Bible Commentary: Different Types and the Best for Beginners

Bible commentaries can be very helpful Bible study aids, but there are so many different ones that it is easy to get overwhelmed. Thankfully, there are different commentary styles for different levels of reading and Bible study.

Bible Commentaries can be divided into three categories: Exegetical, Homiletical, or Devotional. These categories can also be grouped by reading levels. There are technical, semi-technical, and non-technical commentaries available.

As you can see there are two ways of grouping Bible commentaries: by reading level or purpose. Let’s look at these categories and discover the best type of commentary for beginners.

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Exegetical Commentary

An exegetical commentary is typically more academic and technical in nature. They are typically written by scholars and theologians. Exegetical commentaries will include discussions of linguistic, theological, and historical issues.

Most exegetical commentaries are used to help a reader better understand a passage of Scripture in its original context. To see what the author’s intent to the original audience and discover it’s meaning from there. Examples of exegetical commentaries include:

Pillar New Testament Commentary Series

Due to its purpose, exegetical commentaries can be useful for pastors as they prepare for a sermon. They are also beneficial when determining the historical and cultural background of a passage when doing an inductive Bible study.

Speaking of inductive Bible study, if you want to learn to study the Bible in its original context, discover meaning, and apply it to your life, then you need to check out this complete and easy Inductive Bible study walkthrough. It’s a step-by-step guide, complete with an example.

Homiletical Commentary

Homiletical commentaries, also called expository commentaries, are focused around preaching and teaching. They are typically written by pastors with bible teachers in mind.

As such, they may walk through a book verse-by-verse offering commentary and other teaching aids such as notes, illustrations, stories, quotes, etc. Examples of expository commentaries include:

Warren B. Wiersbe’s “Be” Series

These are great semi-technical commentaries for someone growing in their Bible study habit. As they cover the historical and cultural backgrounds of exegetical commentary, but in a more reader friendly way. They also provide the reader with a clear sense of the meaning of Scripture.

Homiletical commentaries are a great introduction into developing a more serious Bible study habit without being overwhelmed by all the jargon of bible scholars. As such, they can be helpful in Bible study methods like the SOAP Bible study method.

Are you curious about how to get more out of your SOAP Bible study method? Then this article about the SOAP Bible study made simple will help. Expository commentaries can help you make more observations while doing SOAP.

Devotional Commentary

Devotional commentaries are non-technical and written with personal growth and application in mind. As such, they will offer the reader a basic explanation of Scripture and then focus on personal reflection and application.

Often they will include insights and inspiration to help readers apply the Bible to their lives. So, if you struggle knowing how to apply Scripture or want to learn how to live biblically, then consider a devotional commentary. Examples include:

Max Lucado’s “Life Lessons” Series

They are geared toward times of soul searching and spending time with God. If that is something that interests you, then you will also want to consider learning Lectio Divina, a Bible study method designed to bring you closer to God through a prayerful reading and meditation on scripture.

Whole Bible Commentary vs. Single Book Commentary

When it comes to getting a commentary for the first time there is a choice you may want to consider. Do you want a whole Bible commentary or a commentary that covers a single book of the Bible.

A whole Bible commentary can be a great resource if you are beginning to study the Bible for the first time. They are designed to provide commentary on the entire Bible, either in a verse-by-verse or passage-by-passage manner.

Whole Bible commentaries are useful for pastors, theologians, or beginner Bible students seeking to gain a deeper understanding of Scripture. There are pros and cons to both whole Bible commentary and single book commentaries.

	Pros	Cons
Whole Bible Commentaries	Consistency Useful Reference Big Picture Overview	Lack of Depth Limited Focus
Single Book Commentaries	In Depth Analysis Focused Study Clear Application	Limited Coverage Can Get Expensive

However, a commentary on a single book of the Bible covers just one book in the Bible (surprise, surprise). Typically, they can go a little more in-depth on a specific book than a whole Bible Commentary.

Single book commentaries offer an extensive look at a particular Bible book, or section of books. They offer a more complete analysis, interpretation, or insight than a whole Bible commentary might.

Single book commentaries can be useful for those seeking to gain a deeper understanding of a specific book’s message and themes. There are single book commentaries for pastors, theologians, and beginners alike.

The Best Commentary Type For Beginners

So, that we’ve looked at some of the different types of commentaries and compared and contrasted whole Bible commentaries with single book commentaries, lets talk about the best Bible commentary type for beginners.

If you are new to Bible study, then it is important that you find a commentary that is accessible, easy to understand and provides practical insights. After all, a commentary is meant to help Bible study, not make it boring.

As a general rule, beginners should stick with either expository or devotional commentaries. Expository commentaries will provide a clear and concise of a text’s meaning. Devotional commentaries will focus more on personal application.

While that’s a general rule, it is important that not all commentaries labeled expository or devotional are suited for beginners. So, here are some practical tips for choosing the perfect Bible commentary for you.