How to Use a Bible Commentary the Right Way

Have you ever been reading your Bible and suddenly come across a passage that makes you stop and think, What does this mean?

Maybe there is a historical detail you do not understand. Perhaps a word seems unclear. Or you have read the passage several times but still cannot see why the writer said what he did.

This is where a Bible commentary can be a wonderful help.

I have used commentaries many times over the years. There are passages where a good commentator has pointed out a historical detail, explained a difficult phrase, or brought attention to something I had completely missed.

But there is also a danger. We can become so accustomed to reading what someone else says about Scripture that we stop wrestling with the biblical text ourselves.

That is why learning how to use a Bible commentary is just as important as choosing a good one. A commentary is a tool. It can help us understand Scripture more clearly, but it should never become our authority.

The Bible is God’s Word. A commentary is someone’s explanation of God’s Word.

That distinction should guide the way we use it.

What Is a Bible Commentary? 

A Bible commentary is a resource that explains and interprets the biblical text.

Depending on the commentary, you may find historical and cultural background, explanations of difficult passages, information about the original languages, theological observations, cross-references, and discussions of different interpretations.

Some commentaries cover the entire Bible. Others focus on a particular book, such as Romans, Daniel, or Revelation.

They also vary greatly in depth.

A devotional commentary may offer a short explanation and practical application. A pastoral or expository commentary may walk through a passage in greater detail. A technical commentary may spend considerable time discussing Hebrew or Greek words, historical evidence, textual questions, and different scholarly interpretations.

Knowing what kind of commentary you are using matters because not every commentary is written for the same purpose.

A beginner looking for help understanding a difficult chapter does not necessarily need a highly technical scholarly volume.

The important thing is finding a resource that serves the question you are actually trying to answer.

A Commentary Should Come Alongside Your Bible 

This is probably the most important principle in this entire article.

Read the Bible before you read the commentary. 

I know how tempting it can be to do the opposite.

You come across a difficult verse, search for it online, and immediately start reading what various commentators say. Before long, you have five explanations in front of you, and you are trying to remember which one you were supposed to believe.

There is a better way.

Read the passage yourself first. You do not need to understand every detail. You are simply becoming familiar with what the text actually says before allowing someone else’s interpretation to shape your thinking.

Your existing Bible study methods can help you here. If you are still learning how to examine Scripture carefully, my guides on biblical hermeneutics and reading Bible verses in context can help with that foundation.

Then, when you open a commentary, you are not approaching the passage with an empty mind. You have already read it. You have noticed things. You have questions. And now you are ready to learn.

Know What You Are Looking For 

One of the easiest ways to use a commentary well is to have a question in mind.

Perhaps you are studying a passage in Daniel and want to understand the historical setting. Perhaps you are reading one of Paul’s letters and want to know what situation he was addressing. Maybe you are confused about a particular phrase or want to understand why some translations word a passage differently.

A commentary can help you investigate those questions.

Instead of simply asking, “Tell me what this verse means,” try asking: What information am I missing?

That small change makes a difference. Sometimes the problem is not that the Bible is unclear. We simply lack some background information.

A commentary may explain the customs, geography, history, language, or circumstances behind a passage and suddenly something that seemed confusing becomes much clearer.

Remember That Commentators Are Interpreters Too 

This is where discernment becomes especially important.

When you read a commentary, you are reading another person’s interpretation of Scripture. That person may be extremely knowledgeable. They may have years of biblical training. They may have written books that have helped thousands of Christians.

But they are still human. They can make mistakes.

They can misunderstand a passage. They can overlook something important. They can allow a theological framework to influence their interpretation. They can also become more confident about a conclusion than the biblical evidence warrants.

That does not mean we should distrust Bible commentators. It means we should learn from them without surrendering our discernment to them.

There is a significant difference between saying, “This commentator explains the passage well, ” and saying, “This commentator must be right because he is a respected scholar.” 

Respect scholarship. Learn from experience. But keep Scripture in its proper place.

Learn to Separate Scripture from Interpretation 

This is one of the most useful habits you can develop when reading a Bible commentary.

Sometimes a commentator is explaining something the Bible states very clearly. Other times, the commentator is drawing a conclusion from several observations. Those are not exactly the same thing.

For example, Scripture may clearly tell us what happened in a passage. A commentator may then explain why he believes it happened in a particular way.

The first is biblical fact. The second involves interpretation.

That distinction becomes particularly important when studying passages where Christians disagree. We should not present every commentator’s conclusion as though God Himself had spoken those exact words.

A good Bible student learns to ask: What does Scripture clearly say? 

Then: What is this commentator concluding from what Scripture says?

That simple distinction can protect us from many unnecessary arguments.

How to Choose a Good Bible Commentary 

Not every commentary will be equally useful for every Bible study. Before depending on a particular resource, consider a few things.

1️⃣ Who wrote it? 

Learn something about the author. What is the person’s background? What kind of biblical training or ministry experience do they have?

This does not mean someone without formal theological education has nothing valuable to say. Nor does a degree automatically make someone correct. It simply gives you useful context for understanding the resource.

2️⃣ What theological perspective does the author hold? 

Every commentator has theological convictions. Some may be Reformed. Others may be Arminian. Some may be dispensational. Others may approach prophecy from a different perspective.

You do not have to reject a commentary simply because the author does not agree with you on everything. In fact, reading different perspectives can sometimes sharpen your own understanding.

But you should know what you are reading.

3️⃣ Does the author explain the biblical text? 

A useful commentary should give you reasons for its conclusions. It should not simply say, “This verse means…” and leave you wondering how the writer arrived there.

Look for explanations grounded in the passage and supported by Scripture.

4️⃣ Does the author acknowledge legitimate differences? 

On some passages, faithful Christians genuinely disagree. A thoughtful commentator should be able to explain why different interpretations exist rather than pretending that every difficult question has an obvious answer.

This is particularly valuable when studying prophecy and other areas where several interpretive traditions exist.

5️⃣ Does the commentary send you back to Scripture? 

This may be the best test of all.

After reading a commentary, do you find yourself opening your Bible again?

Are you examining the passage more carefully? Are you noticing connections you missed before? If so, the commentary is serving its proper purpose.

What If Two Bible Commentaries Disagree? 

This will happen.

You may read one commentary that confidently argues for one interpretation and another that argues just as confidently for something completely different.

It can be frustrating. But disagreement does not mean you have failed at Bible study.

Instead of immediately choosing the explanation you like best, ask why they disagree.

Is there a difference in theology? Is a particular Hebrew or Greek word being understood differently? Are they approaching the historical evidence differently? Are they emphasizing different passages of Scripture? Do both commentators agree on the main truth while disagreeing about secondary details?

These questions help you move beyond, “Commentary A says this, but Commentary B says that.” You begin to understand the reasoning behind the interpretations.

And sometimes that process reveals something important: the disagreement may not be as large as it first appeared.

Be Careful with Difficult Doctrines and Prophecy 

This is where I believe Christians need an extra measure of discernment.

When studying topics such as election, baptism, spiritual gifts, the end times, Daniel, or Revelation, you will find commentators who strongly defend different positions.

A commentary can be extremely helpful in these areas. It can introduce historical perspectives, explain unfamiliar terminology, and help you understand how a particular interpretation developed.

But do not confuse confidence with certainty. A commentator may write with absolute confidence about an interpretation that other equally serious Bible students do not accept.

That should remind us to distinguish between what Scripture clearly teaches and what we believe Scripture best supports.

We should be willing to say, “The Bible clearly teaches this,” when it does. But where the interpretation is debated, we should also be humble enough to acknowledge that faithful Christians may reach different conclusions.

Discernment does not mean being suspicious of everyone. It means being careful about what we accept as biblical truth.

How to Use a Bible Commentary Step by Step 

So, how should you actually use a commentary during your Bible study?

Keep it simple.

Read

Read the biblical passage first. Do not begin with the commentary.

Observe

Pay attention to what you see in the text. You do not need to repeat an entire Bible study method here. Simply become familiar with the passage and notice what raises questions for you.

Question

Write down what you do not understand. What historical detail is missing? What word is confusing? What interpretation seems difficult?

Consult

Now open your Bible commentary and look for answers. Pay particular attention to explanations that address the questions you actually have.

Compare

If the passage is difficult or controversial, consult another reliable resource. Do not be afraid of seeing another perspective.

Verify

Return to Scripture. Ask whether the explanation actually fits the biblical text.

Record

Write down useful insights, questions, and conclusions. This gives you something to return to later and prevents your Bible study from becoming a collection of things you once read and promptly forgot.

The process is simple: 

Read. Observe. Question. Consult. Compare. Verify. Record. 

The commentary is part of the process. It is not the foundation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using a Commentary

There are a few habits worth watching for.

Opening the commentary before reading the passage. 

This can cause someone else’s interpretation to become your starting point.

Reading only the commentator’s conclusion. 

Look at the reasoning behind it.

Assuming a respected scholar cannot be wrong. 

Good teachers are still human teachers.

Using commentaries only to confirm what you already believe. 

Sometimes the most valuable thing we discover is that our understanding needs correcting.

Treating every interpretation as equally certain.

Some biblical truths are unmistakably clear. Others involve legitimate interpretation and debate.

Reading commentaries more than Scripture.

This is perhaps the easiest trap to fall into.

You can spend an hour reading books about the Bible and very little time actually reading the Bible.

We do not want that.

Let a Commentary Lead You Back to Scripture 

The best Bible commentary is not the one that makes you dependent on the commentator.

It is the one that helps you understand Scripture more clearly and sends you back to the biblical text with greater understanding.

That is what I appreciate most about a good commentary. It may point out something I overlooked. It may explain a historical detail I did not know. It may show me why a particular interpretation has been held by Christians for generations.

Sometimes it may even challenge something I thought I understood. And that is okay.

Bible study is not about proving that we were right before we opened the Bible. It is about being willing to let God’s Word teach us.

Let Scripture Have the Final Word 

There is nothing wrong with using Bible commentaries. In fact, they can be tremendously valuable tools for serious Bible study.

But we need to keep them in their proper place.

A commentary is not Scripture. 

It is not inspired. It is not infallible. It does not have the final authority over God’s Word.

When a commentary helps us understand the Bible, we should be grateful for it. When it raises a question, we should investigate. When two commentators disagree, we should examine the reasons.

And when a commentator’s conclusion does not fit Scripture, we should be willing to set that conclusion aside.

The Bereans give us a beautiful example in Acts 17:11. They listened carefully to what they were taught, but they also examined the Scriptures to see whether those things were true.

That is the attitude we need. We can listen. We can learn. We can ask questions. We can appreciate the wisdom of faithful teachers.

But ultimately, we return to God’s Word.

Final Thoughts 

I am thankful for good Bible commentaries.

There are passages I have understood more clearly because someone took the time to explain the historical setting, clarify a difficult phrase, or point out something I had missed.

But a commentary should never become a substitute for opening the Bible.

When you use one, keep your Bible open beside you. Read what the commentator says. Think about it. Check the references. Consider the reasoning. Compare another perspective when necessary.

Then look at the biblical text again. That is where our confidence belongs.

The goal is not to become dependent on commentaries. The goal is to become a more careful, discerning, and faithful student of God’s Word. 

Key Takeaway 

Use a Bible commentary to deepen your understanding of Scripture, not to replace your study of Scripture. Read the biblical text first, approach commentaries with discernment, distinguish biblical truth from human interpretation, and always return to God’s Word as your final authority.

Recommended Resource

If you’re ready to add a Bible commentary to your study resources, Warren Wiersbe’s The Bible Exposition Commentary is a helpful place to start. It covers the entire Bible in a clear, readable style and combines explanation of the text with practical application. As with any commentary, use it as a study aid and evaluate its interpretation against Scripture.

The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 2 Volumes By Warren W. Wiersbe Looking for a clear and practical Bible commentary? Warren Wiersbe’s commentary set explains the meaning of Scripture in easy-to-read sections while emphasizing practical application. Covering the entire Old and New Testaments, it includes introductions and outlines for each Bible book and provides helpful insights without overwhelming academic jargon. 📚 Buy on Amazon ✝️ Buy on Christianbook