With titles translated into English
See also:
Whole Bible Commentaries in Latin
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Subsections
Latin Commentaries on the Gospels
Bibliographies of Commentaries on the Books of the Bible
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Order of Contents
About this Collection
Early Church 5
In Greek 1
Medieval Church 7
Reformed 20+
Protestant 2
Lutheran 15
Anglican 1
Arminian 3
Romanist 11
Socinian 1
Rationalist / Critical / Liberal 7
Commentary from Judaica on the NT 6
Commentary out of Greek & Latin Writers 7
Bibliography
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About this Collection
This collection of 75+ Latin commentaries on the whole New Testament (or the majority thereof) includes every relevant work referenced in the following sources (amongst others):
Darling, James – ‘Commentaries, etc. on the New Testament’ in Cyclopedia Bibliographica: A Library Manual of Theological and General Literature, vol. 1 (Subjects) (London, 1859)
Malcom, Howard – ‘New Testament’ 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)
ed. McKim, Donald – Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters Buy (IVP, 1998)
We have little doubt that the below resources constitute most of the major, Latin commentaries on the whole New Testament through Church history which have been preserved and are available on the net.
New Testament commentaries which are a part of Whole Bible Commentaries in Latin or have been translated into English (such as those of Martin Luther, J.A. Bengel, etc.) have generally not been included on this webpage. Sometimes other editions of these works may be found on PRDL. In selecting which edition to link, we have striven for readability.
The subcategories which divide the resources below have been meant to be helpful, though many works might fit into numerous of the categories. For instance, numerous authors who were Arminian were also Anglicans and rationalists. There are a few instances of cross-over between the Lutherans and Reformed during the 1500’s and 1600’s. Many of the ‘Lutheran’ & ‘Reformed’ authors after 1700, with some exceptions might also be classed in the rationalist or critical school, the Enlightenment having had an effect upon them.
May these resources bring us to a greater appreciation of the depth of the new testament of our crucified and risen Lord. May this same Lord reveal Himself to us as we meditate on his things day and night (Ps. 1:2).
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Early Church
Chrysostom
in Patrologia Graeca, vols. 51, 57-63
25 Homilies on Certain Places in the New Testament
90 Homilies in Matthew, Part 1, Part 2
88 Homilies in John
55 Homilies in Acts
32 Homilies on Romans
44 Homilies on 1 Cor.
30 Homilies on 2 Cor.
Commentary on Galatians
Homilies on Eph-Phile
34 Homilies on Hebrews
Chrysostom (c. 349-407) was the Archbishop of Constantinople and an important Early Church Father.
Augustine
in Patrologia Latina, vols. 34-35, 38-39
Questions on the New Testament
Sermons 51-183 in Sermons on Scripture
Appended Sermons 61-114
Harmony of the Gospels
Questions on the Gospels
On the Miracles of the New Testament
17 Questions in Matthew
The Sermon of the Lord on the Mount
124 Tracts on John
Exposition of Romans
Exposition of Galatians
10 Tracts on 1 John
Exposition on the Apocalypse
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
Euthalius
Versions of:
Acts
Epistles of Paul
Catholic Epistles
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).
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Selections in the New Testament
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.
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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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Medieval Church
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.
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.
Theophylact
Commentaries on the Four Gospel, in Greek & Latin
Explications in the Acts of the Apostles, Collected Concisely & Briefly out of the Fathers…
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
Enarrations on the Gospel of Matthew
Explanations on Some of [the Chapters in] the Gospels
Commentaries on all the Epistles of the Divine Paul
Anselm of Canterbury (c.1033-1109)
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.
Gorranus, Nicolaus
Commentary on the Four Gospels, vol. 1 (Mt, Mk), 2 (Lk, Jn)
Commentary on All the Epistles of Paul, vol. 1 (Rom-Col), 2 (Thess-Heb)
Commentary on the Catholic Epistles Ref
Gorranus (1232-1295) was a Dominican. The work on the catholic epistles has sometimes been attributed to Thomas Aquinas, but it is Gorran’s.
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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Reformed
1500’s
Zwingli, Ulrich
Annotations & Commentaries on:
Gospels
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
Hebrews
James
1 John
Zwingli (1484-1531) was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland.
Bucer, Martin
A Perpetual Commentary in the Four Sacred Gospels
This is the work from which his Common Places derive.
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:
Matthew
John
Romans
Corinthians
Galatians & Ephesians
Philippians – 1 Timothy
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
Bullinger, Henry
Commentaries on
Matthew 1542
Mark 1584
Luke 1546
John 1556
Acts 1556
All of Paul’s Epistles & Hebrews 1603
James-Jude
The Apocalypse (sermons) 1559
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 and New Testament Written in Elegant Verse
Homilies on:
Matthew 1-14, 15-28
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians-Colossians
Thessalonians-Hebrews
Catholic Epistles
Gwalther (1519-1586) was a Reformed pastor and Protestant reformer who succeeded Heinrich Bullinger as Antistes of the Zurich church.
Tossanus, Daniel
Commentaries on:
Tract on the Harmony of the Gospels
Matt, Luke, John
Acts
Romans
Cor-Rev
1 Cor 15, Lord’s Supper
Aphorisms out of Philippians
Axioms out of Hebrews
Tossanus (1541-1602) was a French Reformed theologian.
Aretius, Benedict
Commentaries on:
Instruction to the Readers of the Epistles of Paul, the Divine Apostle (Prolegomena)
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians-Thessalonians
Timothy-Philemon
Hebrews
Instruction on the Seven Canonical Epistles (Prolegomena)
James-Jude
Apocalypse
Aretius (1505–1574) was a Swiss Protestant theologian, Protestant reformer and natural philosopher.
Beza, Theodore – Annotations on the New Testament of Jesus Christ our Lord… ([Geneva] 1598)
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.
Rollock, Robert
In English
Lectures on Jn. 14-17
Lectures on the Passion, Resurrection & Ascension of Jesus
Colossians
1-2 Thessalonians
In Latin
Romans
Galatians
Ephesians
Colossians
1-2 Thessalonians
Hebrews
Rollock (1555-1599) was Scottish and was the first regent and first principal of the University of Edinburgh.
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1600’s
Tossanus, Sr., Daniel
Commentary on the Three Gospels: Matthew, Luke & John (Hanau, 1606)
Commentaries in that which Remains of Paul, the other Apostolic Epistles and the Apocalypse of John the Evangelist and Theologian (Hanau, 1604) Does not include Romans or Philemon.
Tossanus Sr. (1541-1602) was a French Reformed theologian and professor of New Testament at Heidelberg.
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.
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
Analytical Theses on Galatians, vol. 1, 2, 3
An Aphoristic Explanation of Colossians
An Explanation of Hebrews
An Explanation of 1 & 2 John
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.
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.
Piscator, Johann – Commentaries in All the Books of the New Testament (Herborn, 1638)
Piscator (1546-1625) was a prolific German Reformed theologian, known as a Bible translator and textbook writer.
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.
Beza, Theodore & John Cameron – Annotations on the New Testament by Theodore Beza… to which is Appended a New Covenant Commentary by John Cameron (Cambridge, 1642) Cameron’s commentary is at the back of the volume here.
“Best edition. The first [edition of Beza’s work] appeared at Geneva, 1565, folio, and obtained great reputation. The notes of Camerarius, which were added only in this edition, are important.” – James Darling
“Beza is undoubtedly the best critic on the Greek language of any commentator we have. There is no translation that I know of equal to his: and his remarks on Erasmus and the vulgar Latin are wrought up to the utmost degree of exactness. On the whole, it is an invaluable treasure, and deserves to be read with the attention.” – Philip Doddridge
“The text and the running commentary of the Annotationes [of Beza] in turn had a major impact on the Geneva Bible (1560), the marginalia of which are often summaries of Beza’s running commentary, minus its text-critical remarks.” – R. Muller, Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters, p. 127
“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
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
Matthew, Luke, John
Romans
Galatians
Philippians – Thessalonians
Philemon – 2 John
Jude – Revelation 5
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.
Walaeus, Balduin – A Perpetual Commentary on the Historical Books (in Greek & Latin) of the New Testament out of Antiquity, & Illustrated by Histories & Philological Criticisms (Amsterdam, 1662) The commentary is only on the Gospels & Acts.
Walaeus (1622-1673) was reformed and wrote this while in Belgium.
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.
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
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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.
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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Protestant
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.
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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Lutheran
1500’s
Bugenhagen, Johann
Harmony of the Evangelical History on the Passion & Glorification of Christ, with Annotations (c. 1524)
Commentary on Four Chapters of 1 Corinthians (Wittenburg, 1530)
Annotations on the Epistles of Paul to the Galatians through Hebrews (Strasburg, 1525)
Bugenhagen (1485-1558) was Lutheran.
Sarcerius, Erasmus
Matthew: Scholia
Mark: Scholia
Luke: Scholia
John: Scholia
Acts: Scholia
Romans: Scholia
1-2 Corinthians: Pious Meditations
Galatians & Ephesians: Annotations
Philippians, Colossians & 1-2 Thessalonians
Sermons of the Year, for them which Teach in the Church, vol. 1, 2, 3 (Egen., 1541) Covers the Gospels & the Epistles.
Sarcerius (1501-1559) was a Lutheran educator, clergyman, and publicist.
Flacius, Matthias – The New Testament of Jesus Christ the Son of God. out of Erasmus’s Version, a Compendious Gloss on… (Basel, 1570)
Flacius (1520-1575) was a Lutheran reformer from Istria, present day Croatia. He was a professor of Hebrew and the New Testament at Wittenberg and Jena respectively. He was particularly known for being early proponent of the doctrine of Utter Depravity, later picked up and adhered to by the Antinomians and Hyper-Calvinists.
Major, Georg
Homilies on the Gospels on Lord’s Days and Festivals (3rd Tome of Works)
The Life of the Apostle, St. Paul, Briefly out of his Epistles, the Acts of the Apostles… (Wittenberg, 1563)
Homilies on the Epistles of the Lord’s Days and Festivals (2nd Tome of Works)
Commentaries on Romans – Philemon (1st Tome of Works, Wittenberg, 1569)
Major (1502-1574)
Selnecker, Nikolaus
A Harmony, Explication & Homilies on All the Gospels & Epistles which are accustomed to be propounded on Lord’s Days & Festivals in the Church of Christ, vol. 1, 2, 3 (Frankfurt, 1575)
Selnecker (1532-1592) was a German theologian, reformer, poet and a composer of hymns.
Hemmingsen, Niels
Postilla on the Lord’s Days & Festival Days
History of Christ Principally out of John
Hemmingsen (1513-1600) was a Danish Lutheran theologian who had studied under Melanchthon.
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1600’s
Hunnius, Aegidius
An Apostolic Thesaurus, containing Commentaries on All the Epistles of the New Testament and on the Apocalypse of John (Wittenberg, 1705)
Aegidius (1550-1603) was a professor of theology at Marburg and Wittenberg.
Schmidt, Erasmus – Notes & Animadversions on the New Testament with a New Version (Nuremberg, 1658)
Schmidt (1570-1637) was a professor of philosophy, Greek and mathematics at Wittenberg.
Gerhard, Johann
Sacred Homilies on the Pericopes of the Gospels of the Lord’s Days & All the Principal Annual Feasts, vol. 1, 2
Matthew
Acts
Romans 1-6
Colossians
1-2 Timothy
Hebrews
1 Peter
2 Peter
Apocalypse
Gerhard (1582-1637) was a Lutheran church leader and Lutheran Scholastic theologian during the period of Orthodoxy.
Calixt, George
Harmony of the Gospels and an Explication of the Places which are Difficult
Mt. 2, History of the Magi
Romans
1-2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
Titus
Calixt (1586-1656) was a German, Lutheran, synergistic and ecumenical theologian.
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1700’s
Fabricius, Johann Albert – Select Observations in Various Places of the New Testament, or the Pentecontarchus of Lorenzo Ramirez of Prado, the Notes on the New Covenant of Alexander Morus and the Gospel Gleaning of Peter Possinus (Hamburg, 1712)
Fabricius (1668-1736) was a German, Lutheran, classical scholar and bibliographer. Ramirez (1583-1658) was a Roman Catholic. 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. Possinus (b. 1590) was a French Jesuit. He was an excellent Hebrew and Greek scholar, and died at Rome towards the end of the 17th century.
Hombergk, Johann Friedrich – Sacred Ornaments, or Some Observations on the New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ 1712
Hombergk (1673-1748) was a German legal scholar and Rector and Chancellor of the University of Marburg.
Wolf, Johann Christoph – Philological and Critical Exertions in the New Testament, vol. 1 (Mt-Lk), 2 (Jn-Acts), 3 (Rom-Gal), 4 (Eph-Heb), 5 (Jm-Rev) (1741) Best edition.
Wolf (1683-1739) was a German, Christian, Hebraist, polymath and collector of books.
“This is a very valuable compilation; as ‘Wolfius does not simply relate the sentiments of others, but frequently animadverts upon them with great critical discernment.’ (Dr. Williams.) A continuation of [supplement to] this work was published by John Christopher Koecher, entitled ‘Analecta Philologica et Exegetica in Quator Evangelia.’ Altenburgi, 1766. 4to.” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
Walch, Johann Georg
Observations in the Books of the New Covenant, Table of Contents
Various Observations Illustrating the Ecclesiastical History of the New Testament (Jena, 1794)
Walch (1693-1775) was a professor of theology at Jena, Germany.
Morus, Samuel Friedrich Nathanael
Praelections & Recitations in:
Luke
John
Romans & Difficult Places in the Interpretation of the NT
James – 2 Peter
1-3 John
Morus (1736-1792) was a German philologist and Lutheran theologian. He was a professor of philosophy, Latin and Greek, and theology at Leipzig, in that order.
Storr, Gottlob Christian
Dogmatic & Exegetical Observations upon Some Weighty Places in the NT
Interpretative Commentary on the Parables of Christ (Tubingen, 1788)
Exegetical Dissertation on Some Places in the Historical Books of the NT, vol. 1, 2
Historical Notes Serving the Interpretation of the Letters to the Corinthians
Exegetical Dissertation on Some Places in the Shorter Epistles of Paul
Exegetical Dissertation on Philippians
Exegetical Dissertation on James
On the Occasion & Audience of the Catholic Epistles
Exegetical Dissertation on the Apocalypse
Observations on the Syriac Version of the New Testament (Stuttgart, 1772)
Storr (1746-1805) was a German Protestant theologian and professor of philosophy and theology at Tubingen and Stuttgart. He was an outspoken advocate of Biblical supranaturalism, and founder of Ältere Tübinger Schule (a conservative Tübingen school of theologians). His conservative orthodox views in theology placed him at odds with proponents of the Enlightenment, rationalism and Kantian philosophy.
Storr was the first to propose that the New Testament book of Mark was written prior to the other Gospels (Markan priority), an assertion that opposed the traditional view that the book of Matthew was the earliest Gospel written.
Winkler, Johann Dietrich
Philological & Critical Animadversions which Illustrate Various Places of the Sacred Codices of the [New] Covenant (Hildesheim, 1752)
Philological & Critical Hypomnemata in Diverse Places of Sacred Scripture of the Old & New Testaments (Hamburg, 1745)
Philological Disquisitions on Some Places & Antiquities of Sacred Scripture… (Hamburg, 1741)
Winkler (1711-1784)
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Anglican
Valpy, Edward – The New Testament with Theological & Philological Annotations, vol. 1 (Mt-Lk), 2 (Jn-Rom), 3 (Cor-Rev) (London, 1816)
Valpy (1764–1832) was an English cleric, classical scholar and schoolteacher. See also Catalogue of the Library of the Rev. Dr. Valpy.
See the commendatory remarks of Thomas Hartwell Horne upon this volume on p. 300 of A Manual of Biblical Bibliography.
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Arminian
1600’s
Vorstius, Conrad – Commentaries on All the Apostolic Epistles, Except 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon & Hebrews (Amsterdam, 1631)
Vorstius (1569-1622) was a German-Dutch heterodox, Remonstrant theologian, and successor to Jacobus Arminius in the theology chair at Leiden. He was renowned in his day for his questioning of the doctrine of divine simplicity.
Grotius, Hugo – Annotations on the Gospels & Acts-Rev (Amsterdam, 1641)
Grotius (1583-1645) was a leading Biblical scholar of his day as well as an Arminian and Erastian. His commentary was widely influential for generations afterwards, though it greatly suffers for his aberrant doctrinal views and often idiosyncratic and unlikely textual interpretations.
“An unsafe guide; But Doddridge thinks ‘he has done more to illustrate Scripture by profane learning, than all other commentators put together.’” – Howard Malcom
See also the comments of T.H. Horne, Manual of Biblical Bibliography, p. 245. Though these Annotations were translated into English, they do not appear to be available in English on the net.
Hammond, Henry & Jean Le Clerc – The New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ from the Vulgate Version with a Paraphrase and Annotations of Henry Hammond out of the English Tongue Translated into Latin, and Illustrated with Animadversions, Corrected and Augments by Jean Clericus 2nd ed., 2 vols. in 1 (Frankfurt, 1714) Hammond’s annotations are also on the net in English, though not with Le Clerc’s emendations.
Hammond (1605–1660). Le Clerc (1657-1736).
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Romanist
1500’s
Lefevre d’Étaples, Jacques
Lefevre (1455-1536) was a French theologian and humanist. He was a precursor of the Protestant movement in France. He had a sometimes tense relationship with Erasmus, whose work on Biblical translation and in theology closely paralleled his own.
Although he anticipated some ideas that were important to the Protestant Reformation, Lefèvre remained a Roman Catholic throughout his life, and sought to reform the Church without separating from it. Several of his books were condemned as heretical, and he spent some time in exile. He was, however, a favorite of the king of France, Francis I, and enjoyed his protection.
Erasmus
Annotations in the New Testament (Basil, 1527) The commentary is phrase by phrase through each chapter, but unfortunately, it does not include verse numbers, which makes navigating within a chapter more difficult.
Erasmus (1466–1536) was a humanist reformer and textual critic of the Greek New Testament.
The New Testament in Greek & in a Latin Version, with Annotations (Leiden, 1705) The Greek and Erasmus’ translation of it into Latin are in parallel columns, with his commentary in footnotes below. Best edition.
This volume is a reprint of the 6th volume of Jean Le Clerc’s works in 10 volumes. Le Clerc (1657-1736) was an Arminian and a professor of philosophy at Amsterdam.
A Paraphrase of the New Testament of Jesus Christ (Hannover, Germany, 1668) The book of Revelation is not included. This has been translated into English.
“This work was appointed, by public authority, to be placed in all churches in England.” – J. Darling
“‘Not inferior to any of the old commentators in sensible and ingenious remarks.’ (Dr. Harwood.)… Erasmus was also author of a Latin version of the New Testament, which, together with his annotations, is printed in the sixth volume of Le Clerc’s edition of his works [above], in 10 vols. folio. Lugduni, 1703. The notes are chiefly grammatical, and designed to excite his contemporaries to the study of the New Testament in the original Greek.” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
de Gaigny, Jean
On the Four Most Holy Gospels of Jesus Christ & the Acts of the Apostles (Antwerp, 1559)
Gaigny (1500-1549) was a doctor of theology in Paris.
Catharinus, Ambrose – Commentaries on All the Epistles of the Divine Apostle Paul & the Other Seven Canonical Epistles (Paris, 1566)
Catharinus (c.1484-1553) was an Italian canon, Dominicans (OP), theologian, university teachers and Archbishop of Conza. Catharinus was one of the first expositors of the Covenant of Works, which precedent had an important influence on reformed theologians. See Aaron Denlinger, Omnes in Adam ex pacto Dei: Ambrogio Catarino’s Doctrine of Covenantal Solidarity Pre (V&R, 2011).
Canini, Angel – Disquisitions on some Obscure Places in the New Testament Ref (1554) in Critici Sacri (1660), vol. 9, cols. 3688-3710
Zeger, Nicholas – Corrections in the New Testament 1555 This is also in the Critic Sacri.
Zeger (c.1495-1559) was a Flemish, Franciscan biblical exegete.
Salmeron, Alfonso
Tracts on (1598-1601):
1. Prolegomena to the Gospels
2. The Word Before the Incarnation
3. The Infancy & Youth of Jesus
4. History of the Life of Jesus to the Lord’s Supper
5. Sermon on the Mount
6. Miracles
7. Parables
8. Disputations of Jesus
9. Of the Words in the Supper to the Apostles
10. Passion & Death
11. Resurrection & Ascension
12. The Young Church in Acts
14. Corinthians
15. Galatians-Hebrews
16. James-Revelation
Salmeron (1515-1585) was a Spanish biblical scholar, a Roman Catholic priest, and one of the first Jesuits.
“Among the major Roman Catholic exegetes were Alfonso Salmeron… whose massive homiletical commentary on the New Testament… cultivated a popular style and also defended the teachings on Trent…” – R. Muller, Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters (1998), p. 145
Montanus, Benito Arias
Elucidations in the Four Gospels… to which also is appended Elucidations on the Acts of the Apostles (Antwerp, 1575)
Elucidations on All the Letters of the Holy Apostles and Significations on the Apocalypse of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist (Antwerp, 1588)
Montanus (1527-1598) was a Spanish orientalist and editor of the Antwerp Polyglot.
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1600’s
Schott, P. Andrea – Adagialia sacra Novi Testamenti Graeca-Latina (Antwerp, 1629)
Schott (1552-1629) was a Jesuit priest, academic, linguist, translator and editor.
Froidmont, Libert – Commentaries on Sacred Scripture, vol. 1 (Rom-Jude), 2 (Acts, Rev, Song)
Froidmont (1587-1653) was a Liégeois theologian and scientist. He was a close companion to Cornelius Jansen and corresponded with René Descartes.
Pricaeus, Johannes – Commentaries in Various New Testament Books, to which are Appended the Annotations on the Books of the Psalms (London, 1660) This work includes commentary only on Mt, Lk, Acts, Tim, Tit, Phile, James, John & Jude.
Price (c. 1600-1676) was an English scholar of Protestant parentage who became a Romanist after college.
“Price brought to his expositions of the Scriptures an extensive knowledge of classical literature, and, imitating Grotius’s method, frequently illustrated by profane authors, especially the Greek and Roman.” – McClintock & Strong
“These notes are inserted in the fifth volume of the Critici Sacri: they are greatly valued as containing ‘many valuable observations, particularly illustrating the modes of diction which occur in the sacred classics, from profane writers.’ (Dr. Harwood.)” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
“Price’s reputation stood high among his contemporaries (see testimonies by Ussher, Selden, and others, collected by Colomiés in ‘Bibliothèque Choisie,’ Paris, 1731, p. 189, and Bayle, Dict. Hist.) Wood (Athenæ Oxon., ed. Bliss, iii. 1105) calls him the greatest critic of his time, and unquestionably he was a fine scholar. His reputation, however, rests chiefly on his work on Apuleius. The excessive license of emendation in which he indulged in his commentaries on the New Testament seriously impaired their value.” – DNB
Hure Charles – The New Testament Illustrated by Rules, or Canons of Sacred Scripture Distributed in a Sure Method (Paris, 1696)
Hure (1639-1717) was French.
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1700’s
Alexandre, Noel
A Literal & Moral Exposition of the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to the Four Evangelists (1721)
A Literal & Moral Commentary on Romans – 2 Corinthians
A Literal & Moral Commentary on Galatians – Jude
The Institution of Sermons This gives exposition on the various Scripture readings through the liturgical year.
Alexandre (1639-1724) was a French theologian, author, and ecclesiastical historian.
Harduin, Johann – Commentary on the New Testament (Hague, 1741)
Harduin (1646-1729) was a Jesuit, a French classical scholar, a prolific writer and a librarian.
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Socinian
Library of the Polish Brotherhood, who are Called Unitarians
1. Fausto Sozzini, All the Works in Two Distinct Volumes, the first of which contains the Exegetical and Didactic Works, the latter comprehends his Polemical Works 1656 This volume only contains the exegetical works.
2. Fausto Sozzini, A Volume of the Other Works Containing his Polemical Writings 1656
3. Johann Crell, All the Exegetical Works (on Mt. 1-5; Rom-1 Cor; Gal-Thess) 1656
4. Johann Crell, Exegetical Works: Vol. 2 (on 1 Tim, Tit-Heb; 1 Pet. 1-2) n.d.
5. Johann Crell, Exegetical Works: Vol. 3 (Gospels)
6. Jonas Schlichtingius, Posthumous Commentary on Many of the New Testament Books (On Jn, Rom-Cor, Eph-Phile, Pet-Jude) 1666
7. Johann Ludwig von Wolzogen, All the Exegetical, Didactic and Polemical Works (On Mt-Rom; Jm) 1656
8. Johann Ludwig von Wolzogen, The Other Volume of Works (On Acts) 1656
9. Samuel Przypkowski, Sacred Cogitations, upon first the Gospel of Matthew, and all the Apostolic Epistles… 1692
On this series and its authors, see Wikipedia.
“Socinian. Abounds in good criticisms.” – Howard Malcom
“The Socinian exegetes were masters of New Testament philology and pressed hard on the question of textual variants such as the Johannine Comma and 1 Timothy 3:16.” – R. Muller, Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters, p. 148
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Rationalist / Critical / Liberal
1700’s
Michaelis, Johann David – Critical & Exegetical Notes on the New Testament, Especially from Greek Hellenism (Rostock, Germany & Leipzig, 1706)
Michaelis (1717–1791) was a profane and scoffing Prussian rationalist who did more to undermine Scripture than nearly anyone of that era.
Koppe, Johann Benjamin et al. – The New Testament in Greek: Illustrated by Continuous Annotation, vols. 3-10 (Gottingen, 1778-1821) Vols. 1 & 2 on the Gospels appear to never have been published.
Koppe (1750-91) was a German, Lutheran theologian. He originated the ‘fragment hypothesis’ (1783) in response to the Synoptic problem.
On this unique work, see pp. 299-300 of Thomas H. Horne’s Manual of Biblical Bibliography.
Kuttner, Christian Gottfried – Commentary on the New Testament in which its Greek is Explained and Illustrated by Comments out of the Recent Writings of Some of the Great Named Philologists, especially Johann August Ernesti (Leipzig, 1780)
Ernesti (1707-1781) was a German, rationalist theologian and philologist. Ernesti was the first who formally separated the hermeneutics of the Old Testament from those of the New.
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1800’s
Rosenmuller, Johann Georg – Scholia on the New Testament, in 5 vols. (Nuremberg, Germany, 1808-1830)
Rosenmuller (1736–1815) was the father of Ernst Friedrich Karl Rosenmüller (1768-1835) who has a massive commentary in the same vein on the Old Testament.
Valckenaer, Lodewijk Caspar – Selections out of the Comments of Lodewijk Caspar Valckenaer on Certain of the Books of the New Testament, Edited by the Disciple Ev. Wassenbergh, vol. 1 (Lk, Acts), 2 (1 Cor, Heb) (Amsterdam, 1815/17)
Valckenaer (1715-85) was a Dutch, classical scholar at Leiden.
“Valckenaer was one of the most distinguished critics of the last century. These extracts from his Scholia are wholly philological. To the first volume, M. Wassenberg has prefixed a dissertation on those passages which he thinks were originally glosses, written in the margin of manuscripts, but which in the lapse of ages have become incorporated with the text. To the second volume he has also prefixed a Dissertation respecting the Trajections often necessary in the New Testament. Some of these Trajections or transpositions are arbitrary enough. Bishop Jebb has given a specimen of them, with some just castigatory remarks, in his Sacred Literature, pp. 128-130.” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
Kuinoel, Christian Theophilus
Commentary on the Historical Books of the New Testament, vol. 1 (Mt), 2 (Mk-Lk), 3 (John), 4 (Acts) (Leipzig, 1816-18)
The Historical Books of the New Testament in Greek: the Received Text with with the Readings of Griesbach Juxtaposed, with the Comments of Christian Theophilus Kuinoel, vol. 1 (Mt-Mk), 2 (Lk-Jn), 3 (Acts) (Leipzig, 1835)
Vater, Johann Severin – The New Testament: the Greek Text of Greisbach & Knapp… Annnotated with Critical and Exegetical Remarks and Indices (Halle an der Saale, 1824)
Vater (1771-1826) was a German theologian, biblical scholar, and linguist.
For a description of this work, see the comments of Thomas Hartwell Horne on p. 27 of A Manual of Biblical Bibliography.
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Commentary from Judaica on the New Testament
1700’s
Schöttgen, Johann Christian – Hebraic & Talmudic Hours in the Whole New Testament which Supplements the Hours of John Lightfoot in the Historical Books, the Epistles and the Apocalypse Illustrated in the Same Way, vol. 1 (NT), 2 (Of the Messiah & Rabbinic Writings) (Dresden & Leipzig, 1733/1742)
Schottgen (1687-1751) was a German.
Meuschen, Johann Gerhard – The New Testament Illustrated out of the Talmud & Hebrew Antiquities… with Dissertations (Leipzig, 1736) The first 232 pages comprise the commentary on the NT, then dissertations follow.
“Highly esteemed.” – Howard Malcom
Otti, Johann Baptist – Gleaning, or Excerpts out of Flavius Josephus Illustrating the New Testament (Leiden, 1741)
Krebs, Johann Tobias – Observations on the New Testament out of Flavius Josephus (Leipzig, 1755)
Krebs (1718-82) was a German scholar of classical and Hebrew literature. He was a disciple of Johann August Ernesti (1707–1781), who was a German Rationalist theologian and philologist.
Loesner, Christopher Frederick – Observations on the New Testament out of Philo of Alexandria (Leipzig, 1777)
“The light thrown upon the New Testament by the writings of Philo is admirably elucidated by Loesner.” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
“Useful collection of parallel passages.” – Howard Malcom
Kuinoel, Christian Theophilus – Observations on the New Testament out of the Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament (Leipzig, 1794)
Kuinoel was a professor at Leipzig.
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Commentary out of Greek & Latin Writers
1700’s
Bos, Lambert – Philological Exercitations, in which Some Places of the New Covenant are Illustrated & Expounded out of Greek Authors, & Other Versions & Interpretations are Examined 2nd ed. (Franeker, 1713)
Bos (1670-1717) was a Dutch scholar and critic in the reformed tradition.
Elsner, Jakob – Sacred Observations on the New Covenant Books, in which Many Places in those Books are Expounded and Illustrated out of the Ablest Greek Authors and Antiquity, vol. 1, 2 (Utrecht, 1720/28)
Elsner (1692-1750) is listed as reformed by PRDL, but is labeled Lutheran by Wikipedia.
Alberti, Johannes – Philological Observations on the Sacred Books of the New Covenant (Leiden, 1725)
Alberti (1698-1762) was a reformed, Dutch theologian and professor of theology at Leiden.
“Illustrates the style and meaning of New Testament writers, from the Greek classics.” – Howard Malcom
Wettstein, Johann Jakob – The Greek New Testament: the Received Edition with Variant Codici Manuscript Readings, other editions, versions and the Fathers, also a Full Commentary Illustrated from the Old Hebrew Writings, Greek and Latin History and the Meaning of Words, vol. 1 (Gospels), 2 (Acts-Rev) (Amsterdam, 1751-2)
Wettstein (1693-1754) was a Swiss Arminian and best known as a New Testament critic.
Munthe, Caspar Frideric – Philological Observations in the Sacred Books of the New Testament Collected out of Diodorus of Sicily (Copenhagen & Leipzig, 1755)
Munthe was a professor of Greek in the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Diodorus (fl. 1st cent. B.C.) was a Greek historian. He is known for writing between 60 and 30 B.C. the monumental universal history, Bibliotheca historica, much of which survives.
Kypke, Georg David – Sacred Observations in the Books of the New Covenant out of the Best Greek Authors & Antiquities, vol. 1 (Gospels), 2 (Acts-Rev) (Breslau, 1755)
Kypke (1724-1779) was a Lutheran orientalist.
“Nothing of the kind superior.” – Michaelis (who was a rationalist)
Wetsten, Joann Jacob – The Greek New Testament, the Received Edition with Variant Readings… and a Full Commentary out of the Old Hebrew Scriptures, Greek & Latin History and Illustrated by the Force of Words, vol. 1 (Gospels), 2 (Acts-Rev) (Rotterdam, 1831)
Wettstein (1693-1754) was a Swiss Arminian and was best known as a New Testament critic.
“As a merely critical comment, this of Wetstein is unquestionably one of the most valuable: ‘almost every peculiar form of speech in the sacred text he has illustrated by quotations from Jewish, Greek, and Roman Writers.’ (Dr. A. Clark.) Almost every modern commentator of note has largely availed himself of the previous labors of Wetstein.” – Thomas Hartwell Horne
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Bibliography
1900’s
Karo, G. & J. Lietzmann – Catenarum Graecarum Catalogus [Catalogue of Greek Chains] Nachrichten Ges. d. Wiss. (Gottingen, 1902) Three articles on Greek exegetical catenas of the bible.
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2000’s
Parpulov, Georgi – Catena Manuscripts of the Greek New Testament: a Catalogue in Text & Studies, 3rd Series, #25 (Univ. of Birmingham: Georgia Press, 2021) 240 pp.
All the titles of the manuscripts are in Greek.
Abstract: “The book is a synoptic catalogue of a large class of Greek manuscripts: it describes all pre-seventeenth century copies of the Greek New Testament in which the biblical text is accompanied by commentary. Manuscripts where this commentary consists of combined excerpts (catena) from the works of various authors are described in particular detail. Those that have similar content are grouped together, so that the potential relatives of any given manuscript can be easily identified. Several previously unknown types of catenae are distinguished and a number of previously unstudied codices are brought to light for the first time. To ensure its longer shelf-life, the volume systematically references on-line electronic databases (which are regularly updated). It will be of use to anyone interested in Byzantine book culture and in biblical exegesis.”
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Related Pages
Whole Bible Commentaries in Latin
Whole Old Testament Commentaries in Latin
New Testament Commentaries in English
Reformed Systematic Theologies in Latin Titles are in English
New Testament Background, Survey, Authenticity & Introduction