A commentary book to go with the NIV bible? (vanity)

me

[Leaning Right]

I'm looking for a good commentary book to go with the NIV bible. I like the Standard Lesson Commentary series, but it jumps around too much for me. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

And any larger-print suggestions would be doubly appreciated!

[Gamecock]

What is your theological perspective as far as eschatology goes?

[Leaning Right]

Thank you for your response. But I’m not quite sure how to answer your question, as I have never tried to categorize myself in that regard. It is something I will have to consider further.

[Genoa]

Maybe you should get a good study Bible that uses the NIV. There’s a new one edited by a team led by D.A. Carson. https://www.amazon.com/NIV-Zondervan-Study-Bible-Hardcover/dp/0310438330/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471544642&sr=8-1

[Gamecock]

Most study Bibles will separate out between a Premil Dispensation perspective and a more amill/postmil view.

Once you decide where you fall out on that it will make it easier to make a good reccomendation for you.

Personally I like the ESV Study Bible and the and the Reformation Study Bible.

The latter had a Reformed understanding of stuff and is also ESV.

[Jemian]

I would like you to consider a different Bible altogether. The NIV is a looser translation, but the English Standard version, the New American Standard version, and the Geneva Bible all employ more specific words in the translations and are, perforce, closer translations to the original languages.

JMHO

[HarleyD]

I’m not sure why the Bible translation should make a difference in which commentary you should use. There are a number of good commentaries I would suggest such John Gill, Matthew Henry, John Calvin, or even John MacArthur. (Although MacArthur has only a commentary set for the New Testament.) None of these uses the NIV but they are some of the best commentaries I have found.

The NIV is a good translation. If you would like to try to be as accurate as possible in your translation, you might try Bible Gateway or e-Sword which often shows the Greek or Hebrew and provides you with the exact translation.

[TRY ONE]

Our Church Favors Either:

The New American Standard Bible (NASB)- The Ryrie Study Bible is Good

or

The New King James Version (NKJV) - The Nelson Study Bible is Good

[the_Watchman]

I assume that you are asking for a single book commentary. However, the best commentaries are multiple volume series written by various authors who specialize in the books they illuminate.

According to BestCommentaries.com a couple of the best series would be New International Version Application Commentary (NIVAC) and the New International Version Old Testament and New International New Testament (NICOT & NICNT).

The NIVAC is less technical and probably would be better suited to someone who was not pursuing a seminary level education. It also focuses on Biblical application to life situations.

The NICOT & NICNT series is higher rated, but it has a lot of content which is useful only for deep dives into Biblical texts. For instance, long discussions about when particular books were written.

I just spent a lot of money fleshing out my NICOT / NICNT collection. I already own the NIVAC series.

BestCommentaries.com does not have a category for single volume commentaries because they are usually too shallow for serious academic study.

For single volume works I would recommend the free Faithlife Study Bible which can be downloaded from logos.com and read on PC’s, MAC’, iPad’s, and Android devices. A study Bible will provide notes which enhance the understanding of context and suggest related readings, but it will not delve very far into application of the text.

I would also recommend the Archeological Study Bible which can be acquired for NIV. I used this extensively when teaching through the Old Testament. The Application Study Bible may be more what you have in mind.

Here’s a link to a reputable book seller with NIV Study Bible recommendations:
http://www.christianbook.com/page/bibles/translations/niv/niv-study-bibles

[Romans Nine]

I would encourage another translation as well.

Matthew Henry for your first commentary.
You can buy the whole Bible commentary in a three volume set.

Matthew Henry to use online;
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/toc/

John Gill online;
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/

Many are available online.

I would recommend you seek some guidance from someone you trust about which authors you will use because you can be easily lead astray from men who write eloquently but are not sound in their doctrine and theology.

[chesley]

Interesting thought.

I'm premil, myself, but I have a wealth of commentaries and study Bibles from that persepctive.

What would recommend as a good a-mil or post-mil perspective?

[Ouderkirk]

You should be using the King James Version.

The language is more precise. It’s harder to read until you get used to it, but it is better

[the_Watchman]

Maybe you should get a good study Bible that uses the NIV. There’s a new one edited by a team led by D.A. Carson. https://www.amazon.com/NIV-Zondervan-Study-Bible-Hardcover/dp/0310438330/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471544642&sr=8-1

I would second this! D.A. Carson is the lead editor, and everyone on the team is really good. R.C. Sproul once introduced D.A. Carson as the best living scholar on the New Testament.

[Romans Nine]

“I’m not sure why the Bible translation should make a difference in which commentary you should use. There are a number of good commentaries I would suggest such John Gill, Matthew Henry, John Calvin, or even John MacArthur. (Although MacArthur has only a commentary set for the New Testament.) None of these uses the NIV but they are some of the best commentaries I have found.

The NIV is a good translation. If you would like to try to be as accurate as possible in your translation, you might try Bible Gateway or e-Sword which often shows the Greek or Hebrew and provides you with the exact translation.”

I agree with you on this and would add that a few different translations sometimes help in understand the thrust or intent of the original Greek and Hebrew.

It is important to pick one translation and stick with reading it as your primary Bible. I have seen students that would get very mixed up quoting verses because they had not done this and they have mangled verses stuck in there head.

[usafretired]

Nelson has an NIV and half the page is commentary. No need to have a separate book.

[Romans Nine]

Oh yes the “Authorized Version”.

Which should he use the first, second, third, fourth , or fifth?

Just Kidding!!! I appreciate the KJV but I really can’t stand the shallow thinking by the KJV only crowd. I believe it really compromises many men that are otherwise extremely faithful expositors of the Word of God.

Some men, while they will not state it outright, behave like the KJV is the “Inspired” translation.

[Gamecock]

I think both the ESV Study Bible and the Reformation Study Bible are good ones to have on you study desk.

[wetickel]

I have been buying and consulting Study Bibles for years, and the NIV Zondervan Study Bible is, far and away, the best I have ever seen. Evangelical in origin and tone, it stresses Theology over Apologetics in a most wonderful way. I am an Eastern Orthodox Christian, and not totally in the Evangelical camp, but I have still profited very much from it. D.A. Carson’s editorship, plus the solid aesthetic appeal of it, make it a great choice.

[Col Freeper]

Take a look at: http://www.e-sword.net/

It has free down-loadable copies of Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries, etc.

All free.

I use it when I'm perusing the FR Religion Forum and an argument over what a particular Bible version says in a particular verse(s) (as opposed to another Bible).

I also find the books they have on biblical terms, plants, etc. to be very useful and interesting.

[monkeywrench]

Thanks for putting that link up.