Bible Commentaries

Genesis 23:1-2 — chapter. Our conviction that Isaac was about 33 years old at the time would place this event about four years afterward. Leupold thought Sarah died "twenty years" after the offering of Isaac.H. C. Leupold, Genesis (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1942), p. 641. Willis placed the interval at "twenty-five years";John T. Willis, Genesis (Austin: Sweet Publishing Company, 1979), p. 296. and other scholars differ from both. Our own conviction that the interval was only about four years, while not proved, is

Genesis 5:6 — pattern, the nine other names in this list. Instead of copying the text, we have arranged a table as follows: Name of Patriarch Age at Birth ofYears lived after Total ageAdam130Seth800930Seth105Enosh807912Enosh90Kenan815905Kenan70Mahalalel840910Mahalalel65Jared830895Jared162Enoch800962Enoch65Methuselah300365Methuselah187Lamech782969Lamech182Noah595777Noah500Ham, Shem, Japeth There are several points of unusual interest regarding what is added concerning each of these, and some attention will be given

Exodus 3:13-15 — been in use from the earliest times.Wilhelm Moller, op. cit., p. 1254. Furthermore, even Moses' mother, Jochebed, bore a name with the meaning "Yahweh is glory."J. G. G. Norman, New Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962), p. 637. The difficulties of this passage are very great, and we shall content ourselves with giving two different interpretations, either one of which might be either partially are completely correct: I.    That of F. C. Cook:

Psalms 19:7-11 — enduring forever." The "fear" mentioned here is a reference to honoring God's commandments. The fact of its being "clean," as Taylor said, "It is free from all the abominations of pagan religions."W. R. Taylor in The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 3, p. 106. "The ordinances of Jehovah are true and righteous altogether." The only righteousness is that of keeping all the statutes and ordinances of the Lord. "All thy commandments are righteousness" (Psalms 119:172). The evangelist Luke, commenting upon the

Psalms 23:1-4 — people. "The seven-fold activity of God is here: (1) he satisfies our hunger; (2) he leads us by the still waters; (3) he restores us when we have fallen away; (4) he guides us in the way of righteousness; (5) he abides `with us' even through death; (6) he gives us `a table' in his kingdom; and (7) he cares for us eternally."Adapted from The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 465. "He restoreth my soul" (Psalms 23:3). This is the thought of the shepherd metaphor in Jesus' parable of the lost sheep.

Psalms 97:8-12 — righteous; And give thanks to his holy memorial name." "Zion heard and was glad… daughters of Judah rejoiced" The Anchor Bible renders this, "Let Zion hear… let the daughters of Judah rejoice."Mitchell Dahood in The Anchor Bible, Vol. II, p. 362. It appears to us that the passage is true either way it reads, the "righteous remnant" alone being the portion of Zion that heard and obeyed God. "Daughters of Judah" is Hebraic for the towns and villages surrounding Jerusalem."Ibid. The big thought

Ecclesiastes 9:2-6 — the story of the rich man and Lazarus; and the rich man is represented as being, not merely conscious after death, but in terrible pain and anxiety regarding his brethren who had not yet died, but who were living wickedly as he had lived. (See Luke 16:19-31). Oh yes, this is a parable, but it is not a fable; and one of the characteristics of a parable is that it is based upon an event which either happened or could have happened. Jesus never used parables to teach lies to his followers. Also, in

Isaiah 33:17-24 — of as a tent whose stakes could never be plucked up nor have any of its cords broken, the literal Jerusalem would last little more than a century before it would be utterly destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and its peoples made captive for seventy years. (6) Finally, the citizens of the Jerusalem-Zion in view here would even have their sins forgiven (Isaiah 33:24), a blessing which is limited, absolutely, to the New Covenant. "Therefore, the king of Isaiah 33:17 must be the Christ in his regal splendor,

Isaiah 63:1-6 — Edomites represent the world-power; and the `day of vengeance' may be one still future."Pulpit Commentary, Vol. II, p. 441. Cheyne represented the "victorious warrior" here as "Jehovah";T. K. Cheyne's Commentary, Vol. II, p. 100. and, of course, Isaiah 63:2 of the text shuts us up to just two options. The "mighty one," traveling in the greatness of his strength, must positively be one or the other, either Jehovah himself, or the blessed Lord Jesus Christ. Only one of these could have declared, "I that

Ezekiel 43:1-27 — burnt-offerings upon the altar, and your peace-offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord Jehovah." Here is a vision of the return of God's glory to the Temple, corresponding in every way to the visions of the departing glory in Ezekiel 10-11 (Ezekiel 43:1-6). God cited the reprobacy of the priests as a hindrance and as a reason for leaving the Temple. God promised that his glory would dwell there forever (Ezekiel 43:7-12); but that promise was made to be absolutely contingent upon Israel's holiness (Ezekiel

Mark 7:21-23 — … This is the principal characteristic of unregenerated man. It is the glorification of self. It is the first of seven deadly sins; and, when the Lord named seven things which are an abomination in his sight, a proud look headed the list (Proverbs 6:16). It is the absence from the heart of the awareness of God. Consciousness of the existence, presence, and power of God produces humility in the heart, inevitably convicting men of their own sin and unworthiness. Pride is the opposite of such consciousness

Luke 19:8 — that) probably he had already done so for some time past, though it is generally understood that the expressions only refer to what he now proposed to do."Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: Carlton and Porter, 1829), Vol. V, p. 476. Spence has the following: The chief publican's words do not refer to a future purpose, but they speak of a past rule of life which he had set for himself to follow, and probably had followed for a long period. So Godet, who paraphrases thus: "He

Romans 4:2 — Moses, which, of course, it does not do. Further, James identified the class of works involved in the justification of Abraham as works of faith, not works of Moses' law. For a discussion of various scriptural classification of works, see under Romans 2:6 the article, FAITH AND WORKS. By works … in Romans 4:2 means "by works of Moses' law," and so understood is a reasonable, even obvious, declaration that Abraham was not saved by the works of a system not even then in existence. This

Romans 8:28 — commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me (John 14:15; John 14:21). Christ's apostles stressed the same truth: This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments (1 John 5:3). This is love, that we should walk after his commandments (2 John 1:6). Them that are called according to his purpose … At this point, the great Biblical doctrines of calling, foreknowledge, and foreordination (or predestination) begin to emerge, doctrines which have evoked entire libraries of discussions, theories,

1 Corinthians 4:3-4 — your opinion. If I do not estimate highly my own opinion of myself, then it is not to be expected that I should set a high value on the opinions of others. Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1949), 1 Cor., p. 69. Farrar's paraphrase of the thought is: The verdict of my own conscience acquits me of all unfaithfulness; but this is insufficient, because God sees with clearer eyes than ours. Who can understand his errors? (Psalms 19:12). F. W. Farrar, The Pulpit

Galatians 1:13-14 — helping them remember the truth Christ conveyed; and the same fact is in evidence with reference to the revelation Paul had received from Christ, not from the Holy Spirit. See extensive comment on this exceedingly important truth in my Commentary on John 16:13. The Lord revealed that the Holy Spirit "shall not speak of himself' (John 16:13), meaning that power to convey gospel truth did not reside in the Third Person of the Godhead. There were limitations upon the Second Person during his incarnation

Joshua 13 overview — Company, 1970), p. 247. We may even go a bit further and declare that it was God who made the allocations, by His determination of the issue in the casting of lots. "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah" (Proverbs 16:33). Regarding alternative allegations regarding the date and authorship of these chapters, there is, as yet, no agreement whatever among the scholars and critics. Every seminary has its own theory, and as "prestigious" theologians are replaced by others

Hebrews 10:22 — eminent scholars are now agreed that here is a manifest reference to the ordinance called Christian baptism. Alford says that "There can be no reasonable doubt that this clause refers directly to Christian baptism. The bath of water (Ephesians 5:26), and the bath of regeneration (Titus 3:5), are analogous expressions; and the express mention of BODY here, as distinguished from HEARTS before, stamps this interpretation with certainty. R. Milligan, op. cit., p. 282. To deny such an obvious meaning

James 5:6 — that the Greek words here may be either affirmative or interrogative, the latter being in all probability correct. Hort suggested, and Ropes advocated that it be read as a question, "Doth he not resist you?" R. V. G. Tasker, op. cit., p. 116. Tasker explained that this would have a prophetic meaning, demanding an affirmative reply. Ibid. The true meaning of the clause then is, "You have killed the Christ, but will he not resist you? …. Do you really think you can escape judgment

1 Peter 4:16 — prophetic utterances regarding this name with the divine events which prevented for a time the giving of it, and also the providential circumstances surrounding the first appearance of the name in Syrian Antioch, see my Commentary on Acts, pp. 232-236. REGARDING THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME "CHRISTIAN" It is distressing that in the 20th century, the old lie that Satan is the author of the name "Christian" is still widely circulated, and alas, accepted as gospel truth even by Christian