Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 13 overview — the incorruptible God into the similitude of an ox and the truth of God into a lie, they had lost their glory and their honor and leveled themselves with the nations who worshipped the work of their own hands."Matthew Henry's Commentary, Vol. 2, pp. 773-774. The first reign mentioned here is that of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, and, "The story of his reign is one of unrelieved gloom. During the whole of it, Israel was under the domination of Syria and was reduced to a state of complete helplessness."The

Psalms 64 overview — in its formative stages. It is also true that there could have been many other occasions in the psalmists reign when similar opposition was manifested. Seemingly, the most natural divisions of the psalm are (1) Psalms 64:1-4; (2) Psalms 64:5-6; and (3) Psalms 64:7-10.

Acts 12:7 — narrative here, but already going on, and for days previously. (2) There was a messenger, in this case an angel of the Lord; but always there is a messenger when people are to be saved. "How shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14). (3) There was light in that prison. The angel delivered the word of God to Peter; but the word of God is always light (Psalms 119:105); and like the "light" delivered to every sinner by faithful preachers of the word of God, it consisted of a

Acts 14:15-17 — writings in his epistles are suggested by the words here. The reference to their "turning from these vain things to the living God" is like 1 Thessalonians 1:9; God's suffering "the nations to walk in their own ways" is like Romans 3:25, etc. The whole passage is so characteristically Pauline that any idea of Luke's putting these words in Paul's mouth is fantasy.

Romans 7:5 — fathers nor we were able to bear (Acts 15:10). The inability of the Mosaic system to give the worshiper any valid victory over sin was due: (1) to the fact that no forgiveness was possible, (2) that there was no impartation of the Holy Spirit, and (3) that there was utterly no justification in the keeping of its precepts. No wonder that Peter referred to it as a yoke of bondage.

1 Corinthians 13:3 — goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Bestow all my goods … "The Greek word here means to feed others by giving them morsels of food," T. Teignmouth Shore, op. cit., p. 338. giving the meaning of giving away all the giver's property a little bit at a time so as to reach the greatest possible number. My body to be burned … Coining as it did before the savage persecutions in which Christians were burned for their

1 Corinthians 14:29-32 — that there were also false prophets engaging in the free-for-all orgiastic demonstrations going on in Corinth. Certainly, in the case of the tongue speakers: (1) they were all speaking at once, (2) perhaps dozens were participating every Sunday, and (3) such a thing as interpreting what was spoken in tongues had been ignored altogether.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 — Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Three things in these verses — (1) the anointing; (2) the sealing; and (3) the giving of the earnest are all references to one action, that of conversion — by which the believer is united with Christ "in Christ." This action, as evident on Pentecost, was a compound act of obedience: believing, repenting, being

2 Corinthians 2:17 — the word changes the very character of the gospel. Ibid. Paul's quadruple affirmation of the integrity of his own ministry is the profound declaration that it was conducted: (1) in sincerity, (2) of God, that is, by his direct authority and order, (3) in the sight of God, that is, openly and in view of all people as well as in the sight of God, and (4) in Christ, which means, as a pure and faithful member of the spiritual body of Christ (the church), and in full compliance with all Christian duties.

2 Corinthians 4:6 — of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Light shall shine out of darkness … This verse carries strong overtones of Paul's conversion after the blinding light he witnessed on the Damascus road. Furthermore, the reference to Genesis 1:3, where it is written, "Let there be light," links the original creation with the new spiritual creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Tasker gives a quotation from Chrysostom as follows: Then indeed he said, Let it be; and it was. But now

Philippians 3:13 — hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before … I count not myself yet to have laid hold … See comment on this same thought expressed at the beginning of Philippians 3:12. Laid hold … This was a favorite expression with Paul. He viewed the priceless gift of eternal life as a prize to be seized eagerly and without delay, something to be taken with determination never to let go of it. It was that same determined

1 Thessalonians 3:2 — concerning your faith; God's minister … Some scholars insist on translating this, "God's co-worker," as some respected manuscripts have this; however, despite the attractiveness of doing so (it would fit in so beautifully with 1 Corinthians 3:9), there is no sufficient reason for the change. As Hendriksen said, "The external evidence in favor of the reading, "God's co-worker,' is not any stronger than that in favor of reading `God's minister.'" Ibid., p. 83. There were several

1 Timothy 1:13 — … In context this is somewhat of an elaboration upon the preceding word, since it was as "a persecutor" that his speaking against God occurred. New Testament light on Paul's role as a savage persecutor of the church is given in Acts 8:3; Acts 9:1 and Acts 22:19. And injurious … "This third word, although the English version obscures the fact, continues the ascending scale of self-condemnation." John Wesley, op. cit., in loco. It indicates a person who takes a savage

1 Timothy 2:12 — But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. To teach … refers to public teaching in the worship. As Nute said: This prohibition in no way contradicts Titus 2:2-3; it relates to teaching in the church in the presence of men and to the fact that authority in matters concerning the church is not committed to women. Alan G. Nute, op. cit., p. 510. It is upon this verse that the office, either of elder, deacon, or

Titus 3:15 — faith," that is, the household of faith… Absence of the article before familiar Christian terms is a characteristic of the pastorals. Newport J. D. White, op. cit., pp. 91, 202. One final word concerning this last little paragraph (Titus 3:12-15) is in order. Dummelow noted that: The mingling of old names with new (Artemas and Zenas being new; Apollos and Tychicus being old) is a strong critical argument for the Pauline authorship. A pupil wishing to imitate Paul would hardly be apt to

Hebrews 12:24 — and does not operate aimlessly, nor is it standing alone and isolated to run down of its own accord; there is a throne, with all that implies; (2) the government of the universe is personal, not a robot, but a "Thou" being the center of it; (3) the universe is undergirded with justice, this being explicit in the character of him on the throne; and (4) mercy is the great feature of universal government as applied to humanity, this being assured by the fact of the Lamb also being on the throne. For

2 Peter 3:3 — then became mockers. From this, the deduction is that the great apostasy is still under consideration. In the last days … There is a difference in this expression from "latter times" (1 Timothy 4:1) "the last days" (2 Timothy 3:1); J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 1052. from which Macknight concluded that, "Perhaps it means the last part of the days of the world's duration." J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the

1 John 3:23 — another, even as he gave us commandment. Believe in the name … and love one another … To believe and love — this is the greatest and most important command that ever issued from the throne of glory."John Wesley, op. cit., p. 913. The inclusion here of faith "in the name" of Christ shows that, "the commandments" mentioned in the preceding verse are "not only, or chiefly moral."Amos N. Wilder, op. cit., p. 270. They include the whole spectrum of

3 John 1:1 — characteristic repetition of the word "truth," which occurs four times in the first four verses … "To walk in the truth" is nothing less than to follow in the footsteps of the Lord. A. Plummer, The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 22, 3 John (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 1. It is this and other typical words which require the conclusion that the apostle John is indeed the author of all these letters ascribed to him.

Revelation 5:2 — justice — in a word, worthiness. The great problem to be solved in human redemption was simply this: how could God injustice do it? Paul stated it thus: "That he might be just and the justifier of him that is of the faith of Jesus" (Romans 3:26). Inherent in this interpretation is the fact that the vision at this point is retrospective in time, looking to the period when the salvation of Adam's race appeared to be absolutely impossible. As Caird said, "Some of the contents (of the