Bible Commentaries

Acts 20:22-23 — save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. The Holy Spirit testifieth unto me … How did the Holy Spirit testify unto Paul? We might not have known unless Luke, a little later (Acts 21:10-11), had revealed the manner of it. It was not by means of dreams, premonitions, or any subjective impressions borne inward upon Paul's consciousness; but it was by words clearly spoken by a prophet of the Lord. When people today speak of the Holy

Acts 22:9 — "understood and obeyed." Ibid. The New Testament usage of the word "hear" and its derivatives is apparent from this: "He that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man heareth" (1 Corinthians 14:2), meaning, of course, simply that "no man understands what is being said." We have exactly the same meaning here, as proved by "hearing the voice, but beholding no man" (Acts 9:7). McGarvey said, "It is common among all classes

Romans 8:6 — primarily that physical death is caused by such mind (though, of course, it can cause that also), but that a state of death derives from and automatically accompanies such a mind, a condition called death "in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). In a simplistic view, man's entire trouble lies in his inmost mind. Who is in charge there? If the inner throne is occupied by Satan, sin and death reign. If Christ is on the throne, life and peace reign.

1 Corinthians 1:5 — were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge. Grosheide explained the last phrase of this verse as meaning that "Their richness in Christ consists especially in the ability to speak well about the revelation of God." Ibid., p. 28. In everything … has the meaning of "in everything that really matters." The Corinthians were of the same status as all of them "that know the truth" (2 John 1:1). Although every Christian is required to study and learn continually,

1 Corinthians 14:4 — the New Testament makes it clear that all believers who repent and are baptized into Christ enjoy the promise of the sacred Scriptures that they will in consequence of their obedience and subsequently to their obedience receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38 ff); and that word is all the confirmation that any true believer really needs. He that prophesieth edifieth the church … The word from which the Pauline expression "edifieth" is translated is related to the building up of an edifice;

2 Corinthians 10:13 — within the limits which God authorized in order to authenticate the message he is addressing to the Corinthians, "to reach even unto you." The noble words of McGarvey on this place are: Though the whole world was Paul's bishopric (Galatians 2:7-9), yet he contents himself with saying that it included Corinth. In the eyes of his opponents, Corinth was the sum and center of all things, but in the larger life of Paul, it was a mere dot in a limitless field of operations J. W. McGarvey, Second

2 Corinthians 12:11 — have compelled me to boast of myself, whereas in truth you should have been recommending me yourselves, especially since I certainly rank as high as those super-super apostles of yours!" Chiefest apostles … For exegesis on this, see under 2 Corinthians 11:5. Hughes has a wonderful paragraph on this passage in which the unity of the epistle is demonstrated to be proved and strengthened by what is said here. For those interested in pursuing this further, see op. cit., p. 455. The allegations

Galatians 3:3 — 1965), Vol. IX, p. 55. as one declared, despite the fact that faith is not mentioned in this verse, and despite the further fact that nobody ever received the Spirit except in consequence of his believing, repenting and being baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38), or as Paul said a little later in this epistle, "Because ye are sons God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts" (4:6). The full meaning is: "Are you so foolish, after receiving the Spirit in consequence of your faithful

Ephesians 6:21-22 — very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts. This message is nearly identical with Colossians 4:7 f, indicating that Tychicus was 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

Joshua 7 overview — church in the Book of Acts. (1)    The glorious success of Pentecost was soon followed by the shameful episode of Ananias and his wife Sapphira. 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

1 Timothy 4:14 — did that under the tutelage of one of the most capable prophets this word ever had, namely, Paul himself. Ibid., p. 645. The gift may also be identified with Timothy's ability, as Paul's assistant, to found and establish churches in the truth. From 2 Timothy 1:6, it is clear that Paul himself was present and participated in the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, the same being the occasion when Timothy was set aside unto the attainment of this gift, an attainment which was prophesied at the

2 Timothy 3:14 — that those who nurtured Timothy are not viewed as independent authorities apart from the word, but as secondary and intermediate sources of knowledge, and even this only because they had accepted Scripture! William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary, 2 Timothy (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1957), p. 296. It is true of all men who have the good fortune to come from godly homes, that the teaching and example of Christian parents is a priceless advantage; but such parents always teach their

Philemon 1:1 — precarious to pursue the meaning of these words as if they were technical designations of various qualities and degrees of service. There is absolutely no evidence that Paul used such words as "fellow-worker," "fellow-soldier" (Philemon 1:2), and "partner" (Philemon 1:17), etc., otherwise than as synonyms.

Hebrews 12:26 — basis of the entire elaboration upon the subject of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:11 ff; Psalms 110:4), the very same thing is done in this place, where he refers to the earthquake at Sinai, and then to Haggai's prophecy of another such disturbance (Haggai 2:6), making the latter a prophecy of the end of the world. Such faith and perception on the part of the author of this epistle is a moving demonstration of the trust that may be reposed in every word that God has spoken. There are no unimportant scriptures. That

1 Peter 4:11 — 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 of "speaking" and "doing";

1 John 2:17 — realities of hope and faith in Christ for their true fulfillment. As Paul put it: We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). Paul's words are an excellent supplement to what John wrote in this verse.

1 John 5:10 — that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18 KJV). Profound deductions flow out of a passage like this: (1) The testimony of God regarding his Son is sufficient. (2) Rejection of it is equivalent to giving God himself the lie. (3) The wrath of God is revealed against unbelief.

2 John 1:12 — 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 a reference to the "meeting place of the church."J. W. Roberts, op. cit., p. 165. In New Testament times, congregations

Revelation 14:16 — earth was reaped … There was no laborious effort on the part of Christ; he merely threw the whole judgment into gear, and it was executed. The widespread association of the angels with Christ in the final judgment (Matthew 13:41; Matthew 13:49; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, etc.) naturally suggests that innumerable angels will be operative under Christ's authority in the execution of the final judgment. The presence of a number of angels in the judgment scene here is in full harmony with this. They gather

Revelation 22:10 — saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand. Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book … "The contents of John's prophecy have a twofold perspective. George Eldon Ladd, op. cit., p. 291. "Some of the events foretold are to occur many centuries in the future"; G. B. Caird, op. cit., p. 284. but parts of Revelation deal with events that confront John's generation. The savage sea-beast is about to turn upon the helpless Christians.