We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. A.W. Tozer
Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth. --Basil of Caesarea
Once you learn to discern, there's no going back. You will begin to spot the lie everywhere it appears.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. 1 Timothy 1:12

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Credentials, Part 4


Today I offer an example of various subjects in these books I’ve read. Perhaps I can provoke my audience to think about reading some of these books.


Church Government and Life

Agape Leadership, by Robert L. Peterson 

        and Alexander Strauch

Biblical Eldership, by Alexander Strauch

He Gave Gifts, by Charles R. Swindoll

Men and Women: Equal Yet Different, 

        by Alexander Strauch

New Testament Church Government, 

        by Kenneth A. Daughters

New Testament Deacon, The, by Alexander Strauch

Understanding the Church, by Joseph M. Vogl 

        and John H. Fish III

Use of the Rod & the Staff, by Jay E. Adams

What Paul Really Said About Women, 

        by John Temple Bristow

Why Revival Tarries, by Leonard Ravenhill

Women’s Adornment: What Does the Bible Really Say? 

        by Ralph Woodrow


Church History:

A City Upon a Hill: How Sermons Changed the Course 

        of American History, by Larry Witham

Amazing Discoveries Within the Book of Books, 

        by Ralph Woodrow

Anabaptist Story, The: And introduction to Sixteenth-

        Century Anabaptism, by William R. Estep

Ancient Texts Excluded from the Canon―The Gnostic 

        Gospels, Dead Sea Scrolls, and Kabbalah in One 

        Volume, by Willis Barnstone

Apostolic Fathers, edited by Jack Sparks

Battles of the Bible, by Chaim Herzog & 

        Mordechai Gichon

Christian Symbolism in the Evangielical Churches, 

        by Thomas Albert Stafford

Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years,

        by Diarmaid MacCulloch

Christmas Reconsidered, by Ralph Woodrow

Doctrine and Practice in the Early Church,

        by Stuart G. Hall

Early Christian Doctrines, by J.N.D. Kelly

Easter - Is It Pagan?  by Ralph Woodrow

Exodus: Myth or History? By David Rohl. 

First Christmas: The True and Unfamiliar Story, 

        by Paul L. Maier

Foxe’s Christian Martyrs of the World, by John Foxe

From Bondage to Freedom: A Survey of Jewish History 

        From the Babylonian Captivity to the Coming 

        of the Messiah, by Daniel Fuchs and 

        Harold A. Sevener

God’s Covenant With Israel, by Rabbi Binyamin Elon

Great Leaders of the Christian Church, 

        edited by John D. Woodbridge

In the Fullness of Time, by Paul L. Maier

Josephus: The Essential Works, 

        translated by Paul L. Maier.

Josephus and the New Testament, by Steve Mason 

Lion Book of Christian Thought, by Tony Lane

Lost Books of the Bible and the Forgotten 

        Books of Eden, The

Lost in Wonder: Charles Wesley, by S.T. Kimbrough, Jr

Our Legacy: The History of Christian Doctrine, 

        by John D. Hannah

Pagan Christianity, by Frank Viola and George Barna

Revered Wisdom: Christianity, by William Paley

Searching For Jesus, by Robert J. Hutchinson

Solving the Mysteries of the Dead Sea Scrolls, 

        by Edward M. Cook

Symbols & Their Meaning, by Rudolph F. Norden

Thirteen Apostles, The, by J. Ellsworth Kalas

Titanic’s Last Hero, The, by Moody Adams with 

        Lee W. Meredith 

Torch of the Testimony, The, by John W. Kennedy 

        of India

Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up, 

        by David W. Bercot

Works of Josephus, The, translated by William Whiston

General Reference (blue were for reference only, 

        not read in entirety):

3,458 Bible People & Places, by Thomas 

        Nelson Publishers

A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs, edited 

        by David W. Bercot

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 

        by Joseph Henry Thayer

A Pocket Guide to the Bible, Answers in Genesis

All the Men of the Bible, by Herbert Lockyer

Bare Bones Bible Handbook, The, by Jim George

Biblical Literacy, by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin

Complete Guide to Christian Denominations, The, 

        by Ron Rhodes

Concise Bible Atlas, by J. Carl Laney

Find it Fast in the Bible, by Ron Rhodes

Handbook of Denominations, by Frank S. Mead, 

        revised by Samuel S. Hill

Holman Bible Dictionary

Names of God, by Nathan Stone

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old 

        and New Testament Words 

What Is a Healthy Church Member? 

        By Thabiti M. Anyabwile

Where to Find It In The Bible, by Ken Anderson


Saturday, May 23, 2026

Credentials, Part 3


Today I want to show the Biblical commentaries I’ve studied and/or used for research.  Those used only for reference vs having been read in entirety will be in blue.


Commentaries, Complete Bible or General:

Believer’s Bible Commentary, by William MacDonald

Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Old Testament, 

        by Barker & Kohlenberger III

Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, New Testament,  

        by Barker & Kohlenberger III 

Halley’s Bible Handbook, by Henry H. Halley

Her Name is Woman, by Gien Karssen

International Bible Commentary, The

MacArthur Bible Commentary, The, by John MacArthur

Manners & Customs of the Bible, by James M. Freeman

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible

Paul’s Gospel: An Analysis and Exposition of the 

        Major Epistles, by Earl C. Smith

Sex & Violence in the Bible, by Joseph W. Smith III

What the Bible Teaches About the Promised Messiah, 

        by Dr. James Smith

The Annotated Bible, 4 volumes

Unger’s Bible Dictionary


Commentaries, Old Testament:

An Introduction to the Apocrypha, by Bruce M. Metzger

And I Will Praise Him: A Guide to Worship in the 

        Psalms, by Ronald B. Allen

Ariel’s Bible Commentary: The Book of Genesis, 

        by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum

Be Patient: An Old Testament Study of Job, 

        by Warren W. Wiersbe

Bible History, Old Testament, by Alfred Edersheim

Biblical Lovemaking: A Study of the Song of Solomon, 

        by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum

Book of Beginnings, The: A Practical Guide to 

        Understanding Genesis, by Henry M. Morris III

Chronology of the Old Testament, The, 

        by Dr. Floyd Nolen Jones

Creation and Change: Genesis 1:1- 2.4, 

        by Douglas F. Kelly

The Doorway Papers: Shem, Ham, and Japheth 

        in World History, by Arthur C. Custance

For Such a Time As This: Secrets of Strategic Living 

        From the Book of Esther, by Ray Stedman

Genesis Record, The, By Henry M. Morris

God’s Masterwork: Ezra through Daniel, 

        by Charles R. Swindoll

Jonah: Dead or Alive? by J. Vernon McGee

Kingdom of Priests, by Eugene H. Merrill

Life and Prophecies of Daniel, The, 

        by James A. Stahr

Life Under the Son: Counsel From the Book of 

        Ecclesiastes, by Jay Adams

Life’s Biggest Question and God’s Answer: Habakkuk, 

        by J. Vernon McGee

Messianic Psalms, The, by C. Ernest Tatham

Minor Prophets, The, by James L.R. Catron

Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, The, 

        by Edwin R. Thiele

Old Testament Law and History, by James L.R. Catron

Old Testament Poetry and Prophecy, by 

        James L. R. Catron

On the Reliability of the Old Testament, by K.A. Kitchen

Popular Survey of the Old Testament, A, 

        by Norman L. Geisler

Rational Bible, The: Exodus, by Dennis Prager

Rational Bible, The: Genesis, by Dennis Prager

Rational Bible, Deuteronomy, by Dennis Prager

Remarkable Record of Job, by Henry M.. Morris

Remarkable Wisdom of Solomon, by Henry M. Morris

Ruth, by J. Vernon McGee

Story of Joseph and the Family of Jacob, The, 

        by Ronald S. Wallace

Studies in Genesis One, by Edward J. Young

Song of Songs, by Ariel Bloch and Chana Bloch

Song of Songs: A Biblical-Theological, Allegorical, 

        Christological Interpretation, 

        by James M. Hamilton, Jr


Commentaries, New Testament:

I, II, III John: Family Talk, by William G. Bellshaw

20 Controversies That Almost Killed A Church, 

        by Richard L. Ganz

A Commentary on the Revelation of John, 

        by George Eldon Ladd

A Model of Christian Maturity [2 Cor. 10-13], 

        by D.A. Carson

Acts of the Apostles, The, by William Barclay

An Exposition of Ephesians, eight volumes, 

        by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Be Real: 1 John, by Warren W. Wiersbe

Book of Acts, The: Witness to the World, by Steven Ger

Books of James & First and Second Peter, 

        by William Baker

Books of Philippians & Colossians, The, 

        by Robert Gromacki

Christ in the Passover, by Ceil and Moishe Rosen

Christian Ethics for Youth: A study of wisdom from the 

        book of Proverbs, by Wilmer Bechtel

End Times in Chronological Order, The, by Ron Rhodes

Epistle of Paul to the Romans, The, by F. F. Bruce

Epistle to the Ephesians, by V. Paul Flint

Epistle to the Hebrews, by Charles F. Pfeiffer

Epistle to the Hebrews, by David J. MacLeod

Epistles of Peter and Jude, The, by Kenneth C. Fleming

Experiencing the New Birth: Studies in John 3, 

        by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

First Corinthians: Christianity in a Hostile Culture, 

        by Dan Mitchell

Galatians: God’s Antidote to Legalism, 

        by Ron Merryman

Gospel and the Faith of , The, by Ronald Nash

Gospel of John, The: Believe and Live, by Elmer Towns

Gospel of John, The, volume I, by William Barclay

Gospel of John, The, volume 2, by William Barclay

Hard Sayings of Jesus, The, by F.F. Bruce

Hope of Christmas, The, by Jack Countryman

In the Footsteps of the Messiah, 

        by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum

Interpreting the Parables, by Craig L. Blomberg

Introduction to the New Testament, 

        by Henry Clarence Thiessen

Jewish New Testament Commentary, 

        by David H. Stern

Last Days According to Jesus, The, by R.C. Sproul

“...let her be veiled.” by numerous

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled (John 14:1-12),

        by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Letter to the Hebrews, by William Barclay

Letter to the Romans, The, by William Barclay

Letters of James and Peter, The, 

        by William Barclay

Letters of John and Jude, The, by William Barclay

Letters to the Churches...Then and Now, 

        by Charles R. Swindoll

Letters to the Corinthians, The, by William Barclay

Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, 

        by William Barclay

Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and 

        Thessalonians, by William Barclay

Letters to Timothy, Titus and Philemon, 

        by William Barclay

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, The, 

        by Alfred Edersheim

Life of Joy and Peace: An Exposition of Philippians, 

        by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Logos and the Rabbi, The, by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum 

Matthew, by C. Ernest Tatham

Mending the Nets: Themes from 1st John, 

        by Bill Randles

New Testament Text and Translation Commentary, 

        by Philip W. Comfort

Paul’s Gospel: An Analysis and Exposition of the 

        Major Epistles, by Earl C. Smith

Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes, by 

        Kenneth E. Bailey

Prayer of Jesus, The, by Hank Hanegraaff

Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church, 

        by Marvin Rosenthal

Revelation Record, The, by Henry M. Morris

Revelation: Four Views - A Parallel Commentary, 

        edited by Steve Gregg

Revelation of John, The, Vol.1, by William Barclay

Revelation: The Christian’s Ultimate Victory, 

        by John MacArthur

Romans: Volume 1, The Freedom Letter, 

        by Alan F. Johnson

Second Coming, The, by John MacArthur

Showing the Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 

        1 Corinthians 12-14, by D.A. Carson

Studies in Genesis One, by Edward J. Young

Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, 

        by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, 

        by Oswald Chambers

There’s A New World Coming, by Hal Lindsey

Thessalonian Epistles, The, by H.C. Woodring 

        and R.J. Little

Timothy and Titus, by William MacDonald 

        and V. Paul Flint

Tongues Then and Now, by Rev. Kenneth L. Gentry

Was Christ God? by Spiros Zodhiates

What is the “Gift of God”? [Ephesians 2:8-9], 

        by George Zeller

What Shall Be: The Revelation of St. John, 

        edited by Robert Hoyer

Women in the Church: An Interpretation & Application

        of 1 Timothy 2:9-15, by Andreas 

        J. Kostenberger & Thomas R. Schreiner, 

        editors


As you can see, the commentaries are from various sources and various understandings.