Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 14:1-7 — unanswerable argument for the EXISTENCE of the Law of Moses long prior to the "Deuteronomist nonsense" so brazenly advocated by unbelieving critics. Of course, such critics go out of their way to deny what is written here. Honeycutt, for example, denied that 2 Kings 14:6 here reflects a statement in God's Word, declaring that, "It reflects the Deuteronomist conception of individualism."Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 3, p. 261. On the contrary, as Stigers truthfully stated it, "2 Kings 14:6 is a citation

Psalms 14 overview — hardening men is of course the example of Pharaoh, whose heart the Lord hardened, but not till Pharaoh had hardened his own heart no less than ten times. The three centers of this phenomenon called judicial hardening are (1) in wicked men themselves, (2) in God who hardens men's hearts in the sense of allowing it, and (3) in Satan himself who, with the proper advantage afforded by the conduct of the wicked is able to "blind men," (2 Corinthians 4:4). What happens when men are hardened? (1) They are

Proverbs 21:2 — "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts." See my comment on Proverbs 16:2 with which this couplet is almost identical.

Leviticus 6 overview — Leviticus 7, and the short summary at the end of Leviticus 7 is the conclusion of this whole section of Leviticus (Leviticus 1-7) in which the following sacrifices are presented: VARIOUS 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

Jeremiah 25 overview — the rebellious nation; the calamity stored up for the Chosen People could no longer be averted or postponed; the time of judgment was at hand! The chapter falls into three divisions: (1) The judgment of Judah and the eventual doom of Babylon (Jeremiah 25:1-14), (2) the cup of God's wrath upon the nations (Jeremiah 25:15-29), and (3) the judgment of the whole world (Jeremiah 25:30-38). In the first division, we have the sensational prophecy that the captivity of Israel would last seventy years. This

Matthew 3:11 — I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. Seven baptisms are mentioned in the New Testament, three of which are mentioned in this verse. They are: 1.    The baptism unto Moses (1 Corinthians 10:2). 2.    The baptism of sufferings (Mark 10:38-39). 3.    The baptism for the dead (1 Corinthians 15:29). 4.    The baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11, see above). 5.    The

Luke 2:41 — And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. THE BOY JESUS IN THE TEMPLE His parents … See under Luke 2:28.

John 4:22 — Thus Jesus affirmed the truth of the Old Testament and the validity of the covenant with the chosen people, affirming the authenticity of the Hebrew religion. Salvation is from the Jews … God took hold "of the seed of Abraham" (Hebrews 2:16); the Jews were custodians of the Scripture (Romans 3:2); Christ was born "under the law." The Old Testament Scriptures are they which "testify" of Christ (John 5:39). Even the church today is the Israel of God, and all Christians

John 4:45 — Jesus, but derived from the miracles they had witnessed in Jerusalem. Thus far, John had recorded only one of the seven great signs, that of the miracle in Cana; but there have been repeated references to a great plurality of "signs" (John 2:23; John 3:2), and "all the things" mentioned here. Galilee afforded no outpouring of welcome like that of Sychar. If indeed the Lord intended a decrease of popularity, Galilee proved to be exactly the place to find it. At Cana he would do

Romans 10:12-13 — This is also true along with the fact that repentance, confession and baptism are all necessary to any effective calling upon the Lord. That is why Ananias said to Paul himself: Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on his name (Acts 22:16). But the argument here is that it takes more than calling on the name of the Lord to be saved, if such calling on his name is understood otherwise than inclusive of the preconditions of salvation we have been discussing. The proof is as follows: Not

Ephesians 2:19 — So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. As Taylor observed, there are no less than three metaphors of unity in Ephesians 2:19-21, expressed as: (1) common citizenship, (2) membership in a single household, and (3) mutual parts of one holy temple. Williard H. Taylor, op. cit., p. 181. Paul was a Roman citizen and had received signal blessings from such a relationship. Thus

Colossians 4:3 — supporting prayers of brethren in Christ. That God may open … As Nielson reminded us, "This reminds us that even though the spread of the gospel is under divine direction (Acts 16:7), it is also subject to satanic hindrances (1 Thessalonians 2:18)." John B. Nielson, op. cit., p. 422. The mystery of Christ … See other Pauline references to "the mystery" (Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:3; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:26-27; 1 Timothy 3:9; 1 Timothy 3:16, etc.). For which I

1 Thessalonians 1 overview — First, there is Paul's characteristic salutation and greeting (1 Thessalonians 1:1), followed by his fervent expression of thanks and appreciation for the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 1:2-10).

1 Thessalonians 2:1 — For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in unto you, that it hath not been found vain: Morris paraphrased this as "Our visit to you was no failure." Leon Morris, Tyndale Commentaries, 1 and 2 Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1956), p. 42. Ward has a discerning insight into the word "for" which stands at the head of the chapter. "It is a common Greek idiom in which a reason is given

2 Timothy 1:2 — to Timothy, my beloved child: grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. This verse is almost identical with 1 Timothy 1:2, which see.

Hebrews 12:1 — said of this expression, "It is a figurative representation, such as is common, and means that we ought to act AS IF they were in sight." Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1963), Hebrews, p. 292. Lenski also rejects the concept of the ancient worthies as spectators, saying, "The souls of the saints are at rest; they are no longer concerned about the trials that occur on earth." R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of the Epistle

Hebrews 4:5 — And in this place again, They shall not enter into my rest. This quotation, as in Hebrews 4:3, is again from Psalms 95:11, serving the purpose, alongside of the quotation from Genesis 2:2, of identifying the rest spoken of here as that of God himself, following the six days of creation, and to which heavenly rest God has always invited people to come and share. To make this place any kind of an argument for people's keeping the sabbath

Judges 19 overview — EXAMPLE 2 THE NEAR EXTERMINATION OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN (Judges 19-21) THE ATROCIOUS MURDER OF A LEVITE'S CONCUBINE In these chapters, the near-total collapse of moral integrity in Israel occurred. Richard Halverson, as quoted by Campbell, stated that: "Here

1 John 4:10 — our hearts. It is inspired by the amazing love of God manifested in the Incarnation, the infinite Sacrifice of His Son's life and death.David Smith, op. cit., p. 191. To be the propitiation … For a discussion of this phrase, see under 1 John 2:2. The objection that "propitiation" leaves out of view the love of God is not well taken. As Denney observed: So far from finding any kind of contrast between love and propitiation, the apostle can convey no idea of love to anyone, except

2 Samuel 16:20-23 — action so that `all Israel might hear of it'; but, as if that were not enough, so completely lost to all honor and virtue was Absalom that he will do it under a tent on top of the palace so that `all Israel will see it.'"Matthew Henry's Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 531. Yes, of course, Absalom's ravishing ten of his father's concubines was also a political action, corresponding to the ancient pagan dictum that a succeeding king was entitled to the harem of his predecessor, but that in no manner whatever changed