The Dake Bible is a study Bible created by Pentecostal minister Finis Jennings Dake in 1963. It is known for its extensive commentary notes and cross references. Here is an overview of the key features and history of the Dake Bible:
Features of the Dake Bible
- Contains over 35,000 commentary notes on scripture
- Features over 50,000 cross references
- Offers a system of coding and symbols for identifying certain types of verses, such as prayer promises and commandments
- Includes a concordance and extensive commentary introductions for each book of the Bible
- Uses the King James Version text of scripture
- Contains a section of “Plan of the Ages” charts detailing God’s dispensations and plans
- Has definitions and descriptions of the characteristics of God and Jesus
- Provides an outline summary at the beginning of each chapter
The main unique feature of the Dake Bible is the extensive commentary notes. Dake spent over 100,000 hours compiling his notes and cross references to provide deeper insight into scripture. The notes cover a range of topics like doctrine, history, culture, exegesis, application, prophecy and more. Critics claim some of the notes reflect Dake’s own theology and opinions too strongly. But overall, the notes aim to help readers understand context, meaning and implications of Bible passages.
History of the Dake Bible
Finis Dake was born in 1902 in Missouri. He became an evangelical minister known for his works on Bible themes like healing, the Holy Spirit and end times prophecy. Dake began working on a Bible with commentary notes in 1927 and continued expanding the content over decades. His goal was to provide a comprehensive tool for Bible study.
The first full version was published in 1963 by Dake Publishing. Dake continued revising it until his death in 1987. After that, his family maintained publication through Dake Publishing. In 2008, Dake Bible rights were acquired by LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the largest Christian retail chains in America. Finis Dake’s descendants and some supporters resisted this transfer of rights at first but it ultimately went through.
The Dake Bible became quite popular over the years, especially in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles. Estimates suggest over 1 million copies have been sold. However, it also generated some controversy. Critics argued some commentary notes reflect unorthodox doctrines. There were concerns about notes justifying polygamy and racism, for example. LifeWay eventually made the decision to revise the Dake Bible to address these issues. An updated version was released in 2020 with commentary modifications while still aiming to maintain Dake’s original intent.
Overall, the Dake Bible remains in print today as a popular study Bible for its expansive commentary notes. However, debate continues over whether the commentary strays from orthodoxy at times. Understanding the background and intentions behind the Dake Bible can help readers use it effectively in their studies.
Sample Commentary from Dake’s Bible
Here is an excerpt from the Dake Bible commentary on Matthew 6:9-13 (The Lord’s Prayer):
This is called the LORD’S PRAYER because Jesus taught it to His disciples. It is an outline prayer containing the essentials of prayer for all people of all ages and all times. It contains recognition of God, worship and praise, putting God’s will and kingdom first, asking for both physical and spiritual needs, forgiveness of sin, deliverance from temptation, etc. Thanksgiving is implied in worship, for to be grateful to God in prayer is true worship. God’s glory, kingdom and power contain recognition of Him. To pray for His will on earth is to praise Him. To pray for needs is to express dependency upon Him, which ascribes glory, dominion, power and generosity to Him.
Many matters contained in this prayer were habitually used by pious Jews before Christ’s time. The Talmud says, “It is a tradition of R. Eliezer that one who makes his prayer set or fixed, his prayer is no supplication.” This does not mean that prayers should not be thoughtful and orderly, but it was stressed by Jesus to avoid vain repetitions or ritualistic praying. Using the LORD’S PRAYER by repeating it without meaning and from an insincere heart was condemned (Mt. 6:7), and praying long for pretense was wrong (Mt. 6:5-
This excerpt highlights Dake’s approach of thoroughly explaining the meaning and background of passages to help illuminate understanding for readers. The commentary works verse-by-verse to provide context, interpretation and clarity on scripture.
Analysis of Commentary Notes on Controversial Topics
As mentioned, some of Dake’s commentary notes stirred controversy over the years for perceived unorthodox theological positions or statements justifying prejudice. Here is analysis of some examples:
Notes on Hell
Dake’s commentary states hell was not an eternal abode and that souls sent there would eventually be annihilated after suffering God’s punishment. This contradicts the traditional doctrine of eternal torment in hell. Dake used selective interpretations of verses mentioning destruction or perishing to argue for eventual annihilation. However, most theologians argue these verses use destruction imagery metaphorically and that scripture teaches unending punishment in hell. This reflects one example of how Dake’s opinions possibly imposed unorthodox positions at times.
Notes on Polygamy and Divorce
Dake made statements in his notes that polygamy was accepted in scripture and that people today may still divorce and remarry multiple times. Most theologians strongly contest both claims as unbiblical. They argue God’s design was for marriage between one man and woman only from the start (Genesis 2:24) and that Jesus expressly taught no divorce except for adultery (Matthew 19:3-9). Dake seemed to use Old Testament examples of polygamy and Israel’s divorce laws to justify his positions without giving due weight to New Testament teachings clarifying God’s ideal standard.
Notes with Racist Statements
At a few points in his commentary, Dake made racist statements suggesting segregation of the races was biblical and attacking integration efforts. LifeWay addressed these issues by editing commentary language in their 2020 revised version. However, Dake’s original comments reflected flawed cultural biases of his era that distorted biblical exegesis. Scripture teaches all humans derive equal dignity from bearing God’s image and that redemption in Christ breaks down racial and social barriers (Galatians 3:28).
In assessing Dake’s controversial commentary notes, it seems his independent theological opinions and cultural worldview at times distorted interpretations of scripture. This reinforces the need for readers to test all study Bible notes against the Bible itself as the final authority.
Pros of the Dake Bible
Despite some shortcomings, the Dake Bible retains valuable strengths as a study tool:
- Wealth of Insightful Commentary – The notes provide helpful background details and analysis on many passages and topics. Dake shared a depth of scriptural research.
- Useful Study Aids – The cross references, coded verse markers, concordance, outlines and other study aids aid students in digging deep into scripture.
- Pentecostal Perspective – Provides a distinctive Pentecostal viewpoint for Charismatic readers appreciating that tradition.
- Promotes Bible Literacy – The extensive notes aim to develop greater Bible literacy and understanding in readers.
If used with discernment, the Dake Bible can open richer understanding of God’s Word. The strengths make it worth consulting, even as readers weigh its commentary notes against scripture.
Cons of the Dake Bible
The Dake Bible also has weaknesses to consider:
- Biased Commentary – As illustrated, many notes reflect Dake’s personal theological opinions more than objective exegesis.
- Unorthodox Positions – Some notes stray from historical Christian orthodoxy over controversial issues.
- Flawed Cultural Assumptions – Occasional racist or prejudiced statements reveal the cultural blind spots Dake wrote from.
- Imbalanced Pentecostal Focus – Overemphasis on spiritual gifts, healing, prophecy, etc. skews its Pentecostal perspective.
- King James Only Text – Its use of the KJV limits its usefulness to some modern readers.
These cons require readers to test the commentary carefully against scripture. The notes at times reflect Dake’s opinions more than definitive interpretations. With discernment, the Dake Bible can still aid enrichment of Bible study. But its flaws highlight the need to keep the Bible itself as the final authority.
Comparison to Other Study Bibles
How does the Dake Bible compare to other leading study Bibles? Here are some key points:
Scofield Reference Bible
The Scofield Bible pioneered the study Bible concept in 1909 and shares some similarities with Dake:
- Both use the KJV translation
- Both offer cross references and chain referencing between passages
- Both employ coded verse markers and annotations
However, Scofield stays closer to traditional doctrine while Dake is more unorthodox. Scofield also popularized dispensational theology while Dake organized his own “Plan of the Ages” chart.
MacArthur Study Bible
The MacArthur Study Bible reflects a very different approach emphasizing exegetical accuracy over extensive notes. Differences include:
- MacArthur relies on ESV translation vs. KJV for Dake
- MacArthur notes focus more on exegesis than opinion or application
- MacArthur has a stronger emphasis on grace while Dake emphasizes spiritual works and power
MacArthur offers a more balanced, doctrinally-sound resource compared to Dake’s biased commentary notes.
Life Application Study Bible
The Life Application Study Bible aims to help readers apply verses to life instead of focusing on commentary like Dake. Key differences:
- Application notes vs. exegetical commentary notes
- Use of modern translations vs. KJV
- More doctrinally conventional perspective
The Life Application Bible provides a very different type of study resource compared to Dake’s academic, commentary-focused approach.
In summary, the Dake Bible provides an unusually extensive commentary focus compared to other study Bibles – for both better and worse. Its Pentecostal slant gives it a niche appeal while other resources likely offer more doctrinal soundness and insight to application.
Tips for Using the Dake Bible Effectively
Here are some recommended tips for using the Dake Bible most effectively in light of its pros and cons:
- Check commentary notes against scripture to validate their fidelity to the text.
- Supplement with other study resources to balance the Pentecostal bias.
- Take notes applying insights to your own spiritual life.
- Use the coding system and cross references to enrich your understanding.
- Prayerfully consider how to apply truths learned to serving God and others.
- Refer to the concordance, charts, and outlines to reinforce your learning.
- Discuss challenging commentary notes with a pastor or mature believer.
- Focus on biblical principles more than opinions presented in commentary.
The Dake Bible offers a unique depth of commentary notes to aid scriptural insight. But wise students will use its insights to draw closer to God and His truth rather than just amass academic knowledge. With discernment, the Dake Bible can assist enrichment of Bible literacy and passion for God’s Word.
Conclusion
The Dake Bible provides a valuable in-depth Pentecostal study resource highlighting scriptural details and cross references. Its extensive commentary notes aim to help readers gain a thorough biblical foundation. However, at times the commentary reflects Dake’s personal theological opinions and cultural assumptions more than definitive interpretations. This reinforces the importance of checking all study Bible notes against scripture as the final authority. With discernment, the Dake Bible can provide beneficial supplemental insight to enrich biblical study and knowledge. At its best, it deepens understanding of scriptural truth leading to enriched spiritual devotion. But the flaws and biases in some of its commentary also remind readers to anchor their studies in the Bible itself more than any manmade study aids.
