Proclaimer Blog
The preacher’s new year’s resolutions #6
I will study the passage before opening a commentary
I am currently studying 1 Samuel and I have some wonderful commentaries. This book is particularly richly served with the NICOT volume (Tsumura) and the Apollos volume (Firth) particularly strong. And oh! The temptation to turn first to the commentary as though I’m sitting in one of their lectures taking copious notes. The temptation to allow them to form my opinions rather than working on the text myself, seeing patterns, asking questions – and using the commentaries as a help and check. This is the way to let the word do its work in me.
Resolved: I will study the passage before opening a commentary