When reading passages and attempting to understand the works within the scriptures, it’s good to read about other ways of interpreting them. This is where Bible Commentaries can prove useful to scholars of the faith and those who want to gain a deeper level of knowledge regarding biblical works. However, different types of Bible Commentaries can be used by the studious to find different viewpoints on the same verse.

There are different ways to categorize Bible Commentaries depending on reading level, usage, and even the theological concepts they tackle. A piece of Bible Commentary can be meant to introduce viewpoints or expand upon them. They may also be focused on different sects of faith such as Arminian, Baptist, Reformed, and others.

We’ll be going in-depth about the different ways to categorize types of bible commentaries. Along with that, we’ll also be discussing other topics related to bible commentaries such as the difference between studying bibles and commentaries. Hopefully, this will help you to understand each one’s usage and how you can use them to make studying the word of god simpler to take into heart.

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Types Of Bible Commentaries

There are many ways to go about categorizing Bible Commentaries. You can sort them through the content they carry, the sect of theology they follow, and the reading level of the commentary itself. We’ll be discussing them all so that you’ll have a better understanding of how they can help you learn more about the faith.

Reading Level

First, we’ll be taking a look at Introductory commentaries. These make the assumption that the reader does not have any prior knowledge regarding the Bible. Its purpose is to introduce the lessons within the scripture and create a foundational basis from which one can expand further. Along with that, Introductory commentaries act as a complement to the scripture that eases readers into it.

Next up is the Mid-Level commentaries containing a bit more information compared to the Introductory ones. However, they are still mostly meant to help those unfamiliar with reading biblical works. One difference is that you can find Pastors preferring these sorts of commentaries when they preach to their congregation. These are also one of the more common kinds of Bible Commentaries.

Academic-level texts and Scholarly texts require an understanding of the faith at a seminary level. Not intended for typical settings, these discuss the bible with consideration to the original language of the texts. Along with that, these sorts of Biblical commentaries are meant for other academics and scholars to further their research and build up to a better understanding of the scriptures.

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Content

Now, we’ll be looking at Bible Commentaries as they’re sorted by the content they have. First of these categories is the Devotional commentary which focuses on application. If you want to study how bible concepts can be used in daily life, these will be the best types of bible commentaries to study. They’re made to be relaxing and meant to focus on a personal perspective, making them easier to digest.

Homiletical types of bible commentaries are similar to the contents of sermons given by preachers and priests. These also focus on applying biblical lessons to daily life while also helping other preachers prepare their own homilies. These tend to be a good option for those who want an in-depth look at Bible lessons without having the depth and understanding of a seminarian.

Exegetical commentaries differ from the last two categories because they attempt to unlock the original meaning behind the writer’s words. These make use of the original texts, citing the Hebrew and Greek versions of the passages they’re discussing. Exegetical commentary writers also make use of historical references and other scholarly arguments to reason why certain passages were written the way they were.

Theological Texts

Different from the other kinds of categorization we’ve discussed, this section groups bible commentaries according to theological denominations. Each one aims to bring the word of god closer to its readers and have them understand many of the lessons hidden within. For example, Arminian writers tend to be more technical with their works while Baptist writers have written for various categories of Bible Commentaries.

Since there are all sorts of theological denominations, there are many opportunities for the faithful to see how different sects understand common passages. From there, you can build your knowledge further and help your community to grow as well in faith. Knowledge is wealth and being open to other viewpoints can aid any learner in discovering the way forward with their theological lives.

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Difference Between A Study Bible and Bible Commentaries

Study Bibles and Bible Commentaries are both used by all sorts of people to learn further about the scriptures. However, it’s also important to understand why these are used and the difference between both of them.

A Study Bible helps readers of the scriptures due to the addition of resources and notes. If you’re grabbing a non-digital copy, you’ll find the author’s notes below the text itself for easy reference without switching pages. The notes themselves could discuss the historical context behind the passage and even background information. Others go further with the inclusion of references to other parts of the bible and even geological information about the area.

Bible Commentaries are usually found in separate books and even entire book series. Sometimes, authors may even dedicate an entire volume to just one book of the bible. If you’re seriously considering the usage of Bible Commentaries, you may want to look into easily accessible electronic versions of the Commentary series. Although there are also single-volume versions, they’ll be packed with information that you’ll need to study slower than a study bible.

Either way, you can be sure that these 2 resources can help you to understand more about the bible’s context, lessons, and messages. Understanding it can help bring a sense of clarity to one’s faith and may even help you teach the words of god to others in need.

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