Matthew Henry :: General Information

Blue Letter Bible Editorial

The commentaries of the Reverend Matthew Henry have been a great blessing to the readers of the Blue Letter Bible since our inception in 1996. He was a 17th and early 18th century minister of the Gospel in Chester, England, and died in 1714. Of the six volumes of this work, four were published between 1706 and 1710, which was during his lifetime. The fifth volume was completed before he died in 1714, but published shortly after his death. This included the commentaries through Acts. The remainder of the work was completed by committee (see link to Assisting Authors), and published circa 1720. Following is a quote from the "Preface to Volume Six" written by the committee of ministers:

Some of the relations and hearers of that excellent person have been at the pains of transcribing the notes they took in short-hand of this part of the holy scripture, when expounded by him in his family or in the congregation; they have furnished us with very good materials for the finishing of this great work, and we doubt not but that the ministers who have been concerned in it have made that use of those assistances which may entitle this composure to the honour of Mr. Henry's name; and, if so, they can very willingly conceal their own.

Charles Spurgeon on Matthew Henry:

First among the mighty for general usefulness we are bound to mention the man whose name is a household word, Matthew Henry. He is most pious and pithy, sound and sensible, suggestive and sober, terse and trustworthy. You will find him to be glittering with metaphors, rich in analogies, overflowing with illustrations, superabundant in reflections. He delights in apposition and alliteration; he is ususally plain, quaint, and full of pith; he sees right through a text directly; apparently he is not critical, but he quietly gives the result of an accurate critical knowledge of the original fully up to the best critics of his time. He is not versed in the manners and customs of the East, for the Holy Land was not so accessible as in our day; but he is deeply spiritual, heavenly, and profitable; finding good matter in every text, and from all deducing most practical and judicious lessons. His is a kind of commentary to be placed where I saw it, in the old meeting-house at Chester--chained in the vestry for anybody and everybody to read. It is the poor man's commentary, the old Christian's companion, suitable to everybody, instructive to all.[a]

The Blue Letter Bible contains the unabridged Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible. Follow this link to see the Table of Contents.

Following are links to the prefaces and more information about assisting authors.

Preface to Volume One
Preface to Volume Two
Preface to Volume Three
Preface to Volume Four
Preface to Volume Five
Preface to Volume Six
Assisting Authors