Bible Commentaries

Genesis 25:27 — Abraham was "as good as dead" at the time God enabled him to beget Isaac, which flatly denies his ability to marry after Sarah's death and beget six sons. But the scholars insist that "he was rejuvenated." Where does the Bible say that? See Romans 4:19. (7)    They also say that Abraham's strong preference for monogamy was only overcome "reluctantly" in the matter of his taking Hagar, but again we find no such reluctance mentioned. Furthermore, that Abraham already had begotten many

Genesis 3:1 — of what is revealed in the N.T. We reject out of hand the dictum laid down by Biblical interpreters that the text can have but a single meaning, namely, the one "intended by the author.John Bright, Authority of the O.T. (New York: Abingdon Press, 1967), p. 92. Indeed, this is true enough if the "author" is understood to be Almighty God. But the supposition that the mind of the instrument through whom God spoke can be explored for the meaning of Biblical passages is false. We have cited in this series

Genesis 5:6 — These verses relate, after the same pattern, the nine other names in this list. Instead of copying the text, we have arranged a table as follows: Name of Patriarch Age at Birth ofYears lived after Total ageAdam130Seth800930Seth105Enosh807912Enosh90Kenan815905Kenan70Mahalalel840910Mahalalel65Jared830895Jared162Enoch800962Enoch65Methuselah300365Methuselah187Lamech782969Lamech182Noah595777Noah500Ham, Shem, Japeth There are several points of unusual interest regarding what is added concerning

Exodus 12:7-11 — the door, they were making the sign of the cross. And when the Lord saw the sign of the cross in blood, he would pass over them and spare the first-born of their houses."Michael Esses, Jesus in Exodus (Plainfield, New Jersey: Logos International, 1977), p. 61. It is a gross error, of course, to find any such thing in this blood sprinkling that suggests or approves of that which is commonly understood as "making the sign of the cross." Nevertheless, the Lord Jesus Christ is in every line of this

Exodus 27:1-8 — Publishing Company, 1950), p. 269. This was the "place where" the Lord recorded his name, and here was where he promised to meet and to bless the people (Exodus 20:24). "Five cubits… three cubits" The dimensions of the ark in feet would have been 7 1/2 feet square by 4 1/2 feet in height. "The horns of it" These were very unusual for an altar. In fact, "They seem to have been peculiar to the Israelites."Ibid. This should be no surprise to us, because God who designed this altar did not need to

Psalms 72 overview — Individual through whom such blessings would come, became more and more obvious as times unfolded. He would be "Shiloh" of the tribe of Judah. He would be the Star that should rise out of Jacob. He would be that Prophet like unto Moses. Then in 2 Samuel 7, God revealed that the Holy One would descend from the posterity of David, that his throne would be established forever and ever; and despite the fact, that David probably envisioned all of this happening to Solomon, such was not God's intention at

Zechariah 9 overview — with Hailey that, "It seems wise to build one's interpretation of these chapters around the passages that are quoted by Jesus and the New Testament writers."Homer Hailey, Commentary on the Minor Prophets (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1972), p. 366. In passing, we should be conscious of the fact that scholars generally place these chapters (Zechariah 9-14) at a later period in the prophet's life; and the destructive critics have employed every device possible in their efforts to deny

Deuteronomy 13:12-18 — Jehovah thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to. do that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah thy God." Alexander states that the words here rendered "hear tell" sometimes have the meaning of "overhearing," as in Genesis 27:5;W. L. Alexander, op. cit., p. 229. but nothing like that is meant here. It is merely a reference to the common gossip about a town that reaches to another town. In the event of such an evil report coming in about some sister city, the report was to

Deuteronomy 23:1-8 — them shall enter into the assembly of Jehovah." Concerning the laws in this chapter, Watts declared, that, "They have been reworked in the preachy style of the editor."John D. W. Watts, Beacon Bible Commentary, Deuteronomy (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1970), p. 263. This of course is incorrect. There is no "editor" of Deuteronomy. It is amusing to this student that critical scholars pretend to know everything, except the names of any of those editors and redactors they are always talking about! The

Mark 13 overview — their compound question with (a) a special charge to the apostles (Mark 13:5-13); (b) a specific sign of the destruction of the temple (Mark 13:14-23); and (c) a prophecy of the Second Advent scheduled "after that tribulation" (Mark 13:14-27); (d) a lesson from the fig tree (Mark 13:28-29); (e) the promise that "this generation shall not pass away until all these things shall be accomplished" (Mark 13:30-32); and (f) a strong exhortation to watchfulness (Mark 13:33-37). An astounding

Romans 11:1 — ancient kingdom of Israel, in the sense of their state, through any of their kings, is repugnant. The very existence of their line of kings was contrary to God's will, existing with his permission, but not with his approval, as a glance at 1 Samuel 8:7 proves. It was precisely in the events there recorded that Israel "rejected God" from reigning over them; and the great historical rejection of God by the fleshly Israel, in their irrevocable repudiation of God as their king and the elevation

Romans 16:25-27 — Supporting this are the words of the apostle John: In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets (Revelation 10:7). These thoughts are not presented as any disparagement of God's great revelation already received, but are merely to point out that the mystery witl be finished at a time future. By the scriptures of the prophets … shows that the mystery was

Romans 8:2 — law" (James 2:8), and "the law of liberty" (James 2:12). Thus, the very gospel itself is "a law" that mortals are required to observe and obey upon pain of eternal condemnation if they neglect, refuse, or fail to do so (1 Peter 4:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Any and all of the commandments of Jesus Christ are components of that "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," which Paul mentioned here. That the commandments of Jesus Christ are actually endowed with binding

Romans 8:28 — children of God. As Brunner warned, No universal optimism is meant — (such as) everything will turn out all right for everybody in any case. There stands here the significant limitation, "to them that love God." Emil Brunner, op. cit., p. 77. Work together for good … speaks of a situation in which God is surely at work on the Christian's behalf, but it also speaks' of a situation in which the saved person's reaction to life's woes is a controlled response. Some ships sail east,

Romans 8:3 — else in the word of God? True, Paul used such expressions as "made of the seed of David according to the flesh" (Romans 1:3), "manifested in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16), and "made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:7); but the use of such an expression here must have fulfilled some special purpose. Murray's exegesis provides a plausible explanation, thus: He is using the term "likeness" not for the purpose of suggesting any unreality in respect of our

Galatians 1:13-14 — into "all truth" (John 16:13). I persecuted the church… This went even further than many Pharisees were willing to go. "The ravening wolf of Benjamin" Everett F. Harrison, Wycliffe Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 695. was "laying waste the church." Paul here declared "ye have heard" of this, indicating the notorious nature of his conduct, and also, perhaps, that "He brought his own career and experience into his preaching (as in

Galatians 2:15-16 — in this series of commentaries with regard to justification is advocated fully in my Commentary on Romans 3:22; and the student is referred to that for a great deal of material that cannot be repeated here. Since the publication of that volume in 1973, further scholarly studies by distinguished theologians have fully confirmed the undeniable accuracy of translating "faith of Christ" instead of "faith in Christ" in this place and a number of other places in the New Testament.

Joshua 13 overview — themselves over the undisputed boundaries of their possessions! Could such a thing have happened if the origin of these divisions had been otherwise than as indicated in this chapter? "Who actually made the divisions? Who made the allocations? Joshua 13:7 suggests that it was Joshua; Joshua 14:1 that it was Eleazer the priest and the heads of families; Joshua 14:5 that it was the people as a whole. These, however, are not mutually exclusive."Hugh I. Blair, The New Bible Commentary, Revised, Joshua (Grand

Hebrews 7:11 — perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron? DIVISION IV (Hebrews 7:11—8:13) CHRIST IS THE SURETY OF A BETTER COVENANT The introduction of Aaron's name at this point, connecting it with the Levitical priesthood, is for the purpose of showing that, as far as this argument is concerned, there is no difference between

Revelation 1:9 — about half the size of Manhattan Island, ten miles long, with a maximum width of six miles, and with an area of only 13 square miles. "It is an island of the Dodecanese group, Greece, in the Aegean sea about 28 miles south-southwest of Samos (37 degrees 20 minutes north latitude and 26 degrees 35 minutes east longitude). It is volcanic, bare and rocky, rising to an altitude of 800 feet with a deeply indented coast." Encyclopedia Britannica (Chicago: William Benton, Publisher, 1961), Vol.