psalms!)
Original Westminster Standards (I need to study more...)
The Puritans were best! Also... I NEED TO READ MORE!!!
Philipians1:29(KJV) For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Janesville, Wisconsin (In the fellowship of Bob Vigneault and Matt+Megan Meisberger)

Three that come to mind are:

1. Hendricksen/Kistemaker
2. MacArthur
3. New American Commentary Series (Broadman & Holman)

__________________
Christian
One Pilgrims Progress

This is the same as the Baker NT Commentary series recomended by DMcFadden, personally I have found the different citations somewhat confusing.

The Libronix set is just the bees knees, it has so many advantages over paper however at these prices just get both.

__________________
Mike
London City Presbyterian Church
London
England

"Surely, we wish to be orthodox, but we must first learn what real orthodoxy is. Surely, we wish to be progressive, but we must first have a basis to progress from."

Wonderful free resources here:

Monergism :: Commentaries

These have already been mentioned but I thought I'd give you the link. We have a couple of them and really like them.

Reformed Expository Commentary Series Bundle (7 Volume Set) :: Commentaries & Sermons :: Monergism Books :: Reformed Books and Resources for Christians

__________________
Janis
Christ Church ARP, NC
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved." Eph. 1:3-6 ESV

To books (not commentaries) that might help you decide are:

Carson, D.A. New Testament Commentary Survey. ISBN: 0801022878

Longman III, Tremper. Old Testament Commentary Survey. ISBN: 0801026296

Both of these books look at sets and individual commentaries to give you an idea the nature of the commentaries in question. Both Carson and Longman are contemporary and Reformed scholars; it is probably worth reading what their opinions are before buying a huge set of books.

__________________
Rob G.
Under care, OPC (currently an associate member at a PCA church)
Pittsburgh, PA

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.- 1 Cor. 1:18

Agreed. This helps avoid lots of headaches and wasted monies.

__________________
Kevin Guillory
Pastor
Redeemer Christian Congregation
Baltimore, MD

I don't interpret Scripture. Scripture
interprets itself. And in the process ...
Scripture interprets me!

I don't think there exists a Presuppositional Commentary. However I would recommend Bahnsen's "Van Til's Apologetic: Readings & Analysis." He covers in that book how Systematics, the Authority of Scripture, History, Philosophy, etc. relates to Apologetics. You might also consider buying the entire Van Til Collection. You will find them here: Covenant Media Foundation under the Apologetics and Theology section of books. John Owen's set is also useful and while older does speak to the issues we are going through today.

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Chris Thomas | SBC-Founders | Fairbanks, AK

"Whatever the cause, the Calvinists were the only fighting Protestants. It was they whose faith gave them courage to stand up for the Reformation. In England, Scotland, France, Holland, they,... did the work, and but for them the Reformation would have been crushed... If it had not been for Calvinists,... and whatever you like to call them, the Pope and Philip would have won, and we should either be Papists or Socialists." ~ Sir John Skelton

Moises Silva gave me the same advice back in college. However, in my old age, I would nuance it a bit differently.

* Best strategy is to purchase as you need them. If you are teaching on Genesis, pick up the best commentaries on Genesis. This will save you from buying a bunch of books through the years only to find them superseded by even better books by the time you get around to using them to teach/preach. For instance, can you really do without Moo on Romans? I had 27 different Romans commentaries before Moo published his masterpiece. The same is true of Beale on Revelation. I could have saved a lot of money by skipping some of the fluff.

So, you have a decision to make: do you want the most cost-effective strategy (buy when you need them to teach) or the most convenient (buy as you find them and you will always have something when you need it)?

Also, whether you purchase sets or individual volumes, shop AROUND for the very best deals (including used, discounted, and the libraries of deceased pastors). An opportunity to get a Beale at a bargain now may be better than waiting until you are planning to preach on Revelation.

* Against that wonderful advice is the exact opposite truth. If you can find a good solid commentary series, it is sure nice to have something when you need it and there is no time to order the book or you are short of funds. You can hardly go wrong on a solid set such as Calvin or Hendriksen/Kistemaker. When you can obtain Henkriksen/Kistemaker for $99 in hardbound or $59 from e-sword (I prefer the Libronix version because it integrates with the largest portion of my digital library), it is a no-brainer (IMO).

Now permit me to move from "preaching" to "meddling."

DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN HUGE DEBT just to have a bigger library than Dr. So-and-So. I foolishly built a huge library during my younger years which (along with five children) left me without a day's peace of mind financially . . . even now. Don't do it to yourself, to your family, or to your future. There are plenty of books online for free, low cost computer software, etc. You do NOT need EVERY commentary on Zephaniah in order to be a faithful minister of the word. If you ignore this simple (but VERY unglamorous) advice, you WILL regret it and repent of it later.

One word, NO Barth!!!!!!!

I teach Sunday School. The advice to grab commentaries as you need them is good. I too prefer Biblical to Systematics. I usually use JFB. It's free online and does a good job of explaining words and linking parts of scripture together. The Baker Commentary on the Bible is a good one-volume set that has good historical and biblical content.

I find that a good study of the Bible does a much better job than me relying on what others have written. I've read alot of theologians, but not their commentaries. (Well, I've read some of them. I thought that I needed them, but i was wrong.) I find their writings about their struggles with the heretics, historical analysis, and their dealings with the church to be much more informative and useful.

And for once I will say that that is just my 2 cents.

__________________
Timothy Johnson
First United Presbyterian of Moline
PCUSA (Yea, I know)
Theology/Philosophy Sunday School Teacher
Davenport, IA

This thread just inspired me to order John Calvins commentary on Romans, Galatians and Ephesians.

Ok I admit it, I dont have any of his commentaries yet I call myself by the name 'calvinist'! I do have institutues though. lol

__________________
"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent." John Calvin

John from Scotland
Denomination: Attending Baptist church
Confessional Subscription:London Baptist Confession
Blog: [url]www.three-streams.co.uk[/url]

This is, in my opinion, the most solid advice to be given on the subject. Heed Dennis' words!!!

__________________
Ben
Chaplain, US Army
Ft. Riley, KS
TE Ohio Valley Presbytery, PCA

Agreed!

__________________
Ivan R. Schoen, B.A., M.A., M.L.I.S.
Pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church (SBC)
Poplar Grove, IL, USA
http://maranatha-sbc.org

Also a Good guide to commentaries if you can find it is Spurgeon's Commenting AND Commentaries Banner of Truth. Not his small booklet commenting ON commentaries. The other is a hardback but as far as I know out of print. But he sites some of the best and some to avoid and explains the benefits of each.

So for historic works, this is great. You can get lots of good stuff from SWRB.com too.

And I like Hendriksen's for what is in it. And John Gill esp. in the OT except for his obvious deviation from the WC on govt and Baptism.

After you have Calvins, then pick up individual good ones, Like Goodwin, Phillip Daille, And most of the Banner of Truth Commentaries are a safe choice.

I believe the whole book is online at the Spurgeon Archives.

Thanks you guys! My church gives me some money every month for books and I am trying to work out a library that has a reformed influence. I have spent the last ten years collecting dispensation commentaries so you can imagine how frustrating it is to look at a library that is almost no help to me in solid exegesis. My one personal purchase was the Logos Scholars Library. I just ordered some books that i can't wait to get my hands on! two of them are some of the ones mentioned here in regards to commentaries on commentaries so i think these will help thanks again.

Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation [Paperback]
By: Henry A. Virkler, Karelynne Gerber Ayayo

New Testament Commentary Survey [Paperback]
By: D. A. Carson

Commentary and Reference Survey: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical and Theological Resources [Paperback]
By: John Glynn

Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, Revised Edition [Hardcover]
By: William W. Klein

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth [Paperback]
By: Gordon D. Fee, Douglas Stuart

Old Testament Commentary Survey [Paperback]
By: Tremper Longman III

I agree with Dennis whole-heartedly. It is well-balanced advice. I have several posts on this on my blog, including commentary recommendations for every book of the Bible. Here and here.

__________________
Rev. Lane Keister
Teaching Elder, PCA, North Dakota (working out of bounds in a CRC and an RCA church)
http://greenbaggins.wordpress.com
http://brahmsgreenglove.blogspot.com
http://accenttranslation.blogspot.com
Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?