Bible Commentary

The Bible is the best-selling book of all time.

Between 5 to 7 billion Bibles have been published.

Bible Commentaries are exegetical works concerning the Bible. There are numerous commentaries both modern and also in the public domain. Some cover single books of the Bible, while others cover an entire testament or the entire Bible. Most include verse-by-verse commentary, and many also include chapter and/or book-level commentary as well. Some Bibles were also published with accompanying commentary notes (such as the King James, and Geneva Bibles), which are sometimes found as stand-alone commentaries. The following is an overview of stand-alone commentaries.

Adam Clarke's Commentary. Adam Clarke (1762–1832) was an British Wesleyan scholar, most famous for his commentary on the Bible, which he worked on for 40 years and completed shortly before his death. Originally published in six volumes of about 1,000 pages each, shortly thereafter. It served as a primary commentary used by Methodists for a century thereafter.

The Apocalypse by Joseph A. Seiss. A commentary on the book of Revelation published in 1865. This has a more modern/literal approach than many older commentaries.

Barne's Notes. Albert Barnes (1798-1870) was an American theologian and Presbyterian minister. His commentary on various books was published over his whole life with the complete set available by the end of his life.

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible. James Burton Coffman (1905-2006) was a distinguished minister, author, and biblical scholar. A 37 volume commentary on the Bible, completed in 1992.

Commentary on Matthew. By John Albert Broadus (1827-1895).

Illustrated New Testament. A commentary on the New Testament by John S. C. Abbott and Jacob Abbott, from 1878.

The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary was originally published in 1871. 66 Books have commentaries by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. John Gill (1697–1771) was an English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian. A total of 9 volumes were published by 1763.

Matthew Henry's Commentary is one of the most popular commentaries. It was originally published in six volumes (Henry completed the commentaries through the Book of Acts; his non-conformist supporters completed the remainder). A concise version in a single volume was also produced in 1706. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible — unabridged.

Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. By Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer (1800-1873), a German Protestant pastor and biblical scholar born in Gotha.

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments. Joseph Sutcliffe (d. 1856), M.A., was an English Wesleyan minister.

Synopsis of the Books of the Bible. By John N. Darby (1800-1882), a British-Irish theologian, an influential figure in the development of Christian fundamentalism, and a key founder of the Plymouth Brethren movement. Five volumes originally in French.

Targums

Targums are paraphrases or verbal glosses written by Jewish Scholars. Not commentaries in a modern sense, but served a similar purpose in the ancient world.

The Targum Yerushlemey contains a paraphrase, in corrupt Chaldee, on select parts of the five books of Moses.

The Targum ascribed to Jonathan ben Uzziel embraces the whole of the Pentateuch but, in the words of Adam Clarke, includes ridiculous and incredible fables.