Use caution
It is not common sense to think that just because someone is a first rate scholar does not mean that they can write a first rate commentaries. Sometimes you will be very disappointed with their work. Some one suggested that “ If you are concerned with understanding the text from a redemptive-historical perspective then read the authors who teach from that perspective regardless of the series”. On the other hand and at the same time do not to neglect other commentaries that may not agree with your perspective. That is sort of like watching the FOX news channel for all your news.I try to choose commentaries that have a balance in exegesis and exposition.
This is one reason why I read independent reviews on the works I am looking at. Some commentaries are heavy on exegesis and some are heavy on exposition. Get a balance of both. There are some commentaries that are only exposition that are invaluable for preaching and application. I make sure that what I buy contains good theology. I know what my position is. Like I am asking you to do, do your research, discover the issues and what is important to you. My personal preference is a lot of the time the approach from a critical perspective is not helpful.I try to go with commentaries that are rich in sound theology.
I find little use for commentaries that are mostly interested in presenting theories and scholarly debates. If your goal is to understand the text and incorporate the meaning of the text into your life, then understanding the theology of the text is crucial.Do not pay too much for a commentary
Look more than one place to buy your selection. Buy commentaries that are worth the price. Buy a few select commentaries rather than many.So some research and make your selection wisely. Pray about it. Ask a trusted pastor.
Remember that commentaries are tools to help you understand the text, but they are not the source or substance of our teaching. Read them regularly. Put a lot of time and effort into studying God’s Word
Here is a list of other miscellaneous:
Thompson Chain Reference Bible
This work has been around for about one hundred years. It is well known for its extensive chain reference system, plus compilation of the chain verses. This work has all the standard study helps and an archeological supplement that other study Bibles contain.The reference numbering system linking the verses has become a standard in study Bibles. It has shown itself to be useful in studying scriptures. Among the helps this Bible features is the set of self pronouncing text, which makes reading easier.
When using this Bible you must remember that it is based on English words, not the Greek and Hebrew words. Sometimes this is not every useful. It fails to define difficult and obscure words.
The Scofield Reference Bible
This is a widely circulated annotated study Bible. edited and annotated by the American Bible student Cyrus I. Scofield. This work is based on the traditional KJV text. First appeared in 1909 and was revised by the author in 1917.The Scofield Bible had several innovative features. One of the features is built in commentary around the text of the Bible itself instead of in a separate volume. This work containes a cross-referencing system that tied together related verses of Scripture. This allows the user to follow biblical themes from one chapter and book to another.The text of the 1917 Scofield Reference Bible is now in the public domain. Oxford University Press published a copyrighted revision of the Scofield Bible in 1967 with a slightly modernized KJV text.
It is a study Bible, with a cross-reference system supplemented with notes. The indexes in the back are very good, as are the maps. There is also a "Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names" included.
The Ryrie Study Bible
This work appeared in 1978. It is sometimes called "Scholar's Study Bible" because of the authors background. This work contains excellent outlines, introductions, and good notes. It features a Synopsis of Bible Doctrine. It contains a wealth of other information in the appendix and includes a time line. This is a good tool for anyone’s study tool chest.Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
Strongs is a concordance of the (KJV) that was constructed under the direction of Dr. James Strong (1822–1894) and first published in 1890 . It is an exhaustive cross-reference of every word in the KJV back to the word in the original text.Unlike other Biblical reference books, the purpose of Strong's Concordance is not to provide content or commentary about the Bible, but to provide an index to the Bible. This allows the reader to find words where they appear in the Bible. It has become the most widely used concordance for the King James Bible. Each original-language word is given an entry number in the dictionary of those original language words listed in the back of the concordance. These have become known as the "Strong's numbers".
The main concordance lists each word that appears in the KJV Bible in alphabetical order with each verse in which it appears listed in order of its appearance in the Bible, with a snippet of the surrounding text (including the word in italics). Appearing to the right of scripture reference is the Strong's number. This allows the user of the concordance to look up the meaning of the original language word in the associated dictionary in the back, thereby showing how the original language word was translated into the English word in the KJV Bible.