Do commentaries contain God’s words?
Question:
In these dark days of political upheaval, financial uncertainty, and more, Christians and non-Christians alike have been asking many questions! Deep spiritual questions. I have questions, and I am not the only one in our Bible study groups!
l think you will agree that men of God have written Bible commentary and claim that it contains the true word of God; however, some of these Bible commentaries contain the word of men which have been penned down, thereby re-defining the word of God to suit the words of men or the tradition of men!
Recently, a man of God donated a Bible commentary to our men's Bible study groups. He claimed that the Bible commentary contains the undiluted word of God, and God will be very honored when we use it for Bible study!
Please kindly help us understand and give us feedback on the commentary.
You’ll never know what a blessing you will be to the people of God if you can help us out with an answer to this very important question
Thankful to you. God bless you.
Answer:
There seems to be some confusion about what has been inspired by God. Just because a person claims to have the words of God, it doesn't mean his claim is true.
"'Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,' declares the LORD, 'who steal My words from each other. Behold, I am against the prophets,' declares the LORD, 'who use their tongues and declare, "The Lord declares." Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,' declares the LORD, 'and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit,' declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:30-32).
Documents from God are proven to be of divine origin. (See How Do We KNOW the Bible Is True?) The Bible gave tests for determining whether a person was a prophet of God or not. (See Prophets.) But most important of all is that God said that prophecy would not continue (I Corinthians 13:8-10). The Bible was completed in the first century, and there are no additional inspired writings today.
A commentary is typically one man's thoughts about what the Bible is saying. His ideas may be interesting, but they are in no way equivalent to the writings in the Bible. The words of a commentator are not authoritative.
