Bible Commentaries

Genesis 19 overview — lawless deeds): the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the righteous under punishment unto the day of judgment; but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion" (2 Peter 2:6-10). "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire (Judges 1:7). One

Genesis 33:18-20 — served as a burial plot; and Joseph's bones were interred there (Joshua 24:32), when the children of Israel entered Canaan. "Thus the grave of Joseph, like that of Abraham at Machpelah, belonged to Israel by purchase."Arthur S. Peake, op. cit., p. 160. It is notable that Jacob built an altar here, thus following in the steps of Abraham who built an altar wherever he went. The name of it is also significant, for this is the first time that the name "Israel" was used after God gave it. How long Jacob

Exodus 19:21-25 — priests? Certainly not the Levitical order, for they had not come into existence at this time. Furthermore, if this marvelous passage had been "an editorial creation,"B. Davie Napier, The Layman's Bible Commentary (Richmond, Va.: John Knox Press, 1963), p. 65. fabricated by 9th century B.C. priests, we could rest assured that "the priests" would have had a lot more to do with this than what is indicated here! Well, who were they? The priests mentioned here were, "either the first-born or heads of

Psalms 24 overview — the original author, "Has just as good a right to be credited with the present unity of the psalm as the supposed `editor' has!"Alexander Maclaren, p. 233. The structure of this psalm is evident in the outline provided by Leupold:H. C. Leupold, p. 216. I.    The Lord's rulership of the world (Psalms 24:1-2) A.    Proved by his creation of it B.    And his establishing of it II.    Requirements for standing before God

Psalms 50 overview — PROPHETIC GLIMPSE OF THE ETERNAL JUDGMENT The superscription entitles this psalm as "A Psalm of Asaph." This is the very first of the twelve Asaph Psalms, the other eleven being Psalms 72-82 at the beginning of Book Three of the Psalter. "In 1 Chronicles 16:5, Asaph is described as the chief of sacred music, in the tent where the Ark was placed, who played the cymbals. He is often mentioned along with Heman and Ethan, but never first. Not only was Asaph a musician, but he was also a Psalm writer…

Psalms 90 overview — BOOK IV INTRODUCTION FOR BOOK IV There are seventeen psalms in this book, classified by Dummelow as: Penitential Psalms: Psalms 90; Psalms 91; Psalms 94; and Psalms 101. Psalms of Thanksgiving: Psalms 92; Psalms 93; Psalms 95-100; and Psalms 103-106, National Psalms: Psalms 94; Psalms 97; Psalms 99; Psalms 102; Psalms 105; and Psalms 106. Historical Psalms: Psalms 105 and Psalms 106. A Gnomic Psalm: Psalms 101.J. R. Dummelow's Commentary, p. 365. Dummelow's last classification, Gnomic, means, "expressing

Leviticus 17:10-13 — significance of blood as being the device by which God procured atonement for sinners, not only under the O.T., but under the N.T. as well, that lay back of the prohibition. It should be remembered that this prohibition PRECEDED the Law of Moses (Genesis 9:4-6), and also that it was not relaxed even under the liberty and freedom of the New Covenant (Acts 15:20). The fact that a great many Christian people are not aware of this, coupled with the light esteem that some have for Divine regulations, makes it

Jeremiah 19 overview — symbol here is a potter's vessel; but one that has already been fired and hardened, a perfect symbol of the judicial hardening of Racial Israel, which, as Isaiah stated, had already taken place a full century before Jeremiah came upon the scene (Isaiah 6). It was a new vessel, one just purchased, which means that it was empty. This symbolized the fact of the emptiness of the racial Israel and their complete failure to produce the righteous works which God desired. The shattering of the vessel symbolized

Jeremiah 38 overview — but, in the second, they forced the king to grant permission. (5)    The purposes of the imprisonments were not the same. In the first, they merely wanted to silence Jeremiah; but in the second they intended to destroy his life. (6)    The duration of the imprisonments were not the same. The first lasted "many days"; and the second lasted probably less than a single day. (7)    The first was terminated when the king sent for Jeremiah; and

Lamentations 3 overview — greatly,… Everyman… who may feel that God is against him,"The Anchor Bible Commentary (Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1972), 7a, p. 122. "One who is playing the role of Jeremiah in the poem,"The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 6, p. 23. "O man, (he is) the very image of thyself,"C. F. Keil, Keil-Delitzsch's Old Testament Commentaries (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), Old Testament, Vol. 8, p.403. "An individual whose fate is bound up with that of the nation

Joshua 21 overview — seventh-century B.C. date to this list on the basis of, "The distinction between the priests and the Levites in the division of these cities (which is post-exilic)."William H. Morton, Beacon Bible Commentary, Joshua (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1970), p. 365. We reject this because it was Moses himself who made that distinction, a distinction that is just as historical as anything else in the Bible, occurring in the fifteenth century B.C., not in the seventh century! It will be remembered from the Book

Colossians 3 overview — but the doctrine which produces ethics, as Peake said: "The ethical exhortation has its basis in the dogmatic exposition already given." A. S. Peake, Expositor's Greek Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967), p. 536. All Christian morality, ethics and philosophy are grounded in the historical fact of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. (2)    In putting the doctrine first, Paul followed the usual pattern visible

James 2:21 — God in declaring him righteous is referred to. J. W. Roberts, op. cit., p. 93. But did not Paul say that "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3), the same being a verbatim quotation from Genesis 15:67 Let it be noted, however, that neither the Genesis record nor Paul's use of it carries any hint whatever to the effect that Abraham's faith only was the basis of God's reckoning unto him righteousness. It is deplorable that the KJV rendition of this

1 Peter 2:25 — his mouth.1 Peter 2:24 a, Who his own self bare our sins, etc.Isaiah 53:12, He bare the sins of many.1 Peter 2:24 b, By whose stripes we are healed.Isaiah 53:5, By his stripes were we healed.1 Peter 2:25, For ye were as sheep going astray.Isaiah 53:6. All we like sheep have gone astray. Note 1. In 1 Peter 2:24, Peter mentioned the fact of Christians "having died unto sins"; and there are a number of things which are included in the meaning: (1) There is preeminently the fact that Christ

2 Peter 1:5-7 — things." Alfred Plummer, op. cit., p. 445. Self-control … This comes from [@engkrateia], "meaning the ability to take a grip of one's self." William Barclay, The Letters of James and Peter (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1976), p. 302. This is one of the great Christian virtues which might be called perfect temperance. Patience … In the New Testament, this word carries the thought of endurance and stedfast continuity in faithful service. Jesus said, "In your

1 John 3:10 — contribute to their redemption; but the apostolic restriction is sternly laid on this in the words, "As we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). In this last clause, there is clearly a difference between the love of brethren and the love of the whole world. From these considerations, we believe that Blaney is correct in the view that, "Brother here means a brother Christian, as a representative

Revelation 11:10 — lives in a society festering in gross sensuality, violence, irreligion, atheism, corruption, drunkenness, and debauchery? Morris answered that question thus: "Surely it is because we are not true to the word of God." Leon Morris, op. cit., p. 64. The preaching of God's word with reference to the sins of mankind can never be anything but torment to them that hear it; and there is an urgent need for the tormentors to fulfill their mission in the world today. How have the witnesses failed? In

Revelation 14:6 — Jews probably got their ideas from Revelation; and, as for Clement, the best of modern scholarship now accepts the premise that he finished his work before 70 A.D. John A. T. Robinson, Redating the New Testament (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1976), p. 352. The eternal good tidings to proclaim … Another good translation of this renders it "the everlasting gospel" instead of "eternal good tidings," that is, the one and only "gospel" this world ever had. This

Revelation 20:15 — dogmatically stated. Therefore, out of regard to all men, we shall declare how one may so be written. In Matthew 10:32, Jesus promised that all who confess him will themselves be confessed by Jesus in heaven "before God and the angels." In Matthew 16:16, is the record of the first man ever to confess Christ; and significantly, Jesus then and there upon that occasion, confessed that man, Peter, using exactly the same formula Peter had used in his confession of Christ. From this we have concluded

Revelation 4:4 — commentators. Who are these elders? They have been variously identified as symbolical of: (1) the "raptured" church which allegedly had already happened; Ibid. (2) the twenty-four star gods of the Babylonian pantheon; G. B. Caird, op. cit., p. 63. (3) in the Targum the elders are interpreted as leaders of the Jewish people; (4) the twenty-four priestly orders enumerated in 1 Chronicles 24:4 ff; G. R. Beasley-Murray, op. cit., p. 114. (5) a special order of angels, an interpretation rejected