George Herbert on the Use of Commentaries

[bookslover]

The fourth means [for understanding Scripture] are commenters and fathers, who have handled the places controverted, which the parson by no means refuseth. As he doth not so study others as to neglect the grace of God in himself, and what the Holy Spirit teacheth him, so doth he assure himself that God in all ages hath had his servants, to whom he hath revealed his truth, as well as to him; and that as one country doth not bear all things that there may be a commerce, so neither hath God opened or will open all to one, that there may be a traffic in knowledge between the servants of God for the planting both of love and humility. Wherefore he hath one comment at least upon every book of Scripture, and ploughing with this and his own meditations, he enters into the secrets of God treasured in the holy Scripture.

-- George Herbert (1593-1633), The Country Parson, His Character, and Rule of Holy Life (1632), from Chapter 4, "The Parson's Knowledge".

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

 

[greenbaggins]

That's a great quote. Commentaries are dear to my heart. Spurgeon had good things to say about the use of commentaries as well (much along the same lines). It has to be a fairly stupid commentary not to have at least one thought that no one else has had on at least one passage.