Another Way to Use Bible Commentaries (Using Commentaries to Grow in Your Bible Knowledge)
I want to share another way that I use commentaries. When I say "another, " I mean in addition to the normal way. Normally, I refer to a specific passage if I have a question about it while I'm preparing a sermon or lesson. It is best to study the passage on your own (with biblical languages if you know them) first.
A second way to use a commentary is to use it to be a Bible student ahead of when it is needed. For this purpose, I read a commentary front to back just like a book. I usually read 5-6 pages at a time over a period of months and just soak in the text.
Part of my calling as a pastor is to be an expert in the Bible, and it is good for me to grow in my knowledge of the Bible outside of devotions and sermon preparation.
To read a commentary to learn, you need to select a good commentary that is reliable. You don't have to agree with everything, but it should be like learning from a teacher that you trust. If you cannot trust the author, then you probably should read a different one.
A couple of series that I like for this purpose are the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series and the NIV Application Commentary series. I'm planning on reading F.F. Bruce's Colossians commentary in the New International Commentary on the New Testament next. I expect that series will be good. But you don't just read one because it is in a series. I look for a good one on that book of the Bible. I use commentary guides like D.A. Carson's commentary survey, Ligonier's recommendations, and The Gospel Coalition's recommendation list.
I started doing this after reading Martyn Lloyd-Jones describe a pastor's reading in his book Preaching and Preachers. He says that a pastor should be reading in the area of Bible knowledge. I've also read a Greek Grammer, parts of a Hebrew Grammar, and books on topics like Textual Criticism.