Spurgeon's Commentary
on the Bible
Edited by Robert Backhouse. Hodder & Stoughton. 309 pages. £14.99
ISBN 0 340 67902 6
Last Christmas we went to visit some whimsical in-laws who live in a picturesque street in an Oxford village. As we approached our destination along the chilly roadway, we noticed the festive Yuletide wreaths adorning almost every front door, bespeaking the fullness and pleasures of the season. We wondered what decoration would regale our eyes at the entrance to our relatives' home. We were met with a computer-generated notice which said in large letters: 'Don't get excited'.
This incident came to mind in opening this book. What purports from its title to be a commentary on the whole Bible by Spurgeon, actually turns out to be a pick and mix selection of pieces of his sermons, sermon outlines and clippings from his Treasury of David commentary on the Psalms, which scarcely covers the ground. Obviously there are still some gems here, but the disappointment outweighs the pleasure.
