Commentary on the Whole Bible, volume 1 of 6, Genesis to Deuteronomy

by Matthew Henry

According to Wikipedia: "Matthew Henry (18 October 1662 – 22 June 1714), was an English non-conformist clergyman. He was born at Broad Oak, a farmhouse on the borders of Flintshire and Shropshire. His father, Philip Henry, had just been ejected by the Act of Uniformity 1662. Unlike most of his fellow-sufferers, Philip possessed some private means, and was thus able to give his son a good education. Matthew went first to a school at Islington, and then to Gray's Inn. He soon gave up his legal studies for theology, and in 1687 became minister of a Presbyterian congregation at Chester. He moved again in 1712 to Mare Street, Hackney. Two years later (22 June 1714), he died suddenly of apoplexy at the Queen's Aid House (41 High Street) in Nantwich while on a journey from Chester to London. Henry's well-known Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (1708–1710) is a commentary of a practical and devotional rather than of a critical kind, covering the whole of the Old Testament, and the Gospels and Acts in the New Testament. After the author's death, the work was finished by a number of ministers, and edited by G. Burder and John Hughes in 1811. Not a work of textual criticism, its attempt at good sense, discrimination, its high moral tone and simple piety with practical application, combined with the well-sustained flow of its English style, made it one of the most popular works of its type. Matthew Henry's six volume Complete Commentary, originally published in 1706, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the Bible. His commentaries are still in use to this day. Henry's commentaries are primarily exegetical, dealing with the scripture text as presented. Henry's prime intention was explanation, not translation or textual research."

1881 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 5, 2014

About the author

Matthew Henry was an English non-conformist clergyman. Henry's well-known Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (1708–1710) is a commentary of a practical and devotional rather than of a critical kind, covering the whole of the Old Testament, and the Gospels and Acts in the New Testament.

Reviews

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, Matthew Henry's commentary on the Bible is the greatest commentary ever written. Anyone wanting to dig into the insights and connections between the Scripture passages would be wise to make sure his commentaries are in their library.

[Sagely · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume was one of maybe two or three left on the shelf in the pastor's study when I started with my current congregation. It seems that it's hard to pastor anywhere that Matthew Henry hasn't left his mark!

I pulled this book down from the shelf when I began a series on Abraham. I didn't expect to find much in it; both scholarship and popular reading strategies and religious experience have changed much since the 18th century. But I had only one other real Genesis commentary. You use what you got!

Expecting little or worse, I was surprised to find some useful tidbits and searching reflections on a few of the Abraham narratives. You do have to wad through the class sensibilities of Henry's context. Sometimes that takes a strong stomach. But mixed in you'll find some worthwhile nuggets.

I wouldn't go out and buy further volumes of this series (not even if I found them in a used book store). But I am thankful that this one has found its ways into my hands.