Bible Commentaries

Psalms 16:9-11 — old age,"Anthony L. Ash, Psalms (Austin: Sweet Publishing Company, 1980), p. 75. or "Probably the poet is thinking merely of a long life, the reward of the pious."W. E. Addis, Peake's Commentary on the Bible (Edinburgh: T. C. and E. C. Jack, Ltd., 1924), p. 376. All such interpretations are founded upon the proposition that David is God's Holy One, as stated here; but David could never have spoken of himself in such language. David was a murderer, an adulterer, and despite many good qualities could

Proverbs 4 overview — "In this chapter, there are three hortatory discourses (Proverbs 4:1-9; Proverbs 4:10-19, and Proverbs 4:20-27), exactly similar to the ones in Proverbs 2 and Proverbs 3. The subject is the praise of Wisdom, and the description of the blessings which she confers."Arthur S. Peake, A Commentary on the Bible (London: T. C. and E. C. Jack, Ltd., 1924), p. 399.

Jeremiah 22:24-30 — Judah." The prophecy here is that both Jeconiah (Coniah) and the queen mother shall go into Babylonian captivity and die in that land. This indeed came to pass; and Coniah lived thirty-seven years in captivity. "Coniah" This man was named Jeconiah (Jeremiah 24:1) and Coniah (here and in Jeremiah 37:1); and he came to the throne under the name of Jehoiachin. Keil cited two other variations of the name which correspond to two of the three names cited here.C. F. Keil, Keil-Delitzsch's Old Testament Commentaries

Zechariah 7:2-3 — worship, and that God's will would be made known from that city. "Sharezer and Regemmelech" "Sharezer is regarded as a Babylonian name, meaning `protect the king.'"Merrill F. Unger, Zechariah (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1963), p. 121. "Regemmelech means `king's friend'";Ibid. and the significance of these names points to the period of the Babylonian captivity, and shows how the old Jewish custom of naming their children with names that honored God had given place to names oriented

Deuteronomy 17 overview — There is a brief reminder in Deuteronomy 17:1 that only perfect sacrifices without spot or blemish are acceptable in the worship of God. There follows a paragraph (Deuteronomy 17:2-7) on what to do with idolaters. Back in Deuteronomy 13, Moses had told what to do with persons who seduced others into idolatry; this tells what to do with the ones who were seduced! Deuteronomy 17:8-13 announce the provisions for a high court at the

Luke 21:23 — unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath upon this people. As Ash observed: (These) touches depict the horror of a nation scattered by God's wrath (Deuteronomy 28:64). The siege would work particular hardship upon pregnant women and those with babies still nursing.Anthony Lee Ash, The Gospel according to Luke (Austin, Texas: Sweet Publishing Company, 1973), Luke, II, p. 115. There is no way to entertain any

Luke 22 overview — The magnificent drama of our Lord's Passion rapidly unfolds in this chapter. The Passover came on (Luke 22:1-2); Judas bargained to betray the Saviour (Luke 22:3-6); the last Supper was eaten (Luke 22:7-23); the apostles disputed about rank (Luke 22:24-30); Peter's denial was foretold (Luke 22:31-34); the changed condition of the apostles was announced

John 2:22 — his disciples remembered that he spake this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said. As Westcott declared: John notices on other occasions the real meaning of the words of the Lord not understood at first: John 7:39; John 12:33; John 21:19; and, in each case, he speaks with complete authority. This trait of progressive knowledge is inexplicable except as a memorial of personal experience.B. F. Westcott, op. cit., p. 43. And they believed the scripture … The Scripture

John 9:13 — They bring to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. This event was before a gathering of the entire hierarchy: (1) because the neighbors' action presupposes an assembly in a stated place known in advance by them, and (2) because "they cast him out" (of the synagogue) indicates a formal and official meeting (John 9:34). That such a full-dress meeting of the Sanhedrin occurred was a testimony of the priority which the religious leaders gave to the problem of

Acts 10:42 — living and the dead. In these dynamic words, Cornelius was made aware of the great truth that Jesus Christ will judge every man at the last day. Implicit in such an epic fact is the teaching: (1) that all men shall be raised in a general resurrection, (2) that Christ is risen from the dead, (3) that he has ascended to heaven, (4) that all power and authority in heaven and upon earth are his, and (5) that salvation may be found only in him.

Acts 26 overview — The first twenty-three verses give Paul's address, outlined by Bruce thus: i.    The complimentary exordium (Acts 26:2 f). ii.    His Pharisaic heritage (Acts 26:4 f). iii.    His former persecuting zeal (Acts 26:9 f). iv.    His vision on Damascus road (Acts 26:12 f). v.    His lifelong

1 Corinthians 16:6 — But with you it may be that I shall abide, or even winter, that ye may set me forward on my journey whithersoever I go. The intention of spending some time at Corinth was fulfilled. "This he afterward found himself able to do" (Acts 20:2-3). John William Russell, Compact Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1964), p. 434. Set me forward on my journey … This is not a hint that he would expect to receive traveling expenses, rather having

2 Corinthians 10:11 — strength. "Paul here is rebutting with calmness and dignity the false charge that he was in any way different from what he was when present." F. W. Farrar, The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), Vol. 19, 2 Cor., p. 240.

2 Corinthians 8:7 — … Again, Paul's use of hyperbole is in evidence. Not only does this mean a great deal less than "everything, absolutely," but there might even be implied some deficiency in the qualified areas of Paul's explanation of it. See under 2 Corinthians 8:6. But Paul here magnanimously extended to them this accolade regarding their excellence in certain graces with the admonition that the grace of giving should also be exemplified in them in a degree proportionate to their excellence in

2 Corinthians 9:3 — have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared. I have sent … in this place "has the meaning of `I am sending.'" R. V. G. Tasker, op. cit., p. 124. This is another example of the "epistolary aorist," as used in 2 Corinthians 8:17. Glorying … "Paul's glorying here is neither in men nor in human achievements as such." Philip E. Hughes, op. cit., p. 323. His glorying is

2 Corinthians 9:9 — As it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth forever. As it is written … "This exact construction occurs twelve times in Romans, twice in 1 Corinthians, and twice in this epistle (2 Corinthians 8:15 and here). Nowhere else does Paul use it." Wick Broomall, Wycliffe Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 679. The Psalm Paul here quoted is Psalms 112:9, a passage which describes the blessedness of the man who fears

Colossians 1:19 — For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fullness dwell. "This verse should be understood in the light of Colossians 2:9. It is the fullness of Deity, the `fullness of the godhead bodily' that is pleased to dwell in the Son." John B. Nielson, op. cit., p. 382. Ashby also agreed with this analysis of the verse, adding that by thus stressing Christ's deity, Paul

Hebrews 12:19 — heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them. The sound of God's voice was so terrible that the people did not wish to hear it again and so entreated God to speak only to Moses who would convey to them the message of the Father (Exodus 20:18 ff). "The sound of the trumpet" is of special interest since a trumpet sound is associated with the final judgment and the resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:52). Also, the seven angels with seven trumpets are a feature of John's

2 Peter 1:8 — For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. "It is the necessity of possessing these things enumerated in 2 Peter 1:5-7 and to be achieved at least in part by human effort, that is here stressed." Albert E. Barnett, op. cit., p. 178. If … How frequently this word appears in the New Testament! suggesting here that in the last analysis, there is

1 John 2:12 — I write unto you my little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. My little children … is usually thought to be John's loving designation of the whole church to which he wrote. See more on this under 1 John 2:13. Because your sins are forgiven you … The great purpose of redemption in Christ is precisely this, the forgiveness of sins. All of the wonderful social and environmental benefits of Christianity are tangential and not fundamental. Man's great