Bible Commentaries

Mark 5:36 — meaning here. It meant do not fear for thy daughter's life; do not fear the scorn of your peers; do not fear that our purpose has been thwarted by this delay in healing the woman. Only believe … meant that Jairus was instructed to retain his faith as the only alternative open to him in that situation and has no implications whatever regarding a soul's salvation by "faith alone" If Jairus had taken the course suggested by his peers, it would have been to abandon faith and bury his

Mark 9:23 — And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth. These words must be understood as Jesus' rebuke of the father's lack of faith, and so the father accepted them. It is as if Jesus had said, "Look, any man who has faith will not set any limit on what the Lord is able to do." As Cranfield observed: "The father, instead of doubting the power of Jesus to help

Luke 1:6 — apostle to the Gentiles and thus fully knowledgeable of Paul's teaching about "the righteousness of God," here gave what is tantamount to a definition of that "righteousness," the same being not some kind of an inheritance through faith alone, but a state marked by the most careful and consistent obedience of the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. Advocates of the "faith only" doctrine have, of course, sought to soften this. Summers said, "In later Christian

John 3 overview — The proper understanding of this chapter begins with the final verses of John 2, where it was revealed that a great number of people "believed on" the Lord Jesus Christ, but whose discipleship was rejected by the Lord because they had "faith only." Commentators who have vainly tried to find something wrong with the faith of those people are frustrated by the fact that "believed on" in John 2:23 means exactly what it means everywhere else in the New Testament. See under

John 8:30 — As he spoke these things, many believed on him. Holders of the "faith only" theory of salvation force themselves through all kinds of mental gymnastics in their vain efforts to separate these "believers" from that class of adamant enemies of Jesus with whom they are here identified. Calvin got around

Acts 6:7 — And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. Increased … exceedingly … At a number of places in Acts, namely, here, Acts 9:30; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; and 28:31, Luke paused to note the continued success of the gospel. C. H. Turner pointed out that Acts is thus cut into six panels

Romans 3:29-30 — Or is God the God of Jews only? is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yea, of Gentiles also: if so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith. Israel's long familiarity with God constitutes the ground of their reluctance to admit salvation as a Gentile prerogative, and was also the basis of their feeling that God was a tribal, or national, God to

Romans 4:22 — Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. Wherefore also … gives the reason why Abraham's faith was reckoned unto him for righteousness, the reason being that Abraham truly believed, despite all human considerations to the contrary, the reality of which was not merely assumed upon Abraham's assertion that he believed, but which was proved

Romans 4:3 — show that Abraham could not possibly have been justified by the law, because in that reference, such a long while before the law, and even before the covenant of circumcision, Abraham appears in scriptures as already a believer in God, in fact, God's faithful servant, being already reckoned as righteous in God's sight on the basis of obedient faith. The justification of Abraham (God's reckoning him as righteous) was upon exactly the same basis of the justification of Christians, namely, obedient faith.

Galatians 3:6 — Moses, Abraham being the ancestor of every Jew on earth, why should any of his remote descendants, much less the Gentile Galatians, think to gain anything at all from it? The argument is profound and beautiful. Abraham believed God … Abraham's faith, not his faith only but his obedient faith, was the basis of God's reckoning him to be righteous. Of course, Abraham did not obey perfectly; but the whole compass of his life was lived out in a frame of obedience to God's commands. The ridiculous

Galatians 5:6 — For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love. This means "neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is relevant to Christianity." The question of true justification does not regard such a thing in any manner whatever. Some have wondered why Paul included "uncircumcision"

2 Thessalonians 3:3 — But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil one. James Moffatt also witnessed to the true meaning of "faith" in this passage, as follows: Paul writes from Corinth that while everyone has the chance, not all have the desire

2 Timothy 1:5 — having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and, I am persuaded, in thee also. The great implication of this verse is that "Faith of God's people before Christ came is not different in kind from the faith

2 Timothy 3:15 — and that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. From a babe … This is hyperbolic, and, as White said, "Timothy could not recall a period when he had not known the sacred writings. This is the force of the hyperbole." Newport J. D. White, op. cit., p.

2 Timothy 3:8 — And even Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth; men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. Jannes and Jambres … These were the evil magicians who withstood Moses during his appearances before Pharaoh; and Paul's identification of them here is the very earliest mention of these names which has descended to us through history. That

Hebrews 11 overview — DIVISION VI (Hebrews 11:1-40) A DISCUSSION OF FAITH; SOME CITATIONS OF OLD TESTAMENT EXEMPLARS OF FAITH; THEY WERE NOT MADE PERFECT APART FROM US

Hebrews 11:20 — By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. See under preceding verses for discussion of Isaac's faith and his typifying the Christ. Before us is another example of remarkable faith on Isaac's part, in that contrary to his own

Hebrews 13:7 — Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spoke unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith. Nothing is of more moving and lasting power than a faithful example; and the author calls to mind the noble elders and ministers, already passed to their reward at the time he wrote, but who were remembered for the noble example of their faith;

1 John 5 overview — Throughout this epistle, John repeatedly emphasized the three tests: faith, obedience and love. All three were stressed in 1 John 2, and most of 1 John 3 was devoted to obedience and love. 1 John 4 emphasized faith and love. The three go together, however, as is evident throughout this letter. In the opening paragraph

Revelation 14:12 — Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Here is the patience of the saints … Charles failed to see the point of this verse, but Beasley-Murray wrote, "It is thoroughly in place here. It is the punch line for Revelation 14:9-11. If such be the fate of the followers