NT Commentary-Henry Alford

The New Testament for English Readers
Commentary on the Entire New Testament
Henry Alford

(1810-1871)

BACKGROUND ON HENRY ALFORD

I think it behooves modern believers to familiarize themselves with the lives of the saints of ages past (this is even a Scriptural exhortation = He 13:7-note, He 6:11-12-note, 1Co 4:16, 1Co 11:1, 1Th 1:6-note). Toward this end, I would encourage you to take a moment and acquaint yourself with this great saint of yesteryear by clicking the 1902 Encyclopedia entry to read a brief but very fascinating and (to me personally) challenging biography about Henry Alford (a man who died at such a relatively young age, undoubtedly accomplishing the work the Father had given him to perform - Jn 17:4, cp Ep 2:10-note - "May his tribe increase! Amen"). Then take a moment to read Phil Johnson's related comment. (Click here if you want a longer biographical sketch)

If you are like me, you have undoubtedly sung the great hymn "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come" at Thanksgiving, but also did not realize that it was written by one of the greatest evangelical Bible expositors of the 1800's, Henry Alford! (A few other hymns by Alford) Play this poignant hymn of praise and ponder Alford's profound poetry!

CRITIQUES OF HENRY ALFORD'S COMMENTARY

James Rosscup writes that Alford's series on the New Testament "contains much that is valuable in the Greek New Testament… though all of the Greek New Testament words have been changed to English throughout." (Commentaries for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works or Logos)

John Piper writes "When I’m stumped with a… grammatical or syntactical or logical [question] in Paul, I go to Henry Alford. Henry Alford… comes closer more consistently than any other human commentator to asking my kinds of questions."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon writes that this text "is an invaluable aid to the critical study of the text of the New Testament. You will find in it the ripened results of a matured scholarship, the harvesting of a judgment, generally highly impartial, always worthy of respect, which has gleaned from the most important fields of Biblical research, both modern and ancient, at home and abroad. You will not look here for any spirituality of thought or tenderness of feeling; you will find the learned Dean does not forget to do full justice to his own views, and is quite able to express himself vigorously against his opponents; but for what it professes to be, it is an exceedingly able and successful work. The later issues are by far the most desirable, as the author has considerably revised the work in the fourth edition. What I have said of his Greek Testament applies equally to Alford’s New Testament for English Readers, which is also a standard work." (Spurgeon, C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries; Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College, Metropolitan Tabernacle)

COMMENTARY
ON MATTHEW

The Three Gospels

Introduction to Matthew

Matthew 1

Matthew 2

Matthew 3

Matthew 4

Matthew 5

Matthew 6

Matthew 7

Matthew 8

Matthew 9

Matthew 10

Matthew 11

Matthew 12

Matthew 13

Matthew 14

Matthew 15

Matthew 16

Matthew 17

Matthew 18

Matthew 19

Matthew 20

Matthew 21

Matthew 22

Matthew 23

Matthew 24

Matthew 25

Matthew 26

Matthew 27

Matthew 28

COMMENTARY
ON MARK

COMMENTARY
ON LUKE

COMMENTARY
ON JOHN

COMMENTARY
ON ACTS

COMMENTARY
ON ROMANS

COMMENTARY
ON 1 CORINTHIANS

COMMENTARY
ON 2 CORINTHIANS

COMMENTARY
ON GALATIANS

O Thou Who Hast Thy Servants Taught
by Henry Alford

O Thou Who hast Thy servants taught
That not by words alone,
But by the fruits of holiness,
The life of God is shown.

While in the house of prayer we meet
And call Thee God and Lord,
Give us a heart to follow Thee,
Obedient to Thy Word.

When we our voices lift in praise,
Give Thou us grace to bring,
An offering of unfeigned thanks,
And with the spirit sing.

And, in the dangerous path of life,
Uphold us as we go;
That with our lips and in our lives
Thy glory we may show.

COMMENTARY
ON EPHESIANS

COMMENTARY
ON PHILIPPIANS

COMMENTARY
ON COLOSSIANS

COMMENTARY
ON 1 THESSALONIANS

COMMENTARY
ON 2 THESSALONIANS

COMMENTARY
ON 1 TIMOTHY

COMMENTARY
ON 2 TIMOTHY

COMMENTARY
ON TITUS

COMMENTARY
ON PHILEMON

COMMENTARY
ON HEBREWS

Introduction to Hebrews

COMMENTARY
ON JAMES

James 1

James 2

James 3

James 4

James 5

COMMENTARY
ON 1 PETER

COMMENTARY
ON 2 PETER

COMMENTARY
ON 1 JOHN

1 John 1

1 John 2

1 John 3

1 John 4

1 John 5

COMMENTARY
ON 2 JOHN

COMMENTARY
ON 3 JOHN

COMMENTARY
ON JUDE

COMMENTARY
ON REVELATION
Premillennial in the 1800's!

Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand
by Henry Alford

Ten thousand times ten thousand in sparkling raiment bright,
The armies of the ransomed saints throng up the steeps of light;
’Tis finished, all is finished, their fight with death and sin;
Fling open wide the golden gates, and let the victors in.

What rush of alleluias fills all the earth and sky!
What ringing of a thousand harps bespeaks the triumph nigh!
O day, for which creation and all its tribes were made;
O joy, for all its former woes a thousandfold repaid!

O then what raptured greetings on Canaan’s happy shore;
What knitting severed friendships up, where partings are no more!
Then eyes with joy shall sparkle, that brimmed with tears of late;
Orphans no longer fatherless, nor widows desolate.

Bring near Thy great salvation, Thou Lamb for sinners slain;
Fill up the roll of Thine elect, then take Thy power, and reign;
Appear, Desire of nations, Thine exiles long for home;
Show in the heaven Thy promised sign; Thou Prince and Savior, come.

Revelation 1

Revelation 2

Revelation 3

Revelation 4

Revelation 5

Revelation 6

Revelation 7

Revelation 8

Revelation 9

Revelation 10

Revelation 11

Revelation 12

Revelation 13

Revelation 14

Revelation 15

Revelation 16

Revelation 17

Revelation 18

Revelation 19

Revelation 20

Revelation 21

Revelation 22

The Greek Testament
by Henry Alford

(1810-1871)
(See introductory comments)

COMMENTARY
ON MATTHEW

The Three Gospels

Introduction to Matthew

Matthew 1

Matthew 2

Matthew 3

Matthew 4

Matthew 5

Matthew 6

Matthew 7

Matthew 8

Matthew 9

Matthew 10

Matthew 11

Matthew 12

Matthew 13

Matthew 14

Matthew 15

Matthew 16

Matthew 17

Matthew 18

Matthew 19

Matthew 20

Matthew 21

Matthew 22

Matthew 23

Matthew 24

Matthew 25

Matthew 26

Matthew 27

Matthew 28

COMMENTARY
ON MARK

COMMENTARY
ON LUKE

COMMENTARY
ON JOHN

COMMENTARY
ON ACTS

COMMENTARY
ON ROMANS

COMMENTARY
ON 1 CORINTHIANS

COMMENTARY
ON 2 CORINTHIANS

COMMENTARY
ON GALATIANS

Galatians 1

Galatians 2

Galatians 3

Galatians 4

Galatians 5

Galatians 6

COMMENTARY
ON EPHESIANS

COMMENTARY
ON PHILIPPIANS

COMMENTARY
ON COLOSSIANS

COMMENTARY
ON 1 THESSALONIANS

1 Thessalonians 1

1 Thessalonians 2

1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 5

COMMENTARY
ON 2 THESSALONIANS

COMMENTARY
ON 1 TIMOTHY

COMMENTARY
ON 2 TIMOTHY

COMMENTARY
ON TITUS

COMMENTARY
ON PHILEMON

COMMENTARY
ON HEBREWS

Introduction to Hebrews

COMMENTARY
ON JAMES

James 1

James 2

James 3

James 4

James 5

COMMENTARY
ON 1 PETER

COMMENTARY
ON 2 PETER

COMMENTARY
ON 1 JOHN

1 John 1

1 John 2

1 John 3

1 John 4

1 John 5

COMMENTARY
ON 2 JOHN

COMMENTARY
ON 3 JOHN

COMMENTARY
ON JUDE

COMMENTARY
ON REVELATION
Premillennial in the 1800's!

Revelation 1

Revelation 2

Revelation 3

Revelation 4

Revelation 5

Revelation 6

Revelation 7

Revelation 8

Revelation 9

Revelation 10

Revelation 11

Revelation 12

Revelation 13

Revelation 14

Revelation 15

Revelation 16

Revelation 17

Revelation 18

Revelation 19

Revelation 20

Revelation 21

Revelation 22