Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible

Matthew Henry first published his exhaustive Exposition of the Old and New Testaments between 1708 and 1710, a monumental project intended to provide a practical and devotional guide to scripture for the average layperson. Henry, a Nonconformist minister, spent his life refining this work, which is characterized by its warmth, linguistic accessibility, and focus on the spiritual application of biblical texts. He succeeded in completing the commentary through the Gospels, after which his colleagues compiled the remainder of the New Testament using his notes and sermons.

The 1979 edition published by Fleming H. Revell serves as a standard reference volume for modern students and theologians, preserving Henry’s original seventeenth-century insights in a more durable, accessible format. While the text remains faithful to the original, the design reflects the needs of twentieth-century readers who sought a reliable, single-volume reference tool. It has been widely received for centuries as a cornerstone of devotional literature, praised for its literary quality and enduring influence on homiletic tradition.