Bible Commentaries

Job 20 overview — wicked were those in poverty or suffering. (4) Many of his most dogmatic assertions were blatant falsehoods, as for example, (a) that the wicked die early (Job 20:11), and (b) that ill-gotten gains shall be removed from the wicked in this life (Job 20:15). Zophar's speech was fully in keeping with the evil design of Satan. Rawlinson's excellent summary of Zophar's diatribe is as follows: "This second speech is even worse than his first (Job 11). Coarseness and rudeness are added to his former hostility

Psalms 37 overview — is based upon this chapter. There is no sufficient grounds for setting aside the assignment of the psalm to David in the superscription; and, if indeed, he wrote it, it seems likely that it is one of the psalms from his old age, based upon Psalms 37:25. "The theme of the Psalm is stated in the very first line, `Fret not thyself because of the wicked.' This is repeated in Psalms 37:7 b and Psalms 37:8."The Layman's Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, p. 69. The design or the purpose of the psalm was described

Leviticus 21 overview — writings. The key words of this whole section in Leviticus, "Ye shall be holy, for I am holy" were applied to Christians" (1 Peter 1:16). "Ye are a holy priesthood… to offer up spiritual sacrifices… Ye are a royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9). (See the full comment on this analogy in Volume 10 of this commentary series, en loco.) In the first half of the 20th century, critics delighted to talk about what they called "the composite nature" of this chapter, relating it to their

Numbers 20 overview — Between the first verse of this chapter and the last verse of Numbers 14, there was an interval of about thirty-eight years, only five short chapters (Numbers 15-19) having been allotted by Moses to record everything of any great importance that happened to Israel during the whole thirty-eight years. Even the things recorded do not appear to have been given in any pattern, and not even chronologically. "People

Romans 14:10 — William M. Greathouse, Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, Missouri: Beacon Hill Press, 1968), p. 280. The judgment seat of God … What an antidote for conceit that is! This is the same as "the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:10); and, again from Greathouse: Notice how easily Paul passes from "Lord" to "God." The Father and the Son were so united in his mind that they were often interchanged. God, or Christ, or God through Christ will judge the world.

2 Corinthians 5:3 — grace and of the free gift of God, there is a certain "clothing of oneself" that is required of all who would not be naked in eternity. However people may deny this, it is true, as Paul will state dogmatically a little later in 2 Corinthians 5:10. Wesley's comment on "We shall not be found naked" is most perceptive, saying that it referred to one whose appearance in the presence of the King was without "the wedding garment." John Wesley, op. cit., in loco. The application

Galatians 1:4 — observing forms and ceremonies of the Law of Moses. In the last clause of this verse, Paul noted that Christ's giving himself was according to the will of God. For seven centers of initiative in the crucifixion of Christ see my Commentary on Romans 3:25-26. The word "ransom" is used of this sacrifice of Christ in Matt. 28:28, Mark 10:45, and in 1 Timothy 2:6. As Sanday observed, "It was a sacrifice for sinners, wrought in their behalf for their benefit, a sacrifice wrought in their stead.

Galatians 1:5 — which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever (Revelation 5:13). EVERYWHERE Where myriad waterfowl with thunderous wings Ascend to climb dawn's flaming stair, The oratorio of all created things Is heard upon the morning air. Where velvet footsteps march beneath the shade Of mammoth trees and move along The resinous

Ephesians 5:30-31 — Because we are members of his body. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall be one flesh. Here (Ephesians 5:31) Paul quoted verbatim the passage from Genesis 2:24, making it the Scriptural basis of the grand analogy between Adam I and Adam II, between Eve and the bride of Christ. Because we are members of his body … Paul here says of the bride of Christ,

Philippians 2:1 — "The meaning must be 'fellowship with participation in the Spirit' rather than 'fellowship wrought by the Spirit'. R. P. Martin, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Philippians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1959), p. 91. Thus the admonition is that the Philippians should be "in the Spirit," not that the Spirit should be "in them"! See under Philippians 2:5. Hendriksen pointed out that Paul's stirring appeal here has a "fourfold incentive

Colossians 1:5 — and love, just as love is designated in 1 Corinthians 13:13. Of course, such a cavalier treatment of "faith" is deplored by the scholars. As Hendriksen put it: Some have experienced difficulty with the fact that Paul here in Colossians 1:4-5 in which he follows sequence B, seems to be saying that the faith of the Colossians and their love are based on hope. Note the words "by reason of the hope." William Hendriksen, op. cit., p. 49. It is clear enough that Paul did not here merely

1 Thessalonians 5:23 — And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. "Peace" in this verse and "grace" a little later in 1 Thessalonians 5:28 are another variant, along with the instance in Ephesians, of Paul's varying the formula of "grace and peace." Here it is "peace and grace." Sanctify you wholly … Despite the "setting apart" unto God that takes

1 Timothy 5:18 — For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his hire. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox … This is a quotation from Deuteronomy 25:4, one of Paul's favorite passages, which he also quoted in his advocacy of support for gospel preachers in 1 Corinthians 9:9. From both this and the second quotation he was about to give, it is certain that 1 Timothy 5:17 has reference to financial

Hebrews 13:20-21 — be the glory for 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

Hebrews 5:10 — that all were expected to make is quite obvious, namely, that Christ's high priesthood was no less of God than was that of Aaron, and over and beyond that, was in many remarkable particulars superior to it. THE THIRD EXHORTATION The balance of Hebrews 5 and all of Hebrews 6 are given to an extensive exhortation for the purpose of arousing the disciples from their lethargy and setting their feet firmly on the road to spiritual maturity. They had simply not developed as should have been expected; and,

2 Peter 1:13-14 — said this would occur "when thou art old," Peter considered his own death to be something he could expect at any time swiftly." Tabernacle … This word actually means "tent," the same metaphor Paul used in 2 Corinthians 5:1-4; and one can almost see the trend of the apostle's thought in this and the following verses. Here he used the word "tabernacle," an expression he himself had used unfortunately on the mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17:4); and, a moment

Jude 1:1 — that are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: For the significance of this verse in understanding the authorship and date of the epistle, see in the introduction. James … One of the brothers of Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:55), and therefore, at first, not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ whom he here acknowledges as his Lord (John 7:2-5). Servant … The word for "servant" here is (Greek: [@doulos]),<note> Delbert R. Rose, Beacon Bible Commentary,

Revelation 1:17-18 — because it is as the Living one that Christ holds the keys of death and of the grave. Christ, like the Father, possesses life in his essential nature. "As the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son to have life in himself' (John 5:26).

Revelation 20:6 — Therefore, the priesthood and the reigning of these saints is exactly the same as that of the Christians of all ages, showing that no special period of any kind whatever is meant by this "thousand years" in this passage. See my comment on 1 Peter 2:5, and also in my Commentary on James, pp. 191-199. "All the evidence we have is against the theory of the first resurrection being understood otherwise than as a spiritual resurrection that takes place when any sinner is converted to Christ."

2 Samuel 10 overview — this is very uncertain. There are four paragraphs in this chapter: (1)    David tried to comfort Hanun the king of Ammon following the death of his father; but his messengers of good will were rejected and insulted (2 Samuel 10:1-5). (2)    David accepted Hanun's challenge for war (2 Samuel 10:6-8). (3)    The Ammonites and their mercenaries were defeated by Joab (2 Samuel 10:9-14). (4)    Hadadezer rallies all Mesopotamia