Bible Commentaries

John 16:31 — ye now believe? … is not a questioning of their faith, which was genuine enough; but it was a warning against overconfidence. The Old Testament prophet had written, "Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered" (Zechariah 13:7), and Mark (Mark 14:27) identified the scattering of the apostles during the Passion as the fulfillment of that prophecy. There is infinite pathos in these words. The scattering of the apostles, the smiting of the Shepherd, the Saviour's being left

Acts 13:16-17 — audience. Chose our fathers … God's choice of Israel, making them the "chosen people," was not a capricious or partial act. The purpose of choosing Israel was that "all the families of the earth" might be blessed (Genesis 12:3); but, historically, the people of Israel did not appreciate this, falling into a state of self-righteousness in which they despised the Gentiles. Exalted the people … This exaltation resulted in a fantastic multiplication of their numbers and

Acts 13:34-35 — return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David. Because he saith also in another Psalm, Thou wilt not give thy Holy One to see corruption. Holy and sure blessings … This comes from Isaiah 55:3 where "the everlasting covenant" is mentioned as one of those blessings. Thus it must be concluded that the gospel of Jesus Christ for all men is the everlasting covenant in view there. To see corruption … This is an abbreviated reference

Romans 14:12 — the weak, and deal a mortal blow upon the human conceit in which such judgments are invariably formed. As Thomas said: Earthly Christians are not lords to pass judgment upon their fellows; and, although Christians are to judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3), that time has not yet come. Griffith Thomas, St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1970), p. 370. With this verse, Paul ended one phase of teaching regarding weak brethren and strong brethren

2 Corinthians 1:3 — Every chapter in the Koran, except one, begins with the words, "In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate." God of all comfort … "The word COMFORT, either as a verb or a substantive, occurs ten times in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7." F. W. Farrar, op. cit., p. 2. As a matter of truth, God is the God of everything beautiful and desirable. He is the God of patience and of comfort (Romans 15:5), the God of glory (Acts 7:2), the God of hope (Romans 15:33), the God of peace

2 Corinthians 11:9 — and so will I keep myself. See my comment under the preceding verse. When they came from Macedonia … These were in all probability Silas and Timothy. Based upon the record in Acts 15:40 and Acts 16:1 ff, and upon inferences from 1 Thessalonians 3:1, those were the two men referred to here, but not by name, as the Corinthians already knew who had come from Macedonia. Even this bounty only supplemented Paul's earnings as a tent maker. I was not a burden on any man … The word here translated

2 Corinthians 8:21 — For we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. The thought of this verse is surely contained in Proverbs 3:4, which reads: "So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man." It is not enough for God to know that a man's conscience is clear; he should order his affairs in such a manner that people will also be aware of

Galatians 3:14 — apostles) preached. The Gentiles will be blessed, along with Abraham, "in Christ," thus becoming technically part of Christ's spiritual body, therefore truly of "the seed singular" of Abraham, which is Christ. See under Galatians 3:16, where Paul elaborated this. Through faith … Every scholar on earth knows that the article precedes "faith" in this place in the Greek New Testament, and that the only honest translation is "through the faith," meaning

Ephesians 6:21-22 — also the bearer of other letters besides this one. Tychicus was a native of Asia (Acts 20:4), is named among the delegates to the Gentile churches who went with Paul to Jerusalem, and was mentioned as a messenger of Paul in 2 Timothy 4:12 and Titus 3:12. Bruce observed that, "On the present occasion, he was probably Paul's special envoy to churches in the province of Asia which were planted in the course of Paul's Ephesian ministry." F. F. Bruce, op. cit., p. 135. Whom I have sent …

Philippians 1:29-30 — 16:22-24." Alfred Barry, op. cit., p. 72. That outrage deeply impressed itself upon Paul's heart, as indicated, at the very first, by his demand that the magistrates apologize and by subsequent references to it in 1 Thessalonians 2:2 and 2 Timothy 3:10. The same implacable and evil hatred of the darkness against the light was the motivation of persecutions against both Paul and the Philippians. His own sufferings were the same as theirs with regard to cause and motivation of both. On behalf of

Philippians 3:15 — and to do God's will, and without any wish or preference except to do the will of God." David Lipscomb, A Commentary on the New Testament Epistles, Volume IV (Nashville: The Gospel Advocate Company, 1964), p. 210. He cited John 7:17 and Hosea 6:3 as confirming his conclusion. Mounce arrived at a similar conclusion, thus: "The condition for future enlightenment is to walk according to present light." Robert H. Mounce, op. cit., p. 772. Indeed, if one does not walk in the light he already

Joshua 7 overview — Here the great success at Jericho is quickly followed by the shameful defeat at Ai. (2)    Secret sin was, in both cases, the cause of the sudden reversal of fortune - that of Achan here, and that of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts. (3)    The capital punishment of the offenders was immediately enforced - that of Achan by Joshua, and that of Ananias and Sapphira by the Lord. (4)    The punishment in each case was executed in the presence of

1 Timothy 4:16 — assume that he "has it made," or cease the fidelity that should mark the entirety of his whole life. Wallis pointed out that "continuing" is one of the basic words "used to describe the steadfast walk of a Christian (Galatians 3:10; Hebrews 8:9; James 1:25; Acts 14:22 and Colossians 1:23). It is basically the same as ABIDE in John 15 and 1 John." Wilbur B. Wallis, Wycliffe Bible Commentary, New Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 856.

Philemon 1:13-14 — kept … I would do nothing … There is a double usage of the word "would" in this. "The former denotes natural but indeterminate impulse; the latter denotes a deliberate conclusion of the will." S. J. Eales, op. cit., p. 3. Two different words are used in the Greek. That he might minister unto me … This seems to be a hint that Paul hoped Philemon would send Onesimus back to help the apostle during his imprisonment, a wish that, in all probability, Philemon might

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

Hebrews 7:6-7 — priest of the Most High God, is abundantly manifested. R. Milligan, New Testament Commentary (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1962), p. 200. "Without dispute" is similar to an expression of Paul, "without controversy" (1 Timothy 3:16). This is only a way of stating that the truth mentioned is so self-evident, axiomatic, and inherently obvious that it does not need to be proved.

1 Peter 4:11 — as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Oracles … "This is a word used to refer to the laws given to Moses (Acts 7:38), to the Hebrew Scriptures (Romans 3:2), and to the word of God (Hebrews 5:12, RSV)." Raymond C. Kelcy, op. cit., p. 91. Ministereth, ministering … God supplies … The whole duty of Christians is classified under the general heading

Judges 19 overview — the lifetime of Phinehas and while the Ark of the Covenant was at Shiloh… Phinehas evidently outlived Joshua; and the events narrated here occurred during the interval between the deaths of Joshua and of Phinehas."The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 3-C, 192. This appears to be true, based upon Judg. 2:27-28. Josephus' narrative of his version of these events coincides with this conclusion.

1 John 5:17 — death of the soul; and the manner of the two major clauses of this sentence being balanced against each other indicates that John had that very thing in mind here. In connection with this, it will be remembered that "an eternal sin" (Mark 3:28-29) indicates a multiplicity of transgressions that must be considered potentially "eternal sins." In fact, any sin whatever that might be loved more than the Lord, could prove to be "eternal."

2 John 1:12 — come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full. As Plummer said, "This verse is almost conclusive against the supposition that the Second Epistle was sent as a companion letter to the First."A. Plummer, op. cit., p. 3. I hope to come unto you … This is literally, "I hope to come to be at your house."Ibid. Both here and in 2 John 1:10, Roberts was of the opinion that "house" is indicative of a letter "written to a church," being