Bible Commentaries

Genesis 13:14-18 — ultimate and spiritual fulfillment of this great promise. As far as the fleshly Israel is concerned, all of God's blessings upon them were contingent, absolutely, upon their acceptance of the rule of God and upon their following in the steps of Abraham's faith, which they resolutely refused to do. They formally rejected God's government in the elevation of Saul to the monarchy, and were ultimately cast off altogether as being God's Chosen People in any racial or secular sense. Every line of the O.T.,

Isaiah 26:1-6 — "At that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: we have a strong city; salvation will he appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation that keepeth faith may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is staid on thee; because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in Jehovah forever; for Jehovah, even Jehovah is an everlasting rock. For he hath brought down them that dwell on high, the lofty

Numbers 13:1-3 — their leader? Was not His visible appearance among them day and night in the phenomenal glory of the fiery cloudy pillar? Did God need any information that their spies could have discovered? In this episode, the Israelites were the prototype of all faithless and timid brethren, who, in the face of clear duty, prefer not to act, but to disguise their unwillingness as prudence in "seeking more facts." Their request for spies indicated a lack of faith. They were not trusting God. God had already spied

Matthew 15:21 — and Sidon. Jesus made a long, circuitous route, passing up the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, thence eastward through Decapolis, and cross-country to the sources of the Jordan river. Ancient opponents of the faith were sometimes critical of Christ for avoiding an open confrontation with Herod at this time. Celsus in 170 A.D. charged the Lord with cowardice. The unfairness of this is seen in the later actions of Christ during his Passion, although he might

Matthew 23:23-24 — Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone. Ye blind guides that strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel! THE FOURTH WOE In the fourth woe also, the Pharisee was presented as a specialist in trifles. To be sure, there

Matthew 6:16-18 — lie within the province of any religious organization to "command" fasting or to prescribe abstinence from certain meats. Such church regulations are identified with the apostasy by Paul who said, In later times, some shall depart from the faith … commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected … (1 Timothy 4:1-5).

Mark 1:32 — This sacred author apparently used the term also as a simple connective. For example, "straightway" in Mark 1:28 can hardly mean "on the same day." Chrysostom thought that the mention of sunset here was to give "evidence of the faith and eagerness of the people, who, even when the day was spent, still came streaming to Christ."Quoted by R. C. Trench, op. cit., p. 254. Either this view, or that it was indeed the sabbath day, could be correct.

Luke 1:54-55 — matchless hymn, there was a stanza regarding the blessing and privilege that had come to Mary herself; in the second there was uttered a praise of the power, holiness, and mercy of God; in the third, there was prophesied the world consequences of the faith of Jesus Christ; and in this final stanza there was a connecting of the old and new covenants, a glimpse of the true Israel, the church, and the relation of all the redeemed to the old institution as the true spiritual seed of Abraham. It may well

Acts 16:1-2 — at Lystra on the first tour was not an indication of failure, because out of that tragic experience glorious fruit of the gospel appeared. On his second return to Lystra, Paul was rewarded by the emergence of a young convert who was destined to be a faithful companion of the great apostle, and whose name would adorn two of the 27 New Testament books. These verses reveal the good reputation of Timothy, not only in his home community of Lystra, but also in the more important city of Iconium as well. Mother

Acts 16:5 — So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. Having been freed, for the time being, from the troublesome insistence of the Judaizers, the churches prospered spiritually and numerically. The issue, however, was not dead; the Pharisee-Christians would trouble

Acts 19:2 — question. E. H. Plumptre, Ellicott's Commentary on the Holy Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1959), p. 128. Plumptre is correct in seeing "believed" in this verse as a synecdoche for the whole process of conversion: faith, repentance and baptism. Did not hear whether the Holy Spirit was given … To be sure, as Boles said, "They had heard of the existence of the Holy Spirit, but not that he had been given on Pentecost." H. Leo Boles, Commentary on

Acts 21:40 — such a means, God would give them one more opportunity to hear and believe the truth; and one may only wonder if perhaps there was even a single individual who dared in his heart to forsake such blind and frenzied prejudice and come to the fullness of faith in Jesus our Lord. The Hebrew tongue … Strictly, this was Aramaic, or the common vernacular of the people. Paul was a linguist; and it may be supposed that if his dream of reaching Spain was ever realized, even there he would have been able

Romans 5:3-4 — and disciplines of the Christian's earthly pilgrimage! All of the misfortunes, sorrows, calamities, and bitter disappointments of Life are not meaningless tragedy to the Christian, but are luminous through their connection with the ultimate goals of faith in Christ. Here is the explanation of why Jesus said, Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you (Matthew 5:11). Paul's words in these verses harmonize with the rule of life he followed for himself. He said, I will glory in the

Philippians 1:14 — news abroad that it was safe to preach the word. However, those circumstances of relative tolerance of the gospel would before long give way to the great persecution under Nero. Paul would suffer martyrdom, and countless Christians would seal their faith with their blood. That Paul surely had premonitions of such a drastic change appears in this very letter (Philippians 1:20); but, for the moment, the grand apostle would glorify God, rejoicing in the opportunities to preach the word of salvation

1 Thessalonians 5:14 — This word is "Feeble minded" in the KJV, but the present-day connotations of that term make the ASV far preferable. Support the weak … Where is there an eldership that is not concerned with the "weak"? People who are weak in faith, weak in their commitment, weak in their attendance, weak in their duty of giving, weak in all departments — these are the constant concern of elders, and should be the concern of all Christians.

1 Timothy 6:17 — strong temptation to a young man like Timothy. Paul, however, knew his man, being very sure that Timothy would live up to the trust committed to him. His attitude must have been similar to the following poetical description of it: TRUSTING I cling to faith and honor still As flying years recede, Assured that within the Father's will That I shall live indeed When life with joy and sorrow ends, Probation done at last. I thus accept whate'er he sends Of sun or stormy blast. Despite temptation strong

2 Timothy 4:21 — ascertained; but yet the words have a comforting ring. After all, in spite of the persecution, there was some considerable company of the redeemed in the ancient imperial capital who were still "brethren," and who would carry forward the living faith after its most prominent leaders were slaughtered in the Neronian persecution.

2 Peter 3:18 — to be glorified now; and (d) Christ is the glory of that eternal day which encompasses and fulfills all our days. Amen seals what he writes with a mighty "Yea." What he has set down he believes to be true. So by an oath he authenticates his faith. Albert E. Barnett, The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. XII (New York and Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1957), p. 206. This glorious epistle is a triumphant affirmation of a magnificent faith in Jesus Christ. Such a production is utterly beyond the power

Revelation 13:10 — If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth … This means, "Whatever is involved in following Christ, the Christian must accept." William Barclay, op. cit., p. 97. The different translations of this passage

1 Samuel 27:1-4 — God in this matter. David's character during this sojourn in Philistia did not measure up to the high standard that would have pleased God. Nevertheless, one can sympathize with David's thoughts during this period of his frustration and weakness of faith. As Henry said, "Long trials are in danger of tiring the faith and patience of even the best men."Matthew Henry's Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 427. From the human standpoint, David's situation was desperate. He and his six hundred men were hopelessly