Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary

The Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (commonly known as Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible) is a monumental six-volume devotional commentary that systematically unpacks scripture verse by verse. Unlike modern academic commentaries that focus heavily on archaeological, linguistic, or historical debates, Henry’s masterwork is purely expository, practical, and pastoral. He treats every passage of the Bible as a living sermon, aimi

Read more - Work bibliography / Publication information

The Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (commonly known as Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible) is a monumental six-volume devotional commentary that systematically unpacks scripture verse by verse. Unlike modern academic commentaries that focus heavily on archaeological, linguistic, or historical debates, Henry’s masterwork is purely expository, practical, and pastoral. He treats every passage of the Bible as a living sermon, aiming to instruct the mind, convict the conscience, and stir the heart toward God.

The Structural Blueprint

The classic unabridged commentary spans six massive volumes, structurally divided to cover the entire Protestant biblical canon:

Volume	Biblical Range	Core Focus & Themes
Volume I	Genesis to Deuteronomy	The creation, the fall, God’s covenants, Abrahamic lineage, and the giving of the Law.
Volume II	Joshua to Esther	Israel's history, the era of the judges and kings, captivity, and national restoration.
Volume III	Job to Song of Solomon	Hebrew wisdom literature, the depths of human suffering, praise, and spiritual intimacy.
Volume IV	Isaiah to Malachi	Prophetic warnings, calls to repentance, and explicit messianic anticipation.
Volume V	Matthew to John	The life, ministry, death, resurrection, and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Volume VI	Acts to Revelation	The birth of the early Church, the apostolic epistles, and final apocalyptic prophecy.

Key Characteristics of Henry's Style

The "Three-Step" Formula: For almost every section of scripture, Henry follows a reliable pattern:
1. Explicate: He explains the plain literal meaning of the text.
2. Illustrate: He uses vivid, accessible analogies or everyday examples.
3. Apply: He challenges the reader with direct personal questions and moral applications.
Theological Framework: Henry writes firmly from a Puritan, Reformed (Calvinist), and Nonconformist perspective. He holds a high view of scriptural authority, emphasizes the total sovereignty of God, and heavily focuses on the necessity of personal holiness and family worship.
Christocentric Interpretation: He reads the Old Testament through the lens of the New Testament. To Henry, every shadow, type, ceremony, and historical event in the Old Testament ultimately points forward to the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
Memorable Epigrams: Henry was a master of the concise, punchy phrase. He packed profound truths into single sentences that are still widely quoted in pulpits today (e.g., his famous observation that Eve was not made out of Adam's head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon, but out of his side to be equal with him).

The Multi-Author Reality

While the commentary bears his name, Matthew Henry did not write the entire work single-handedly.

Henry's Contribution: He personally wrote everything from Genesis through the Book of Acts.
The Continuity Team: After his sudden death in 1714, a dedicated group of 13 Nonconformist ministers stepped in to finish the New Testament (Romans through Revelation). They painstakingly compiled Henry’s extensive sermon manuscripts, personal diaries, and the shorthand notes taken by his loyal congregants to ensure the final volume perfectly matched his tone, style, and theological vision.

Enduring Legacy & Influence

For over 300 years, this commentary has been a foundational tool for a massive cross-section of global Christianity. Some of history's greatest preachers considered it indispensable:

George Whitefield (the great 18th-century evangelist) read through the entire six-volume set four times, often studying it on his knees.
Charles Spurgeon famously remarked: "Every minister ought to read Matthew Henry through carefully at least once... he will find him to be most pious and pithy, sound and sensible."

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible is one of the most famous, enduring, and widely used Christian devotional commentaries ever written. First published in 1706 as a six-volume set, it provides an exhaustive, verse-by-verse (or section-by-section) study of the Old and New Testaments.