Bible Commentaries

Genesis 5:6 — These verses relate, after the same 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

Nehemiah 5:1-5 — daughters are brought into bondage already: neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards." There are three classes of protesters here: "These were (1) the landless who were desperately short of food (Nehemiah 5:2), (2) the landowners who, because of famine had been compelled to mortgage their properties (Nehemiah 5:3), and (3) those who had been forced to borrow money at exorbitant rates to meet the Persian king's property taxes (Nehemiah 5:4)."The New Bible

Psalms 42:5 — the help of his countenance." This verse, as Henry noted, finds, "Faith silencing the complaint with the assurance of good times at last."Ibid. "Hope thou in God", etc. These last two lines are repeated almost verbatim in Psalms 42:11 and in Psalms 43:5, concluding each of the three stanzas which comprise these two psalms. McCaw has understood the meaning of these three `refrains' as, (1) "Being Faith's rebuke to dejection in Psalms 42:5, (2) Faith's exhortation in bewilderment in Psalms 42:11, and

Proverbs 6:1 — This chapter has a number of independent warnings against: (1)    being surety for the obligations of others (Proverbs 6:1-5), (2)    against laziness (Proverbs 6:6-11), (3)    against wicked men (Proverbs 6:12-15), (4)    against seven things which God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19), and (5)    against

Leviticus 6 overview — SACRIFICES 1. Instructions regarding the burnt-offering (Leviticus 1). 2. Instructions regarding the meal-offering (Leviticus 2). 3. Instructions regarding the peace-offering (Leviticus 3). 4. Instructions regarding the sin-offering (Leviticus 4:1 to Leviticus 5:13). 5. Instructions regarding the trespass-offering (Leviticus 5:14 to Leviticus 6:7). 6. Supplementary priestly regulations (Leviticus 6:8 to Leviticus 7:38). The illogical divisions of chapters (as is also the case with verses) is quite apparent

Isaiah 29 overview — There are five paragraphs in this chapter: (1) Jerusalem is warned of the siege by Sennacherib (Isaiah 29:1-4). (2) A divine promise of relief (Isaiah 29:5-8). (3) Prophecy of the hardening, or blinding, of Israel (Isaiah 29:9-12). (4) Israel's warnings repeated (Isaiah 29:13-16). (5) Israel's promises renewed (Isaiah 29:17-24).

Isaiah 35:5-6 — and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." Again, we point out that the great promise in Isaiah 35:4 is, "Behold, your God will come… and save you." Very well, the people who heard that would wish to know, above everything else, WHEN will it happen? Isaiah 35:5 answers the question. Look at the first word in Isaiah 35:5 and Isaiah 35:6. "THEN,"

Isaiah 5 overview — vineyard, etc.; and, when it produced poisonous berries instead of grapes and after it had become obvious that there was no possible excuse for such a thing, he revealed the true meaning of this little song about the vineyard. Only when we come to Isaiah 5:7 does it become clear that God is the one who planted the vineyard and that Israel and Judah (collectively) are the vineyard. "This is the first appearance, chronologically, of the vineyard as a symbol of Israel."Gleason L. Archer, Jr., Wycliffe Old

Numbers 5 overview — This chapter recounts the law regarding the exclusion of diseased and unclean persons from the camp of Israel (Numbers 5:1-4), the resolution of the problem of restitution in case of the death of the victim (Numbers 5:5-10), and the regulations for the trial of jealousies (Numbers 5:11-31), three or four paragraphs being devoted to the latter. Questions usually arising

Matthew 12:31 — class of eternal sins first and then consider the example of it, committed by the Pharisees. The word of God teaches: (1)    "There is a sin unto death; not concerning this do I say that he should make request" (1 John 5:16). Note that John spoke not of sin "until," but "unto" death. Such a sin is, therefore, not UNTIL physical death, but it is UNTO spiritual death. (2)    "For, as touching those who were once enlightened,

Luke 24:26 — Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory? Thus, the Gospel of Luke confirms the view often expressed in John that Jesus was glorified in his crucifixion. Upon the departure of Judas to betray Jesus, the Lord said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him" (John 13:31). It was only by his sufferings that Christ could be made perfect (Hebrews 5:8-9); and only "by his stripes" could men be healed (Isaiah 53:5).

Acts 1 overview — I.    THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM (Acts 1:1 to Acts 8:4) In this chapter are found Luke's prologue to Acts (Acts 1:1-5), the ascension (Acts 1:6-11), the apostles and others waiting in Jerusalem (Acts 1:12-14), and a record of choosing a successor to Judas (Acts 1:15-26). THE PROLOGUE (Acts 1:1-5) The significance of the prologue with its introductory address to Theophilus

Acts 20:29-30 — …" indicates that the central apostasy would concern the government of the church; and as Protestants have often affirmed, "The Pope himself is only an elder gone wrong!" Other New Testament passages bearing upon the apostasy are Matthew 7:15-23; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-8; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:1-7; Revelation 17:3-6; Revelation 18:1-5.

Acts 5:9 — of Ananias further confirmed Peter's certainty of what would ensue. Try the Spirit of the Lord … It is significant that three different expressions appear in this narrative as being synonymous: "Lie to the Holy Spirit" … Acts 5:3. "Lied not unto men, but unto God" … Acts 5:4. "Try the Spirit of the Lord" … Acts 5:9.

Acts 8 overview — A second major division of Acts begins with Acts 8:5; but the first four verses continue to focus upon the church in Jerusalem. The conversion of the Samaritans by Philip is given (Acts 8:5-25), and also the conversion of the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-40).

Romans 5 overview — doctrine of justification by putting this truth in its eschatological context. William M. Greathouse, Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, Missouri: Beacon Hill Press, 1969), p. 106. Greathouse cited "the hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2), and "final salvation" (Romans 5:9-10) as supporting his analysis. Lenski favored the view that writings in this chapter Undoubtedly describe the blessed effects of God's righteousness through faith. R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation

1 Thessalonians 1:3 — (Revelation 2:2), is one of the most interesting in the New Testament. Morris cautioned against failing to read the true meaning of [@hupomone], rendered patience, but meaning "not a negative acquiescence, but an active, manly endurance"; Ibid., p. 35. thus relating all three of the first triad with works, labor being intensified consistent work, and patience being unceasing work. This sheds much light on Paul's use of all these terms in the New Testament; for example, he even substituted "patience"

James 5:10 — only the example of Job, perhaps singling out this one because of the significant time element involved in his example, exactly the crucial factor in the problem of the brethren addressed by James. Note the repeated use of "brethren" (James 5:7; James 5:10).

2 Peter 2:20 — being lost; and the only thing that answers to such a condition is that of being lost without the possibility of being saved. Therefore, this verse is to be understood in connection with Hebrews 6:6, "quenching the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:19), "the sin unto death" (1 John 5:16), being "dead while alive" (1 Timothy 5:6), etc., that is, the state of having committed "an eternal sin" (Mark 3:29). The apostate teachers in view in this chapter are in a state

Revelation 21:6 — I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. And he said unto me … God continues to speak. Dummelow understood this as a reference to Revelation 21:5. J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 1090. The creation of all things new is here referred to as a past event, by the prophetic tense, showing that it is as certain to happen as if it had already