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Commentary and Reference Survey: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical and Theological Resources
Now in its tenth edition, this reliable, acclaimed guide lists and ranks approximately 900 commentaries and 1,600 other biblical resources for the benefit of professors, Bible students, and pastors. The theological slant of each volume is provided as well as its level (either technical or expositional). Two new chapters on exegetical software round out this comprehensive guide.
380 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2003
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66 people want to read
About the author
John Glynn
16 booksBorn John Patrick Glynn in Massachusetts. He graduated from Emerson College in Boston. He was a freelance writer and the author of ten editions of Kregel's Commentary and Reference Survey. He lived all of his life in Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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May 4, 2025Had to skim this for class. I will be using for reference. A bit outdated though
September 9, 2019
This book is better organized and more easy to use than either of the two books i previously reviewed. Evaluated just on its structure and content it far exceeds the other two books: The New Testament Commentary Survey by Carson, and The Old Testament Survey by Longman.
However, there are two things which prevent it from being my most used source for selecting commentaries, Bible Dictionaries and other types of resources for my personal study.
1) - The newest version available is the Tenth Edition published in 2007. Many many commentaries have been released in the 12 years since this book was written.
2) - Both D.A. Carson and Tremper Longman are greatly well known and highly regarded theologians and commentary writers. John Glynn is neither. Instead he bases his recommendations on thorough research by others in journals, academic publications, and other sources. In other words, these are his recommendations, but they are not made solely based on his status and knowledge of using these books himself. That doesn't mean it isn't good, but i have a certain amount of confidence in Carson and Longman that i don't have with Glynn.
Nevertheless, he is thorough and the layout of his recommendations is much easier to use and get a handle on than the other two books are. He has apparently written a more up-to-date book in the past year or so, but it covers only recommendations for books which will help in studying the New Testament.
However, there are two things which prevent it from being my most used source for selecting commentaries, Bible Dictionaries and other types of resources for my personal study.
1) - The newest version available is the Tenth Edition published in 2007. Many many commentaries have been released in the 12 years since this book was written.
2) - Both D.A. Carson and Tremper Longman are greatly well known and highly regarded theologians and commentary writers. John Glynn is neither. Instead he bases his recommendations on thorough research by others in journals, academic publications, and other sources. In other words, these are his recommendations, but they are not made solely based on his status and knowledge of using these books himself. That doesn't mean it isn't good, but i have a certain amount of confidence in Carson and Longman that i don't have with Glynn.
Nevertheless, he is thorough and the layout of his recommendations is much easier to use and get a handle on than the other two books are. He has apparently written a more up-to-date book in the past year or so, but it covers only recommendations for books which will help in studying the New Testament.
May 4, 2015
The field of biblical studies is full of excellent resources - so full that many of us have no idea many of these resources exist. Unless you have an encyclopaedic memory you will need a guide to inform you and remind you of the most important works available to you as you research. John Glynn's Commentary and Reference Survey is designed for that very purpose.
There are other good commentary surveys available (Carson's NT Commentary Survey and Longman's OT Commentary Survey), but what makes this one different is it is not limited to commentaries. Not only will you find lists of OT and NT Introductions, Surveys, and Theologies, but also a host of works on subjects like: the Septuagint, History of Interpretation, Rabbinics, Dead Sea Scrolls, Greco-Roman Religion, and Church History (including sections on the Reformation, Jonathan Edwards, and the Southern Baptist Convention) - just to name a few!
Of course its greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. Because of the vast number of sources included there is virtually no room for commentary on the comparative value of one work over another. Those works the author considers the "best" in a particular field are in bold type, but aside from that the author aims mainly to make the reader aware of what is available. The book is already about 380 pages - one can only imagine how long it would be if the author commented on every book!
This book is in its tenth edition and was last updated in 2007 - which means if you are looking for the latest commentaries you will need to look to a more recently updated guide such as Carson's mentioned above (revised in 2013). But for breadth and scope of coverage Glynn is still an excellent resource.
There are other good commentary surveys available (Carson's NT Commentary Survey and Longman's OT Commentary Survey), but what makes this one different is it is not limited to commentaries. Not only will you find lists of OT and NT Introductions, Surveys, and Theologies, but also a host of works on subjects like: the Septuagint, History of Interpretation, Rabbinics, Dead Sea Scrolls, Greco-Roman Religion, and Church History (including sections on the Reformation, Jonathan Edwards, and the Southern Baptist Convention) - just to name a few!
Of course its greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. Because of the vast number of sources included there is virtually no room for commentary on the comparative value of one work over another. Those works the author considers the "best" in a particular field are in bold type, but aside from that the author aims mainly to make the reader aware of what is available. The book is already about 380 pages - one can only imagine how long it would be if the author commented on every book!
This book is in its tenth edition and was last updated in 2007 - which means if you are looking for the latest commentaries you will need to look to a more recently updated guide such as Carson's mentioned above (revised in 2013). But for breadth and scope of coverage Glynn is still an excellent resource.
July 24, 2015
The bottom line: A solid starting point that directs you to reliable Biblical resources on specific topics.
Commentary and Reference Survey is basically a handbook that guides you to other books, including roughly 900 commentaries.
Obviously, this is not a book that laypeople will read or will want to read. This is specifically for theologians, those in academia, pastors, teachers, seminarians and those laypeople with a keen interest in the Bible or specific Bible topics. While it provides trustworthy recommendations overall, these are some areas where the suggestions are average at best.
By far, the books greatest strength lies in its ... http://www.chesadaphal.com/commentary...
Commentary and Reference Survey is basically a handbook that guides you to other books, including roughly 900 commentaries.
Obviously, this is not a book that laypeople will read or will want to read. This is specifically for theologians, those in academia, pastors, teachers, seminarians and those laypeople with a keen interest in the Bible or specific Bible topics. While it provides trustworthy recommendations overall, these are some areas where the suggestions are average at best.
By far, the books greatest strength lies in its ... http://www.chesadaphal.com/commentary...
January 9, 2012
A reference book of many commentaries. I didn't find it that helpful as there was not enough information on each product to enable me to make a good purchasing decision. However a pastor who is shelling out for a number of commentaries might find it useful...
January 20, 2022
John Glynn has written many editions of this book. This one is equally as good as the others. The problem is he no longer can produce any more of them.
I have found a substitute source on the web that it is updated constantly and provides the same service: www.bestcommentaries.com.
I have found a substitute source on the web that it is updated constantly and provides the same service: www.bestcommentaries.com.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews