Christianity
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Commentaries & Exegesis
Every sacred text has generated centuries of commentary. Tafsir, Midrash, Church Fathers, Bhashya, and Atthakatha represent vast intellectual traditions devoted to unpacking the meaning of revelation for each new generation of believers.
Across the World's Religions
Christianity
- Practice
- Church Fathers' exegesis; systematic commentaries on every book
- Key Text
- Acts 8:30-31; Nehemiah 8:8; 2 Peter 1:20-21
Islam
- Practice
- Tafsir — Quranic exegesis (Ibn Kathir, al-Tabari, al-Qurtubi)
- Key Text
- Quran 3:7, 75:19
Judaism
- Practice
- Midrash, Talmud, Rashi, Ramban — layers of commentary
- Key Text
- Pirke Avot 1:1; Eruvin 13b; Megillah 19b
Hinduism
- Practice
- Bhashya — Shankara, Ramanuja, Madhva commentaries on Gita/Vedanta
- Key Text
- Brahma Sutra Bhashya; Bhagavad Gita Bhashya
Buddhism
- Practice
- Atthakatha (Buddhaghosa's commentaries); Abhidhammattha-sangaha
- Key Text
- Visuddhimagga; Sumangala-vilasini; Netti-pakarana