COMMENTARY. In the discussion of this subject we propose to pursue the following ar rangement :— I. To inquire what is meant by commentary.
2. To notice different kinds of commentary.
3. To mention the prominent defects of existing commentaries.
4. To review the leading and best known corn m entaries.
I. By commentary, in its theological application, is usually meant an exhibition of the meaning which the sacred writers intended to convey ; or a develop ment of the truths which the Holy Spirit willed to communicate to men for their saving enlightenment. This is usually effected by notes more or less ex tended—by a series of remarks, critical, philologi cal, grammatical, or popular, whose purport is to bring out into view the exact sentiments which the inspired authors meant to express. The ideas con tained in the O. and N. T. are thus transferred into other languages, and rendered intelligible by the help of oral or written signs. There is a high and sacred meaning in the words of holy men who spake as they were moved. To adduce this in a perspicuous form is the important office of the com mentator. As there never has been, and from the nature of the case there never can be, a universal language, God selected for the revelation of his will those languages which were in all respects the fittest media for such a purpose. Hence arises the necessity of transplanting from these individual dia lects the momentous truths they were selected to express ; and of clothing in the costume of various people, as far as that costume can be adapted to such an object, the precise sentiments which were in the minds of the inspired writers. It is true that this can only be imperfectly done, owing to the various causes by which every language is affected ; but the substance of revelation may be adequately embodied in a great variety of garb. The truths that make wise unto salvation are capable of being fairly represented in every tongue and dialect under heaven. There is an adaptation in their nature to the usage of every language that can possibly arise. The relation of immortal beings to their great Creator is everywhere the same ; and the duties consequent upon such a relation are also identical. Their wants and necessities, too, are essentially alike. Hence there is a peculiar fitness in divine truth for appearing without injury in the linguistic costumes of different tribes.
The characteristics of commentary are,— (a.) An elucidation of the meaning belonging
to the words, phrases, and idioms of the original.
The signification of terms is generic or specific. A variety of senses also belongs to the same term, according to the position it occupies. Now a com mentary points out the particular meaning belong ing to a term in a particular place, together with the reason of its bearing such a sense. So with phrases. It should likewise explain the construc tion of sentences, the peculiarities of the diction employed, the difficulties belonging to certain com binations of words, and the mode in which they affect the general meaning. But this is only a small part of the business belonging to a commen tator. He may be able to unfold the significations of words with discriminating nicety; with the genius of language he may be familiar ; he may clearly perceive all its idioms, and rightly apprehend its difficult phrases ; in short, as far as verbal criticism is concerned, he may be a consummate master, while he may prove an indifferent commentator. True commentary embraces much more than an acquaintance with isolated words and phrases, or with the grammatical principles of the Hebrew and Greek languages. It fills a more extended and elevated sphere than simple philology. It takes a higher range than lexical minutiae or rhetorical ad justment. These, indeed, form one of its elements ; but they are far from being the only feature by which it is distinguished.
(b.) Another characteristic of commentary is an exhibition of the writer's scope, or the end he has in view in a particular place. It ascertains the precise idea he intended to inculcate in a given locality, and how it contributes to the general truth enforced. Every particle and word, every phrase and sentence, form links in the chain of reasoning drawn out by an inspired author—steps in the pro gress of his statements. It is therefore essential to perceive what contribution they make to the import of an entire passage, whether in the way of enrich ing or qualifying the sentiments embodied. A com mentary should thus exhibit the design of a writer in a certain connection—the arguments he employs to establish his positions, their coherence with one another, their general harmony, and the degree of importance assigned to them. The drift of a dis course should never be lost sight of; else an author will be misunderstood and misinterpreted.