Philip Schaff is best known for being the editor of Lange’s Commentary and the History of the Christian Church.
In the introduction, Schaff describes this commentary as Evangelical, interdenominational, and explanatory. Comparing Lange’s Commentary with this one, Schaff notes that Lange’s Commentary was written for scholars and academics, while this commentary was written for laymen.
Built around solid exegesis with practical application, nearly every verse in the New Testament has a comment. Knowledge of Greek and Hebrew is not needed for this commentary. A few books, like Acts, delve into the Greek but enough is explained so the average reader can understand.
Schaff also focuses on clearly and succinctly making his points. For example, a note in Hebrews says:
In the preface, Schaff says, the Bible is of “divine origin and character…It is now more extensively studied than ever before…It is inexhaustible. It never grows old, but increases in interest and value as time flows on. Human books have their day, but ‘the Word of the Lord endureth forever.’” — If only Schaff could have seen the Internet to know how true his words have become!"In this last dispensation God is said to speak to us in His Son. The Son is the medium of the revelation. As revealer He has as His associates, the apostles. But this office of Christ is quite subordinate. His true character is that He is Himself the revelation. To know God and His Son Jesus Christ is eternal life. God in Christ, Christ as God,—redeeming, renewing, sanctifying,—is the saving doctrine of the Gospel."
theWord Edition
The preface and introduction to this commentary are shown in the Matthew Book Comments. The introductions to the first three gospels (presented together) are also in the Matthew Book comments.
To save space in the printed edition, some portions of this commentary avoided extra lines by substituting the long dash (—) for a new paragraph. This resulted in very long actual paragraphs. In many cases (where appropriate) the long dash was turned into a new paragraph for readability. Because so many writers contributed to this commentary, there was a divergence of styles and formatting. I have attempted to standardize this as much as possible.
This text was digitized by WordModules.com, currently the only location on the Internet with this digitized text.
Download Schaff's A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Contributing Authors
Volume I: Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke
Introduction, and The Gospels Of Matthew, Mark, And Luke: Prof. Philip Schaff, D. D.
Introduction To The New Testament: Prof. Philip Schaff, D. D. Matthew B. Riddle, D. D., Hartford University.
The Gospel Of Matthew. Prof. Philip Schaff, Prof. Matthew B. Riddle.
The Gospel Of Mark. By Prof. Matthew B. Riddle, Prof. Philip Schaff.
The Gospel Of Luke. By Prof. Matthew B. Riddle, Philip Schaff.
Volume II: Gospel of John and The Acts
The Gospel Of John. Prof. William Milligan, D. D., University Of Aberdeen, and Prof. William F. Moulton, D. D., De Lees College, Cambridge.
The Acts Of The Apostles. By J. S. Howson, D. D., Dean Of Chester, and Canon Donald Spence, Rector Of St. Pancras, London.
Volume III: The Epistles Of Paul.
Romans. By Prof. Philip Schaff, D. D., and Prof. Matthew B. Riddle, D. D.
I & II Corinthians. By Principal David Brown, D. D., Free Church College, Aberdeen.
Galatians. By Prof. Philip Schaff, D. D.
Ephesians. By Prof. Matthew B. Riddle, D. D.
Philippians. By Rev. J. Rawson Lumby, B. D., St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge.
Colossians. By Prof. Matthew B. Riddle, D. D., Hartford.
I and II Thessalonians. By Rev. Marcus Dods, D. D., Glasgow.
I and II Timothy. By Prof. Edward Hayes Plumptre, D. D., King’s College, London.
Titus. By Rev. J. Oswald Dykes, D. D., London.
Philemon. By Rev. J. Rawson Lumby, B. D., Cambridge.
Volume IV: The Catholic Epistles And Revelation.
Hebrews. By Prof. Joseph Angus, D. D., Regent’s Park College, London.
James. By Rev. Paton J. Gloag, D. D., Galashiels, Scotland.
I and II Peter. By Prof. S. D. F. Salmond, M. A., Free Church College. Aberdeen.
I, II, III John. By Prof. William B. Pope, M. A., Didsbury College, Manchester, and Prof. William F. Moulton, D. D., Cambridge.
Jude. By Prof. Joseph Angus, D. D.,’ Regent’s Park College, London.
Revelation. By Prof. William Milligan, D. D., Aberdeen, and Prof. William F. Moulton, D. D., Cambridge.