Welcome!
By J.D. Myers | October 9, 2008
Welcome to the Online Interactive Grace Commentary!
What qualifies a person to write a commentary on the Bible? When you turn to a commentary for Bible study (or pick up any book at all) how do you decide if the author should be listened to? Do you generally turn to the back cover and read the little blurb about him or her? Do you check to make sure they have the proper education and writing experience?
The beauty (and problem) with an online Bible commentary is that anybody can write one, whether or not they have the proper education, training, and experience. I do have some of these ”credentials” but am not going to drag them out here. Why? In many ways, I feel that such things are more of a hindrance to understanding Scripture. Such things do not qualify me (or anyone) to write a commentary on the Bible.
The thing I want to know most about someone who attempts to write a commentary on Scripture is their approach to God, the Bible, and other people. I will explain my approach to these in future posts. For now, know that my approach to God, Scripture, and other people has gone through some drastic changes over the past two years, and I am excited to find out how these changes affect my understanding of Scripture. Therefore, this commentary is not an attempt to push a theological agenda, but to “see how deep the rabbit-hole goes.” With that goal in mind, this commentary is experimental and interactive.
Experimental
It is experimental in that as I study and write about Scripture, I am excited to see where my study leads. While I certainly have a theological background, I am embarking on this study not to prove what I have been taught, but to confirm or correct it. If my study leads me away from what I have been taught, so be it. If, however, my study supports what I have learned up to this point, that is great too. I want to know the truth, even if it is not what I currently believe.
Interactive
In this quest for truth, I also think it is important to get the input and insight from other people. I am not an infallible interpreter or Scripture, and I know that the Holy Spirit has taught things to other people which He may not have taught me yet. That is why this commentary is interactive. I want to be taught, challenged, and even corrected (if necessary) by you. Though I will be guiding the pace and direction of the commentary, it will be, in a sense, a community commentary on the Bible. And the great thing about an online interactive commentary is that if I realize I was wrong about a passage, I can edit it at any time.
So if you want to help out, subscribe to the posts, and get involved with the ongoing interaction on the forum. See you there!
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