Bible Commentaries

Luke 19:43 — Verse 43. Cast a trench about thee — This was literally fulfilled when this city was besieged by Titus. Josephus gives a very particular account of the building of this wall, which he says was effected in three days, though it was not less than thirty-nine

John 15:3 — Verse John 15:3. Now ye are clean — καθαροι εστε, Ye are pruned. As our Lord has not changed the metaphor, it would be wrong to change the expression.Through the word — δια τον λογος, Through that word-that doctrine of holiness which I have incessantly

John 17:19 — priest into the holy of holies, when, having offered the sacrifice, he sprinkled the blood before the ark of the covenant. So Jesus entered into the holiest of all by his own blood, in order to obtain everlasting redemption for men: see Hebrews 9:11-13. The word, αγιαζω, to consecrate or sanctify, is used in the sense of devoting to death, in Jeremiah 12:3, both in the Hebrew and in the Septuagint: the Hebrew קדש signifies also to sacrifice.

John 3:17 — Verse John 3:17. For God sent not, c.] It was the opinion of the Jews that the Gentiles, whom they often term the world, עלמה olmah, and omoth haolam, אומות העולם nations of the world, were to be destroyed in the days of the Messiah. Christ corrects this false opinion

John 3:23 — Verse 23. In AEnon — This place was eight miles southward from Scythopolis, between Salim and Jordan.There was much water — And this was equally necessary, where such multitudes were baptized, whether the ceremony were performed either by dipping

Acts 3:13 — Verse Acts 3:13. The God of Abraham, c.] This was wisely introduced, to show them that HE whom they called their God had acknowledged Jesus Christ for his Son, and wrought this miracle in his name and, by thus honouring Jesus whom they slew, he had charged home

Acts 3:20 — Verse Acts 3:20. Which before was preached unto you — Instead of προκεκηρυγμενον, before preached, ABCDE, fifty-three others, both the Syriac, all the Arabic, the Armenian, Chrysostom, and others, have προκεχειρισμενον, who was before designed, or appointed;

Romans 7:3 — Verse Romans 7:3. So then, if, while her husband liveth — The object of the apostle's similitude is to show that each party is equally bound to the other; but that the death of either dissolves the engagement.So - she is no adulteress, though she be married to

Romans 8:21 — preceding verse should be thus connected: in hope THAT (οτι) the creature itself also shall be delivered. The word φθορα denotes, very frequently, sinful corruption. So, 2 Peter 1:4: Corruption through lust, της εν επιθυμια φθορας. 2 Corinthians 11:3: Lest your minds should be corrupted. 1 Corinthians 15:33: Evil communications corrupt good manners. The sense, therefore, of the apostle in this place seems to be: the Gentile world shall, in time, be delivered from the bondage of their sinful corruption,

Romans 9:19 — Verse 19. Why doth he yet find fault? — The apostle here introduces the Jew making an objection similar to that in Romans 3:7: If the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory, that is, if God's faithfulness is glorified by my wickedness, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? Why am I condemned for that which brings so much glory to him? The question

2 Corinthians 3:10 — Verse 2 Corinthians 3:10. For even that which was made glorious — The law, which was exhibited for a time in great glory and splendour, partly when it was given, and partly by the splendour of God in the tabernacle and first temple; but all this ceased and was done

Galatians 3:5 — Verse Galatians 3:5. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit — The apostle means himself: he had been the means of conveying the Holy Spirit to them, and by that Spirit he wrought miracles among them; and he did all this, not as a Jew, (for as such he had

Ephesians 3:5 — Verse Ephesians 3:5. Which in other ages was not made known — That the calling of the Gentiles was made known by the prophets in different ages of the Jewish Church is exceedingly clear; but it certainly was not made known in that clear and precise manner in which

Philippians 2:22 — Verse 22. Ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me — The Philippians had full proof of the affectionate attachment of Timothy to Paul, for he had laboured with him there, as we learn from Acts 16:1-3; Acts 17:14; and we find from what is said here that Timothy was not a servant to the apostle, but that he had served with him. They both laboured together in the word and doctrine; for apostles and Christian bishops, in those times, laboured as hard

1 Timothy 4:3 — Verse 1 Timothy 4:3. Forbidding to marry — These hypocritical priests pretending that a single life was much more favourable to devotion, and to the perfection of the Christian life. This sentiment was held by the Essenes, a religious sect among the Jews; and we

Titus 1:8 — Verse 8. A lover of hospitality — φιλοξενον. A lover of strangers. 1 Timothy 3:2. Instead of φιλοξενον, one MS. has φιλοπτωξον, a lover of the poor. That minister who neglects the poor, but is frequent in his visits to the rich, knows little of his Master's work, and has little of his Master's spirit.A lover of good men —

Titus 2:7 — Verse 7. In all things showing thyself a pattern — As the apostle had given directions relative to the conduct of old men, Titus 2:2, of old women, Titus 2:3, of young women, Titus 2:4, and of young men, Titus 2:6, the words περι παντα, which we translate in all things, should be rather considered in reference to the above persons, and the behaviour required in them: showing thyself a pattern of good works

Philemon 1:19 — Verse Philemon 1:19. I Paul have written it with mine own hand — It is likely that the whole of the letter was written by St. Paul himself, which was not his usual custom. See notes on 2 Thessalonians 3:17. But by thus speaking he bound Philemon to do what he requested, as an act of common civility, if he could not feel a higher motive from what he had already urged.Albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me — I ask thee to do this thing

1 John 4:3 — Verse 1 John 4:3. Every spirit — Every teacher, that confesseth not Jesus, is not of God - has not been inspired by God. The words εν σαρκιεληλυθοτα, is come in the flesh, are wanting in AB, several others, both the Syriac, the Polyglot Arabic, AEthiopic, Coptic,

Revelation 3:9 — Verse Revelation 3:9. I will make them — Show them to be, of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews, pretending thereby to be of the synagogue of GOD, and consequently his true and peculiar children.I will make them to come and worship — I will so dispose