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Spurgeon on the Use of Commentaries
August 17, 2007 |
Posted by prognosko · Filed Under Folk Theology, The Theology Program, Christian Life, General Discussion, Plugs
“Of course, you are not such wiseacres as to think of ways that you can expound Scripture without assistance from the works of divines and learned men who have labored before you in the field of exposition. If you are of that opinion, pray remain so, for you are not worth the trouble of conversion, and like a little coterie (1) who think with you, would resent the attempt as an insult to your infallibility. It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others.” (C. H. Spurgeon, “Introduction to Biblical Interpretation“)
I hate to even write anything else after that since Spurge has said it so well. Not that I’m trying to plug The Theology Program or anything, but I have to say that before taking TTP, I once was one of those “wiseacres” and a member of that “coterie”. I am grateful for men like Spurgeon, who was an incredible pastor and exegete, as well as many others who have contributed so much to my Bible studies.
It’s really quite amusing, however, that Spurgeon commented on the same problem of an anti-intellectual attitude that we still see today. What’s worse, it was and is today often couched in arrogant spiritual jargon: “I don’t need to read [insert author or commentary] — the Holy Spirit teaches me.” Don’t forget that good resources are not restricted to books: what about our Sunday Schools? our pastor? our brothers and sisters in Christ? While these may not rise to the level of Leon Morris, we can learn from and with each other, even sharing what we’ve learned from the Morrises, the Spurgeons, the Wallaces, and even the Pattons 
.
– Richard
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(1) Coterie: group of people who think alike (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/coterie)
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The Pattons rock!
Who? Just kidding Michael. ;^)
I really like that quote and it I know a few folks who are one of the coterie to whom Spurgeon refers.
What I find hard is to know when to trust the commentaries, and when not. When is the Holy Spirit teaching something to me directly through my study of Scripture vs when is he teaching something to me through a commentary? If they all agree then it’s easy - when someone disagrees… ??? It’s not safe to assume that I get it right all the time (that ignores what the Holy Spirit teaches others) and it is equally not safe to blindly trust commentaries to get it right all the time (that ignores what the Holy Spirit could be teaching me and assumes all commentaries agree on everything ;^)).
Thoughts?
-steve
Steve,
You’re absolutely right in the need to have not just any resources, but *good* resources. Before I read or buy a book, etc., I ask people I trust on their opinion of the author. In fact, just today I was about to listen to a lecture that I saw advertised on Logos’ website. Must be good, right? Well, maybe, but I learned that the speaker had been a longtime member of the Worldwide Church of God, which is sometimes called Armstrongian (after its founder, Herbert Armstrong). I don’t know much about what they teach, but I’ve heard enough hokey stuff that I won’t bother listening to them when I already have Thomas Schreiner on my MP3 player.
– Richard
Richard,
Totally agree that we need to check out our resources and verify that they have a general trustworthiness. Absolutely.
I think my question was a bit different in that I was wondering what happens when we look at Scripture and we see (or think we do) that the commentary and Scripture don’t agree. (And it is a commentary that we generally trust.)
How do we proceed? Do we assume that we’re wrong? Do we assume that Michael^H^H^H^H^, I mean, the “teacher” is wrong? ;^)
-steve
[…] Euangelion) Technorati Tags: Spurgeon, commentaries, faith, […]
You read Michael’s stuff? Well, that was your first mistake!
Seriously, I think there is much to be said at looking at how both Calvinists and Arminians have viewed scripture, or egalitarians and complementarians, or Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestants, or other traditions as well. I can see how unsettling it could be to see how a resource you trust seems to really miss it. I have Thomas Oden’s Systematic Theology, and he has some great things to say, but as a reformed thinker, I disagree with his views on election.
I guess it starts to sound like truth is found in the majority opinion, which of course it isn’t, but if it is a resource I trust, I would see if perhaps I have misinterpreted their arguments. In then end, though, sola Scriptura.
– Richard
Richard,
I think you summed up my thoughts there pretty well. I probably tend towards the majority opinion, but then when I realize I’m doing this it concerns me. And, when I further realize that I’ve probably limited my scope to writers I tend to agree with more (as I like their work better ;^) it concerns me further.
I guess I really just dont want to become parochial in my views and shut the doors but at the same time I dont wish to open them so wide that any ole thing can wander through. ;^)
-steve
It seems like Spurgeon is implying that we should assume that all divines speak for God.
The basis of Spurgeon’s criticism is not that “the coterie” ignores the divines. The basis of Spurgeon’s criticism is that the coterie ignores God, Who speaks through the divines.
But this is the question - Does God speak through the divines? Or, to put a sharper point on it, “How do we know that God speaks through this or that divine?”
BTW: I’m a Spurgeon fan and, no doubt, there is wisdom in seeking out the theological views of Christian thinkers (divines), and folly in ignoring them. However, I just wondered if there isn’t a hint of question-begging in Spurgeon’s comment.