Even after we understand how to read and interpret Sacred Scripture, there will continue to be numerous passages in the Bible that will confuse us. That is why we must be firmly rooted in the rich theological traditions of biblical interpretation that the Church has to offer.
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But where can we find biblical commentaries that are both deep in meaning, but not too academic? Here are five of the best for the average layperson:
1. Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament
This is by far one of the most in-depth Scripture commentaries that is geared towards the “person in the pew.” Not only that, it is faithful to the Church’s teachings and does not stray from 2,000 years of tradition. In addition to the New Testament, the same group of biblical scholars have slowly been releasing individual commentaries on the Old Testament, including: Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, Judges and Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon, and Daniel. If anyone is looking for a biblical commentary that is easy to read and takes on many of the “hard” passages of Scripture, I heartily recommend this series of commentaries.
2. The Navarre Bible – New Testament Expanded Edition
This particular biblical commentary is unique in that it has excerpts not only from Church Fathers and numerous Church documents, but also has spiritual reflections by various authors, including Saint Josemaria Escriva. For those with experience with Latin, it is helpful that it has the New Vulgate text of the bible along with the English translation. In addition to the New Testament, there is also a long series on the Old Testament. This series is much longer than the Ignatius set and is very rich in content.
3. Walking With God: A Journey through the Bible
While not a verse-by-verse commentary of the bible, Walking with God is an excellent introduction to the overarching story of Salvation History. Essentially, it is the book version of the highly acclaimed Great Adventure Bible Timeline video series by Jeff Cavins. For anyone starting out, I highly recommend starting here first. It is essential to understand the great story of Salvation History and how each of the books in the bible fit together. We sometimes forget that the bible is above all a story, one that has a plot, main actors, villains and heroes. We are a part of this great story and it is important for us to understand our role in it.
4. The Didache Bible: Ignatius Bible (RSV-2CE)
Another biblical commentary that is rooted in the teachings of the Church. This new commentary is based entirely on passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It seeks to cross reference verses in the bible with corresponding passages in the Catechism. This is a good commentary if a person desires to see passages of Scripture through the lens of the teachings of the Church found in the Catechism.
5. New Catholic Answer Bible: New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)
This commentary is one of the best geared towards apologetics. In addition to footnotes, it contains numerous articles scattered throughout the bible that cover a host of topics. For example, it provides articles on: Where Did the Bible Come From? Are the Seven Sacraments in the Bible? Are Catholics Born Again ? Why Do Catholic Bibles Have Seventy-three Books? Why Is Contraception A Sin? All-in-all, they go through eighty-eight topics, covering the most common questions people have about the Catholic faith. I recommend this commentary especially to converts or to those interested in learning more about why the Catholic Church teaches what it does; especially for those who have a hard time finding Church teaching in the bible.
In order to wield the Sword of the Spirit, we must be rooted in the rich traditions of the Catholic Church. If we are not, it is very easy to take a verse out of context and to believe something that is actually contrary to what the author intended.
Satan knew Scripture very well and even had it memorized, but he had his own interpretation of Scripture that was no where near the Truth. That is why we must be careful and not rely on our own knowledge, but trust the wisdom and inspiration of 2,000 years of Scripture study.
The next article in this series will look at some more practical ways to immerse ourselves in Scripture that will allow us to properly wield the Sword of the Spirit.