Bible Commentaries

Genesis 38:7 — to find a difficulty, but no difficulty exists. "There could have been many ways in which he died, but, whatever the manner of death, the wrath of God lay behind it."Hershel H. Hobbs, Teacher's Bible Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1972), p. 45. Willis also noted that, "The fact that the Lord kills people because of their wickedness is taught in both the O.T. and N.T."John T. Willis, op. cit., p. 394. N.T. examples of this are in Acts 5:1-11; Acts 12:23; and in Revelation 2:22. Such summary

Genesis 39:2 — "And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian." "And Jehovah was with Joseph" This is the key to the whole chapter. In Genesis 39:2-3; Genesis 39:5; Genesis 39:21, and Genesis 39:23, the same fundamental truth is repeated. The reader is expected to see the hand of the Lord in these marvelous events. "In the house of his master, the Egyptian" Some of the critics try to make this "Egyptian" out to

Job 16 overview — Eliphaz had just concluded, if we except the bitterness and invective in it."The Pulpit Commentary, 7d, p. 279. "Eliphaz was merely repeating what he and the others had already said; but, instead of being silent as Job had begged them to be (Job 13:5),"International Critical Commentary, Job, p. 142. they were merely adding to his troubles by forcing their words upon him.

Isaiah 8 overview — Isaiah thought was not the key consideration. In any case, some other sign was needed with regard to the present crisis in Judah. This new sign pertained to the birth of Isaiah's own son, Maher-shalal-hash-baz. This is recounted in Isaiah 8:1-4. Isaiah 8:5-8 record Judah's rejection of the gentle waters of Shiloah and the prophecy of God's bringing against them the flood waters of the king of Assyria and all his glory. Isaiah 8:9-15 develop the thought that God is either our refuge or our ruin. The theme

Jeremiah 13 overview — destruction; but the warnings were not heeded. The warnings were: (1) the parable of the mined linen loin-cloth (Jeremiah 13:1-11), (2) the parable of the wine jars (Jeremiah 13:12-14), (3) the warning against pride and arrogance toward God (Jeremiah 13:15-17), (4) the warning to the king and the queen-mother (Jeremiah 13:18-19), (5) the warning that identified "friends" of Israel, such as Babylon, as their conquerors and exploiters.

John 1 overview — into five divisions: (1) the prologue, John 1:1-18; (2) the deputation from Jerusalem to John the Baptist, John 1:19-28; (3) the events of the next day after that deputation, John 1:29-34; (4) the events of the second day after the deputation, John 1:35-42; and (5) the events of the third day following the historic interview with John the Baptist, John 1:48-51. Thus, aside from the prologue, this chapter records the events of only four days of Jesus' ministry. Appropriately, it begins with the words,

1 Corinthians 11:11-12 — created beings, he was careful here to point out what kind of subordination he was speaking of. Man and woman are mutually dependent upon each other, each enjoying unique prerogatives and blessings under the will of God, as Paul stressed in Ephesians 5:22-33, etc. While true enough that the first woman was made out of man, it has been true of all others since then that they are born of woman. The natural relationship between men and women, like everything else, is ordained of God. Johnson believed

1 Corinthians 3:2 — I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye able. Milk … meat … Hebrews 5:11-14 and 1 Peter 2:2 employ this metaphor and explain it. The milk is the first principles (Hebrews 6:1-2); meat is more advanced learning. "It is the symbol of preaching in which it is possible to unfold the full richness and magnificence of

1 Corinthians 3:3 — politicians rather than Christian disciples. John William Russell, Compact Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1964), p. 407. Jealousy and strife … These call to mind Paul's list of the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21); and "Where these exist, the flesh rules. Had they been spiritual, they would have looked to Christ and would not have been partisans of men." David Lipscomb, Commentary on First Corinthians (Nashville: The Gospel Advocate Company,

2 Corinthians 12:5 — On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my weakness. Such a one … such a man … such a one … (2 Corinthians 12:2-3; 2 Corinthians 12:5). Each is the equivalent of "a man in Christ" (2 Corinthians 12:2) and should be understood as Paul's repeated affirmation of the truth of his experiences being, in a sense, not his own but Christ's. It was in unity with Christ that the events

Galatians 2:12-13 — when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation. From James … In Acts 15, it is learned that these Judaizers actually had no commission whatever from James (Acts 15:24), yet they were sinfully and deceitfully operating in his name. The identity of these Judaizers is provided in Acts 6:7; Acts 15:5, where it is made clear

Ephesians 1:11 — part of it, which from the beginning included also the bringing of the Gentiles to receive his mercy and grace and become a part of the same inheritance, or heritage, along with the Jews. Foreordained … See discussion of this under Ephesians 1:5.

Colossians 3:9 — of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ"; and here a little later, beginning in Colossians 3:12, Paul will outline what is meant, partially, by putting on Christ. Also in Revelation, the clothing metaphor prevails in Revelation 3:4-5.

Titus 2:4 — pertained to the godly older women in the congregation. There are seven qualities to be instilled in the younger women, two mentioned in this verse, five in the next. They are: (1) husband-lovers, (2) children-lovers, (3) sober-minded, (4) chaste, (5) workers at home, (6) kind, and (7) in subjection to their own husbands. At first glance it seems hardly necessary to speak of training one to love spouse or children; but as Ward noted: Love does not always flow out of a person, even a wife and mother,

Titus 3:14 — cit., p. 47. The emphasis throughout these letters which Paul placed upon good works was commented upon thus by Lipscomb: In these "pastorals" we have eight reminders to be earnest and zealous in good works. The passages are: 1 Timothy2:10, 5:10, 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:21; Titus 1:16; Titus 2:7; Titus 2:14; Titus 3:14. It is noteworthy that these epistles containing so many exhortations to work for Christ are among his last inspired utterances. David Lipscomb, op. cit., p. 188.

Hebrews 10:8 — offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (they which are offered according to the law). Here the author quotes the sense of the quotation from Psalms 40:6-8, and for notes on these words see under Hebrews 10:5-7. As is sometimes true in the Scriptures, what is written as a parenthesis turns out to be of surpassing importance, as for example, the epic parenthesis of John 10:35, "And the Scriptures cannot be broken." So it is here. The parenthetical

James 2:11 — to the Law of Moses; but there are some considerations that forbid this. In this verse, James was clearly rebuking those who were dishonoring the poor man, equating their conduct with murder, based upon Jesus' elaboration of that command in Matthew 5:21-22. He even reversed the order of the commandments to achieve more readily this application. Therefore, it is still the Law of Christ which James is holding before his readers. Harper agreed that James here reflects Jesus' explanation of the commandment

1 Peter 2:3 — if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious: In this verse from Psalms 34, Peter applied to the Lord Jesus the great Old Testament word for God, "the Lord." The writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 6:4-5) also mentioned "tasting" as a metaphor of understanding and appropriating to one's own needs the word of God. As Mason said, "This gives quite a new complexion to the 34th Psalm," A. J. Mason, Ellicott's Bible Commentary, Vol. VII

1 John 3:14 — another."David Smith, op. cit., p. 186. It is akin to the word "migrated." Death into life … This strongly reflects the teaching of Jesus who said, "The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live" (John 5:25). All of the New Testament writers reflect the same thought. The old sinful life is death; the new joy in Christ Jesus is life. He that loveth not … One whose heart is not healed, opened and expanded by love is still abiding in the old life

Revelation 22:3 — serve him; And there shall be no curse any more … "This is an allusion to the curse pronounced upon the Ground because of the sin of Adam (Genesis 3:17)." E. M. Zerr, Bible Commentary, Vol. 6 (Marion, Indiana: The Cogdill Foundation, 1954), p. 352. In the final city of God, such curses can never come. And the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be there … The oneness of the Father and the Son are dramatically and forcefully stated in the visions of Revelation, no less than in