In this edition of the Preaching Coach podcast, Dr. Allen shares his advice for choosing commentaries for your ministry library.


Related Preaching Coach Podcasts:

• How To Become A Better Reader: Part 1
• How To Become A Better Reader: Part 2
• How To Build Your Preaching Library

Dr. Allen’s Commentary Suggestions
This is not an exhaustive list. These are highlights of people you ought to read.

• Figures in Church History to Read if Time Allows
  • John Chrysostom
  • Augustine of Hippo
  • Origin •Martin Luther
  • John Calvin
  • Puritan Preachers
  • John Wesley
  • Charles Spurgeon
  • Martyn Lloyd-Jones
  • John Stott Commentary or Sermon Series
  • Charles Simeon – Expository Sermon Outlines
  • Alexander Maclaren – Expositions of Holy Scripture
  • G Campbell Morgan – Westminster Pulpit
  • James Montgomery Boice
  • Kent Hughes – Preaching the Word Series
  • John Phillips
• Commentary Series
  • Warren W. Wiersbe – be series or Bible Exposition Commentary
  • Baker Old Testament and New Testament Exegetical Commentary
  • The Bible Knowledge Commentary
  • The Bible Speaks Today
  • The Concordia Commentary Series
  • The Expositors Bible Commentary Series & Revised
  • The Exegetical Guides to The Greek New Testament
  • The IVP New Testament Commentary
  • The New American Commentary Series
  • The New International Commentary on the Old Testament and New Testament
  • The NIV Application Commentary Series
  • The Pillar New Testament Series
  • The Tyndall Commentary Series
  • The Word Biblical Commentary Series
  • The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
  • The Big Greek Idea Series
  • Lexham Press – The Evangelical Exegetical Commentary Series
  • The Summer Institute of Linguistic Commentary Summaries
  • Kerux Commentaries by Kregel
  • The Story of God Commentary
• List of Commentary Surveys
  • Cyril J. Barber – The Minister’s Library
  • Kenneth L. Barker, Bruce K. Waltke – Bibliography for Old Testament Exegesis and Exposition 3rd edition
  • David R. Bauer – An Annotated Guide to Biblical Resources for Ministry
  • D.A. Carson – New Testament Survey
  • Brevards S. Childs – Old Testament Books for Pastors and Teachers
  • Frederick W. Danker – Multipurpose Tools for Bible Study
  • John F. Evans – A Guide To Biblical Commentaries and Reference Works
  • Joseph A. Fitzmyer – An Introductory Bibliography for the Study of Scripture
  • John Glynn - Commentary and Reference Survey: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical and Theological Resources
  • Kregel Publishing - A Classic Bible Study Library for Today
  • Tremper Longman III – Old Testament Commentary Survey
  • Ralph P. Martin - New Testament Books for Pastor and Teacher
  • Douglas Moo - An Annotated Bibliography on the Bible and the Church
  • Jim Rosscup – Commentaries for Biblical Expositors
  • David M. Scholer - A Basic Bibliographic Guide for New Testament Exegesis
  • Wilbur Smith – Profitable Bible Study •Charles Spurgeon – commenting and commentaries
  • Douglas K. Stuart - A Guide to Selecting and Using Bible Commentaries
  • Warren W. Wiersbe – A Basic L

A preacher's library by definition will be a theological library. However, a preaching library will have many kinds of works that are not strictly theological. In this episode learn Dr. Allen's eight principles for building your preaching library. Learn the major categories of books in his own library

Related Preaching Coach Podcasts:

• How To Become A Better Reader: Part 1
• How To Become A Better Reader: Part 2
• How To Choose and Use Commentaries

Dr. Allen’s Preaching Library Categories

1. Commentaries
2. Old Testament Introduction
3. New Testament Introduction
4. Systematic Theology
5. Biblical Theology
   1. Old Testament Theology
   2. New Testament Theology
6. Historical Theology
7. Hermeneutics
8. Greek & Hebrew Study Tools
9. Church History
   1. Early Church
   2. Medieval
   3. Reformation
   4. Post-Reformation
   5. Modern
10. General History
    1. World History
    2. American History
    3. British History
    4. Military History
11. Pastoral Ministry
12. Evangelism & Missions
13. Homiletics or Preaching
    1. Works on Preaching
    2. History of Preaching
    3. Sermon Books d.Illustrations
14. Prayer
15. Specialized Study Theological Study
16. Specialized Study Biblical Study
17. Biography
18. Philosophy
19. Reference Works
    1. Dictionaries
    2. Encyclopedias
    3. Atlas d.Grammars
    4. Thesauruses
20. Spiritual Devotional
21. Popular Authors
22. Life & Ministry of Christ
23. Ethics
24. Science & The Bible
25. Christianity & Culture
26. Sociology
27. Cults
28. Theological Journals
29. Specialized Studies
30. Miscellaneous Books

Learn how to do reading for great preaching! Dr. Allen continues to share how ministry leaders can grow and develop as readers.


Related Preaching Coach Podcasts:

• How To Become A Better Reader: Part 1
• How To Build Your Preaching Library
• How To Choose and Use Commentaries

Learn how to do reading for great preaching! Dr. Allen shares how ministry leaders can grow and develop as a reader.

Related Preaching Coach Podcasts:

• How To Become A Better Reader: Part 2
• How To Build Your Preaching Library
• How To Choose and Use Commentaries

This is the concluding episode on Word Studies and Preaching. Dr. Allen walks through his ten steps for doing a word study in his sermon preparation.

Related Preaching Coach Podcasts:

• Word Studies and Preaching: Part 1
• Word Studies and Preaching: Part 2
• Word Studies and Preaching: Part 3

In this episode, Dr. David L. Allen continues his series on word studies in sermon preparation and preaching. Learn how to carefully study the meaning and usage of keywords in the text of scripture.

Related Preaching Coach Podcasts:

• Word Studies and Preaching: Part 1
• Word Studies and Preaching: Part 2
• Word Studies and Preaching: Part 4

In this episode, Dr. David L. Allen continues his series on word studies in sermon preparation. Learn how to carefully study the meaning and usage of keywords in the text of scripture.

Related Preaching Coach Podcasts:

• Word Studies and Preaching: Part 1
• Word Studies and Preaching: Part 3
• Word Studies and Preaching: Part 4

In this episode, Dr. David L. Allen begins a new series related to the subject of word studies in sermon preparation. Learn how to carefully study the meaning and usage of keywords in the text of scripture.

Related Preaching Coach Podcasts:

• Word Studies and Preaching: Part 2
• Word Studies and Preaching: Part 3
• Word Studies and Preaching: Part 4

This week Dr. David L. Allen finishes his series of podcasts on preaching and hermeneutics! How we interpret the text of scripture shapes how we preach and teach the Bible. Learn the history of biblical interpretation.

Related Preaching Coach Podcasts:

• Preaching and Hermeneutics: Part 1
• Preaching and Hermeneutics: Part 2

This week Dr. David L. Allen continues his series of podcasts on preaching and hermeneutics! How we interpret the text of scripture shapes how we preach and teach the Bible. Learn the history of biblical interpretation.


Related Preaching Coach Podcasts:

• Preaching and Hermeneutics: Part 1
• Preaching and Hermeneutics: Part 3