Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 22:3-7 — reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand; for they dealt faithfully." The appearance of this paragraph just here was to set the occasion for the discovery of The Book mentioned in the next verse. The parallel account in 2 Chronicles 34:3-7 indicates that Josiah's reforms had already been going forward for a number of years. Keil referred to this paragraph as "a parenthesis."C. F. Keil, Keil and Delitzsch's Old Testament Commentaries, Vol. 3b, p. 477. "He began the purging

Psalms 143:1-6 — based his plea upon the character of God who would surely keep the wonderful promises made to him through Nathan the prophet. God's righteousness would not allow him to nullify those great promises. "Enter not into judgment with thy servant" (Psalms 143:2). David had touched the subject of abstract "justice" in his mention of God's righteousness, but he did not dare to press that, because of the consciousness of his own guilt. "He therefore deprecates a strictly retributive treatment, knowing that his

Daniel 11:28-35 — "abomination," it was without question the desecration of the Temple, the pollution of the altar by the offering of a sow upon it, the erection of an image of Zeus Olympus in the Temple itself, and other outrages of Antiochus. However Christ in Matthew 24:15-16 (and related passages) mentioned another "abomination of desolation" that would come into the "Holy Place," making that a signal for the Christians living at that time to flee from the City of Jerusalem, which they did, saving their lives by

Matthew 12:31 — the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. There is an unpardonable transgression, and here is an example of it, "blasphemy against the Spirit." Boles' comments that the passage speaks not of "a sin against,"Ibid., p. 269. but of "blasphemy against" the Spirit does not exclude a class of sins which are unforgivable and known collectively as "the sin" against the Holy Spirit. From the gospel of Mark comes, "Whosoever shall blaspheme against

Acts 11:27-28 — great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius. Prophets … There were an undetermined number of prophets in the first age of the church, the same ranking next in authority to the apostles themselves (1 Corinthians 12:28), presumably having come in possession of their gift through the laying on of apostolic hands. They are mentioned again by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:28, also in Ephesians 2:20; Ephesians 4:11. Agabus … is again mentioned in Acts 21:10. The

Acts 24:11 — "insurrectionist." It was to that point which Paul immediately replied, proving by a single statement that it was a false charge, saying: It is not more than twelve days since I went up … (1) No insurrection was ever perpetrated in twelve days. (2) Paul was there to worship, and even paid the charges for certain men who had vows. He was in the temple when Lysias rescued him from the mob who were casting him out of the temple; and if Paul was causing an insurrection, the center of it would have

2 Corinthians 3:17 — and the Holy Spirit; for it is Christ who sends the Spirit. There is liberty … When a Christian is converted, receiving the Holy Spirit as an earnest of redemption, there is bestowed at the same time freedom: (1) from the law (Galatians 4:18); (2) from fear (Romans 8:13); (3) from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2); (4) from sin (Romans 6:18); and (5) from corruption (Romans 8:21). Filson's understanding of what Paul meant here is: Christ and the Spirit are one in nature and share in the

Galatians 4:19 — had two founders (Paul and Barnabas), and owed allegiance to Barnabas along with Paul." This is true, of course, but Paul had just written to them of Barnabas' being "drawn away" into accepting the position of the Judaizers (Galatians 2:13), and until that had been resolved, it would have been improper for Paul to have associated himself with Barnabas in this appeal. Over and beyond that, it is not true that Barnabas was the co-founder of those churches, his status in all of Galatia

Galatians 5:19-21 — even as I did forewarn you, that they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. This is another of Paul's lists of evil works, similar but longer than the one in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and also resembling those given in Romans 1:27-32 and 2 Timothy 3:1-8. Extensive comments on various items in this list have already been made in my commentary on Romans and my commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians in this series. There are fifteen evils listed here by Paul, and Ramsay identified them

Ephesians 5:17-18 — Testament does not forbid the use of wine (see below), the person who becomes intoxicated (even once) has violated the admonition here. The overseer (elder) therefore must be above reproach … not one (who lingers) beside (his) wine (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7). Deacons similarly (must be) dignified, not … addicted to much wine (1 Timothy 3:8); and urge aged women similarly (to be) reverent in demeanor … not enslaved to much wine (Titus 2:3). Wherein is riot … Alcohol is the

Hebrews 11:35 — by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection. Old Testament instances of women receiving back their dead in a resurrection are those of the widow of Sarepta (1 Kings 17:17-24), whose son was raised by Elijah; and the Shunamite woman (2 Kings 4:18-37), whose son was raised by Elisha. From the New Testament, of course, may be added the widow of Nain, whose son Jesus raised (Luke 7), and the sisters of Lazarus (John 11), whose

Hebrews 13:20-21 — ever and ever. Amen. This magnificent doxology is one of the noblest in holy writ and inspires the deepest emotions of love and gratitude to God. The expression "God of peace" is used by Paul in a number of places (Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). Brought again from the dead is a reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, this being the one place in the whole epistle where it is specifically mentioned, although it is implied on every page of it.

Hebrews 3:14 — faithfully and enthusiastically "to the end"; what end? Any end whatsoever! Perhaps the words "to the end" are unspecific on purpose in order to cover a range of meanings such as: (1) the end of a particular period of temptation; (2) the end of life; (3) the end of the world; and (4) perhaps even "the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:9). Such expressions as this, seeming at first to be indefinite, are often far richer in meaning than a more

James 1:5 — any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Oesterley said, "There is no thought connection between this verse and the preceding"; W. E. Oesterley, op. cit., p. 422. but such a comment is due to a failure to discern the theme of the epistle, which is "Perfection," one of the most common impediments to perfection being ignorance. It is the word of God only which is able to make one "wise unto salvation";

1 Peter 2:2 — as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation; As newborn babes … Paul used this same figure in 1 Corinthians 3:2; but Peter here, using the same figure, stresses, not the contrasting diet of infants and adults, but the appetite which all Christians should have in order to grow. All Christians should have a constant and intense longing for the word of God. Long

1 Peter 3:1-2 — without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives; beholding your chaste behavior coupled with fear. Be in subjection to your own husbands … This is in agreement with other extensive teaching on this in the New Testament, as in Ephesians 5:22 ff, Colossians 3:18 ff, and Titus 2:5. Note also that this is extended to include the submission of a Christian wife to a pagan husband. Although it may be supposed that both the husband and the wife, many times, would be converted together, there

2 Peter 1:13-14 — tabernacle cometh swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified unto me. These words flow out of the heart of a man who stood in full contemplation of impending death. The Lord Jesus himself had foretold Peter's death at the hands of others (John 21:18-19); and in the hostile climate of Nero's Rome, coupled with the fact of his then being an old man, and remembering that Jesus had said this would occur "when thou art old," Peter considered his own death to be something he could expect

1 John 4:15 — the gospel at the time he became a Christian, the confession of faith in Christ, of course, being a prominent part of conversion. If this is what was in the apostle's mind, the meaning of it is almost identical with Peter's words on Pentecost (Acts 2:38 f), Peter's "gift of the Holy Spirit" meaning exactly the same thing in that passage that John meant by "God abideth in him" here. There can be no difference in these. (2)    If, as Roberts thought, John was

Revelation 3:3 — didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Earle, in this and the preceding verse, found five steps to a revival: (1) "Be watchful"; (2) "Strengthen the things which remain"; (3) "Remember"; (4) "Hold fast"; and (5) "Repent." Ralph Earle, Beacon Bible Commentary, Vol. 10 (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1967), p. 515. Remember … "Memory

1 Samuel 27:8-12 — justify his brutal butchery of whole cities among those peoples; and Matthew Henry thought that we can, "Acquit David of this injustice and cruelty because those peoples had been long ago doomed by heaven for destruction."Matthew Henry's Commentary, Vol. 2., p. 428, Maybe so! But David's constant lying to Achish about what he was actually doing is totally without justification. "The butchery and deceit here practiced by David are indicative of the desperate situation in which he found himself."The New