Bible Commentaries

Exodus 23:25-27 — of God. "I will send my terror before thee ..." This dreadful fear of God was most effective in bringing Israel into Canaan. It is seen in the case of Balak and the Moabites. "Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many" (Numbers 22:3), and again in the instance of Rahab the harlot who confessed that, "The fear of you has fallen upon all of us" (Joshua 2:9,11).

Exodus 3 overview — importance, which in their immediate and ultimate consequences, "stand alone in the world's history."[1] This chapter is the record of a truly great moment for Moses, for Israel, and for all mankind - "one of the truly significant watersheds of history."[2] The fullness of time indeed had come. The wickedness of the Canaanites had run its course, and the time for the sword of judgment to fall upon them had arrived. Israel had become mighty, prepared, and disciplined through hardship, and as Jamieson

Exodus 5:2 — Jehovah in the life of Joseph, elevating him to the throne of Egypt (as deputy), was no secret. If Pharaoh was ignorant, he was willfully ignorant. His response in denying that he knew Jehovah is very similar to that of Sennacherib's haughty response in 2 Kings 18:35.

Leviticus 7:15 — the thanksgiving type of peace-offering had to be consumed on the day of its offering; but the most logical, it appears to us, is that suggested by Wenham, (1) either it was for the purpose of encouraging the offerer to invite others to share it, or (2) it showed that the worshipper trusted God to supply his future needs.[3] Cate thought the word "abomination" meant the same thing as "spoiled".[4]

Ephesians 2:20 — apostles and prophets ... There are five foundations of the Christian faith mentioned in the New Testament: (1) The foundational teaching is composed of the teachings of Christ delivered through the apostles and prophets of the new dispensation (Matthew 7:24-26). (2) The foundational fact is that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:13-20). (3) The foundation person is Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 3:11). (4) The foundational personnel was made up of the apostles and prophets

Ephesians 3:6 — divisions in which there were definite and undeniable foreshadowings of his own mission to the Gentiles; "but the thing not visible in the Old Testament was that the Gentile sharing of these blessings involved the creation of `one new man' (Ephesians 2:15),"[16] and that there would be no separate organization for either Jews or Gentiles, both being incorporated into the one body, the church. As Alfred Martin put it: "The mystery was not that the Gentiles should be saved - there is much in the Old

Ephesians 4:28 — like these have the impact of "cease and desist from all sin." While those who "had been" criminals were welcome, their sins were not welcome. The word of God reveals some acceptable methods of acquiring property, these being: (1) by inheritance, (2) by work, (3) by reception of it as a gift, (4) through merchandising, (5) through investment, etc.; two of the acceptable methods and one of the unacceptable methods appear in this verse, the latter being, of course, stealing.

Philippians 1:10 — So that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offense unto the day of Christ. Approve the things which are excellent ... This is very similar to "distinguish things that differ" as Paul wrote in Romans 2:18; and both here and there, "It is impossible to decide exactly what Paul means.[25] One thing is evident, Paul wanted the Philippians to grow in knowledge in order to avoid offense in living the Christian life. Russell thought that Paul's words in

Colossians 2:6 — continually on that foundation."[17] Guthrie's significant analysis of these two verses is: To receive Christ is but the beginning. The following is to live in him, which is described as involving four aspects, the first three very similar: (1) rooted, (2) built up, and (3) established ... from a building metaphor ... The fourth aspect is abounding in thanksgiving, which echoes the apostle's own enthusiasm to give thanks.[18] Abounding ... This was one of Paul's favorite words. As Hendriksen said: Paul

1 Thessalonians 2:2 — imprisoned and made fast in the stocks, see my Commentary on Acts 16. Waxed bold ... "This word is always used in the New Testament of the proclamation of the gospel and denotes freedom from stress."[6] Other passages in which it occurs are Acts 9:27 and Ephesians 6:20. In our God ... This expression also appears in 1 Thessalonians 3:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:11,12, and 1 Corinthians 6:11. In the greater sense, all things are in God, for as Paul said, "In him we live and move and

2 Thessalonians 3:5 — economy with its invariable emphasis upon speed and speedy results, and such things as the mad quest for a constant state of euphoria, have led even many Christians into a loss of patience. Jesus said, "In your patience possess ye your souls" (Luke 21:19 KJV); and, alas, there are many who, through a burning impatience, no longer possess their souls. The constant aching for diversion, novelty, excitement, euphoria, etc., is as destructive an influence as may be found in the world today. The Christian

1 Timothy 6:3 — As Stibbs put it: There is a contrast here between teaching which is "healthful" and teachers who are "sick" (see the English Revised Version margin (1885)). Teaching is continued as "sound" or "wholesome": (1) by having Christ as its author and (2) by the God-fearing conduct of the teacher.[10] Lenski denied that this verse has primary application to the false teaching leading to the insubordination of slaves; but Spence felt that this may be allowed: There is little doubt that some influential

Titus 1:14 — some of the very words of Christ who said to the Pharisees, "In vain do ye worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9). See fuller comment on this under that verse in my Commentary on Matthew. See also in Colossians 2:21,22. For all who would worship God correctly, there must be a sharp distinction between what God has commanded and authorized in the sacred scriptures, and the ceremonies, innovations and traditions that are purely human in their origin. The population

Hebrews 2:2 — recompense of reward. The mediation of angels in the giving of the Law of Moses was not stated at that time, the nearest thing to it being found thus: "He came with ten thousands of saints; from his right hand went a fiery law before them" (Deuteronomy 33:2). Paul stated it clearly, saying that the Law "was ordained through angels in the hands of a mediator" (Galatians 3:19); and Stephen also made reference to it, speaking of them "who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not" (Acts

James 3:9 — Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: Bless we ... curse we ... Note the use of "we" as in James 3:2; here again the use of it does not indicate any guilt on the part of James in this particular. As Ward said, "The we of pastoral tact shows how far James could go in his desire to win rather than repel."[28] Bless we the Lord ... "The Jewish custom,

2 Peter 1:10 — under verse 8). As Payne put it: "Note the emphasis on God's initiative and man's response; both are essential, or the Christian may fall (literally stumble)."[33] "All Christians have been called, but they must work out their salvation" (Philippians 2:12).[34] We are amazed at the comment of Wheaton, who said, "Peter even hints at the possibility that one can fall from grace!"[35] Reference to Peter's warnings in this letter as a "hint" reminds one of the gang leader in Boston, who when five of his

2 Peter 1:15 — Yea, I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my decease to call these things to remembrance. Dummelow thought that "these things" had primary reference to Peter's first epistle, but that "more than his one letter is meant."[42] Payne leaned toward the idea that "the writer means the Gospel of Mark, which early tradition tells us was the written record of much of Peter's preaching."[43] However, the view here is that Peter meant the entire corpus of Christian doctrine which

1 John 2:29 — clear reference to Jesus Christ whose coming was just mentioned; however, "begotten of him" in the very next clause means "begotten of God." As Smith said, "The abrupt transition evinces St. John's sense of the oneness of the Father and the Son."[62] In this sentence, he used "him" as a reference first to the son and then to the Father. He did a very similar thing in 1 John 2:27 where the indwelling Spirit (the anointing) is said to "teach you all things," whereas, it is clear that the gospel

3 John 1:1 — JOHN'S THIRD LETTER The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth. The elder ... For another comment on the apostle's use of this title, see under 2 John 1:1:1. Gaius ... It is impossible to make any positive identification of this man with any of the four other persons of the same name mentioned in the New Testament. See in introduction, above. Nothing whatever is known of this man, except

Jude 1:21 — keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Keep yourselves in the love of God ... Again the human response factor is stressed, the meaning here being exactly what it was in Jude 1:1:20, "keeping oneself in the love of God" being one and the same thing with obeying God's commandments, as extensively taught in the Johannine literature, above. Summarizing the admonitions of these verses, what Jude commanded, or rather pleaded that the