Commentary on the Holy Bible by the Rev. Matthew Henry. With Memoirs of His Life, Character, and Writings, by Sir J. Bickerton Williams, and an Introductory Essay by the Rev. John Stoughton. Illustrated, Etc. [With the Text.]

Matthew Henry’s original commentary was first published in the early 18th century, intending to provide a practical, devotional guide to the Bible for laypeople rather than strictly academic scholars. This specific edition, bolstered by the memoirs of Sir J. Bickerton Williams and an introductory essay by the Reverend John Stoughton, represents a 19th-century effort to revitalize Henry’s work for Victorian audiences. The inclusion of these additional biographical and critical perspectives reflects the period’s desire to frame religious texts within a tradition of moral character and historical lineage.

The publication history of these collected commentaries is characterized by their immense popularity in Protestant households, where they served as primary resources for daily worship for generations. The design choices, including the specific editorial additions by Williams and Stoughton, were intended to solidify the work’s status as a standard reference tool. By framing the commentary with biographical context, the publishers sought to present Matthew Henry as both a theologian and a figure of notable personal piety, an approach that resonated deeply with the religious culture of the era.