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The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Old and New Testament edition): Preface


Authors' Bias | Interpretation: conservative

The Bible Knowledge Commentary is an exposition of the Scriptures written and edited solely by Dallas Seminary faculty members. It is designed for pastors, laypersons, Bible teachers, serious Bible students, and others who want a comprehensive but brief and reliable commentary on the entire Bible.

Why another Bible commentary when so many commentaries are already available? Several features make this two-volume set a distinctive Bible study tool.

First, The Bible Knowledge Commentary is written by faculty members of one school-Dallas Theological Seminary. This commentary interprets the Scriptures consistently from the grammatical-historical approach and from the pretribulational, premillennial perspective, for which Dallas Seminary is well known. At the same time, the authors often present various views of passages where differences of opinion exist within evangelical scholarship.

Second, this is the first two-volume commentary to be based on the New International Version of the Holy Bible (1978 ed.). The NIV is widely accepted as a translation that faithfully renders the biblical text into clear modern-day English. The Bible Knowledge Commentary thus becomes immediately useful as a companion to one's personal Bible study.

Third, this commentary has features that not all commentaries include. (a) In their comments on the biblical text, the writers discuss how the purpose of the book unfolds, how each part fits with the whole and with what precedes and follows it. This helps readers see why the biblical authors chose the material they did as their words were guided by the Holy Spirit's inspiration. (b) Problem passages, puzzling Bible-time customs, and alleged contradictions are carefully considered and discussed. (c) Insights from the latest in conservative biblical scholarship are incorporated in this volume. (d) Many Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words, important to the understanding of certain passages, are discussed. These words are transliterated for the benefit of readers not proficient in the biblical languages. Yet those who do know these languages will also appreciate these comments. (e) Dozens of maps, charts, and diagrams are included; they are placed conveniently with the Bible passages being discussed, not at the end of the volume. (f) Numerous cross references to related or parallel passages are included with the discussions on many passages.

The material on each Bible book includes an Introduction (discussion of items such as authorship, date, purpose, unity, style, unique features), Outline, Commentary, and Bibliography. In the Commentary section, summaries of entire sections of the text are given, followed by detailed comments on the passage verse by verse and often phrase by phrase. All words quoted from the NIV appear in boldface type, as do the verse numbers at the beginning of paragraphs. The Bibliography entries, suggested for further study, are not all endorsed in their entirety by the authors and editors. The writers and editors have listed both works they have consulted and others which would be useful to reader.

Personal pronouns referring to Deity are capitalized, which often helps make it clear that the commentator is writing about a Member of the Trinity. The word LORD, as in the NIV, is the English translation of the Hebrew YHWH, often rendered Yahweh in English. Lord translates Adonay. When the two names stand together as a compound name of God, they are rendered "Sovereign LORD," as in the NIV.

The consulting editors-Dr. Kenneth L. Barker and Dr. Eugene H. Merrill on the Old Testament, and Dr. Stanley D. Toussaint on the New Testament-have added to the quality of this commentary by reading the manuscripts and offering helpful suggestions. Their work is greatly appreciated. We also express thanks to Lloyd Cory, Victor Books Reference Editor, to Barbara Williams, whose careful editing enhanced the material appreciably, to Production Coordinator Myrna Jean Hasse, to Jan Arroyo, and other people in the text editing department at Scripture Press, who spent many long hours keyboarding and preparing pages for typesetting, and to the several manuscript typists at Dallas Theological Seminary for their diligence.

This two-volume commentary is an exposition of the Bible, an explanation for the text of Scripture, based on careful exegesis. It is not primarily a devotional commentary, or an exegetical work giving details of lexicology, grammar, and syntax with extensive discussion of critical matters pertaining to textual and background data. May this commentary deepen your insight into the Scriptures, as you seek to have "the eyes of your heart…enlightened" (Eph. 1:18) by the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit.

This book is designed to enrich your understanding and appreciation of the Scriptures, God's inspired, inerrant Word, and to motivate you "not merely [to] listen to the Word" but also to "do what it says" (James 1:22) and "also…to teach others" (2 Tim. 2:2).

John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck

"The Bible Knowledge Commentary will be welcomed by a wide spectrum of Bible students, from the beginner, who will find it easy to understand and easy to use, to the advanced, who will find it consistently thorough and reliable. The readable style, combined with careful scholarship, make this a Bible study aid I and others will add to our "most-used" shelf of books." Dr. V. Gilbert Beers, Editor, Christianity Today

"At last...a commentary we can all believe in. Sunday School teachers and many others at our church will find The Bible Knowledge Commentary extremely helpful!" Dr. David Jeremiah, Senior Pastor, Scott Memorial Baptist Church, El Cajon, California

"Consistency of approach, up-to-date scholarship, and real Bible study help make this a superior commentary. If other commentaries have disappointed you by their superficial comments, or their inconsistent interpretations, then this is the book for you." Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe, Associate Bible Teacher, Back To The Bible Broadcast

©1985 Cook Communications Ministries. The Bible Knowledge Commentary edited by John Walvoord and Roy Zuck. Used with permission. May not be further reproduced. All rights reserved.


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