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Commentaries on All the Prophets
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Subsections
Poetry
Commentaries:
Hosea 16+ Nahum 4
Joel 7+ Habakkuk 5
Amos 4 Zephaniah 4
Obadiah 5 Haggai 6
Jonah 30+ Zechariah 15+
Micah 4 Malachi 8+
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Order of Contents
Best 6
Commentaries 12+
Early Church 7
Poetry 1
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The Best Commentaries on All the Minor Prophets
Intermediate
Reformer
Luther, Martin – Lectures on the Minor Prophets, vol .1 (Hos, Joel, Amos, Obad, Mic, Nah, Zeph, Hag, Mal), 2 (Jon, Hab), 3 (Zech) in Luther’s Works ed. Hilton C. Oswald (Concordia, 1973). vols. 18-20 ToC 1, 2, 3
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Puritan
Hutcheson, George – A Brief Exposition of the 12 Small Prophets (Hosea-Malachi) (1657)
Hutcheson was a Scottish Covenanter. Note that the Sovereign Grace Publishers reprint only contains 6 of the minor prophets (see the review on Amazon).
*** – ‘Get it. Hutcheson is always rich. He resembles Dickson.’ – Spurgeon
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1800’s
Lange’s Commentary – The Minor Prophets
*** – “The commentaries on the different prophets are by various authors; hence their value differs. As a whole the volume is excellent, but not so good as Keil.” – Spurgeon
Pusey, E.B. – The Minor Prophets with a Commentary Explanatory & Practical & Introductions to the Several books (1883) This is also in Barnes’ Commentary on the Whole Bible
Pusey was a high-church, Anglican scholar.
*** – “All authorities speak of this work with great respect and so would we; but it is evident that Dr. Pusey is far too much swayed by patristic and medieval commentators.” – Spurgeon
‘An extensive and exhaustive study of the Minor Prophets containing homiletical material, historical information, and a scholarly, practical commentary. Amillennial.’ – Cyril J. Barber
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Contemporary
ed. McComiskey, Thomas – The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical & Expository Commentary, 3 vols. Buy
This is the fullest and best modern treatment of the minor prophets.
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Advanced
Keil, C.F. – Commentary on the Minor Prophets
*** – “Dr. Keil is at his best in this Commentary; and to all who have ventured on this obscure region we can promise an intelligent guide and a serviceable light in this work. We ourselves, under his guidance, have resumed the study of these beautiful and instructive Scriptures with renewed vigor and growing delight.” – Spurgeon
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Commentaries on All the Minor Prophets
1500’s
Gwalther, Rudolph
Homilies, or Godly Sermons on:
Obadiah & Jonah
Joel
Zephaniah
Gwalther (1519-1586)
* – “Eminent French Protestant divine (1530-1596).” “A translation of a work famous in its own day, but of small service now.” – Spurgeon
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1600’s
Stokes, David – A Paraphrastical Explication of the Twelve Minor Prophets, viz. Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi (1659)
Stokes (1591?-1669) was a Cambridge educated, (Anglican?) priest. The work has a recommendatory preface by John Pearson, an Anglican divine, known for his standard work on the Apostles’ Creed.
** “Of no importance.” – Spurgeon
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Devotional & Practical
Laetsch, Theodore – The Minor Prophets Buy (Concordia, 1956)
Concordia publishes conservative Lutheran material.
‘Valuable devotional studies with exegetical notes, historical data, and helpful exposition. Amillennial.’ – Cyril J. Barber
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Intermediate
1800’s
Barlee, Edward – An Explanatory Version of the Minor Prophets (London: Pickering, 1839) 195 pp. ToC
** – “One of the best paraphrases we have ever met with.” – Spurgeon
Cowles, Henry – The Minor Prophets with Notes, Critical, Explanatory and Practical, Designed for both Pastors and People (1871)
** – “This work is designed for both pastor and people. It embodies the results of much research, and elucidates the text of sacred Scripture with admirable force and simplicity.” – New York Christian Intelligencer, as quoted by Spurgeon
Randall, James – Sermons on the Books of Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Micah & Habakkuk & on some Passages of Isaiah & Ezekiel (1843)
** “Superior sermons; but what are they among so many prophets?” – Spurgeon
Tatford, Frederick – The Minor Prophets, 2 vols. Ref Buy (Klock & Klock, 1982) 1,214 pp.
Wolfendale, James – Homiletical Commentary on the Minor Prophets (1879) in Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary
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1900’s
Farrar, F.W. – The Minor Prophets (1907) 260 pp.
Farrar was a liberal.
‘Historical studies on the lives and times of the Minor Prophets. Amillennial.’ – Cyril J. Barber
Robinson, George Livingstone – The Twelve Minor Prophets Buy (Harper, 1926; 1952)
‘A helpful introductory textbook which, despite its brevity, has stood the test of time.’ – Cyril J. Barber
Craigie, Peter C. – Twelve Prophets, vol. 1 (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah), 2 (Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi) (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1984) ToC 1, 2 The publisher is liberal.
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Advanced
Henderson, Ebenezer – The Book of the 12 Minor Prophets (1845)
** – “A learned critical work, not spiritually or doctrinally suggetive, but simply explanatory of the text. This author denounces the theory of a double sense in prophecy; we, none the less, believe it to be a fact.” – Spurgeon
Newcome, William – An Attempt Towards an Improved Version, a Metrical Arrangement & Explanation of the Twelve Minor Prophets (1836)
Newcome (1729-1800) was the Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland.
** – “A celebrated critical work of a past age, but not expository. Newcome was too fond of new readings to be safely followed.” – Spurgeon
Von Orelli, Conrad – The Twelve Minor Prophets Buy (1893) 430 pp. Reprinted by Klock & Klock
‘A most valuable study by a moderately conservative German theologian.’ – Cyril J. Barber
On his work on prophecy: “By one of the best German commentators and a contributor to ISBE [International Standard Bible Encyclopdia]. Fairly reliable, but makes some concessions to those who espouse liberal views.” – Cyril J. Barber
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The Early Church on All (or Many of) the Minor Prophets
Compilations
Ferreiro, Alberto – Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: The Twelve Prophets Pre Buy (IVP Academic, 2003) 370 pp. ToC
Coggins, Richard & Jin H. Han – Six [Last] Minor Prophets Through the Centuries Pre (Blackwell, 2011) 290 pp. ToC
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Individual Fathers
Jerome – Commentaries on the 12 Prophets, vol. 1 (Buy), 2 (Pre) in Ancient Christian Texts
Jerome (c. 342–347 – 420)
Theodore of Mopsuestia – Commentary on the Twelve Prophets trans. Robert C. Hill in Fathers of the Church (Catholic University of America Press, 2004) 455 pp. ToC
Theodore (c. 350 – 428)
Cyril of Alexandria – Commentary on the Twelve Prophets, 3 vols. trans. Robert C. Hill in Fathers of the Church (Catholic University of America Press, 2007)
Cyril (c. 376 – 444)
Julian of Eclanum – Commentaries on Job, Hosea, Joel & Amos trans. Thomas Scheck Pre (IVP, 2021) 280 pp. ToC
Julian (c. 386 – c. 455)
Theodoret of Cyrus – Commentary on the Twelve Prophets Ref (Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 2006) 378 pp.
Theodoret (c. 393 – c. 458/466)
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The Minor Prophets in Poetry
Newcome, William – An Attempt Towards an Improved Version, a Metrical Arrangement & Explanation of the Twelve Minor Prophets (1836)
Newcome (1729-1800) was the Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland.
** – “A celebrated critical work of a past age, but not expository. Newcome was too fond of new readings to be safely followed.” – Spurgeon
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