Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 16:1-4 — interpolator or any other mythical person would have dared to contradict anything that such prophets said. The whole tradition of the people of Israel was adamantly set against such a thing. This same prophet later moved to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 16:7-10), "Where he prophesied under Jehoshaphat, whom he rebuked on one occasion; he must have lived to a great age, for he outlived Jehoshaphat and even wrote his life (2 Chronicles 20:34)."Albert Barnes, Kings, p. 197. WHO ACTUALLY WROTE THE OLD TESTAMENT? The

Matthew 2:1 — giving the date of Jesus' birth, a point on which there is much difference of opinion among scholars and commentators. H. Leo Boles makes the date 4 B.C. Dummelow makes it not later than 6 B.C. Encyclopedias usually date the reign of Herod the Great as 37 B.C. to 4 B.C. Now, if it could be ascertained with accuracy that Herod died the year our Lord was born, then the date would lie approximately 4 B.C. However, some scholars like Dummelow, understand Matthew 2:16 as a reference to a period of waiting

Deuteronomy 31:1-8 — dismayed." "And Moses went and spake" (Deuteronomy 31:1). Alexander is correct in the affirmation that "this does not mean that Moses went anywhere!"W. L. Alexander, The Pulpit Commentary, Deuteronomy (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 479. A similar passage in the N.T. is, "Jesus went and preached unto the spirits in prison" (1 Peter 3:19); and there also, the meaning is not that Jesus went anywhere. It was merely a redundant way of saying that he preached. If a judge dismisses a criminal

Luke 1:27 — birth. The first prophecy of the Messiah ever given (Genesis 3:15) identified him as "the seed of woman"; and that never meant, nor could it ever have meant, anything other than the virgin birth of Christ. It was prophesied again in Isaiah 7:14, a prophetic word which an apostle declared a prediction of the virgin birth (Matthew 1:23). The Old Testament identified the coming redeemer as Immanuel (meaning "God with us"), Mighty God, Everlasting Father, etc. (Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah

John 16:7 — Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. Nevertheless … shows that this reference to the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-15) follows naturally the situation of sorrow and depression of the apostles. The departure of the Lord would not be the total disaster they were thinking of, but was a necessary prelude to the sending of the Spirit. Allegations like that of Windisch

John 2:4 — suppose that all prayers to the Virgin Mary, and especially prayers entreating her to "command her Son" are most offensive and blasphemous in his eyes.Arno C. Gaebelein, The Gospel of John (Neptune, New Jersey: Loizeaux Brothers, 1965), p. 47. Mine hour is not yet come … has been variously understood as meaning: "they are not yet completely out of wine," or "it is not time for me to step in yet," or "it is not yet time for me to show my glory," etc.

Acts 16:16-18 — Paul's addressing the "spirit" in her clearly indicates exactly the same kind of demon possession so often healed by our Lord. Servants of the Most High God … The Gerasene demoniacs used this same expression regarding Jesus (Mark 5:7), this speech of the girl thus proving the fact of her being possessed by a demon. Paul being sore troubled … Paul's problem was simple, but difficult as well. The slave-masters who were exploiting this alleged soothsayer were making a lot of

Romans 8:26 — our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. There are two intercessors for the Christian: (1) Christ at the right hand of the Majesty on High (Hebrews 7:25), and (2) the Holy Spirit within the Christian himself. Thus, there are two sources of encouragement open to the Christian: (1) the blessed hope within himself, and (2) the help of the Holy Spirit. This entire arrangement supplies both human and

1 Corinthians 5:5 — well." F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1954), p. 114. See my Commentary on Acts, under Acts 5:5. The opinion that this offender repented and came back into the congregation is founded upon 2 Corinthians 7:12; but there is little certainty that this application is correct. If that is what happened, then what became of "the destruction of the flesh" enunciated in this judgment? The frequent opinion that "The sinful man (was) delivered to

2 Corinthians 3:7-8 — Testament covenant would, in time, be discontinued, or taken out of the way. The complaint of Foy E. Wallace, Jr., regarding the RSV's rendition of this paragraph is fully justified. He said: They have omitted "done away" (2 Corinthians 3:7), "abolished" (2 Corinthians 3:13), and "is done away in Christ" (2 Corinthians 3:14) … This chapter clearly affirms the abolition of the MINISTRATION OF DEATH (the Old Covenant). They have clobbered the entire chapter of

Galatians 1:23 — supplement the personnel of the original Twelve by the addition of Paul, the reason must be sought in the fact that in one essential particular the Twelve did not fully comprehend the absolute freedom (a term Paul himself used to describe the break in Romans 7:1 ff) of Christianity from the totality of Judaism. That God Almighty could not allow, no matter what miracles were involved in order to prevent it. Paul was surely one of those miracles. Paul never went beyond Jesus' revelation to the Twelve, except

Philippians 3:5-6 — one of the noble Pharisees, the same being one who sincerely and honestly tried to measure up to all of the strict and scrupulous teachings of this demanding group. For discussion of other types of Pharisees, see my Commentary on Matthew, Matthew 3:7. The Sadducees were materialists, politically minded unbelievers, who denied many teachings of the Scriptures. The Pharisees were far better than they, but the Sadducees held most of the high offices. As touching zeal, persecuting the church …

1 Thessalonians 3:13 — Thessalonians so soon afterward for the specific purpose of correcting their false notions. With all his saints … It is difficult to know exactly what this means. The following summary of the difficulty is from Kelcy. Raymond C. Kelcy, op. cit., p. 79. The word for "holy ones" is that commonly used for all Christians in the New Testament. On the other hand, the angels of heaven are frequently associated with Christ in the Second Advent. See Matt. 14:41,49; 25:31; Mark 8:38, etc. Of course,

Titus 3:3 — connection is: you need not suppose that it is hopeless to imagine that these wild Cretan folk can be reclaimed. We ourselves are a living proof of God's grace. Ephesians 2:3 ff is an exact parallel. See also 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:8; Colossians 3:7 and 1 Peter 4:3. Newport J. D. White, Expositor's Greek New Testament, Vol. IV (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967), p. 197. Foolish… All sin against God is foolish. The unprepared virgins, the rich man who planned

James 2:19 — faith strong enough to move mountains, if "alone" is worthless; and who said that? Paul! See 1 Corinthians 13:2. Regarding the possible reason why James did not spell out the fact of demons believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, see under James 2:7.

Judges 8:18-21 — the Bible where our disagreement with some of the commentators is any more pronounced than it is in this. Robert Boling, writing in Anchor Bible (Judges) says of this passage: "Thus Gideon rides roughshod over a basic covenant stipulation (Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11, "Thou shalt not kill"), inasmuch as the vengeance being executed here is strictly personal. He has usurped Jehovah's executive prerogative (Romans 12:19, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord")… an enormous act of

Revelation 21:2 — Book House. 1964). p. 652. See more on this under verse 9, below. "The text does not say the church will become the Lamb's bride at that time"; John T. Hinds. A Commentary on the Book of Revelation (Nashville: Gospel Advocate, 1962,. p. 297. she is already the Lord's wife (Ephesians 5:25 ff). See discussion, "Regarding the Marriage Metaphor," under Revelation 19:7. Coming down out of heaven … When humanity's long and pitiful dream of some golden age, some fair Utopia,

Revelation 9:4 — foreheads. Should not hurt the grass … Locusts which do not eat grass and other green vegetation cannot possibly be literal locusts; a figurative meaning is demanded. But only such men as have not the seal of God … Our studies in Revelation 7 revealed this "seal" as the blessed Holy Spirit in the lives of God's people. If the German nation had been following their New Testament, they would have found it impossible to buy the locust of "Aryan supremacy"; and if Jim Jones'

Ruth 2:1-7 — the morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the house." "A mighty man of wealth… Boaz" "The Hebrew words from which this is translated are rendered a `mighty man of valour' Judges 11:1"The Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Vol. 7, p. 269. and may be considered as true both ways. The meaning assigned to the name Boaz is, `in him is strength,'Arthur S. Peake Commentary, p. 271. or `strength or fleetness.'All the Men of the Bible, Lockyer, p. 79. His name was assigned to the left

1 Samuel 10:1-8 — where it was. Saul certainly knew where it was, and that is where the two men met him. That is the significant information given here. As R. P. Smith wrote, "The whole geography of Saul's wanderings is very obscure."The Pulpit Commentary, Vol 4b, p. 175. "They will give you two loaves of bread" This was a providential supply of provisions for Saul and his servant, because they had already exhausted their food supply (1 Samuel 9:7). There were two things indicated by this gift of bread which evidently