Bible Commentaries

Isaiah 37 overview — commenced in the previous chapter. Hezekiah went with expressions of grief to the temple, to spread the cause of his distress before the Lord Isaiah 37:1. He sent an embassage to Isaiah to ask his counsel in the time of the general distress Isaiah 37:2-5. Isaiah replied that he should not be afraid of the Assyrian, for that he should soon be destroyed Isaiah 37:6-7. The return of Rabshakeh to Sennacherib Isaiah 37:8. Sennacherib heard that Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia, was preparing to make war upn him,

Deuteronomy 33:8 — Tu santo, es decir, Leví, considerado como el representante de todo el linaje sacerdotal y levítico que brotó de él. El contraste entre el tono de este pasaje y el de Génesis 49:5 es notable. Aunque la predicción de Jacob con respecto a la dispersión de esta tribu se cumplió, fue anulada hasta el punto de otorgar honor y recompensa. La recuperación del favor de Dios se debe a la fidelidad con la que Moisés y Aarón, que procedían

Romans 12:14 — Bless them ... - see the note at Matthew 5:44; compare Luke 6:28.Bless, and curse not - Bless only; or continue to bless, however long or aggravated may be the injury. Do not be provoked to anger, or to cursing, by any injury, persecution, or reviling. This is one of the most severe and difficult

1 Corinthians 15:52 — that this is the consummation or close of things; it will end the economy of this world; it will be connected with the last state of things.For the trumpet shall sound - See the note at Matthew 24:31.And the dead shall be raised - See the note at John 5:25.

Galatians 4:19 — My little children - The language of tender affection, such as a parent would use toward his own offspring; see the note at 1 Corinthians 4:15; compare Matthew 18:3; Joh 13:33; 1 John 2:1, 1 John 2:12-13; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:21. The idea here is, that Paul felt that he sustained toward them the relation of a father, and he had for them the deep and tender feelings of a parent.Of whom I travail

Ephesians 1:14 — imparted to us until we enter on that inheritance.Of the purchased possession - Heaven, purchased for us by the death of the Redeemer. The word used here - περιποίησις peripoiēsis - occurs in the following places in the New Testament: 1 Thessalonians 5:9, rendered “to obtain salvation;” 2 Thessalonians 2:14, “to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord;” Hebrews 10:39, “to the saving of the soul;” 1 Peter 2:9, “a peculiar people;” literally, a people of “acquirement” to himself; and in the passage before

Ephesians 1:15 — Epistle was not written to the Ephesians. The argument is, that he writes to them as if they were strangers to him, and that it is not language such as would be used in addressing a people among whom he had spent three years; see the introduction, section 5. But this inference is not conclusive. Paul had been some years absent from Ephesus when this Epistle was written. In the difficult communication in those times between distant places, it is not to be supposed that he would hear often from them. Perhaps

Ephesians 3:14 — answered in your benefit and glory, I bow my knees to God, and pray to him.”I bow my knees - I pray. The usual, and the proper posture of prayer is to kneel; Compare 2 Chronicles 6:13; Daniel 6:10; Luke 22:21; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:26; Acts 21:5. It is a posture which indicates reverence, and should, therefore, be assumed when we come before God. It has been an unhappy thing that the custom of kneeling in public worship has ever been departed from in the Christian churches.Unto the Father of

Ephesians 4:23 — renewed. People are “bound” thus to be renovated, And,(4) That they have sufficient natural ability to change from the condition of the old to that of the “new” man, or they could not be exhorted to it.(See the supplementary Romans 8:7, note; Galatians 5:17, note.)In the spirit of your mind - In your temper; your heart; your nature.

Ephesians 5:28 — So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies - Because they are one flesh; Ephesians 5:31. This is the subject on which Paul had been speaking, and from which he had been diverted by the allusion to the glorified church. The doctrine here is, that a husband should have the same care for the comfort of his wife which he has for himself.

Colossians 2:20 — and acting under those worldly principles? They ought no more to do it, than the things of this world influence those who are in their graves.Are ye subject to ordinances - The rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion; see the notes at Galatians 5:1-4.

Colossians 3:10 — everything, but the knowledge of God. Man was acquainted with his Creator. He resembled him in his capacity for knowledge. He was an intelligent being, and he had an acquaintance with the divine existence and perfections; compare the notes at Romans 5:12. But especially had he that knowledge which is the fear of the Lord; that knowledge of God which is the result of love. Piety, in the Scriptures, is often represented as the “knowledge” of God; see the notes at John 17:3; compare the notes at Ephesians

1 Thessalonians 2:12 — This he does, when: (1)He keeps all his commands; (2)When he leads a life of purity and virtue; (3)When he carries out the principles of the family into his own life; (4)When he honors a father by evincing a profound respect for his opinions; and, (5)When he endeavors to provide for his comfort and to promote his welfare.In a manner similar to this, a true Christian honors God. He lives so as not to bring a reproach upon him or his cause, and so as to teach the world to honor him who has bestowed

2 Thessalonians 3:1 — Finally, brethren, pray for us - That is, for Paul, Silas, and Timothy, then engaged in arduous labors at Corinth. This request for the prayers of Christians is one which Paul often makes; see the notes, 1 Thessalonians 5:25.That the word of the Lord may have free course - That is, the gospel. The margin is “run.” So also the Greek. The idea is, that it might meet with no obstruction, but that it might be carried abroad with the rapidity of a racer out of whose way every

1 Timothy 6:14 — Timothy, it means that he should so keep the command that there would be no stain on his moral character; if to the doctrine, that that should be kept pure.Unrebukable - So that there be no occasion for reproach or reproof; see notes on Philippians 2:15.Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ - see notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

1 John 4:9 — sacrifice. The “measure” of that love, then, which was manifested in the gift of a Saviour, is to be found, (1)In the worth of the soul; (2)In its exposure to eternal death; (3)In the greatness of the gift; (4)In the greatness of his sorrows for us; and, (5)In the immortal blessedness and joy to which he will raise us.Who can estimate all this? All these things will magnify themselves as we draw near to eternity; and in that eternity to which we go, whether saved or lost, we shall have an ever-expanding

2 John 1 overview — joy and gratitude that he had been permitted to learn that her children had embraced the truth, and were walking in it, 2 John 1:4. An exhortation to live in the exercise of mutual love, in obedience to the great commandment of the Saviour, 2 John 1:5-6. The fact that many deceivers had gone out into the world, and an exhortation to be on their guard against their arts, 2 John 1:7-8. A test by which they might be known, and their true character ascertained, 2 John 1:9. An exhortation to show them

Revelation 12:13 — efforts must be confined to the earth, and that only for a limited time, he “persecuted the woman,” and was more violently enraged against the church on earth.He persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child - See the notes on Revelation 12:5. The child is represented as safe; that is, the ultimate progress and extension of the church was certain. But Satan was permitted still to wage a warfare against the church - represented here by his wrath against the woman, and by her being constrained

Revelation 14:2 — the ocean.As the voice of a great thunder - As the loud sound of thunder.And I heard the voice of harpers - In heaven: the song of redemption accompanied with strains of sweet instrumental music. For a description of the harp, see the notes on Isaiah 5:12.Harping with their harps - Playing on their harps. This image gives new beauty to the description. Though the sound was loud and swelling, so loud that it could be heard on the earth, yet it was not mere shouting, or merely a tumultuous cry. “It

Revelation 22:12 — immediate attention to the concerns of the soul?And my reward is with me - I bring it with me to give to every man: either life or death; heaven or hell; the crown or the curse. He will be prepared immediately to execute the sentence. Compare Matthew 25:31-46.To give every man according as his work shall be - See the Matthew 16:27 note; Romans 2:6 note; 2 Corinthians 5:10 note.