Biblical Studies & Ministry Guide

What is a biblical commentary?

Biblical commentaries are one of the primary resources used when writing an exegetical paper. Most commentaries are published as sets, with a different volume for each book of the Bible.

Structurally, each volume will break down a book of the Bible by chapter and verse and provide an overview of various topics: historical context, use of original language, as well as general background information. Some sets may emphasize a pastoral approach while others are more technical. The focus of a specific paper or assignment will help you determine which set is best for you.

Commentary Set Examples

Commentaries: Where are they?

Commentaries in the MAIN collection are arranged in two different ways in the MAIN stacks. These copies can be checked out.

1. By set/series - The first place to look for a circulating copy of a commentary is by set. The majority of our commentaries are organized in order with their entire set. You will normally find the most complete holdings in MAIN available here.
    
2. By individual title/volume - The final place to look for a commentary is catalogued individually according to the specific book of the Bible. For example, the third copy of the Matthew commentary by Albright can also be found with Matthew volumes from other sets (in the 226.2 area).

Please note that we do not necessarily own more than the two set copies found in the MAIN Collection. You will find a copy cataloged by title/volume only if we happen to own an additional copy.

Need more help locating commentaries?