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“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God… Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law… But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
Rom. 13:1-2, 8, 14
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Order of Contents
Early & Medieval 20+
Practical 38+
Intermediate 45+
Advanced 18+
Word Studies 2
Use of OT 1
Latin
Biblios 3
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Early Church Commentaries
Compilations
1800’s
Tholuck, A.F. – Rom. 13 in Exposition of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, with Extracts from the Exegetical Works of the Fathers & Reformers (1842)
** “Moses Stuart confesses his great obligations to this eminent divine, who far exceeds the most of his German brethren in spirituality, and is not behind them in scholarship; yet even he is none too orthodox nor too reverent in his treatment of Holy Scripture.” – Spurgeon
Ford, James – Rom 13 in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, Illustrated from Divines of the Church of England (1862)
On his work on the Gospels: ** “Those who wish to see what the Fathers said upon the Gospels, and to read the choicest sayings of the early Anglican bishops, cannot do better than consult Ford, who has made a very rich collection. Some of the extracts do not materially illustrate the text, but they are all worth reading.” – Spurgeon
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1900’s
ed. Bray, Gerald – Rom. 13 in Ancient Commentary on Scripture: Romans Ref (Chicago: Dearborn, 1998)
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2000’s
ed. Burns, Jr., J. Patout – Rom. 13 in Romans: Interpreted by Early Christian Commentators in The Church’s Bible Pre (Eerdmans, 2012), pp. 314-34
Reasoner, Mark – Locus 12, ‘Let every Psyche be Subject to the Authorities (Rom. 13:1-7)’ in Romans in Full Circle: a History of Interpretation (KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2005), pp. 129-42
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Online
Rom. 13 at Early Christian Writings on the New Testament: Compiled Allusions to the NT from the Ante-Nicene Fathers, HTML, this is a compilation of references to Rom. 13 from the early church fathers.
Rom. 13 at EarlyChristianCommentary.com
Rom. 13 at CatenaBible.com
By far and away the best site that has collated commentaries on nearly every verse of the Bible from the patristics and medieval writers. Includes thousands of commentaries; just click on the verse you are interested in.
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Individuals
Origen – Rom. 13 in Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, vol. 1, (bks. 1-5), 2 (6-10) in The Fathers of the Church Pre 1, 2 (Catholic University of America Press, 2001)
Origen (c. 185 – c. 253)
Ambrosiaster – Rom. 13 in Ambrosiaster’s Commentary on the Pauline Epistles: Romans trans. Theodore S. de Bruyn in Writings from the Greco-Roman World Pre (SBL Press, 2017), pp. 233-41
Ambrosiaster (fl. 366-384)
Chrysostom – Homilies on the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans in A Library of Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church (Oxford: John Henry Parker, 1848)
Homily 23 on Rom. 13:1 392
Homily 24 on Rom. 13:11 406-16
Chrysostom (c. 347 – 407)
** ‘Enough of solid truth and brilliant utterance will be found here to justify this father’s title of ‘Golden Mouth’; but still all is not gold which fell from his lips, and to modern readers Chrysostom is not so instructive as he was to his own age [A.D. 349-407].’ – Spurgeon
Pelagius – Rom. 13 in Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans trans. Theodore de Bruyn in Oxford Early Christian Studies Ref Buy (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993)
Pelagius (c. 354–418)
Augustine
Rom. 13 in Augustine on Romans: Propositions from the Epistle to the Romans & Unfinished Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans in Texts & Translations Series Ref (Scholars Press, 1982)
Augustine (354–430)
Unfinished Commentary on Romans at Patristic Bible Commentary
Cyril of Alexandria – Rom. 13 in Commentaries on Romans, 1-2 Corinthians & Hebrews trans. David R. Maxwell Pre (IVP Academic, 2022)
Cyril (c. 376 – 444)
Theodoret of Cyrus
Rom. 13 in Commentary on Romans, pt. 2 trans. unknown, ed. E.B. & Roger Pearse, from The Christian Remembrancer, or, The Churchman’s Biblical, Ecclesiastical & Literary Miscellany, 22 (1840) p. 30 ff. at Tertullian.org
Theodoret (c. 393 – c. 458/466) was an influential theologian of the School of Antioch, biblical commentator and bishop of Cyrus.
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Medieval Church Commentaries
Compilations
Rom. 13 in The Glossa Ordinaria on Romans, ed. Michael S. Woodworth Pre Buy (Teams, 2011), pp. 192-200
The Letter to the Romans trans. Ian Levy, Philip Krey & Thomas Ryan in The Bible in Medieval Tradition Pre (Eerdmans, 2013)
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Online
Rom. 13 at CatenaBible.com
By far and away the best site that has collated commentaries on nearly every verse of the Bible from the patristics and medieval writers. Includes thousands of commentaries; just click on the verse you are interested in.
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Individuals
Abelard, Peter – Rom. 13 in Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans trans. Steven R. Cartwright in The Fathers of the Church (Catholic University of America Press, 2011), bk. 4, pp. 343-55
Abelard (c. 1079 – 1142) was a French scholastic philosopher, leading logician, theologian, poet, composer and musician.
William of St. Thierry – Rom. 13 in Exposition on the Epistle to the Romans Ref (Liturgical Press, 2000)
William (1075/80/85 – 1148) was a Benedictine, theologian and mystic from Liège who became abbot of Saint-Thierry in France, and later joined the Cistercian Order.
Aquinas, Thomas – Rom. 13, ‘Obedience & Love’ in Commentary on Romans
Aquinas (1225 – 1274)
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Simple, Brief, Practical and/or Devotional Commentaries
Compilation
Krey & Krey – Rom. 13 in Reformation Commentary on Scripture Pre (IVP, 2016)
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1500’s
Erasmus, Desiderius – Rom. 13 in Paraphrase on the New Testament (d. 1536), vol. 2, pp. 35-37
Erasmus was the Roman Catholic humanist Bible scholar that argued for free-will against Martin Luther. His writings typically exude piety and are very much worth reading. Erasmus was one of the preeminent Bible scholars of his day and compiled the Greek text that underlies the KJV Bible.
** ‘This paraphrase was appointed by public authority to be placed in all churches in England, and the clergy were also ordered to read it. The volumes are very rare, and expensive because of their rarity.’ – Spurgeon
Beza, Theodore – Rom. 13 in The New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, translated out of Greek by Beza, with Brief Summaries & Expositions… (1599), folios 67b-68a
The margin notes are very brief and sometimes sparse. Various Latin editions of this work have a much fuller commentary.
*** ‘The compact marginal notes are still most useful. The possessor of this old black letter Testament may think himself happy.’ – Spurgeon
Various – Rom. 13 in Romans in The Geneva Bible Annotations (1599) Authors include: John Calvin, John Knox, Theodore Beza, Miles Coverdale, William Whittingham, Anthony Gilby, Christoper Goodman, Thomas Sampson, William Cole, William Keithe, Laurance Tomson, Franciscus Junius, John Bale, Heinrich Bullinger et al.
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1600’s
Diodati, John – Rom. 13 in Pious Annotations, upon the Holy Bible… (1607; London: T.B., 1643), pp. 134-35
Diodati (1576–1649) was a Genevan-born Italian, reformed theologian and translator who was a pastor and professor in Geneva, following Theodore Beza. His translation of the Bible into Italian from Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Syriac sources became the reference version used by Italian Protestants. He was one of the six divines which drew up the Canons of Dort.
** “Bickersteth says: ‘The spiritual and evangelical remarks are of much value.’ Diodati’s notes are short and worth consulting.” – Spurgeon
Various – Rom. 13 in The King James Version’s Translator’s Notes (1611) meager notes
Wilson, Thomas – Rom. 13 in A Commentary upon the most Divine Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans… in Form of a Dialogue… (London: Jaggard, 1614)
Wilson (1563-1622) was a reformed Anglican.
** “Intended for the less-instructed among the preacher’s hearers, and put into the form of a dialogue. It is very solid, but does not contain much which is very striking or original.” – Spurgeon
Dutch Annotations – Rom. 13 in The Dutch Annotations upon the Whole Bible… tr. Theodore Haak Buy Reprint Buy Fascimile (1637/1657)
** ‘Haak’s Annotations come to us as the offspring of the famous Synod of Dort… but if, with my hat off, bowing profoundly to those august conclaves of master minds, I may venture to say so, I would observe that they furnish another instance that committees seldom equal the labors of individuals. The notes are too short and fragmentary to be of any great value. The volumes are a heavy investment.’ ‘Similar to the Westminster Assembly’s Annotations.’ – Spurgeon
English Annotations – Rom. 13 in Annotations upon All the Books of the Old & New Testament… 1st ed. (1645), vol. 2
Leigh, Edward – Rom. 13 in Annotations upon All the New Testament, Philological & Theological… (London: W.W., 1650), pp. 225-26
A major reformed commentary from the mid-1600’s.
*** ‘Good, brief notes. Antique, but still prized.’ – Spurgeon
Hall, Joseph – Rom. 13 in A Plain & Familiar Explication: by Way of Paraphrase, of All the Hard Texts of the Whole Divine Scriptures… (d. 1656), vol. 2, pp. 332-34
By hard texts, Hall means the hard parts in about every other verse of the Bible, as that is how much he comments on.
** ‘Not so pithy as the Contemplations; nor, indeed, could it be expected to be so. It is not necessary to the Student, but might be useful.’
Gell, Robert – on Rom. 13:1 in Gell’s Remains, or, Several Select Scriptures of the New Testament Opened & Explained… (London: Brooke, 1676)
Gell (1595-1665) was reformed and was English.
Baxter, Richard – Rom. 13 in A Paraphrase on the New Testament with Notes, Doctrinal & Practical… (London: Simmons, 1685)
** ‘The notes are in Baxter’s intensely practical and personal style, and show the hortatory use of Scripture; but they are not very explanatory.’ – Spurgeon
“The paraphrase is inserted between the verses of the text, and in a smaller type. The annotations are at the end of the chapters. They are for the most part very short, and contain much sound sense and piety.” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
Clarke, Samuel – Rom. 13 in Annotations upon the Old & New Testaments (1690)
Clarke (d. 1701) was a late puritan. His comments are very brief and often sparse.
** ‘Notes very brief, but judicious. Author one of the ejected ministers, an exceedingly learned man. This work was highly commended by Owen, Baxter, Howe and others, but is now superseded.’ – Spurgeon
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1700’s
Wall, William – Rom. 13 in Brief, Critical Notes, especially on the Various Readings of the New Testament Books... (d. 1728; 1734), pp. 245-46
** ‘Dr. Wall was the great champion on infant baptism against the learned Gale. His notes are good, but out of date.’ ‘Explains some difficulties, but is far surpassed by other annotators.’ – Spurgeon
Edwards, Jonathan
Rom. 13 in Romans in The Blank Bible being WJE Online, vol. 24
There is nothing on Rom. 13 in Notes on the Bible in The Works of Jonathan Edwards, A.M. rev. Hickman in 2 vols (d. 1758; London: Ball, 1839), vol. 2, p. 799
Ostervald, Jean – Rom. 13 in The Arguments of the Books & Chapters of the Old & New Testaments, with Practical Observations (d. 1747; 1779), vol. 2
Ostervald (1663-1747) was a Swiss protestant pastor historically in the line of the reformed tradition, though, being one of the primary leaders of the Enlightenment (coming after the orthodox days of Turretin and Pictet), he was thought to show a leaning towards Socinianism and Arminianism (see Wiki).
Guyse, John – Rom. 13 in The Practical Expositor: or an Exposition of the New Testament, in the Form of a Paraphrase, with Occasional Notes… for the Use of the Family & the Closet, vol. 3 (Acts-Rom) (d. 1761)
Guyse (1680-1761) was an English Independent minister.
Spurgeon said regarding John Brown of Haddington’s Self-Interpreting Bible: ** ‘Useful in its day, and still popular. Notes on the New Testament an undisguised plagiarism from Guyse. Not a student’s book.”
“Dr. Guyse was an eminent dissenting divine of the eighteenth century, and his religious principles Calvinistic. His paraphrase has never been very popular, though it ‘is said to display sound judgment, intimate acquaintance with the original, and considerable critical powers.” ([Alexander] Chalmers’s Biographical Dictionary, vol. xvi. p. 490.)” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
Brown, John, of Haddington – Rom. 13 in The Self-Interpreting Bible… (Edinburgh: Ireland, 1831), pp. 1144-45 This is something similar to a study Bible with footnotes and side-notes.
Brown (1722-1787) was a famed Scottish seceder minister and professor, the grandfather of the also justly famous commentator John Brown of Edinburgh.
** ‘Useful in its day, and still popular. Notes on the New Testament an undisguised plagiarism from Guyse. Not a student’s book.’ – Spurgeon [Guyse was a pretty good N.T. commentator, and hence Brown’s NT commentary is pretty good as well!]
Scott, Thomas – Rom. 13 in The Holy Bible… with Explanatory Notes & Practical Observations 5th ed. (d. 1821; 1788 ff.; Seeley, 1822), vol. 6
*** ‘…His work has always been popular, is very judicious, thoroughly sound and gracious; but for suggestiveness and pith is not comparable to Matthew Henry. I know I am talking heresy, but I cannot help saying that for a minister’s use, Scott is mere milk and water—good and trustworthy, but not solid enough in matter for full-grown men. In the family, Scott will hold his place, but in the study you want condensed thought, and this you must look for elsewhere.’ – Spurgeon
Rom. 13 in Practical Observations on the New Testament, Arranged for Family Worship (Philadelphia: Lindsay, 1844)
Wesley, John – Rom. 13 in Explanatory Notes on the Old & New Testaments (d. 1791)
** ‘The Notes on the New Testament are esteemed, but Dr. [Adam] Clark says that those on the Old are meagre and unsatisfactory. He is quite right.’ – Spurgeon
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1800’s
Fry, John – Lecture 25 in Lectures, Explanatory and Practical, on the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans (1816) 515 pp.
** “Having no theory to serve in this instance, Fry writes to edification.” – Spurgeon
Hawker, Robert – Rom. 13 in Poor Man’s Commentary on the Bible
Hawker (1753–1827) was a reformed Anglican.
** ‘Full of devotion and sweetness.’ ‘Gentlemen, if you want something full of marrow and fatness, cheering to your own hearts by way of comment, and likely to help you in giving to your hearers rich expositions, but Dr. Hawker’s Poor man’s Commentary. Dr. Hawker was the very least of commentators in the matter of criticism; he had no critical capacity, and no ability whatever as an interpreter of the letter; but he sees Jesus, and that is a sacred gift which is most precious whether the owner be a critic or no.
It is to be confessed that he occasionally sees Jesus where Jesus is not legitimately to be seen. He allows his reason to be mastered by his affections, which, vice as it is, is not the worst fault in the world. There is always such a savor of the Lord Jesus Christ in Dr. Hawker that you cannot read him without profit. He has the peculiar idea that Christ is in every Psalm, and this often leads him totally astray, because he attributes expressions to the Savior which really shock the holy mind to imagine our Lord’s using.
However, not as a substantial dish, but as a condiment, place the Plymouth vicar’s work on the table. His writing is all sugar, and you will known how to use it, not devouring it in lumps, but using it to flavor other things.’ – Spurgeon
ed. Jenks, William – Rom. 13 in The Comprehensive Commentary on the Holy Bible: containing Scott’s Marginal References, Henry’s Commentary, Condensed … the Practical Observations of Thomas Scott, with Extensive Notes, Selected from Scott, Doddridge, Gill, etc. (1834), vol. 5 pp. 238-42
Commentaries compiled from the comments of multiple authors are notorious for containing lots of information, though not always in the most fluent and helpful fashion. This work does it better than most, and (unlike most) the contributors here are only the best.
** ‘Generally used as a pulpit Bible. Said to contain 4,000 notes and 500,000 parallel passages, being all those of Blayney, Scott, Clarke, and others. The tables, notes, introductions, etc. are of standard value.’ – Spurgeon
Girdlestone, Charles – Rom. 13 in The New Testament, with a Commentary consisting of Short Lectures for the Daily use of Families (1835), vol. 2, pp. 234-37
** ‘Profitable household reading.’ – Spurgeon
Anderson, Robert, of Brighton – Rom. 13 in A Practical Exposition of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Romans (London: Hatchard, 1837), pp. 384-411
** “After the manner of Charles Bridges. Full of holy unction and devout meditation.” – Spurgeon
Chalmers, Thomas – Rom. 13 in Daily & Sabbath Scripture Readings (d. 1847; NY: Harper, 1848), vol. 1, pp. 207-9
Chalmers was a leader in the early Free Church of Scotland. Here are brief expositions through the Bible.
*** ‘Those acquainted with the writings of Chalmers will know what to expect from his pen when guided by fervent devotion.’ ‘The readings are not upon every portion of Scripture, neither can they be viewed as a full exposition of any part thereof. They are precious fragments of immortal thought.’ – Spurgeon
Stephen, John – Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans, A Series of Lectures (1857)
** “Sound in doctrine, practical in tone; above mediocrity.” – Spurgeon
Bonar, Horatius – section 58, ‘The Life-Long Putting on of Christ’ on Rom. 13:14 in Light & Truth (London: Nisbet, 1870), vol. 3, pp. 294-98
Bonar (1808-1889) was an influential Scot and brother to Andrew Bonar. The contents of the volumes are: (1) Old Tetament, (2) The Gospels, (3) Acts-2 Corinthians, (4) Galatians – Jude, (5) Revelation.
*** ‘One volume is rather short space in which to bring out the light and truth of the Old Testament. If Dr. Bonar required four volumes for the New, we wish he had felt the same need for the Old. The passages selected are popularly expounded, but the thought is not deep. The volumes will be more prized by the ordinary reader than by the minister.’ – Spurgeon
Cumming, John – Rom. 13 in Sabbath Evening Readings on the New Testament: Romans (London: Hall, 1857), pp. 282-91
Cumming (1807–1881) was a Scot who served as minister to a Church of Scotland congregation in London.
** ‘Dr. Cumming is always evangelical, and his style is very attractive. These works are rather for popular reading than for students; but they are good as a whole, and their spirit is excellent. The doctor has written too fast, and borrowed too much; but he interests and edifies.’ – Spurgeon
Various – Rom. 13 in The Preacher’s Complete Homiletic Commentary (1892)
This massive set intends to be of help to preachers by including outlines, notes, sermonic ideas and helps as well as commentary extracted from the writings of church history and contemporary writers (to their day).
The goal cannot but fail; what one ends up with is a hodge-podge collection of various excerpted writings relating to the text at hand. However, the extracts are often from some of the best writers in church history including many puritans and reformed folk (though the editors are not reformed and are somewhat liberal), from works one may not otherwise easily find or be aware of. For that reason the set is worthwhile.
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1900’s
Moule, H.C.G. – Rom. 13 in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1903)
Moule (1841–1920) was an evangelical Anglican.
“One of the finest and most helpful expositions available today. Deeply devotional, based upon a very careful exegesis of the text, and abounding in practical truths.” – Cyril J. Barber
MacLaren, Alexander – Rom. 13 in Expositions of Holy Scripture
MacLaren (1826–1910)
These are popular sermons through most of the Bible by this popular Scottish born, English, baptist preacher.
Thomas, William Henry Griffith – Rom. 13 in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans: a Devotional Commentary (1911; Eerdmans, 1988), pp. 350-64
“A helpful, practical and devotional commentary which is of particular value to pastors for its excellent outlines and illustrations.” – Cyril J. Barber
Erdman, Charles – Rom. 13 in The Epistle of Paul to the Romans: an Exposition (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1925), pp. 137-41
Erdman was a conservative liberal and the chief antagonist to J. Gresham Machen during the restructuring of Old Princeton Seminary.
“A devotional and practical commentary on the theme of this epistle.” – Cyril J. Barber
Meyer, F.B. – Rom. 13:14 in Our Daily Homily: Expositions of Selected Passages from Every Chapter in the Bible (Revell, 1898), vol. 5, p. 130
Meyer (1847–1929) was an English, baptist pastor who wrote numerous, very good devotional works. Meyer gives a one page devotional on a verse or two from each chapter in the Bible.
Morgan, G. Campbell – Rom. 13 in An Exposition of the Whole Bible, Chapter by Chapter
Morgan (1863-1945) was the predecessor of Martin Lloyd Jones at Westminster Chapel.
Vos, Johannes – Rom. 13 in Romans Buy (Crown & Covenant, 2013)
“Johannes G. Vos developed these studies in Romans during his pastorate in a Kansas farming community. Later, they were published in his theological journal Blue Banner Faith and Life. For the first time, these articles, which originally appeared over a period of several years, first in the ’50s and again in the ’70s, have been collected and published as a single volume. 104 lessons with review questions.”
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Intermediate Commentaries
1500’s
Colet, John – Rom. 13 in An Exposition on Romans (d. 1519; London: Bell, 1874)
Colet (1467–1519) was a reforming, English, humanist, Romanist priest who was critical of the Church and a friend of Erasmus.
Luther, Martin
Rom. 13 in Luther: Lectures on Romans tr. William Pauck in The Library of Christian Classics (London: SCM Press, 1961), pp. 358-77
Rom. 13 in Commentary on Romans tr: J. Theodore (Kregel, 1976), pp. 179-92
This work is different than the above and follows Luther’s commentary on Romans in the Weimar edition of Luther’s Works, vol. 56.
Hooper, John – Godly & Most Necessary Annotations on the 13th chapter to the Romans (1551) 62 pp.
Calvin, John – Rom. 13 in Commentary on Romans
Vermigli, Peter Martyr – Rom. 13 in A Most Learned & Fruitful Commentary upon the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans… (d. 1562; London: 1568)
** “Being in black letter, and very long, few will ever read it; but it contains much that will repay the laborious book-worm.” – Spurgeon
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1600’s
Willet, Andrew – Rom. 13 in A Six-fold Commentary upon Romans (Cambridge: Legge, 1611), pp. 577-623
Willet (1562–1621)
** – ‘Willet is tedious reading; his method hampers him. In all his Commentaries he lumbers along in his six-wheeled wagon.’ – Spurgeon
Ferme, Charles – Rom. 13 in A Logical Analysis of Romans in A Logical Analysis of Romans by Charles Ferme… and a Commentary on the Same Epistle by Andrew Melville… ed. William L. Alexander (†1617; Edinburgh: Wodrow Society, 1850), pp. 286-306
Ferme (1565-1617) was a reformed Scottish divine.
Pareus, David – Chapter 13 to the Romans tr. Jonathan Tomes at American Reformer
Parr, Elnathan – Rom. 13 in A Plain Exposition upon the Whole Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth & Sixteenth Chapters of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans... (1622), pp. 1-100
Parr (1577-1622) was reformed.
*** “The style is faulty, but the matter is rich and full of suggestions. We regret that the work is not complete, and is seldom to be met with except in fragments.” – Spurgeon
Thaddaeus, Johannes – Rom. 13 in Romans in The Reconciler of the Bible Enlarged: wherein Above Three Thousand Seeming Contradictions Throughout the Old & New Testament, are Fully & Plainly Reconciled (d. 1652), pp. 91-92
Mayer, John – Rom. 13 in A Commentary upon All the Epistles of St. Paul… (London: Haviland, 1631), pp. 121-31
** ‘A rare and valuable author… The six volumes, folio, are a most judicious and able digest of former commentators, enriched with the author’s own notes, forming altogether one of the fullest and best of learned English commentaries; not meant for popular use, but invaluable to the student. He is a link between the modern school, at the head of which I put Poole and Henry, and the older school who mostly wrote in Latin, and were tinctured with the conceits of those schoolmen who gathered like flies around the corpse of Aristotle. He appears to have written before Diodati and Trapp, but lacked opportunity to publish. I fear he will be forgotten, as there is but little prospect of the republication of so diffuse, and perhaps heavy, an author. He is a very Alp of learning, but cold and lacking in spirituality, hence his lack of popularity.’ – Spurgeon
Dickson, David – Rom. 13 in The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, Analytically Expounded in An Exposition of all St. Paul’s Epistles together… (London, 1659), pp. 31-32
Dickson was a prominent Scottish covenanter.
*** – ‘Dickson is a writer after our own heart. For preachers he is a great ally. There is nothing brilliant or profound; but everything is clear and well arranged, and the unction runs down like the oil from Aaron’s head. In this volume the observations are brief.’
Hammond, Henry – Rom. 13 in A Paraphrase & Annotations upon All the Books of the New Testament, Briefly Explaining All the Difficult Places Thereof (1659), vol. 4, pp. 74-80
Hammond was an Arminian Anglican, though Matthew Henry found him profitable enough to refer to him 96 times in his commentary.
** ‘Though Hammond gives a great deal of dry criticism, and is Arminian, churchy, and peculiar, we greatly value his addition to our stores of biblical information. Use the sieve and reject the chaff.’ – Spurgeon
Day, William – Rom. 13 in A Paraphrase & Commentary upon the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans (London: 1666)
Day (d. 1684) was an Anglican.
Trapp, John – Rom. 13 in A Complete Commentary on the Bible (d. 1669)
Trapp was a reformed Anglican, though presbyterian in his leanings.
*** ‘Trapp excels in witty stories on the one hand, and learned allusions on the other. You will not thoroughly enjoy him unless you can turn to the original, and yet a mere dunce at classics will prize him. His writings remind me of himself: he was a pastor, hence his holy practical remarks; he was the head of a public school, and everywhere we see his profound scholarship; he was for some time amid the guns and drums of a parliamentary garrison, and he gossips and tells queer anecdotes like a man used to soldier-life; yet withal, he comments as if he had been nothing else but a commentator all his days.
Some of his remarks are far-fetched, and like the far-fetched rarities of Solomon’s Tarshish, there is much gold and silver, but there are also apes and peacocks. His criticisms would some of them be the cause of amusement in these days of greater scholarship; but for all that, he who shall excel Trapp had need rise very early in the morning…’ – Spurgeon
Brown of Wamphray, John – Rom. 13 in An Exposition of Romans with Large Practical Observations, Delivered in Several Lectures (†1679; Edinburgh: Paterson, 1766), pp. 501-17
Brown (1610-1679) was a late Scottish covenanter, exiled in Holland.
** – ‘By a Calvinist of the old school. Heavy, perhaps; but precious.’ – Spurgeon
Mayo, Richard – Rom. 13 in Matthew Poole, English Annotations on the Holy Bible. Poole died after finishing Isa. 58; see the list of his continuators.
Poole (1624–1679) was an English puritan, as well as Mayo (1631?-1695).
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1700’s
Evans, John – Rom. 13 in Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry died after completing the commentary through Acts; see the list of his continuators.
Evans (c. 1680-1730)
Mather, Cotton – Rom. 13 in Biblia Americana: A Synoptic Commentary on the Old & New Testaments: Romans – Philemon (1693-1728; Mohr Siebeck, 2018)
This was part of the first whole Bible commentary to come from American soil. Cotton was a reformed, congregationalist puritan.
Locke, John – Rom. 13 in Paraphrase & Notes on the Epistles to the Galatians, Corinthians, Romans & Ephesians 6th ed. (London: Millar, 1733), pp. 325-29
Locke (1632–1704) was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers.
** “Anything from such a man is worthy of attention, and this place, as a protest against rending texts from their connection, is most judicious. The paraphrase, though open to criticism, is executed with great candor, and really illuminates the text. (See Benson)” – Spurgeon
Doddridge, Philip – Rom. 13 in The Family Expositor: or, a Paraphrase & Version of the New Testament with Critical Notes & a Practical Improvement… (d. 1751; London: 1825), pp. 634-37
** ‘Upon the New Testament Doddridge’s Expositor is worthy of a far more extensive reading than is nowadays accorded to it. It is all in the form of a paraphrase, with the text in italics; a mode of treatment far from satisfactory as a rule, but exceedingly well carried out in this instance. The notes are very good, and reveal the thorough scholar. Our authorized version is placed in the margin, and a new translation in the paraphrase… The practical improvements at the end of each chapter generally consist of pressing exhortations and devout meditations, suggested by the matter under discussion…’ – Spurgeon
Gill, John – Rom. 13 in Exposition of the Bible (d. 1771)
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1800’s
Clarke, Adam – Rom. 13 in Commentary on the Bible
Clarke (c. 1760-1832) was a British Wesleyan.
Hodge, Charles – Rom. 13 in Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans (London: Religious Tract Society, 1837), pp. 377-88
Hodge was an American, Northern presbyterian professor at Princeton and theologian.
*** “Hodge’s method and matter make him doubly useful in commenting. He is singularly clear, and a great promoter of thought.”
Walford, W. – Rom. 13 in Curae Romanae: Notes on the Epistle to the Romans, with a Revised Translation (1846), pp. 227-34
** “Walford makes comments of considerable value; he does not stand in the front rank, but his mediocrity is respectable.” – Spurgeon
Wardlaw, Ralph – Rom. 13 in Lectures on Romans (Fullarton, 1861), vol. 3, pp. 157-202 in Posthumous Works, vol. 6
** “Wardlaw interprets with great sobriety and spirituality, and we never consult him in vain, though we do not always agree with him.” – Spurgeon
Brown, John, of Edinburgh – Rom. 13 in Analytical Exposition of Romans (NY: Robert Carter, 1857), pt. 3, pp. 482-507
*** “Dr. Brown’s work must be placed among the first of the first-class. He is a great expositor.”
Brown, David
Rom. 13 in Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, Embracing the Latest Results of Criticism (1860), pp. 133-35
Brown was a conservative and a professor in the Free Church of Scotland. This work is different both from the work below and from his contribution to Romans in the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary on the Whole Bible.
Rom. 13 in Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical & Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) Brown authored the New Testament portion of this whole Bible commentary.
Rom. 13 in The Epistle to the Romans, with Introduction & Notes in Hand-Books for Bible Classes, eds. Dods & Whyte (1883), pp. 128-31
Ford, James – Rom. 13 in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, Illustrated from Divines of the Church of England (1862), pp. 557-82
On his work on the Gospels: ** “Those who wish to see what the Fathers said upon the Gospels, and to read the choicest sayings of the early Anglican bishops, cannot do better than consult Ford, who has made a very rich collection. Some of the extracts do not materially illustrate the text, but they are all worth reading.” – Spurgeon
Chalmers, Thomas – Lectures on Romans (1863), pp. 467-84
Lecture 92 vv. 1-7
Lecture 93 vv. 8-10
Lecture 94 vv. 11-14
Chalmers was one of the leaders in the Free Church of Scotland.
** “Our preferences as to expositions lie in another direction; but we cannot be insensible to the grandeur and childlike simplicity which were combined in Chalmers.” – Spurgeon
Plumer, William – Commentary on Romans (NY: Randolph, 1870), pp. 584-601
ch. 13, vv. 1-7
ch. 13, vv. 8-14
** “Plumer is a laborious compiler, and to most men his works will be of more use than those of a more learned writer.” – Spurgeon
Godwin, John – Rom. 13 in The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans, a New Translation with Notes (1873) Most of the Greek phrases are translated into English in the text.
** “Such a book as students need while studying the Greek text in college.” – Spurgeon
Haldane, Robert – Rom. 13 in Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans, with Remarks (Edinburgh: Oliphant, 1874)
*** “Dr. Chalmers styled this ‘a well-built commentary,’ and strongly recommended it to students of theology. In his ‘Sabbath Readings’ he writes: ‘I am reading Haldane’s Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans and find it solid and congenial food.” – Spurgeon
“First published between 1835-39, this Reformed commentary by a Christian layman has enjoyed a wide-spread ministry since its first appearance. The lectures were delivered in Geneva and brought about a genuine movement of the Spirit among the theologues who heard them.” – Cyril J. Barber
Robinson, Thomas – Rom. 13 in A Suggestive Commentary on Romans (London: Dickinson, 1878), vol. 2, pp. 199-227
*** “A good book in a good style. Worth any amount to preachers.” – Spurgeon
Shedd, William G.T. – Rom. 13 in Critical & Doctrinal Commentary on Romans (NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1879)
“Designed for the theologian, it provides an exhaustive exegetical study of the epistle. Reformed.” – Cyril J. Barber
Schaff, Philip & Matthew Riddle – Rom. 13 in A Popular Commentary on the New Testament, 4 vols. (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1882), vol. 4
Schaff (1819–1893), the famed Church historian and N.T. scholar, came from a German-Reformed background, though was also the lead proponent of the High-Church Mercersburg Theology. Riddle (1836–1916) was of a Dutch Reformed background and had a similar professorial and literary career.
Vaughan, Charles J. – Rom. 13 in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, the Greek Text with English Notes 5th ed. (London: Macmillan, 1880)
Vaughan was an Arminian Anglican and chaplain to the Queen.
*** “Very valuable to students of the Greek. The result of independent study and honest labor.” – Spurgeon
“A helpful commentary on the Greek text. Arminian.” – Cyril J. Barber
Lange’s Commentary – Rom. 13 in Commentary on Romans
Moule, H.C.G. – Rom. 13 in The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, with Introduction & Notes (1903) in The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
“A capable exegetical study which contains notes on the text by a leading Calvinistic theologian of the last century. Not as valuable as the author’s exposition in the Expositor’s Bible. Anglican.” – Cyril J. Barber
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1900’s
Lenski, R.C.H. – Rom. 13 in The Interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistle of the Romans (Wartburg, 1945)
“A conservative Lutheran exposition based upon the Greek text. Lenski manifests a rigidity in handling the original which at times mars his treatment; however, his strengths far outweigh his weaknesses.. Amillennial.” – Cyril J. Barber
Hendriksen, William & Simon Kistemaker – Rom. 13 in New Testament Commentary: Romans (Baker, 1981)
Dr. Hendriksen (1900-1982) was a minister in the Christian Reformed Church and a professor of New Testament at Calvin Theological Smeinary. Hendriksen commented on about half of the New Testament and Kistemaker finished it after his death. The commentary is out of print and is presently hard to find.
Murray, John – Rom. 13 in The Epistle to the Romans 2 vols in 1 Buy in New International Commentary on the New Testament (Eerdmans, 1968)
Bruce, F.F. – Rom. 13 in The Epistle of Paul to the Romans: an Introduction & Commentary in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Eerdmans, 1971)
“Draws upon a wide knowledge of literature, frequently cites theological writers, and provides an understandable and, in many ways, significant exposition of this epistle. Occasionally the comments are too brief to be of help to the pastor, and at other times exceptionally full.” – Cyril J. Barber
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Advanced Commentaries
1700’s
Bengel, Johann A. – Rom. 13 in Gnomon of the New Testament
Bengel (1687–1752) was a Lutheran pietist clergyman and Greek-language scholar.
*** “The Gnomon of the New Testament, by John Albert Bengel, is the scholar’s delight. He selected the title as modest and appropriate, intending it in the sense of a pointer or indicator, like the sun-dial; his aim being to point out or indicate the full force and meaning of the words and sentences of the New Testament. He endeavors to let the text itself cast its shadow on his page, believing with Luther that ‘the science of theology is nothing else but grammar exercised on the words of the Holy Spirit.’
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1800’s
Bowyer, William – Rom. 13 in Critical Conjectures & Observations on the New Testament: Collected from Various Authors… 4th ed. (London, 1812)
Valpy, Edward – Rom. 13 in The New Testament with English Notes, Critical, Philological & Explanatory (London, 1826), vol. 2 This contains the Greek NT with commentary by way of footnotes in English and some Greek and Latin.
Valpy (1764–1832) was an English cleric, classical scholar and schoolteacher.
Bloomfield, Samuel T.
Rom. 13 in A Synoptic Recension of Sacred Annotations, being a Critical Digest & Synoptical Arrangement of the most important Annotations on the New Testament, exegetical, philological & doctrinal, collected from commentators both ancient and modern, the whole accompanied with a copious body of original annotations (1826), vol. 6
The verses of the New Testament commented on are in Greek without an English translation.
*** – Spurgeon
‘It would be impossible to convey to our readers an adequate idea of the mass of information which the learned author has brought to bear upon the numerous passages which he has undertaken to illustrate, and we can safely say, that the enquirer will find very few of which Mr. Bloomfield has not given a complete and satisfactory exposition.’ – Quarterly Theological Review
Rom. 13 in The Greek Testament, with English Notes Chiefly Original, Critical, Philological & Exegetical (1836), vol. 2
The English commentary is by way of footnotes on the Greek text, so it may be a bit difficult for non-Greek readers to use.
*** ‘I must confess also a very tender side towards Bloomfield’s Greek Testament, and I am singular enough to prefer it in some respects to Alford; at least, I have got more out of it on some passages, and I think it does not deserve to be regarded as superseded.’ ‘We frequently get more from Bloomfield than from Alford, though he is not so fashionable. His notes are full of teaching.’ – Spurgeon
Trollope, William – Rom. 13:1 & 11 in Analecta Theologica: A Critical, Philological & Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Adapted to the Greek Text, Compiled & Digested from the Most Approved Sources, British & Foreign 2nd. ed. (1830; 1842), vol. 2, pp. 373-75
Greek phrases are commented on from each verse. Sometimes they are translated into English, sometimes not.
** ‘A condensation of the opinions of eminent expositors, very well executed, and useful except so far as superseded by more modern works.’ – Spurgeon
Tholuck, A.F. – Rom. 13 in Exposition of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, with Extracts from the Exegetical Works of the Fathers & Reformers (1842)
Tholuck was one of the more conservative German liberals.
** “Moses Stuart confesses his great obligations to this eminent divine, who far exceeds the most of his German brethren in spirituality, and is not behind them in scholarship; yet even he is none too orthodox nor too reverent in his treatment of Holy Scripture.” – Spurgeon
Olshausen, H. – Rom. 13 in Commentary on the New Testament Adapted Especially for Preachers & Students: Romans (1850)
Olshausen was a moderate liberal.
** “Nobody seems very enthusiastic as to Olshausen, but some authors have borrowed from his pages more than they have confessed. Personally we do not care for him, but many prize and all respect him.” – Spurgeon
Stuart, Moses – Rom. 13 in Commentary on Romans (Andover: Draper, 1854)
** “Moses Stuart is judged to have been at his best in Romans and Hebrews. The present work is in some points unsatisfactory, on account of certain philosophico-theological views which he endeavors to maintain. Mr. [Robert] Haldane denounced him as by false criticism ‘misrepresenting the divine testimony in some of the momentous points of the Christian scheme.’ The charge was too true.” – Spurgeon
ed. Meyer, Heinrich A. W. – Rom. 13 in Critical & Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (1832-1859)
Liberal, but an irreplaceable, nearly-exhaustive resource. Focused especially on the grammatical-historical method of interpretation.
** ‘A very learned Commentary, of which Bishop Ellicott speaks in the highest terms. Meyer must be placed in the first class of scholars, though somewhat lower down in the class than his admirers have held. Apart from scholarship we do not commend him. Alford was certainly no very rigid adherent of orthodoxy, yet he says of Meyer that he is not to be trusted where there is any room for the introduction of rationalistic opinions. Whatever credit may be due to him for accurate interpretation, this is a terribly serious drawback. It is well to be warned.’ – Spurgeon
“Marked by the finest scholarship. Close attention is paid to critical details, and theology is blended with exegesis in expounding the text.” – Cyril Barber
Alford, Henry
Rom. 13 in The Greek Testament: Critical Exegetical Commentary, 4 vols. 5th ed. rev. (1849-1861; London: Rivingtons, 1863-1878), vol. 2, pp. 446-50
*** “Alford’s Greek Testament, ‘for the use of Theological Students and Ministers’ is an invaluable aid to the critical study of the text of the New Testament. You will find in it the ripened results of a matured scholarship, the harvesting of a judgment, generally highly impartial, always worthy of respect, which has gleaned from the most important fields of Biblical research, both modern and ancient, at home and abroad.
You will not look here for any spirituality of thought or tenderness of feeling; you will find the learned Dean does not forget to do full justice to his own views, and is quite able to express himself vigorously against his opponents; but for what it professes to be, it is an exceedingly able and successful work. The latter issues are by far the most desirable, as the author has considerably revised the work in the fourth edition. What I have said of his Greek Testament applies equally to Alford’s New Testament for English Readers, which is also a standard work.” – Spurgeon
Rom. 13 in The New Testament for English Readers, with a Critical & Explanatory Commentary (1868), vol. 3
*** – Spurgeon
eds. Blackley, W.L. & James Hawes – Rom. 13 in The Critical English Testament: an Adaption of Bengel’s Gnomon, with Notes, showing the Results of Modern Criticism & Exegesis (1869), vol. 2, pp. 346-50
“The editors of this valuable work have put before the English reader the results of the labors of more than twenty eminent commentators. He who uses the book will find that he is reading Bengel’s suggestive ‘Gnomon,’ modifying it by the critical investigations of Tischendorf and Alford, and comparing it with the exegetical works of De Wette, Meyer, Olshausen, and others, and adding to it also profound remarks and glowing sayings from [R.C.] Trench and [Rudolph] Stier.” – Evangelical Magazine [Note that all the persons mentioned but the last two were liberals.]
*** ‘We have heard this opinion [above] questioned; but with all discounts the book is a good one.’ – Spurgeon
Godet, Frederic – Rom. 13 in Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans tr. A. Ousin (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1881), vol. 2
“This exhaustive and technical commentary provides an excellent treatment of the argument of the epistle. The author surveys the varying theories, refutes theological liberals who differ with him on important points of doctrine, and adequately defends his views. A valuable addition to a pastor’s library!” – Cyril J. Barber
Gifford, Edwin H. – Rom. 13 in The Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, with Notes & Introduction from The Speaker’s Commentary (London: John Murray, 1886)
“A very thorough, amillennial exposition based upon the Greek text. Should be purchased if found because of its helpful exegetical insights.” – Cyril J. Barber
Liddon, H.P. – Rom. 13 in Explanatory Analysis of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans (1893)
Liddon was a High-Church Anglican, known for his Bampton Lectures defending the deity of Christ.
“A thorough, technical commentary which provides preachers with a comprehensive outline of the epistle. Frequently serves to give readers useful insights into the trend of Paul’s thought.” – Cyril J. Barber
Sanday, William & Arthur C. Headlam – Rom. 13 in A Critical & Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans 5th ed. in The International Critical Commentaries (NY: Scribner’s, 1899)
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1900’s
Denney, James – Rom. 13 in ed. W. Robertson Nicoll, The Expositor’s Greek Testament (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1910), vol. 2, pp. 695-99
Very technical and liberal. The Biblical text is in Greek. Some of the big name liberals include: A.B. Bruce, Marcus Dods, James Denney, G. Findlay, S. Salmond, A.S. Peake, James Moffatt, and J.B. Mayor.
“Weak in theology, and somewhat dated, but provides some good exegetical insights on each of the epistles of the NT.” – Cyril Barber
Zerwick, S.J., Max & Mary Grosvenor – Rom. 13 in A Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament 4th ed. rev. (Roma: Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico, 1988) Abbr Glossary
This is an in-text commentary through the New Testament concisely commenting on significant Greek words and constructions.
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Word Studies on Rom. 13
1800’s
Vincent, Marvin – Rom. 13 in Word Studies, 4 vols. (1887)
A standard work respected by all evangelicals; it makes the Greek accessible to an English-only reader. Vincent (1834-1922) was a presbyterian minister (though he does not appear to be strongly reformed in some of his interpretations) and professor of New Testament exegesis and criticism at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
“Vincent’s Word Studies falls half-way between an exegetical commentary and a Greek lexicon. It is actually a study, in commentary form, of the vocabulary of the New Testament. This format gives Vincent the opportunity to not only discuss the subtle distinctions in meaning between different Greek words, but also to comment on the history contained in a word that might get lost in a translation.” – StudyLight.org
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1900’s
Robertson, A.T. – Rom. 13 in Word Pictures of the New Testament
Robertson (1863-1934) was reformed baptist professor professor of New Testament at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Robertson comments on and fills out the word-pictures used in the N.T.
While he does not comment on all the verses of the N.T., he does comment on most of them and gives a lot of exegesis. The work is helpful on Greek grammar, but can be read by the English-only reader.
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The Use of the Old Testament in Rom. 13
ed. Carson, D.A. & G.K. Beale – Rom. 13 in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (2007), pp. 681-84
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Latin Commentaries
on Rom. 13
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Latin: Early Church
Compilation in Greek
Cramer, J.A. – Catenae [Chains] of the Greek Fathers on the New Testament, vol. 1 (Mt-Mk), 2 (Lk-Jn), 3 (Acts), 4 (Rom), 5 (Cor), 6 (Gal-Thess), 7 (Tim-Heb), 8 (Jam-Rev) (Oxford, 1844) The intro is in Latin, the commentary is in Greek.
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Origen – ed. Migne, Patrologia Graeca, vols. 12-17
Commentary, Homilies & Framents on John-Rom, Gal-Eph, Col-Thess, Tit-Heb
Origen (c. 184 – c. 253) of Alexandria, Egypt, was an early Christian scholar, ascetic, and theologian. He was a prolific writer who wrote roughly 2,000 treatises in multiple branches of theology, including textual criticism, biblical exegesis and biblical hermeneutics, homiletics, and spirituality. He is known as having greatly popularized an allegorical method of exegesis and has been one of the most influential commentators in Church history.
Ambrose of Milan – ed. Migne, Patrologia Latina, vols. 14-17
Ambrose (c. 340 – 397) was a bishop of Milanwho became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century.
“From the mid-third century on, Origen’s accomplishment radiated over all provinces of the empire. After him, disciples and admirers produced a whole exegetical literature in the Origenian [allegorical] style:… Ambrose of Milan and Hilary of Poitiers, who introduced him to the Latin West…” – Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters (IVP, 1998), p. 7
Chrysostom – ed. Migne, Patrologiae Graeca, vols. 51, 53-63
Chrysostom (c. 349-407)
Theodore of Mopsuestia
Mopsuestia (c. 350 – 428) is the best known representative of the middle School of Antioch of hermeneutics. The Catholic Encyclopedia says that during his lifetime, Theodore was considered an orthodox Christian thinker. Later though, long after his death, he was condemned as a Nestorian heretic.
Cyril of Alexandria – ed. Migne, Patrologiae Graeca, vols. 69-74
Explanation & Fragments on Acts-Cor
Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376 – 444) was a leading and prolific protagonist in the Christological controversies of the late-4th and 5th centuries. He was a central figure in the Council of Ephesus in 431, which led to the deposition of Nestorius as Patriarch of Constantinople.
“Cyril produced a biblical exegesis presenting all the marks of a magisterial teaching: solemn diction, a display of vast knowledge and rhetorical skills, a constant affirmation of doctrinal correctness. Verse by verse, Isaiah, the Psalms… School procedures determine Cyril’s exposition of well-organized exegetical works in which the author grasps readers by the hand and, with eloquence and erudition, leads them to the spiritual sense… After Cyril, the exegetical tradition of Alexandria lost its impetus.” – Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters (IVP, 1998), p. 8
Augustine – Patrologia Latina, vols. 34-35, 38-39
Questions on the New Testament
Sermons 51-183 in Sermons on Scripture
Appended Sermons 61-114
Exposition of Romans
Augustine (354-430) was an important early Church father and theologian.
Theodoret of Cyrus – Commentary on All of Paul’s Epistles in Migne, Patrologiae Graeca, vol. 82
Theodoret (c. 393 – c. 458/466) was an influential theologian of the school of Antioch, biblical commentator, and Christian bishop of Cyrrhus (423–457).
“…he combined Origen’s exegesis with the historical analysis privileged at Antioch.” – Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters, p. 15
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Latin: Medieval Church
Gregory the Great
Pope Gregory I, or Gregory the Great (c. 540 – 604).
Luculentus – Parts of a Commentary on Some of the New Testament in ed. Migne, Patrologia Latina, vol. 72, cols. 803-860, 29 pp. total Luculentus lived in the 6th century.
Paterius – Exposition of the Old & New Testament in Migne, Patrologiae Graeca, vol. 79
Paterius (d. 606) was a bishop of Brescia. He is known as a compiler, in particular of works of Pope Gregory I, for whom he worked as a notary.
Euthalius – Versions of:
Euthalius was a bishop who lived sometime during the 4th to the 7th centuries. These works include the Greek version of the Biblical books with a Latin translation in a parallel column, and footnotes below (mostly of alternate readings).
John of Damascus – Select Places in the Epistles of St. Paul out of the Universal Interpretation of St. Chrysostom in ed. Migne, Patrologiae Graeca, vol. 95
John of Damascus (c. 675 or 676-749) was a Syrian monk, priest, polymath and father of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Strabo, Walafridus †849
The Sacred Bible with the Ordinary Gloss
ed. 1603
ed. Migne
“Within medieval schools, the most important commentary used in the disputations was the Glossa ordinaria, the Ordinary Gloss. Glosses are explanatory notes added to a text, in this case, the Bible.. Adding glosses to texts began in the eight and ninth centuries in Northumbria and Ireland. It steadily increased in popularity and use, until, by the beginning of the eleventh century, glossing was widespread… Collections of these glosses offering interpretation of the entire Bible began to appear in Paris about 1220, and shortly thereafter were found in Germany and England.” – History of Biblical Interpretation, vol. 2, pp. 37-8
“The celebrated Glossa Ordinaria of Walafridus Strabo [c. 808-849], or Strabus, may be considered as a Catena Patrum [chain of fathers] on the Scriptures. He copies considerably from Rabanus Maurus [c. 780-856], on some of the books. The work is valuable for giving the literal sense, historical and moral. It was first published at Nuremberg, 1494, in 6 vol. folio, and several editions were afterwards printed. The best are those of Douay, 1617, and Antwerp, 1634, in which the Postilla of De Lyra were incorporated with other additions, ‘forming together’ says Calmet, ‘a treasure for theologians and preachers.’” – James Darling
See also the comments of T.H. Horne, Manual of Biblical Bibliography, p. 244.
Oecumenius
Oecumenius, once believed to be a Bishop of Trikka (now Trikala) in Thessaly writing about A.D. 990, was reputed to be the author of several commentaries on books of the New Testament. However, more recently scholars have redated Oecumenius’ Commentary on the Apocalypse to the early seventh century, or the late sixth century, and have located Oecumenius as writing in Asia Minor.
Lanfranc – Commentaries on All of Paul’s Epistles with Glosses Interjected in ed. Migne, Patrologiae Latina, vol. 150
Lanfranc (1005 to 1010 –1089) was a celebrated Italian jurist who renounced his career to become a Benedictine monk at Bec in Normandy. He served for a time as the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Damian, Petrus – ed. Migne, Patrologia Latina, vol. 145
Testimonies in the New Testament
Damian (c. 1007–1072 or 1073) was a reforming Benedictine monk and cardinal in the circle of Pope Leo IX. Dante placed him in one of the highest circles of Paradiso as a great predecessor of Saint Francis of Assisi and he was declared a Doctor of the Roman Church in 1828.
Theophylact
Ennarations on All the Divine Epistles of the Apostle Paul (Rom-Heb)
Theophylact of Ohrid (1055-1107) was a Byzantine archbishop of Ohrid and commentator on the Bible.
Anselm
The Ordinary Gloss of Pseudo-Walfrid Strabo with the Interlinear Gloss of Anslem, in 4 vols. (Strasburg, 1481)
Ennarations on the Epistles of Paul (Cologne, Germany, 1545)
Anselm (c.1033-1109) was an Italian, Benedictine monk, abbot, philosopher and theologian of the Roman Catholic Church, who held the office of archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109.
Alulfus of Tournai – Exposition of the New Testament in ed. Migne, Patrologia Latina, vol. 79, cols. 1137-1424
Alulfus (d. 1140’s) was a Benedictine monk of St. Martin of Tournay. As he had collected a number of literary pieces from Gregory the Great, Alulfus’ work was placed as an appendix to Gregory the Great’s works (6th century) in Patrologia Latina.
Comestor, Petrus
Editions of the Historica Scholastica 1st ed. 1175
Comestor (d. 1178) was a French theological writer and university administrator. For information on the Historia Scholastica, see Wikipedia.
“By the twelfth century, comprehensive, discursive commentaries emerged. The most influential discursive commentary, the Historia scholastica by Peter Comestor, chancellor of the school of Notre Dame, appeared in 1175. This comprehensive exposition of the Bible became widely used in the later Middle Ages.” – History of Biblical Interpretation, vol. 2, p. 38
The Latin Bible with the Ordinary Glosses c. 1220
Glossae Scripturae Sacrae Electronicae
“Around 1220 the first complete glossed Bibles were produced, and about the same time what was by then a more or less standard text came to be called the Glossa Ordinaria, the Ordinary Gloss to Scripture, its status propagated if not at first achieved in connection with the theological faculty of the new university of Paris…” – Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters (IVP, 1998), p. 77
“The most important glossed Bible was the Ordinary Gloss, nine volumes of interpretation of the Bible… The Ordinary Gloss wielded vast influence in scholasticism, helped by the citations of it in Lombard’s [very popular] Four Books of Sentences…” – History of Biblical Interpretation, vol. 2, p. 38
Anthony of Padua – The Mystical Interpretation in the Sacred Scripture in ed. R.P. Joannis de la Haye of Paris, All the Works of St. Anthony of Padua (Pedeponti Ratisbonam Bibliopolae, 1739), pp. 366-608
Anthony (1195-1231) was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order.
Hugo of Saint Caro d. 1263
All the Homilies of Hugo from St. Caro, in which are Delineated All the Senses: Literal, Allegorical, Tropological & Analogical, on (1487/1703):
“The most influential type of comprehensive commentary, the postilla, was developed in the Dominican school at the University of Paris in the early thirteenth century, under the influence of Hugh of Saint-Cher (d. 1263). The postilla, a running commentary composed originally as classroom lectures, became the typical Bible commentary of scholasticism. The postilla was intended to supplement the Ordinary Gloss with newer interpretations and theological outlooks. These supplements were often digressions on theological subjects suggested by the passage being interpreted, and focused essentially on the literal sense of the passage.” – History of Biblical Interpretation, vol. 2, p. 38
Gorranus, Nicolaus
Commentary on All the Epistles of Paul, vol. 1 (Rom-Col), 2 (Thess-Heb)
Gorranus (1232-1295) was a Dominican. The work on the catholic epistles has sometimes been attributed to Thomas Aquinas, but it is Gorran’s.
Aureolus, Petrus – A Compendium of the Literal Sense of the Whoe Divine Scripture d. 1322
Aureolus (1280-1322).
“One early fourteenth century interpreter, the Franciscan Pierre Aureol, made a handy Compendium to rival the old Historia Scholastica. But the form of these achievements was not exclusive.” C. Ocker, Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters (IVP, 1998), p. 78
De Lyra, Nicholas d. 1349
The Sacred Bible Set in Order and Interlined with Glosses and the Postils and Moral Teachings of Nicholas de Lyra ed. 1545
“The Postilla, or short commentaries of De Lyra [c. 1270-1349], are far superior to the age in which he flourished, and show great acquaintance with the literal sense of Scripture. They are especially valuable for the Old Testament, from his superior knowledge of Hebrew and the Rabbinical writers, particularly Jarchi [1040–1105]. An edition was printed by Mentelin, in 1473, in 4 vol. folio, and many other editions were printed. The best are those which accompany the Glossa of Strabo [above]. The Postilla are also to be found in the Biblia Maxima of De la Haye [below].” – James Darling
“A book regarded as having no small part in bringing on the Reformation. ‘Lyra’s lyre woke Luther’s dance.’” – Howard Malcom
Denis the Carthusian d. 1471
Commentary on the Old & New Testament (in Works, vols. 1-13)
Denis (1402-1471) “Without much secular learning or much criticism, Dionysius the Carthusian has great discernment, knowledge and piety, with an easy style. There were various editions of the different volumes of his commentaries printed in the sixteenth century.” – James Darling
Vallo, Laurentius – Collated Annotations on the New Testament (published by Erasmus in 1505; Basil, 1526) GB (Amsterdam, 1630)
Laurentius (c. 1407–1457) was an Italian humanist, rhetorician, educator and Roman Catholic priest. He is best known for his textual analysis that proved that the Donation of Constantine was a forgery.
“Valla held a distinguished rank among the revivers of literature, and was one of the first who considered the sense of the New Testament as a critic rather than as a divine; whence he was led to make many corrections in the Latin Vulgate translation. His annotations were first edited by Erasmus: they are also to be found in the Critici Sacri.” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
“One of the most influential humanist scholars of the fifteenth century was Lorenzo Valla (1405-57), who had an appointment in the papal court in Rome. He was a very early, gifted text critic, who understood the need to collate the readings of extant manuscripts as a means of determining the original reading of biblical texts. He collated Greek and Latin manuscripts of the Gospels, annotating the differences that he found.” – ed. Hauser & Watson, History of Biblical Interpretation: Medieval, p. 43
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Latin: 1500’s
Oecolampadius, Johannes
Oecolampadius (1482-1531) was a reformer and humanist, largely in Basel.
Zwingli, Ulrich
Zwingli (1484-1531) was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland.
Pellican, Conrad – Rom-Jude (Zurich, 1532-1542)
“Pellican gives the Latin Vulgate retouched, and rendered more conformable to the Hebrew and Greek; his commentaries are excellent for elucidating the literal and grammatical sense of Scripture, and for throwing light on many obscure passages. He did not write on Jonah, Zechariah, or the Apocalypse. The commentary on the Apocalypse, by S[ebastian] Meyer, in which Pellican assisted is often added. The work thus complete (in 10 vol. folio) is very scarce.” – James Darling
Pellican, Conrad, Henry Bullinger, Leo Jud, Theodore Bibliander – The Most Holy Bible of the Old & New Testament… with a Consulting of Orthodox Interpreters (Tigur, 1543)
This has light margin notes, similar to a study Bible. On the authors, see Wikipedia on Pellican, Jud & Bibliander. On this work, see John Kitto, Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature, on Bibliander, p. 363.
Bucer, Martin
A Paraphrase and Perpetual Commentary on Romans
Bucer (1491-1551) was a German Protestant reformer in the Reformed tradition based in Strasbourg who influenced Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican doctrines and practices.
Musculus, Wolfgang
Commentaries on:
Musculus (1497-1563)
Marlorat, Augustine – A Catholic, Ecclesiastical Exposition of the New Testament… or a Library of Exposition (Geneva, 1570)
Marlorat (1506-1562) was a French reformer.
“A valuable work, containing Erasmus’ Latin Version of the New Testament, with the Expositions of the Fathers of the Church, and of Bucer, Calvin, Erasmus, Musculus, Melanchthon, Sarcerius, Brentius, Bullinger, Zwinglius, Vitus Theodorus, Marloratus, etc.” – James Darling
“The multiplicity of editions, through which this work passed, attests the high and deserved estimation in which it was formerly held, though it is now but little known. It contains Erasmus’s Latin version of the New Testament, together with various expositions, collected from the writings of the father of the church as well as from later interpreters, whether of the Reformed or Lutheran communions, with which the author has intermixed his own observations.” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
Strigel, Victor – Commentary [Hypomnemata] on All the Books of the New Testament (Leipzig, 1565)
Strigel (1524-1569) was initially a Lutheran professor of philosophy who came to accept the reformed teaching on the Eucharist and became a professor of ethics and history at Heidelberg.
“‘This is another of the most valuable books of sacred criticism. The observations are neat, and the critical judgment of Victorinus Strigelius is excellent.’ (Dr. Harwood.)” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
Cameron, John – in Beza & Cameron, Annotations on the New Testament by Theodore Beza… to which is Appended a New Covenant Commentary by John Cameron [1572] (Cambridge, 1642) Cameron’s commentary is at the back of the volume here.
“The notes of Camerarius, which were added only in this edition, are important.” – James Darling
“The Commentaries of Joachim Camerarius, which form a part of this work, are very useful: in them, the learned author expounds the text in a grammatical and critical manner only, according to the genius of the original languages, and without entering into any disputed points of doctrine. They are a reprint of Camerarius’s Notatio figurarum sermonis in libris quatuor evangeliorum, et indicata verborum significatio et orationis sententia, ad illorum scriptorum intelligentiam certiorem. Lipsiae, 1572. 2 vols. 4to.” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
Aretius, Benedict
Aretius (1505–1574) was a Swiss Protestant theologian, Protestant reformer and natural philosopher.
Bullinger, Henry
All of Paul’s Epistles & Hebrews 1603
Bullinger (1504-1575) was a Swiss reformer, the successor of Huldrych Zwingli as head of the Zürich church and pastor at Grossmünster.
Gwalther, Rudolph
All the Arguments of the Chapters of Both the Old & New Testament Written in Elegant Verse
Homilies on: Romans
Gwalther (1519-1586) was a Reformed pastor and Protestant reformer who succeeded Heinrich Bullinger as Antistes of the Zurich church.
Beza, Theodore – Annotations on the New Testament of Jesus Christ our Lord… ([Geneva] 1598)
Romans 10
This is a best edition of the work. It gives Beza’s Greek text in parallel columns with his Latin translation in the middle, with the Vulgate on the right. His large annotations and discussions (much larger than what is in the English translation) follow under the columns. Another good edition of this work is below under the 1640’s.
* Sixtus of Siena – ‘Annotations & Censures on Expositors of the Divine Volumes…’ in A Holy Library, Collected out of Principal Catholic Church Authors (Leiden: Sib. a Porta, 1593), bks. 5-6, pp. 326-559 Not every verse or book is commented on.
Sixtus Senensis (1520–1569) was a Jew who converted to Romanism and became a Franciscan preacher. He then became a Dominican and is considered one of the two most outstanding Dominican scholars of his generation.
This work is something of the Romanist equivelent to the protestant Matthew Poole’s Synopsis of the Critics.
[On the larger volume] “…also published as Ars Interpretandi Sacras Scripturas, discusses the canon and authority of Scripture, the individual biblical authors and their writings, and the interpretation of the text in its various senses and offers comments on passages of theological and critical interest in both Testaments. Sixtus’s work is noteworthy for its critical and hermeneutical dimensions, such as its argument for the multiple authorship of the Psalter, its assumption of a twofold literal sense much like that taught by Nicholas of Lyra, and its advocacy of the use of original texts and multilingual tools like the Complutensian Polyglott.” – R. Muller, Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters (IVP, 1998), p. 135
Rollock, Robert
Rollock (1555-1599) was Scottish and was the first regent and first principal of the University of Edinburgh.
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Latin: 1600’s
Tossanus, Daniel
Tossanus (1541-1602) was a French Reformed theologian.
Herlin, Johann Henrich – Instruction on the Reading of all the Books of the New Testament, by an Primary or General Analysis of them, by a summary series of the Things & Arguments… (Bern, 1605)
Herlin (d. 1611) was a reformed professor of Greek, ethics and theology at Bern, Switzerland.
Scaliger, Joseph Justus – Notes in the New Testament Ref These notes are found in the Critici Sacri (which is on this webpage).
Scaliger (1540-1609) was a French scholar who became a Protestant in his travels. See the article by H.J. De Jong, ‘Joseph Scaliger’s Historical Criticism of the New Testament’ in Novum Testamentum, vol. 38, Fasc. 2 (Apr., 1996), pp. 176-193.
Drusius, Joannes
Annotations on the New Testament (Franeker, 1616) The first part of the volume is a dictionary of Hebrew words in the NT with philological comments.
Annotations in the Whole Testament of Jesus Christ (Amsterdam, 1632) This is different than that above.
Drusius (1550-1616) was a Flemish divine, distinguished specially as an Orientalist, Hebraist and exegete.
Casaubon, Isaac & Henry Estienne – The New Testament (Geneva, 1617)
Casaubon (1559–1614) was a classical scholar and philologist, first in France and then later in England. He was a professor of Greek at Geneva and was regarded by many of his time as the most learned man in Europe. Estienne (1531-1598), also known as Henricus Stephanus, was a 16th-century French printer and classical scholar
This work is an edition of the Greek New Testament. It has summary of the contents of each chapter and lists mainly cross references and alternate Greek readings in the margin notes. The notes are also in the Critici Sacri.
Grynaeus, Johann Jakob
A Brief Chronology of the Evangelical History & a Logical Analysis of Romans
Grynaeus (1540-1617) was a Swiss professor of the Old & New Testament at Basel. He was also a professor of the New Testament for a time at Heidelberg.
Pareus, David d. 1622
Intro to Epistles of Paul & Rom – 1 Cor
Pareus (1548-1622)
Cameron, John & Alexander Morus – The Evangelical Ointment-Box: Here are Many Places of the New Testament aptly and skillfully Illustrated, Explicated and Vindicated from it with many labors, to which are Appended The Notes on the New Covenant by Alexander Morus… with his Theological Axioms (Salmur, 1677) This work of Cameron’s covers less verses than his commentary appended to Beza’s commentary below, but it covers these verses in greater depth. Morus’ commentary starts on p. 303 and is the same as that listed below on this webpage.
Cameron (c. 1579 – 1625) was a Scottish theologian and a professor of theology in Saumur, France. Morus (1616-1670) was born in Scotland, spent time in France and became a professor of Greek and theology at Geneva. Being forced to leave Geneva due to his Amyraldianism, he settled in Amsterdam.
Cappel, Jacques
Observations on the New Testament, Excepting the Acts of the Apostles & the Apocalypse of John (Amsterdam, 1657)
Cappel (1570-1624) was a professor of Hebrew and theology and the uncle of the well-known Louis Cappel.
Piscator, Johann – Commentaries on
Piscator (1546-1625)
Heinsius, Daniel – Sacred Exercitations upon the New Testament (Cambridge, 1640)
Heinsius (1580-1655) was one of the most famous scholars of the Dutch Renaissance. He was a reviser of the Statenvertaling, was a student of Scaliger and Grotius and was Secretary of the States General at the Synod of Dordt.
Cappel, Jacques – Observations on the New Testament, Excepting the Acts of the Apostles & the Apocalypse of John (Amsterdam, 1657)
Cappel (1570-1624) was a professor of Hebrew and theology and the uncle of the well-known Louis Cappel.
Gomarus, Francis
Gomarus (1563-1641) was a Dutch theologian and an opponent of James Arminius.
Revius, Jacobus – Notes in Lorentius Vallo out of Collections on the New Testament in Critici Sacri, vol. 6 (Gospels), 7 (Acts-Rev) 1660
Revius (1586-1658) was a Dutch poet, reformed professor of theology at Leiden and a church historian. Laurentius (c. 1407–1457) was a Roman Catholic priest.
Morus, Alexander – Notes on Some Places in the New Covenant (Paris, 1668)
Morus (1616-1670) was born in Scotland, spent time in France and became a professor of Greek and theology at Geneva. Being forced to leave Geneva due to his Amyraldianism, he settled in Amsterdam.
Doughtie, John
Sacred Analecta, or Brief Philological Excursus on Diverse Places of the Old & New Testaments, to which is subjoined the Animadversions of Norton Knatchbul on the Books of the New Testament (1694) While this edition contains commentary on the NT, the scanning of it is so bad that it is hardly usable.
Doughtie (1598–1672) was a reformed Anglican.
Knatchbul (1602–1685) was a scholar and may have been reformed as Peter du Moulin the younger in 1680 dedicated to him his ‘Short View of the Chief Points in Controversy between the Reformed Churches and the Church of Rome’.
Knatchbul “In the year before the Restoration [in 1660]… published his ‘Animadversiones in Libros Novi Testamenti. Paradoxæ Orthodoxæ… The work consists of a large number of critical emendations, based upon a fair knowledge of Hebrew, and showing considerable intrepidity for a critic of that period… a fourth edition, in English, appeared in 1692, entitled ‘Annotations upon some difficult Texts in all the Books of the New Testament,’ Cambridge, 1693 [Ref]. The translation is, according to Darling (Cyclop. Bibl. 1738), the author’s own… The work was held in great estimation for a century after its publication, and figures in a list of books annotated by the learned Ambrose Bonwicke (1652–1722) [q. v.] (Nichols, Lit. Anecd. v. 141). Kitto, however, says that Knatchbull’s remarks ‘are entirely wanting in depth, and we cannot read them without wonder at the small amount of knowledge which procured for their author such a widespread reputation’ (Cyclop. Bibl. ii. s.v.) ” – Dictionary of National Biography
Cartwright, Christopher – The Honey of the Hebrews, or Diverse Observations out of the Hebrews, Especially of Antiquities and Monuments, with Many Place in the Old & New Testament Explained, Illustrated and Other Many Notes… in Critici Sacri (1660), vol. 9, cols. 2943-3128
Cartwright (1602–1658) was an English clergyman, known as a Hebraist and for his use of targums in Biblical exegesis, following the lead of Henry -Ainsworth with John Weemes.
“This [work] was first published in the ninth volume of the Critici Sacri, 1660…” – Wikipedia
Coccejus, Johannes
Coccejus (1603-1669) was a Dutch theologian born in Bremen, known for his alternate covenant theology.
Leusden, Johannes
Key to the Hebrew OT & Greek NT in which Difficult Subjects are Driven Back, Irregular Words & Constructions are Explained, Other Difficulties are Unfolded and Sacred & Profane Philological Observations & Antiquities are Annotated (Utrecht, 1672/83)
Leusden (1624-1699) was a Dutch theologian and professor of Oriental languages at Utrecht.
Poole, Matthew – Synopsis of the Interpreters and Commentators of Sacred Scripture, vol. 5 (Rom-Rev, Index of Whole) (1678/1684)
Romans 10
This set is different (much more massive and detailed) than Poole’s Annotations on the Whole Bible, which has been reprinted in 3 vols. For the Romanist equivelent to this work, see Sixtus of Siena above.
“If you are well enough versed in Latin, you will find in Poole’s Synopsis a marvelous collection of all the wisdom and folly of the critics. It is a large cyclopaedia worthy of the days when theologians could be cyclopean, and had not shrunk from folios to octavos. Query–a query for which I will not demand an answer–has one of you ever beaten the dust from the venerable copy of Poole which loads our library shelves? Yet as Poole spent no less than ten years in compiling it, it should be worthy of your frequent notice–ten years, let me add, spent in Amsterdam in exile for the truth’s sake from his native land.
His work was based upon an earlier compilation entitled Critici Sacri, containing the concentrated light of a constellation of learned men who have never been excelled in any age or country.” – Charles Spurgeon, Commenting & Commentaries
Heidegger, Johann Heinrich – A Biblical Manual: Sacred Reading, a General Analysis of each of the Books of the Old & New Testament… (Amsterdam, 1688)
Heidegger (1633-1698) was a Swiss theologian and the principal author of the Formula Consensus Helvetica (1675).
Keuchenius, Peter – Annotations on All the Books of the New Testament, with a Preface by Johann Alberti 2nd ed. (Leiden, 1755)
Keuchenius (1654-89) was a learned Dutch minister and theologian. Alberti (1698-1762) was a Dutch theologian and professor of theology at Leiden.
“The author’s aim in these annotations is to throw light on the N. Test. by determining the sense in which words and phrases were used at the time it was written, and among those with whom its writers were familiar. For this purpose he compares the language of the N. Test. with that of the Septuagint, and calls in aid from the Chaldee and Syriac versions. His notes are characterized by sound learning and great good sense. Alberti commends in strong terms his erudition, his candor, solidity, and impartiality.” – Kitto’s Biblical Cyclopaedia, ii, 729
de Dieu, Ludovici
Sacred Criticism, or Animadversions on the Difficult Places of the Old & New Testaments (1693)
Animadversions on: (These are different than that above)
de Dieu (1590-1642) was a Dutch minister and an orientalist.
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Latin: 1700’s
van Alphen, Hieronymus Simons
1-2 Corinthians
Galatians – Ephesians
Colossians
1-2 Thessalonians
Hebrews
1 Peter
van Alphen (1665-1742) was a German Reformed theologian. Some of his commentaries are only in Dutch.
Iken, Conrad – A New Theological-Philological Thesaurus, or a Syllabus of Exegetical Dissertations on Select & Significant Places of the Old & New Instruments, vols. 1 (OT), 2 (NT)
Iken (1689-1753) was a professor of theology at Bremen, Germany.
Palairet, Elias – Philological & Critical Observations on the Sacred Books of the New Covenant (Leiden, 1752)
Palairet (1713-65) was a Dutch minister and classical scholar, who spent his later life in England.
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Latin: 1800’s
Hardy, Samuel – The New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Theological & Philological Scholia, vol. 1, 2 3rd ed. (London, 1820)
“‘It was a very useful companion to every biblical student…’ – Dr. Clarke. The third edition of this work is the most correct: it is beautifully printed. The notes are chiefly extracted from [Matthew] Poole’s Synopsis.” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
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Bibliographies
1800’s
Darling, James – Cyclopedia Bibliographica: A Library Manual of Theological and General Literature, vol. 1 (Subjects) (1859)
This is perhaps the most exhaustive bibliographical collection up to its day. It includes foreign language titles.
Malcom, Howard – ‘Romans’ in ‘Commentators’ in Theological Index: References to the Principal Works in Every Department of Religious Literature, embracing nearly Seventy Thousand Citations, Arranged under Two Thousand Heads (Boston, 1868), pp. 110-11
Malcom was likely an old Princeton grad as he mentioned his indebtedness to the Drs. Alexander and Miller in the ‘Preface’. Malcom was a pastor who worked on this volume for over 40 years.
This work includes titles in foreign languages and is more comprehensive than the work of James Darling. The drawback is that there is very limited reference information, which can make finding the works difficult at times.
Hurst, John Fletcher – ‘Romans’ in Literature of Theology: A Classified Bibliography of Theological & General Religious Literature (1896), pp. 107-9
Hurst (1834–1903) was an American bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church, a historian, and the first Chancellor of the American University in Washington, D.C.
This work only includes titles in English. “Based on his 1882 work: Biblioteca Theologica [which has a smaller listing]. An extensive classified bibliography of ‘the best and most desirable books in theology and general religious literature published in Great Britain, the United States, and the Dominion of Canada.’”
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