Friday, December 02, 2005
Homiletic Reference Works
Pastors: what are the essential reference works on your bookshelf/computer for effective exegetical preaching?
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13 comments:
Bibleworks software- costs an arm and a leg, but it is very helpful.
I also get many miles from the IVP dictionary series. ("Dictionary of New Testament Background, Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, etc...)
For commentaries, rather than stick to one series, I pick up selections recommended by Dr. David Bauer whenever I can.
Essential? Well, an exhaustive concordance, Harper-Collins Bible Dictionary, International Standard Bible Enclyclopedia, at least two good scholarly commentaries, at least three different Bible translations.
If you can do Greek, a good word study or reference is handy also.
Textweek.com
New Interpreter's Bible Commentary
The Writings of the New Testament (Paperback)
by Luke Timothy Johnson
I would have to say that I use a combination of all of the above except Bibleworks.
I can't believe I'm the first to say this!!! Hahahaha!!!
Wait for it....
The Bible!
Accordance :-)
The IVP Essential Reference Library on CD-ROM. It has all the IVP dictionaries already mentioned. Anchor Bible Dictionary. Harper Collins Bible Atlas. I'll also second Wilks' suggestion of BRM. It's been extremely helpful as I compile my own library.
I used to buy books to help with my exegesis, but eventually realized I much prefer internet resources. Usually, sites/sources I hit are:
perseus.tufts.edu, which has a hyperlinked greek NT online with morphological analysis for each word
Chris Haslam's comments (montreal.anglican.org/comments)
PreachingPeace.org
textweek.com
Dylan's Lectionary Blog
Those are my most consistent hits.
I love Luke Timothy's "Writings of the New Testament" -- of course, I love Luke Timothy himself. A real sweetheart.
I use the The New Interpreter's Bible, The Word Commentaries and the Blue Anchor and the Red Anchor books. Interpretation series is good, but I like the Anchor better. The Harper Collins Bible Dictionary is good. Leander Keck's books -- esp. "The Bible in the Pulpit: The Renewal of Biblical Preaching" is excellent. Bruggeman's "Cadences of Home: Preaching Among Exiles" is another I go back to again and again.
I have used the ones in the Library quite a bit -- I actually have quite a patchwork of commentaries. No complete set of anything. Lea Keck's an expert on the letters of Paul, as is Luke Timothy, so I would chose something by them. Gail O'Day is my favorite writer on John, so I own a few of her books. Etc.
reverend mommy....quite a list of Candler folks...good choices.
The sagest advice my NT professors gave me (in undergraduate school) is to not buy books that agree with each other (it's a waste of money and you won't learn anything) and don't be a sucker and buy complete commentary sets. The quality of commentaries vary by author of the individual books (regardless of the editor/publisher).
I made the Bible suggestion only partly in jest. I don't know what homiletics text in seminary but Thomas Long (another Candler guy) suggests a model of preaching (In his book Witness of Preaching) that the preacher comes from the community to the text to bring a message back to the community. Which means, your understanding and interpretation should be as informed by you personally (as you are part of your congregational community) as it might be by other commentators. More than anything, you have to do the work yourself (with inspiration by the Holy Spirit).
Typo correction to make clear what I meant to write:
Where I wrote: "I don't know what homiletics text in seminary but Thomas Long"
should read: "I don't know what homiletics text you use in seminary but Thomas Long..."
d
Is this only for pastors?
On my bookshelf:
Matthew Henry
Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures
John MacArthur
J. Vernon McGee
Wilmington's Guide to the Bible
Wesley's Journal, Sermons, and Letters
William Barkley
Spurgeon's Treasury of David
Some of Kay Arthur's books and a little FF Bruce.
And on my laptop - e-sword and Warren Wiersbe's Be Series and Expository Series
And for Doctrine I love my Shirley Gutherie's "Christian Doctrine."
But I'm not a pastor. I just love to study.
Betty
Oh, I almost forgot. I've just discovered R.C. Sproul. I suspect he will soon be added to the "favorites" list!
Betty
Very good Betty. It's refreshing to see the laity take Bible study so seriously. But you're a Lay Speaker, right?
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