Bible Commentaries

Genesis 10:5 — "The isles of the nations" This does not mean merely islands but "maritime countries." Isaiah called Canaan an `isle' (Isaiah 20:6)."Thomas Whitelaw, Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1961), p. 24. Jamieson stated that the Hebrews referred to all countries having a seacoast as "isles."Robert Jamieson, Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 157.

2 Kings 14:1-7 — argument for the EXISTENCE of the Law of Moses long prior to the "Deuteronomist nonsense" so brazenly advocated by unbelieving critics. Of course, such critics go out of their way to deny what is written here. Honeycutt, for example, denied that 2 Kings 14:6 here reflects a statement in God's Word, declaring that, "It reflects the Deuteronomist conception of individualism."Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 3, p. 261. On the contrary, as Stigers truthfully stated it, "2 Kings 14:6 is a citation from the Law

Proverbs 11:9 — "With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered." This knowledge by which the righteous man is delivered from the enmity of an evil neighbor was called by Keil, "That knowledge which makes them acquainted with men."CFK, Vol. 6, p. 235. One must always suspect and reject the proposals and suggestions of men who are recognized as wicked.

Proverbs 12:23 — "A prudent man concealeth knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness." Keil's rendition is: "A prudent man conceals knowledge, and a heart-fool proclaims imbecility."C. F. Keil, Keil-Delitzsch's Old Testament Commentaries (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), Vol. 6, p. 264. Moffatt has; "No cautious man blurts out all that he knows, but a fool comes out with his folly."Moffatt's translation.

Proverbs 17:13 — "Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house." "If a man repays evil for good, evil will never quit his house."Ibid. This warning frequently expressed in Proverbs simply means, "You reap what you sow,"Broadman Bible Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1971), Vol. 5, p. 57. a principle strongly reiterated in the New Testament (Galatians 6:7-8).

Proverbs 21:13 — "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, and shall not be heard." Life indeed has a way of repaying a man after the quality of his deeds. It is another way of saying, "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7). Apparent exceptions may be cited; but the sacred rule stands eternally unchallenged.

Proverbs 25:15 — "By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone." "A prince may be persuaded by patience, and a soft tongue may break down solid bone."The New English Bible. Jesus may have had this in mind when he spoke of the 'unjust judge' (Luke 18:6). The American Standard Version marginal reading allows `judge' here instead of ruler.

Leviticus 6:8-13 — concern of this paragraph is that the fire on the altar of burnt-offerings should never go out."Gordon J. Wenham, The Book of Leviticus (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979), p. 119. This instruction is repeated three times (Leviticus 6:9; Leviticus 6:12-13). "Marvels were related concerning this. It came forth from God's presence (Leviticus 9:24), and it burned continuously for 116 years; and yet the thin copper sheathing of the altar never melted."Bernard J. Bamberger, Torah, a Modern

Hosea 6 overview — The first three verses of this chapter record what, at first glance appears to be a bona fide appeal on the part of the people to God for their deliverance; but the sentiment of Hosea 6:4 ff makes it impossible thus to understand it. As a sincere return to God, the appeal falls short in that there is no evidence or promise of repentance, no rejection of their false worship; and, as Hindley expressed it: "There is no understanding or

Micah 5 overview — This chapter concludes the middle division of the prophecy (Micah 4-6), having as its principal feature the glorious prophecy of the birth of the Christ in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and the triumph of the kingdom of heaven over all enemies, concluding with another reference to the vengeance and wrath of God executed upon "the nations that hearkened not."

Matthew 12:31 — the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. There is an unpardonable transgression, and here is an example of it, "blasphemy against the Spirit." Boles' comments that the passage speaks not of "a sin against,"Ibid., p. 269. but of "blasphemy against" the Spirit does not exclude a class of sins which are unforgivable and known collectively as "the sin" against the Holy Spirit. From the gospel of Mark comes, "Whosoever shall blaspheme against the

Matthew 20:28 — them from the power of the evil one; but meanwhile the debt for sin remained undischarged, and Satan was doubling and redoubling his efforts to thwart God's holy purpose. A ransom for many! "Who gave himself a RANSOM for all" (1 Timothy 2:6). "God sent … his Son to be the PROPITIATION for our sins" (1 John 2:1-2). "Ye were REDEEMED with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, even the blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:19). "For ye were BOUGHT

Mark 14:4 — But there were some that had indignation among themselves, saying, To what purpose hath this waste of the ointment been made. A number of the apostles were indignant, but it was Judas who became the spokesman of their disagreement and uttered the question here (John 12:4-6). To a certain type of mind, any money lavished upon spiritual and religious projects is nothing but "waste."

Luke 1:10 — And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense. This would have been about 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon. It was customary for the people to assemble in the great courts of the temple and wait for the benediction to be pronounced upon them by the priest who burned the incense morning and evening (Exodus 30:6-8).

Luke 3 overview — In this chapter lies the record of the emergence of John the Baptist (Luke 3:1-6), the message he delivered (Luke 3:7-14), his announcement of the Christ (Luke 3:15-17), the conclusion of John's ministry and the baptism of Jesus (Luke 3:18-21), and the genealogy of Jesus as traced through Mary (Luke 3:23-38).

Acts 13:19 — greater and mightier" than Israel (Deuteronomy 7:1). Four hundred and fifty years … It is not exactly clear what space of Israel's history is covered by this period mentioned by Paul. It is evidently not the same as that mentioned in 1 Kings 6 which gives 480 years as the time between the Exodus and the beginning of construction of Solomon's temple. Significantly, Josephus identifies a similar period of 443 years elapsing between the Exodus and the beginning of the temple, which is apparently

Romans 2:6 — which he doubtless foresaw, and which misapplications have become in these present times the basic platform of a so-called "gospel" utterly unknown to Paul, at variance with practically the entire New Testament, and contradictory of Romans 2:6, above. We do not refer to the gospel of salvation by faith, or faith in Christ, or by grace, or by the grace of God, salvation in those terms being Pauline indeed; but reference is made to salvation by "faith alone," "faith only,"

1 Thessalonians 3:7 — for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith: For this cause … The cause was the state of the Thessalonians in the three particulars just cited in 1 Thessalonians 3:6. Through your faith … This is likewise objective, meaning faith as demonstrated and proved by their actions, in another word, "fidelity."

1 Peter 3 overview — The apostle in this chapter continued giving instructions to classes or groups of people: (1) to wives (1 Peter 3:1-6); (2) to husbands; (3) to the community of Christians as a whole; and then, perhaps with the looming terror of the Neronian persecution in mind, he spoke of the blessedness of suffering for righteousness sake (1 Peter 3:13-22).

Revelation 14 overview — difficulty in the interpretation of this chapter. First (Revelation 14:1-5), there is a consolatory vision of the redeemed rejoicing in heaven (anticipatory, of course), followed by a solemn angelic announcement of the final judgment (Revelation 14:6-7), "The hour of his judgment is come!" However, even preceding that announcement (Revelation 14:7), there was foretold the fulfillment of that great event which must come before the final judgment; namely, the preaching of the truth to all