The Importance of Reading Commentaries — Charles Spurgeon

“It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others. My chat this afternoon is not for these great originals, but for you who are content to learn of holy men, taught of God, and mighty in the Scriptures. It has been the fashion of late years to speak against the use of commentaries. If there were any fear that the expositions of Matthew Henry, Gill, Scott, and others, would be exalted into Christian Targums, we would join the chorus of objectors, but the existence or approach of such a danger we do not suspect. The temptations of our times lie rather in empty pretensions to novelty of sentiment, than in a slavish following of accepted guides. A respectable acquaintance with the opinions of the giants of the past, might have saved many an erratic thinker from wild interpretations and outrageous inferences. Usually, we have found the despisers of commentaries to be men who have no sort of acquaintance with them; in their case, it is the opposite of familiarity which has bred contempt. It is true there are a number of expositions of the whole Bible which are hardly worth shelf room; they aim at too much and fail altogether; the authors have spread a little learning over a vast surface, and have badly attempted for the entire Scriptures what they might have accomplished for one book with tolerable success; but who will deny the preeminent value of such expositions as those of [John] Calvin, Ness, [Matthew] Henry, [John] Trapp, [Matthew] Poole, and Bengel, which are as deep as they are broad? and yet further, who can pretend to biblical learning who has not made himself familiar with the great writers who spent a life in explaining some one sacred book?  Continue at Eric T. Young

“What Would You Say to My Husband if You were a Young Seminarian Again?”

Dear Students in the Gospel of Christ:

Recently, I was asked by a young wife and mother to write some thoughts on ministry reflections for her husband, a seminarian. Specifically, this godly young woman wanted me to answer the question, “As you look back on life and ministry, and where he is in life as a seminarian, what wisdom would you offer him as a husband, father, a man of God preparing for ministry? What would you do differently? What went well? What counsel would you give him? This will be my gift to him.” Well, perhaps she might have done better at Macy’s or with another minister, at least. But here is my reply. If the Lord could use anything in it in your life, then I would be most thankful.

“Here are some reflections on your wonderful question: As I look back on the season of life that your husband is in, I would…

…thank God even more for a faithful wife who was made by God to help me; with wisdom, insight into the challenges I face, the opportunities I have, and to listen better, more carefully, to her God-given intuitive understanding of how I could be a better father, husband and man of God.

…listen more and enjoy the changing cycles of growth in John Michael, our son. In short, enjoy the present stages in your little ones’ lives; soon they will pass. I have always told my son, all through his growing up, “Son, do you know what my favorite age is for a boy?” He soon learned that I would say his age back to him. Recently I asked him that and he told me, “Dad, I think it is (pause…): seventeen!!!” “Yes, Son. That is my favorite age for a child.” Yet don’t just say it, take time to soak up the unique blessings and challenges of every age.  Keep Reading >>>

Doctrine of Lord’s Supper: Recommended Reading

 

The Lord’s Supper, the meal that unites, has ironically been the source of much division and controversy throughout church history. It was, in fact, the primary source of division among the sixteenth-century Reformers. Numerous books have been written on the doctrine and practice of the Lord’s Supper. The following are some that I have found to be particularly helpful.

General Works

Robert Letham. The Lord’s Supper.  Letham’s book is a brief introduction to the Reformed doctrine of the Lord’s Supper. It is a good place to start for those wanting to get a basic grasp of the issues.

John Calvin’s Doctrine

John Calvin. Treatises on the Sacraments.  This volume is a reprint of volume 2 in Calvin’s Tracts and Treatises.  It contains a number of Calvin’s writings on the Lord’s Supper, although it does not include all of them by any means.  It serves as a helpful supplement to his work on the subject in his Institutes and commentaries. 

 

 

 

Read the rest HERE

Talking to Father

Keep Reading

"What I have learned from about twenty-years of serious reading is this. It is sentences that change my life, not books. What changes my life is some new glimpse of truth, some powerful challenge, some resolution to a long-standing dilemma, and these usually come concentrated in a sentence or two. I do not remember 99% of what I read, but if the 1% of each book or article I do remember is a life-changing insight, then I don't begrudge the 99%." Read the rest HERE

HT: Truth Matters

Do You Know What Your People are Reading?

My Narrow Mind (1)