Bible Commentaries

Genesis 3:24 — Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." "The Cherubim" These strange creatures figured prominently in the writings of the O.T. In the tabernacle they are identified with the throne of God (Exodus 37:7); depictions of them adorned the veil separating between the Holy of Holies and the Sanctuary (Exodus 36:35); they are described as having six wings in Isaiah 6; and they appear again in Revelation 4. Note that the Cherubim do not wield the sword;

Genesis 7:4 — unlimited proliferation of the lower creation would have become a threat to the lives of men. In addition to this, God's punishment usually extended beyond the strict boundaries of the offense. Thus, Achan was not only destroyed, but his house also (Joshua 7:24 f).

2 Kings 1:3-4 — Elijah. Some identify him with the great Christophanies of the O.T., and Dentan was probably correct in his statement that, "The Angel of the Lord who appears in 2 Kings 1:3; 2 Kings 1:15 is actually the Lord himself."The Layman's Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 71. "Genesis 22:15-16 speaks of the angel of the Lord and the Lord as being the same."Wycliffe Old Testament Commentary, p. 340. "Now therefore" "The word therefore means `for this reason,' the reason being Ahaziah's total apostasy from God, for

2 Kings 2:19-22 — according to the word of Elisha which he spake." "The water is bad" The spring which produced those waters was identified in later times with, "The spring of Ain es-Sultan, just above the present day city of Jericho."The Layman's Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 74. "The land miscarrieth" This is a little misleading, because it might appear to mean that the land was unfruitful; "But the Hebrew verb here for `casting of fruit' (which is the Hebrew) is used only of human infertility and the destruction of

Psalms 27:7-8 — "Hear, O Jehovah, when I cry with my voice: Have mercy upon me, and answer me. When thou saidest Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek." "I cry with my voice" (Psalms 27:7). Prayer is not merely a silent, or a mental thing; it is an audible petition. From the Cross itself Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." We worship God with "the fruit of our lips" (Hebrews 13:15). So-called

Psalms 37:12-15 — bows shall be broken." "And gnasheth on him with their teeth" The technical meaning here is "grinding their teeth,"Derek Kidner, Vol. 1, p. 150. which is an animalistic expression of fanatical rage and hatred. The mob that stoned Stephen did this (Acts 7:54). "He seeth that his day is coming" "`His day,' here is the judgment day."W. E. Addis, p. 378. Although the Old Testament does not have nearly as much teaching about the Judgment Day as the New Testament, yet the conception is locked into every page

Psalms 9:1-2 — Name, O thou Most High." The reason for the exultation and joyful thanksgiving and praise of these verses is, "God's mighty acts of salvation on behalf of Israel."Arnold Rhodes, The Layman's Bible Commentary, Vol. 9 (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1960), p. 37. Furthermore, this is true regardless of whether or not the victories had already been given or merely prophesied. What God's prophets prophesied was as certain of fulfillment as if it had already happened; and that is why the Hebrew writers used the

Isaiah 11 overview — there a little" (See Introduction), Isaiah here gives additional information about: (1) the Messiah; (2) kingdom of God; (3) the character of Christians; (4) the punishment of Israel; (5) the destruction of Assyria; (6) the call of the Gentiles; and (7) the triumph of Christianity.

Hosea 5 overview — chapter is a continuation of the same theme; and the terminology of a court of law is present again and again. There is the pronouncement of "judgment" (Hosea 5:1), and the "pride of Israel" is said to "testify" against them (Hosea 5:5). In Hosea 5:1-7, the whole people, along with their priests and their rulers are indicted and charged with idolatry (whoredom), ignorance of God, pride, arrogance, and treachery against God, and with rearing a whole generation of wicked and godless offspring. Hosea

Acts 10:11-12 — is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving, etc." (1 Timothy 4:4). Of course, this was no new doctrine "discovered" by the apostles; Jesus had plainly taught this, but it took a miracle to get Peter to believe it. See Mark 7:15-19. A similar thing may also be noted in the fact of Peter's Pentecostal declaration that the promise of the gospel was "to them that are afar off," plainly including the Gentiles; but the miracle before us was required before Peter could

Acts 15:4-5 — them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses. The Pharisees who believed … Here is identified the seat of the mischief. In Acts 6:7, Luke related how a great company of the priests believed, many of whom no doubt were Pharisees. Their love of the forms and ceremonies of Judaism had been brought with them into the church; and it may be assumed that for some considerable time they

Acts 27:1 — such cruel sights. Few people, like Paul, had the distinction of being remitted for trial before the highest court of the Empire. Ibid., p. 302. Julius … For a list of centurions mentioned in the New Testament, see my Commentary on Luke, Luke 7:2. Invariably, these Roman officers are presented by the sacred authors in a favorable light. The Augustan band … This was the title of a cohort, just as "The Rainbow Division" is the title of a unit in the US Army. "Augustus"

Romans 6:10 — event is expressed in the word "once," or "once for all," as it reads in the Greek (see English Revised Version (1885) margin). The Greek word is [@hapax]; and for other New Testament uses of this remarkable word, see under Hebrews 7:27 in this author's commentary on that book. The finality of Christ's sacrifice for sin precludes any such thing as the daily sacrifice of the mass, or, for that matter, any kind of an offering whatever that might be proffered by people. The true sacrifice

2 Corinthians 2:12-13 — written; and the news was so encouraging that he burst into an extended expression of praise and thanksgiving to God, forming a rather lengthy parenthesis between this mention of Titus and the resumption of his line of thought again in 2 Corinthians 7:5.

1 Timothy 2:7 — whereunto I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth, I lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. The definite and emphatic missionary outreach of these first seven verses is supported by 1 Timothy 2:5-7, the "all men" of 1 Timothy 2:4 being inclusive of the Gentiles specifically mentioned here. The reason that "all men" were to be publicly prayed for by the church (including the Gentiles, of course) was stated in the Christology

2 Timothy 1:13 — disaster which has befallen modern Christianity is precisely that of departing from the pattern, despite the frequent warnings in the New Testament against it, some even going so far as to affirm that there is no pattern given. Hebrews 8:5 and Acts 7:43 should be studied in connection with the admonition here.

James 2:23 — any possibility of "faith only" having been the grounds of that justification, even in the teachings of Paul. And he was called the friend of God … References to Abraham as the "friend of God" are found in 2 Chronicles 20:7 and Isaiah 41:8. Tasker's explanation of why God called Abraham his friend is this: God did not hide from Abraham what he proposed to do (Genesis 18:17); Abraham rejoiced to see the day of the Messiah (John 8:56). Similarly … Jesus called the

1 Peter 2:17 — 6:10). The Greek term for "brotherhood" which Peter used here and in 1 Peter 5:9 occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. C. J. Polkinghorne, op. cit., p. 591. Fear God … The beginning of all spiritual wisdom is in this (Proverbs 6:7); and the commandment is actually a short form of the entire duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Judges 20:4-7 — THE LEVITE'S HALF-TRUE REPORT (Judges 20:4-7) "And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was murdered, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about me by night; me they thought to have slain, and my

Revelation 15:4 — Rist criticized this passage as being, "out of harmony with the belief expressed throughout Revelation that the nations shall stubbornly refuse to repent." Martin Rist, The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. XII (New York-Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1957), p. 479. Such a criticism does not properly construe the meaning. It is everywhere taught in the prophecy that "an innumerable company" will be saved (Revelation 7:9) from "every tribe and tongue and nation and people." It is that