Albert Barnes, known as the most prolific American commentator of his generation, was born on December 1, 1798, in Rome, New York. Although he wanted to study law, he instead entered the Presbyterian ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary. There he was a dedicated student, rising early in the morning and studying by lamplight at night, almost driving himself blind. Upon graduation his first pastorate was at Morristown, New Jersey. Barnes later accepted a call to be the minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, where he served for forty years and was granted the title Pastor Emeritus. He later became the President of the Pennsylvania Bible Society until he died in 1870. While in Philadelphia, Barnes wrote multiple commentaries, making him a household name. His works include Notes Explanatory and Practical on the Gospels (1832), designed for Sunday school teachers and Bible classes, and Notes on the New Testament (11 vols.). He published commentaries on Job (2 vols.), Isaiah (2 vols.), Daniel, and on the Book of Psalms (1870, 3 vols.). By the 1920s over a million copies of his commentaries had been sold and are still printed today. Charles Spurgeon said concerning this commentary, “no minister can afford to be without it.”^[1]

^[1]  “Albert Barnes (Theologian).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Jan. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Barnes_(theologian).

“Albert Barnes.” Edited by Amy McKenna, Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 20 Dec. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Albert-Barnes.

“Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible.” StudyLight.org, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb.html.

The Way of Salvation, written by Albert Barnes, was first published in 1830. The following are the author’s own words concerning this book.

This work has been prepared at the suggestion and the request of the English publishers. As it seemed desirable that there should be some unity of design which might be expressed by an appropriate title The Way of Salvation has been selected as indicating, in the main, the purpose and character of the volume; and though not properly a treatise on that subject, yet it will be found, I trust, that all the Sermons have a bearing more or less direct upon the theme, and that each one will help to remove some obstacle, to explain some difficulty, or to throw some light on the points on which one inquiring how man can be saved, might desire information.