Editorial Note: If you are not proficient in Greek, you will find
this work considerably more useful than the following work by Alford,
because in this volume he translates the Greek and Latin into English.
While the "The Greek New Testament" is longer (e.g., English version
of 1John = 66 pages compared to Greek version = 94 pages
in part because the latter includes comments of more technical
nature), the substance of the commentary is otherwise similar to that
found in the "NT for English Readers".
Henry Alford's "The New
Testament for English Readers"
Henry Alford The Greek New
Testament
Commentary on 1Thessalonians
James Rosscup writes that "This was the great work in the life of
the versatile Dean of Canterbury. An outcome of this production was
the New Testament for English Readers (4 vols.). Alford was a
Calvinist, conservative and premillennial, though not dispensational.
He takes a literal interpretation of the thousand years in Rev. 20 and
has a famous quote there, is strong on sovereign election as in Ro
8:29, 30 and 1Pe 1:2, but, unfortunately, holds to baptismal
regeneration in such texts as Titus 3:5 and John 3:5. He shows a great
knowledge of the Greek text and faces problems of both a doctrinal and
textual nature." (Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
John
Piper writes ""When I’m stumped with a...grammatical or
syntactical or logical [question] in Paul, I go to Henry Alford. Henry
Alford...comes closer more consistently than any other human
commentator to asking my kinds of questions."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon writes that this text
"is an invaluable aid to the critical study of the text of the New
Testament. You will find in it the ripened results of a matured
scholarship, the harvesting of a judgment, generally highly impartial,
always worthy of respect, which has gleaned from the most important
fields of Biblical research, both modern and ancient, at home and
abroad. You will not look here for any spirituality of thought or
tenderness of feeling; you will find the learned Dean does not forget
to do full justice to his own views, and is quite able to express
himself vigorously against his opponents; but for what it professes to
be, it is an exceedingly able and successful work. The later issues
are by far the most desirable, as the author has considerably revised
the work in the fourth edition. What I have said of his Greek
Testament applies equally to Alford’s New Testament for English
Readers,* which is also a standard work." (Spurgeon,
C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries;
Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College,
Metropolitan Tabernacle)
James Rosscup writes that Barnes "includes 16 volumes on the Old
Testament, 11 on the New Testament. The New Testament part of this old
work was first published in 1832–1851. Various authors contributed. It
is evangelical and amillennial...Often the explanations of verses are
very worthwhile." (Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
C H
Spurgeon "Albert Barnes is a learned and able divine, but his
productions are unequal in value, the gospels are of comparatively
little worth, but his other comments are extremely useful for
Sunday-school teachers and persons with a narrow range of reading,
endowed with enough good sense to discriminate between good and
evil....Placed by the side of the great masters, Barnes is a lesser
light, but taking his work for what it is and professes to be, no
minister can afford to be without it, and this is no small praise for
works which were only intended for Sunday-school teachers." (Spurgeon,
C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries;
Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College,
Metropolitan Tabernacle)
James Rosscup
writes "This work (Gnomon), originally issued in 1742, has
considerable comment on the Greek, flavoring the effort with judicious
details about the spiritual life. It has much that helps, but has been
surpassed by many other commentaries since its day." (Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
Johann Bengel
The Critical English Testament Commentary on
1 Thessalonians
Represents Combination of Bengel's Gnomon (above) and
Comments
by more modern expositors (in brackets) to make this more usable for
those who do not read Greek. Not Futuristic on
Mt 24
Index to Mt-Rev Chapter
by Chapter
Charles
Haddon Spurgeon -- "'A Critical New Testament, so compiled as to
enable a reader, unacquainted with Greek, to ascertain the exact
English force and meaning of the language of the New Testament, and to
appreciate the latest results of modern criticism.' Such is the
professed aim of this commentary, and the compilers have very fairly
carried out their intentions. The whole of Bengel’s Gnomon is bodily
transferred into the work, and as one hundred and twenty years have
elapsed since the first issue of that book, it may be supposed that
much has since been added to the wealth of Scripture exposition; the
substance of this has been incorporated in brackets, so as to bring it
down to the present advanced state of knowledge. We strongly advise
the purchase of this book, as it is multum in parvo, and will well
repay an attentive perusal. Tischendorf and Alford have contributed
largely, with other German and English critics, to make this one of
the most lucid and concise commentaries on the text and teachings of
the New Testament" (Spurgeon,
C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries;
Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College,
Metropolitan Tabernacle)
The old functionality to
search by book still exists. Just type in the book only (like:
John or Gen. standard abbreviations are accepted) and you will get the
same functionality as the old site.
You can also search by
chapter like: John 1 or Gen. 2
You can also search by
simple or complex references like:
John Eadie Commentary on the Epistles to the Thessalonians Eadie is worth
checking - you have to "wade" through his lengthy,
"Greek rich" comments but will often uncover some excellent insights.
Enter Query below
to search articles in 29 conservative Theological Journals -
An annual $50
fee (click
here) is required to view the entire article but will
give you access to literally thousands of conservative articles.
Search by book You can also search by chapter like: John 1 or Gen.
2 You can also search by simple or complex references like:
James 1:2 or
Hebrews 1:1-3,6;
5:4
Net Bible Notes Commentary Notes
on 1 Thessalonians
Comment: These are
more technical notes on the New English Translation, but often yield
some very useful insights. The NET Bible is synchronized with the NET
Notes, Constable's Commentary, relevant articles on the Bible.org
website and 10 parallel translations.
Here are some
basic instructions on how to use the free online NETBible Notes
-
First click this link
(you may want
to open in a new window to follow the instructions - Hold you
pointer over
this link
and click your Right Mouse button to open menu - choose "Open in
New Window"). First notice that at the top there a tab or box
labeled "Matthew 1".
Click the down arrow
on the left side, select book and then the chapter of
interest. The Scripture opens to that Book and Chapter and the
NETBible Notes automatically synch with the Scripture. Note that
instead of the NETBible notes you can select Constable's Notes
which also automatically synch as you scroll down the NETBible
Scriptures. Click on the Grk/Heb tab and
hold your pointer over the Greek
(or Hebrew) words to highlight the English word in the NETBible (or
hold pointer over the English word to see the corresponding
Greek/Hebrew word).
The Articles tab
also synchronizes with the NETBible and retrieves articles found at
Bible.org that mention the NETBible verse you are studying
(articles open in a new window). You can
increase or decrease the font
size by holding down
your Control Key and scrolling your Mouse wheel up or down. Now
double click
on a word like "Abraham" in 1:2 and
note that you have a choice to view one of several
dictionary articles
on Abraham. Notice also that when you click on Abraham, the
Articles tab automatically looks up articles that contain the
specific chapter/verse associated with the name you clicked (in
this case the Articles tab synchs with Mt 1:2NET). The Names tab
gives brief descriptions of names (persons and places) mentioned in
the text (Interesting!) Finally, click the "Parallel" tab to
compare 10 different Bible translations! There is more but this should
get you started!
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge R A Torrey
1 Thessalonians
Note:
The best commentary on Scripture is Scripture (Compare
Scripture with Scripture)
and these cross references compiled by R A Torrey are the most
comprehensive work of this type, containing over 500,000 Scripture
entries. Use this tool to help Scripture interpret Scripture and
don't base your convictions on an obscure or isolated passage which
cannot be supported by more easily understood texts. Clear up problem
areas with the clear teaching of other Scriptures relating to the same
subject and always
check the context (Keep
Context King) to
make sure that the cross reference is referring to the same subject as
the original Scripture. The Puritan writer Thomas Watson said it this
way - "The Scripture is to be its own interpreter or rather the
Spirit speaking in it; nothing can cut the diamond but the diamond;
nothing can interpret Scripture but Scripture." See an
example of the value of
comparing Scripture with Scripture. See also
Use of Cross-References
John Walvoord
Commentary on the
Thessalonian Epistles The Dean of Modern
Prophecy Commentators Recommended
Resource
James Rosscup
writes "Written by the former President of Dallas Theological
Seminary, this expository work represents the premillennial
dispensational approach in the crucial passages on future things. It
is along the popular line and is not exegetically detailed." (Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
DOWNLOAD
InstaVerse
for free. It is an
easy to install and simple to use Bible Verse pop up tool that allows
you to read cross references
in context and in the
Version you prefer. Only the KJV is free with this download
but you can also download a free copy of
Bible Explorer
which in turn offers
free Bibles
that work with
InstaVerse,
including the excellent, literal translation, the English Standard
Version (ESV). Other popular versions are available for
purchase. When you hold the mouse pointer over a Scripture reference
anywhere on the Web (as well as offline in Word for Windows, email,
etc) the passage pops up immediately.
InstaVerse
can be disabled if
the popups become distractive. This utility really does work and makes
it easy to read the actual passage in context and not just the chapter
and verse reference.
DISCLAIMER: Before you "go to the commentaries"
go to the Scriptures and study them inductively (Click 3 part overview of
Inductive
Bible Study) in dependence on your Teacher, the
Holy Spirit, Who Jesus promised would
guide us into all the truth (John 16:13).
Remember that Scripture is always the best commentary on Scripture. Any
commentary, even those by the most conservative and orthodox teacher/preachers
cannot help but have at least some bias of the expositor based upon his training
and experience. Therefore the inclusion of specific links does not indicate that
we agree with every comment. We have made a sincere effort to select only the
most conservative, bibliocentric commentaries. Should you discover some
commentary or sermon you feel may not be orthodox, please email your concern. I
recommend that your priority be a steady intake of solid Biblical food so that
with practice you will have your spiritual senses trained to discern good from
evil (see notes
Hebrews 5:14).
