News / Education
B&H releases complete Old Testament commentary
Last volumes finish lengthy project
"We at B&H see value in offering a resource that encourages teachers and preachers to engage with Scripture," said Steve Bond, senior editorial director for Holman Bibles and Bible reference at B&H Publishing Group.
"The Bible is a vast book that was written over a span of 1,000 years by 40 different authors living in different cultures who spoke different languages," he said. "The Holman Old Testament Commentary exegetes the text in such a way that it is applicable even in the 21st century."
The commentary features biblical exposition of chapters, life principles and applications, teaching outlines, deeper discoveries and discussion topics.
"This commentary is unique because it provides the teacher or pastor most all of the components they need to teach or preach a passage of Scripture," Bond said. "Many commentaries just have exposition and that’s very important, but the Holman commentary provides additional teaching aids like illustrations, historical references and supporting research."
The application focus is a unique feature to the commentary, he added
"The writers help teachers convey the message of the text in its original context, but also help them see the principle from the passage and how it applies throughout the week."
Bond said many pastors don’t have the resources to have a researcher on staff who can provide background material for sermons, but the commentary assembles these elements in one place so teachers and pastors have more time to pray, focus and let the biblical text do its work in them.
"All Sunday school teachers and pastors would like to have [a researcher] but it comes at a high price," he said. "Having the commentary is like having a personal researcher. This doesn’t mean that the teacher or pastor won’t look to other resources. These volumes just give the teachers a good start in preparing to teach and preach."
Bond said he is confident that the authors of the commentary offer clear exposition of the text.
"The commentary was written by authors who hold to inerrancy of Scripture and who are trustworthy Bible interpreters," he said. "I feel very confident in placing these commentaries in the hands of laypeople and pastors."
Steve Andrews, professor of Old Testament, Hebrew and archaeology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., wrote the commentary on 1 Samuel and carefully compared the Hebrew text with the New International Version before writing the volume.
"I have found that the study of the original languages enables one to be a better interpreter and expositor of the Word of God," Andrews said. "Doing this helps avoid doctrinal mistakes and the misinformed speculation of secondary literature. It also provides access to the best scholarly and devotional sources and gives the student of the Word the confidence to compare and evaluate the ancient and modern translations of the Bible."
Max Anders, creator and general editor of the Holman Old Testament Commentary, said understanding the Old Testament has the potential to renew spiritual vitality in churches.
"Our understanding of Scripture is increasingly shallow," Anders said. "Our appreciation of God is increasingly shallow. Our eternal perspective is increasingly shallow. Our Christlike character is increasingly shallow. Yet many people hunger for a deeper understanding of Scripture and a deeper walk with God."
Anders said as pastors and Bible teachers go more deeply into the Scriptures for their own lives, they can pass on a new spiritual vitality to the church. It is vital for teachers and pastors to have a proper understanding of the Old Testament for many reasons, he added.
Firstly, the Bible is one story of redemption from Genesis to Revelation.
"If we do not understand the Old Testament, we do not understand the first half of God’s story of redemption, and our appreciation for what God has done in Jesus is cut in half," he said.
Secondly, the Old Testament contains prophecies and promises fulfilled in the New Testament.
"When we understand the prophecies and promises, and see them fulfilled or expanded in the New Testament, we understand that the world is not spinning out of control, but is unfolding God’s profound plan to redeem and restore humanity," Anders said. "It helps us see that we can trust God no matter what."
Thirdly, the Old Testament was written "for our instruction" in New Testament times (Romans 15:4).
"From the story of the crossing of the Red Sea, we learn that God can deliver us when no solution to our problem is on the horizon," he said. "From Joseph we learn that our trials are preparation for God’s blessing and use. From David’s sin we learn that repentance will bring about restoration. We can learn how to live more biblically by studying the Old Testament."
Fourthly, the Old Testament is a picture of New Testament truth.
"The entire sacrificial system, as well as the layout of the tabernacle and temple, are physical things designed to picture sin, alienation from God, sacrifice, redemption and restoration to God," Anders said. "We have a stunted understanding of our hopeless condition in sin and our redemption in Jesus without an understanding of the Old Testament."
The Holman Old Testament Commentary and single volumes are available at LifeWayStores.com.
