Bible Commentaries

Genesis 24:22 — writings there are allusions to ornaments of various kinds still in use in different Asiatic countries. They are of seven different sorts.1. for the forehead;2. for the nose;3. for the ears;4. for the arms;5. for the fingers;6. for the neck and breast;7. for the ankles.See Genesis 24:22, Genesis 24:47; also Ezekiel 16:12; Proverbs 11:22; Isaiah 3:21; Genesis 35:4; Exodus 32:2, Exodus 32:3; Job 42:11; Judges 8:24. The principal female ornaments are enumerated in the third chapter of Isaiah, which are

Genesis 26:7 — Verse Genesis 26:7. He said, She is my sister — It is very strange that in the same place, and in similar circumstances, Isaac should have denied his wife, precisely as his father had done before him! It is natural to ask, Did Abraham never mention this circumstance

Acts 24:10 — hands of Felix; and from Josephus we learn that this was now the sixth or seventh year of his administration, which might be called many years, when the very frequent removals of the governors of the provinces are considered. See Jos. Antiq. lib. xx. 7, and see the margin.A judge - κριτην, the same here in signification as the Hebrew שפט shophet, which means a ruler or governor. This was the title of the ancient governors of Israel.The more cheerfully — ευθυμοτερον, With a better heart or courage,

Romans 5:2 — — Have solid happiness, from the evidence we have of our acceptance with Him.In hope of the glory of God. — Having our sins remitted, and our souls adopted into the heavenly family, we are become heirs; for if children, then heirs, Galatians 4:7; and that glory of God is now become our endless inheritance. While the Jews boast of their external privileges-that they have the temple of God among them; that their priests have an entrance to God as their representatives, carrying before the mercy-seat

Romans 9:9 — passage, and there view and judge of the argument.That he is so to be understood appears from the conclusion he draws, Romans 9:16: So then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. In his arguments, Romans 9:7; Romans 9:8, c., he says not one word of Abraham's willing Ishmael to be the seed in whom the promise might be fulfilled nor of Isaac's willing Esau; nor of Moses' willing and interceding that the Israelites might be spared; nor of Esau's running for

1 Corinthians 6:1 — CHAPTER VI. The Corinthians are reproved for their litigious disposition; brother going to law with brother, and that before the heathen, 1-6. They should suffer wrong rather than do any, 7, 8. No unrighteous person can enter into the glory of God, 9, 10. Some of the Corinthians had been grievous sinners, but God had saved them, 11. Many things may be lawful which are not at all times expedient, 12. Meats are for the belly, and the belly

2 Corinthians 12:1 — of his suffering in connection with these extraordinary revelations, that his character might be duly estimated, 6. That he might not be too much exalted, a messenger of Satan is sent to buffet him; his prayer for deliverance, and the Divine answer, 7-9. He exults in sufferings and reproaches, and vindicates his apostleship, 10-13. Promises to come and visit them, 14, 15. Answers some objections, 16-18. And expresses his apprehensions that when he visits them he shall find many evils and disorders

Galatians 4:14 — simple meaning of the apostle, and that he neither alludes to a bodily nor mental infirmity, which generally or periodically afflicted him, as some have imagined. Nor does he appear at all to speak of the same case as that mentioned 2 Corinthians 12:7, where I wish the reader to consult the notes. That St. Paul had frequent and severe afflictions, in consequence of his constant and severe exertions in the Gospel ministry, we may readily believe, and of this his own words bear sufficient testimony.See

Galatians 5:1 — Gospel, and not by receiving circumcision bring themselves into a yoke of bondage, 1-4. Shows the superior excellence of Christianity, 5, 6. Mentions their former steadiness, and warns them against the bad doctrine which was then preached among them, 7-9. Expresses his confidence that they will yet return; and shows that he who perverted them shall bear his own punishment, 10-12. States that they are called to liberty, and that love is the fulfilling of the law, 13, 14. Warns them against dissensions,

Ephesians 1:18 — God; for if children, then heirs, heirs of that glorious inheritance which God has provided for the saints-for all genuine Christians, whether formerly Jews or Gentiles. On the chief subject of this verse, see the notes on Galatians 4:6; Galatians 4:7.

Colossians 4:1 — particularly for the success of the Gospel, 3, 4. Directions concerning walking wisely, redeeming of time, and godly conversation, 5, 6. He refers them to Tychius and Onesimus, whom he sends to them for particulars relative to his present circumstances, 7-9. Mentions the salutations of several then at Rome, of whom he gives some interesting particulars, 10-14. Sends his own salutations to the brethren in Laodicea, and to Nymphas and the Church at his house, 15. Directs this epistle to be read in the

1 Timothy 3:1 — CHAPTER III. Concerning bishops, their qualifications and work, 1-7. Of deacons, and how they should be proved, 8-10. Of their wives and children, and how they should be governed, 11-13. How Timothy should behave himself in the Church, 14, 15. The great mystery of godliness, 16. NOTES ON CHAP. III.Verse 1 Timothy 3:1.

1 Timothy 3:11 — to give counsels and cautions as to the deacons themselves; and to prescribe their qualifications, lest improper persons should insinuate themselves into that office.Not slanderers — μη διαβολους. Literally, not devils. See note on 1 Timothy 3:7. This may be properly enough translated slanderers, backbiters, tale-bearers, c., for all these are of their father, the devil, and his lusts they will do. Let all such, with the vast tribe of calumniators and dealers in scandal, remember that the apostle

1 Timothy 3:7 — Verse 7. The sixteenth requisite is, that he should have a good report of them which are without — That he should be one who had not been previously a profligate, or scandalous in his life. Such a person, when converted, may be a worthy private member

Titus 1:3 — Verse Titus 1:3. But hath in due times — καιροις ιδιοις. In its own times. See 2 Timothy 2:6; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 2:7. God caused the Gospel to be published in that time in which it could be published with the greatest effect. It is impossible that God should prematurely hasten, or causelessly delay, the accomplishment of any of his works. Jesus was manifested precisely

James 5:17 — Verse 17. Elias was a man subject to like passions — This was Elijah, and a consistency between the names of the same persons as expressed in the Old and the New Testaments should be kept up.The word ομοιοπαθης signifies of the same constitution, a human

1 Peter 1:7 — Verse 7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold — As by the action of fire gold is separated from all alloy and heterogeneous mixtures, and is proved to be gold by its enduring the action of the fire without losing any thing

1 Peter 4:7 — Verse 7. But the end of all things is at hand — I think that here also St. Peter keeps the history of the deluge before his eyes, finding a parallel to the state of the Jews in his own time in that of the antediluvians in the days of Noah. In Genesis

1 John 4:1 — world, 1. Those who deny that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh have the spirit of antichrist, 2, 3. The followers of God have been enabled to discern and overcome them, 4-6. The necessity of love to God and one another shown, from God's love to us, 7-11. Though no man hath seen God, yet every genuine Christian knows him by the spirit which God has given him, 12, 13. The apostles testified that God sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world; and God dwelt in those who confessed this truth, 14, 15.

Revelation 7:17 — Verse Revelation 7:17. The Lamb — The Lord Jesus, enthroned with his Father in ineffable glory.Shall feed them — Shall communicate to them every thing calculated to secure, continue, and increase their happiness.Living fountains of water — A spring in