Since we’re talking commentaries, here’s another thought.  How are we supposed to know which ones to buy?  As a preacher I often note a common problem in commentaries – they tend to be atomistic.  That is to say that many of them seem to deal only with the word or phrase at hand.  As a preacher I benefit from this, but value very highly those commentaries that wrestle with the flow of the text, those that include a significant macro view as well as the micro.  This is determined more by author than by series, so we have to hunt carefully in order to find them.  But when you find one that gives a very clear picture of the flow of a text, snap it up, it’s worth its weight in gold!

A couple of basic tips on commentary buying:

If possible, don’t buy blind. If you are able to access a library or borrow from a friend, then do so.  Once you’ve used a commentary you have a much better idea of whether you need to own it.

Try to have more than one. Since commentaries are conversation partners, it is better to have more than one so he or she doesn’t dominate the conversation.

Generally buy selectively rather than a whole series.  No series keeps up the same standard throughout, so it is worth picking and choosing from different series.  If you’re looking for “flow” commentaries that I described at the start, recognize that they can come in the small format (EBC, Tyndale, BST), or substantial English format (NAC, PNTC), as well as the chunkier exegetical formats (Hermeneia, NICNT/OT, WBC, NIGTC, BEC).  However, it is worth noting with discount retailers doing their thing, it may be worth buying a good series for the PC and letting that be the conversation partner, for example NAC or WBC.

Before you buy another commentary, meet John Glynn.  John Glynn’s Commentary & Reference Survey from Kregel is worth its weight in platinum!  I find his evaluation and suggestions on commentaries and other reference tools to be generally excellent.  Paying a few dollars, pounds, euros, yen for this will save money on poor purchases – guaranteed!

Commentaries are important tools of the trade, and buying well is a skill worth aquiring.  But if you can find those commentaries that do a good job on textual flow and macro appreciation of the literary artistry in a book – well, then you are finding gold!