Bible Teacher. Pastor.Educator.

20 things you'll never hear at your funeral. | Sammy Adebiyi

1. You know we really wish she gave less, risked less and served less.

2. Mummy and Daddy had a huge impact on my life because they made so much money. (greatest hits)

3. He had by far the best house and the newest nicest car in the neighborhood.

4. Nobody in the world has ever gone through what He went through.

5. You know what's amazing about this guy? He lived life to the fullest and he did it all on his own. He didn't even need anyone. (friendship) 

6.  She attempted and accomplished so many great things in her life but she never failed once. (fail)

7. My husband was so amazing because he was always right. I never heard him say sorry because He never had to say sorry. (sorry)

8. I wish dad would said he was proud of me less and I never understood why mom wanted to spend so much time with me. (disgraceful dad)

9. She changed the world by pointing out what was wrong with what others were doing. She never played on the team but she was a master critic of the game from the bleachers and the world is a better place for it. (shut up or play)

10. None of us would be here if He hadn't taken life too seriously. We are indebted to the fact that he never laughed, played or had any significant fun. (laugh) 

11. It's incredible how she managed to do great things for God without having to first be faithful in the small insignificant things. (waiting) 

12. My dad was the best in the world because he always made sure we lived way above our income.

13. She was so skinny and wore a size __. He was so ripped! (him)

14. He tried to be the best in the world at what he did and succeeded. There was none better. 

15. She stood for many things and was beloved by everyone. (haters)

16. He was always on fire for God. No deserts, doubts or waiting periods. Just mountain tops. (doubt)

17. Daddy was my hero because I never saw him cry or show weakness
. (dudes)

18. (S)he was so happy and lived a satisfying life because (s)he was GREAT in bed and experienced every sexual pleasure possible. (sex) 

via sammyadebiyi.com

How to use Bible Commentaries | HeadHeartHand Blog

The following is a summary of the lecture I’m giving today on how to use Bible Commentaries.

1. Use them
“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…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” (C H Spurgeon).

2. Use them for appropriate tasks
Commentaries vary in size, detail, level, and theological basis; they also have different roles in the exegetical process. The following classification is partly chronological – the first books are used earlier in the process than the latter books. (The books in brackets are OT focused and are merely exemplary not exhaustive).

• Critical: Emphasis on technical matters like the composition of the text rather than its meaning (e.g.  International Critical Commentary, some Word commentaries).
• Expository (Original Language): Close and detailed exposition of the text, usually requiring some knowledge of the original languages (e.g. some Word commentaries, New International Commentary on the OT, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Mentor series by Christian Focus).
• Expository (English): Stay close to the text but do not usually deal with critical issues and do not require original language knowledge (Focus on the Bible series by Christian Focus, Evangelical Press Study Commentaries).
• Summary: Do not explain everything but focus on main points and present conclusions rather than extensive arguments. Excellent summaries of a verse or passage’s teaching. Big is not always better. (e.g. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Bible Speaks Today).
• Classical:  Reputable commentaries from the past that usually do not deal with technical issues, but rather the theological meaning of the text (Banner of Truth Geneva series, John Gill, John Calvin).
• Applicatory: Suitable for lay-people, usually with more of an applicatory focus (NIV Application Commentary).
• Homiletical: Tend to be the result of sermon series or at least more sermonic in style (e.g. Welwyn, Dale Ralph Davis).
• Devotional: Extensive comments on spiritually rich texts. Focus on edification rather than critical or controversial issues (e.g. Matthew Henry).

3. Use recommended commentaries
Ask pastors and professors for their recommendations on various books. Weigh the recommendations. Just because a Word series’ commentary on one book is good does not guarantee that they are all good.

Spurgeon: “The best commentators are those who have written upon only one book. Few men can comment eminently well upon the whole Bible.”

There are many OT commentary guide books (e.g. Tremper Longman III, Douglas Stuart, Charles Spurgeon, etc). Here are some online recommendations:

• Joel Beeke’s best OT Commentaries
• Joel Beeke’s best NT Commentaries
• Best Commentaries
• Best Commentaries: Top 2 for each b

via headhearthand.org