Coffman Commentaries
Bartley Trowbridge
James Burton Coffman was a prolific author, preacher, teacher and leader among churches of Christ in the 20th century.
He was born May 24, 1905, in Taylor County to pioneer West Texans "so far out in the country it took two days to go to town and back." He became a Christian in 1923.
In Texas, Coffman graduated from Abilene High School and enrolled in Abilene Christian College (now University), graduating in 1927 with a B.A. in history and music.
After earning his degree, Coffman served as a high school principal for two years in Callahan County, then taught history and English at Abilene High School.
In 1930, he was offered a position as associate minister and song leader in Wichita Falls, the beginning of his career as a minister. Then, he married Thelma "Sissy" Bradford in 1931. Coffman preached for congregations in Texas; Oklahoma; Washington, D.C.; and New York City. In his lifetime, Coffman received 3 honorary doctorates.
While in Washington, he was offered the opportunity to serve as guest chaplain for the U.S. Armed Forces in Japan and Korea and served 90 days, holding Gospel meetings throughout both countries.
Coffman conducted hundreds of gospel meetings throughout the U.S. and, at one count, baptized more than 3,000 souls.
Retiring in 1971, he returned to Houston. One of his most notable accomplishments was writing a 37-volume commentary of the entire Bible, verse by verse, which was finished in 1992. This commentary is being sold all over the world. Many people consider the Coffman series to be one of the finest modern, conservative commentary sets written.
Coffman's conservative interpretations affirm the inerrancy of the Bible and clearly point readers toward Scripture as the final basis for Christian belief and practice. This series was written with the thorough care of a research scholar, yet it is easy to read. The series includes every book of the Old and New Testaments.
After being married to Sissy for 64 years, she passed away. Coffman then married June Bristow Coffman. James Burton Coffman died on Friday, June 30, 2006, at the age of 101.
I inherited my set of signed New Testament commentaries by Burton Coffman from my dad who was an elder in the Southeast congregation (Houston area). Burton's brother went to church there. When Burton came to see his brother, he would occasionally preach. I met
Burton but had no idea at the time who he was! What I observed outside the pulpit, was a quiet-spoken, gentle, and very humble man! Now, I am finding out the wealth of knowledge he had through his insightful commentaries.
Brother Coffman, your knowledge of the bible is a testimony of your devotion to the Lord as well the great work and endeavor in putting the whole bible commentary together and sharing it with all believers as well as any who desire to know the truth.
James Burton Coffman (1905-2006) was a distinguished minister, author, and biblical scholar whose enduring legacy is perhaps most vividly encapsulated in his comprehensive commentary on the entire Bible. Coffman dedicated his life to the ministry and the detailed study of Scripture, serving as a minister in the Churches of Christ for over four decades. His deep faith and scholarly rigor were evident in his preaching, teaching, and written works, which have continued to influence students of the Bible long after his passing.
Coffman's magnum opus, "James Burton Coffman Commentaries on the Bible," stands as a monumental achievement in biblical scholarship. The work spans the entirety of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, offering insightful, detailed interpretations that aim to bridge the gap between the ancient texts and contemporary Christian life. His commentaries are celebrated for their clarity, depth, and unwavering commitment to upholding the authority of Scripture.
What sets Coffman's commentary apart is its accessibility to lay readers without sacrificing scholarly depth. He meticulously combines theological insights with practical applications, making his commentaries valuable resources not only for pastors and theologians but for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the Bible. Coffman believed that the Bible was the infallible word of God and approached his study of it with both reverence and a critical eye, seeking to understand its messages in their historical and cultural contexts.
Throughout his commentaries, Coffman's dedication to illuminating the Bible's teachings is evident. He engages with various interpretations, drawing from a wealth of biblical scholarship to offer readers a well-rounded perspective on Scripture. James Burton Coffman's contributions to biblical commentary have left an indelible mark on the study of Scripture, offering a rich resource for generations of believers seeking to grow in their faith and understanding of God's word.
James Burton Coffman's commentaries are available online. I wonder if anyone with the skills would be able to convert these to a Bible commentary module? Coffman is a great source of info in that he kind of combines a lot of other commentaries into his work. Thanks.
I am not impressed with his works but knock yourself out. "a lot of other commentaries into his work." I could be wrong but he did not really use solid works mostly handbooks. Also he was a music major not a NT/OT major or teacher.
I spoke with the copyright holders of the Coffman Commentaries (Abilene Christian University), and they would not give permission to make it publicly available in e-Sword format. When I mentioned that they text is online, I was told that it was done during a previous regime there, and that it was a mistake--but one that they couldn't back out of. They still sell the commentaries (which I've heard described as "if you want to know what everyone else thinks about a passage, read Coffman"), and don't want to hinder those sales any more.
Gary Gallant has this "Coffman (Copyrighted: used by permission)" therefore he has it or he is lying about it. Abilene Christian University in their so-called copyright issues must determine this so. Years ago a now closed christian book store was selling biblesoftware for .50 (50 cents) at a sidewalk sale but the cashier wanted 50% off the list price. I told her to go talk to the woman outside. After this she went to the manager who said $1 for each. The cashier sold all to me for .50 because she already entered it in. Same thing. ACU: Oh could you cease and desist with the online versions so we can make money. I read from a B-Greek member that Oxford, a decade or so ago, was claiming copyrights to BDB. Everyone is looking for nickles and dimes to feed their budget. They are not going to get that much from coffman. GET A LIFE ACU! The LORD redeemed us from such substances that cause delusions. Someone attend their worship and blow a trumpet in the auditorium. They need a rude awakening.
The James Burton Coffman commentary set of the Old and New Testament would be a valuable addition to the LOGOS collection. Coffman was an excellent conservative scholar of the scriptures and his commentary set not only provides his judgement and analysis, but he also includes many other citations as well.
Anyone can access this commentary online to see how good it is. Coffman sincerely believes in the inspired word of God and responds to those critics who deny God inspired all scripture. Here is his comments on 2 Tim 3:16 from his commentary...
Many scholars such as Lenski and Lipscomb insist that there is no difference in the meaning of these renditions; but such a viewpoint has always been a mystery to this writer. The passages simply do not say the same thing. "The first of these renderings necessarily implies that there are some Scriptures which are not inspired"; F28 and, in context, it is impossible to suppose that Paul meant to imply that.
All Scripture ...
In distinction from the "sacred writings" (2 Timothy 3:15), "all Scripture" here means everything which, through the testimony of the Holy Spirit in the church, is recognized by the church as canonical. When Paul wrote these words, the direct reference was to a body of sacred literature which even then contained more than the Old Testament. F29
Is inspired of God ...
The Greek words here are "God-breathed," meaning that the canonical writings are absolutely trustworthy. The great prophecies of the New Testament have been and are being fulfilled. Every line of it has stood the test of centuries, shattered every attack of evil men, and yet stands enshrined in the hearts of millions as God's saving word for lost men.
I too would be interested in this set, but I would be more likely to purchase it as part of a restoration movement heritage base package (or whatever it would be called), if such a thing were ever made available for Logos. It seemed like there had beem several threads about it but then the idea either went by the wayside or is being pursued without public comment from Faithlife.
EastTN, SuperT, and others, thank you for the answers. I also confirmed that Burton was with the Churches of Christ. I could hardly find a modern commentary that is both Baptist (Conservative) and non Calvinist, which is kind of strange because I understand that most of the SBC (for instance) are actually non Calvinist (there was a huge declaration about it a few years ago). It's always great to have different points of views about this subject. I found this series Randall House Bible Commentary (9 vols.) which appears to be associated to a small Baptist denomination that appears to be very similar than SBC. I think I will buy it in the near future....
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