The Moody Bible Commentary

The new Moody Bible Commentary (MBC) is a large, handsome, well formatted, brief Bible reference work that includes useful intros, bibliographies and indexes. 80 maps, charts and sketches are also interspersed. For comparison purposes (see ***) the OT commentary is 1422 pages and the NT is 580. The advice section is last.ALTERNATIVESLike the MBC, many of the commentators below are associated with Dallas Theological Seminary.Believer's Bible Commentary (BBC) by William MacDonald (more devotional, NKJV)The Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC) by Walvoord and Zuck (more scholarly, NIV)Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary (NNIBC) by Radmacher, Allen & House (like Nelson's NKJV Study Bible)Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable (FREE online, more comprehensive, NASB)ILLUSTRATIONS*** The MBC includes 80 black and white illustrations. Compare that to the BBC at 77, the BKC at 167, and about 180 for NNIBC. So the MBC and BBC are almost equal, but the BKC and NNIBC have over twice as many diagrams.INDEXUnlike the competition, the MBC has Scriptural and topical indexes. But the topical index omits many entries such as Newell, Constable, chiasm (p 57), documentary hypothesis (p 25), Yahweh, dispensation (Eph. 3:2) and higher criticism (p 1450). The entry "sons of God, before flood" does not include the parallel passages of Job, Peter and Jude.HIGH HOPESBased on a similar work by Dallas Theological Seminary staff, the 2 volume Bible Knowledge Commentary, I had great expectations for this commentary by Moody's faculty. However for teaching and research, I have been disappointed in it's superficial and spotty coverage. The MBC also fails to address many obvious questions, apparent contradictions and translation issues. For example:OLD TESTAMENT (OT)In Genesis 6:2, the Moody Bible Commentary discusses 4 viewpoints of who the "sons of God" are. But it dismisses and misrepresents the angels view (fallen angels + women = giants). The MBC doesn't mention that the Greek Septuagint (LXX) translates "sons of God" as "angels" and "Nephilim" as "giants." The MBC doesn't mention that "sons of God" in Hebrew (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7) always refers to angels. The MBC doesn't mention that 1 Peter 3:19, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6 and 1 Enoch 6 support the angels view, or that all early Hebrew and Christian sources (Jubilees, Dead Sea Scrolls, Josephus...) supported the angels view as well. Even Moody Press's shorter 1962 "Wycliffe Bible Commentary" actually exegetes Genesis 6 with a Hebrew word study and relevant cross references. Inconsistently, the MBC does condone the angels view in Jude 6. Search for "DeanBible podcast Jude 6" for an exhaustive exegesis of this bizarre topic.The commentary on Joshua 24:30 fails to mention the longer reading, found in the Old Greek Translation, where Joshua was buried with the flint knives of Israel's circumcision. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary (NNIBC) does cover this.In 2 Samuel 10:6 the MBC uses "mercenary soldiers" to avoid explaining why some translations say "Syrians" (KJV, ESV) and others read "Arameans" (NASB, NIV). They are synonymous terms.In 2 Samuel 10:18 the MBC neglects to reconcile two discrepancies (700 versus 7000 and horsemen versus footmen) in the parallel passage of 1 Chronicles 19:18. Usually comparing the LXX solves the number issues in the OT.The MBC on 2 Samuel 15:7 doesn't give the manuscript evidence (Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, Syrian, Latin) for why some translations say "forty years" (KJV, NKJV, NASB) and others read "four years" (NIV, ESV, HCSB). A NKJV textual footnote for that verse says, "Septuagint manuscripts, Syriac, and Josephus read four."The commentary on 2 Samuel 16:7-8 doesn't tell us that a more literal translation of "worthless fellow" (NASB) is "man of Belial" (the wicked one) and that the priestly sons of Eli were also called "sons of Belial" (Satan). The MBC also wastes precious space discussing a liberal view that claims David may have been responsible for Saul's death, contrary to the Scriptures.*** At 1422 pages, the MBC OT commentary is longer than the BBC at 1150 pages, and the NNIBC at 1128, but shorter than the BKC at 1575.NEW TESTAMENT (NT)Whenever I open this commentary, to a passage that I've thoroughly researched, I'm more disillusioned.Instead of exegeting 1 Corinthian 11, the MBC dismisses the many timeless reasons Paul gives for head coverings, and writes it off as just a cultural practice. The connected "ordinance" (v 2, KJV) and much-practiced communion passage (v 23-26) receives a superficial gloss, with no comments on verse 26's implications for the imminent return of Christ.The very technical 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 needs to be covered one verse at a time. Instead, it is piled into one large 2 column section; paragraph by paragraph coverage at best. Much commentary for verse 3 is unexpectedly located 2 paragraphs after the verse 10 notes, almost an unlabeled separate article on rapture evidences (p 1893). The MBC makes no mention of the less-bias and interpretation-changing alternate-translation, in 2 Thes. 2:3, of "the departure" instead of "an apostasy," according to greek scholar Kenneth Wuest. Also no mention of the parallelism that demands verse 3 and 7-8 be interpreted the same way. The "departure" (v 3) and the removal of the restrainer (v 7) are the same event that precedes the revelation of the lawless one, mentioned in both verses (3, 8) as the second event.The Hebrews intro dismisses the apostle Paul as a possible author, even though the writer knew Paul's theology, friends and lingo. Furthermore, early compilations of Paul's letters included Hebrews!Commentary recommendations in the Bibliography for Revelation do not include the best scholarly classics by W R Newell, E W Bullinger and the newest FREE tome by Dr. Tony Garland, "A Testimony of Jesus Christ." All the MacArthur Commentary references may indicate a Lordship Salvation bias or Moody book promos.Since the MBC is based on the NASB translation, some authors may not discuss alternative translations (e.g. dispensation for stewardship) or the many longer NT readings found in the KJV, NKJV and World English Bible. Also concerning is that the NT commentators' use subjective and biased language when discussing manuscript variants (e.g. Mark 16:9).For better or for worse, the views of Bible critics are frequently covered. Consequently, the MBC has less space for positive exposition and application of the Truth. Banks train clerks to recognize the original bills, rather than endless counterfeits! Whole-Bible commentaries should focus on inductive study. Leave apologetics for the roomier and more academic single-book commentaries (e.g. Romans by Newell).*** At 580 pages, the NT commentary is shorter than many one or two volume commentaries (BBC 1183; BKC 979; NNIBC 634), but longer than most Bible handbooks.ADVICEThe MBC may be OK as a backup commentary. Moody alumni and Rydelnik fans will still want one. But skipping problematic passages, covering too many verses at once and a spotty index make the MBC seem like a rush job. It also takes too much space away from exegesis for long intros, side articles and critical rebuttals (e.g. Gen. intro). Until it is revised and expanded, with more exegesis in a verse by verse format, I doubt the MBC will become a much-quoted standard, like the BKC. Except for indexes, the BKC is superior to the MBC in every way.Before you buy the MBC, examine a kindle sample of Genesis or the FREE PDF sample of the Daniel and Romans commentaries. Also see reviews on the alternatives above. If the aforementioned problems matter to you, get a more reliable recent option of similar doctrine, format and size. After many years of use, I can highly recommend:Believer's Bible Commentary (BBC) by William MacDonald (more devotional, NKJV)andThe Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC) by Walvoord and Zuck (more scholarly, NIV)"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV"It shall greatly helpe ye to understande Scripture,If thou markNot only what is spoken or wrytten,But of whom,And to whom,With what words,At what timeWhere,To what intent,With what circumstances,Considering what goeth beforeAnd what followeth."John Wycliffe (1320-1384, Bible translator, church reformer, fire martyr)Copyright CBR of BibleLight Ministries.

Give good insight to Bible passages by sources I trust.

I like this product

This is one of the best commentaries have bought so far. I have like 3 and I love them all and this brings in a new view of information that gives very clear insight on scriptures.Makes me wanna shout: Oh how I Love the Lord! You won’t go wrong and you will get more than you pay for.God be with you as you all study the scriptures.May His power rest upon thee now and forever.I hope to see you all in heaven someday when we get there.Blessings.

Used for a Bible study on Ruth

Easy to understand and read.

It would be nice if it had larger font - it would be less straining to read

I use my commentary for my Bible study & Sunday school.

This is an excellent one volume commentary. Hardback. Quality binding. Written by conservative scholars with a pre-millennial disposition. Deals with many difficult passages. Superb introductions to each book of the Bible. Recommended

A very good commentary , handy one volume like believers bible commentary

This is an excellent one volume commentary. Having a commentary on the whole Bible in one volume is really helpful and the Moody Bible Commentary is very well done. I recommend it to anyone.Richard M Duffy (missionary)

Brilliant! Highly recommend it! Scholarly work, that is not afraid to look at the Jewish context of the Bible and bring out the biblical meaning.

As there are various contributors, you don't just get one point of view. I enjoy listening to Moody radio, so it's like having the regular speakers there with you.