Bible Commentaries

Psalms 50:1 — 1.The God of gods, even Jehovah, (241) hath spoken The inscription of this psalm bears the name of Asaph; but whether he was the author of it, or merely received it as chief singer from the hand of David, cannot be known. This, however, is a matter of

Isaiah 11:1 — 1.But there shall come forth a rod. As the description of such dreadful calamities might terrify the godly, and give them reason for despair, it was necessary to hold out consolation; for when the kingdom was destroyed, cities thrown down, and desolation

Isaiah 38:3 — yet pretended holiness, which is as it were a profanation of his name, provokes his anger; and, because “he is a Spirit,” (John 4:24,) he justly demands spiritual obedience, and declares that he abhors “a double heart.” (Psalms 12:2.) Most properly, therefore, does Hezekiah begin with sincerity of heart. The Hebrew word שלם, (shalem,) which is translated perfect, means nothing else than integrity as contrasted with hypocrisy, which is also evident from the

Isaiah 43:10 — 10. Ustedes son mis testigos. Después de haber convocado a los gentiles a un concurso, y después de haber demostrado que las historias que circularon sobre sus ídolos eran falsas e infundadas, Dios ahora se separa de la multitud de ellos, y produce sus

Lamentations 4:17 — nothing. The Prophet, then, accuses the Jews of this great, sacrilege, that they never betook themselves to God, nor had any hope in him, but on the contrary wandered here and there for help. As yet for us, he says, that, is, while we were yet standing. (217) And this circumstance deserves to be noticed; for after the Jews had been overthrown, they at length began to know how they had been previously deceived, when they placed confidence in the Egyptians. Prosperity inebriates men, so that they take delight

Zephaniah 3:9 — Entonces, el Profeta ha hablado hasta ahora con reproches y amenazas, porque se dirigió a todo el pueblo; pero ahora él recoge, como he dicho, el remanente por sí mismo, y les presenta la esperanza del perdón y de la salvación. Por eso dice: Pero entonces (114) (porque tomo כי, ki, como adversario) me volveré hacia la gente Un labio puro. Dios insinúa que propagaría su gracia más ampliamente, después de haber limpiado la tierra; porque será adorado no solo en Judea, sino también por naciones extranjeras

Matthew 2:1 — 1.Now when Jesus had been born How it came about that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Matthew does not say. The Spirit of God, who had appointed the Evangelists to be his clerks, (177) appears purposely to have regulated their style in such a manner, that

Matthew 7:1 — Matthew 7:1.Judge not These words of Christ do not contain an absolute prohibition from judging, but are intended to cure a disease, which appears to be natural to us all. We see how all flatter themselves, and every man passes a severe censure on others. This

Acts 20:32 — Church. First, he commendeth them to God; secondly, to the word of his grace. Notwithstanding, it is all one commendation; but Paul meant to express the means whereby the Lord doth defend the salvation of his, which (as Peter saith) is kept by faith, ( 1 Peter 1:5) and the means of this keeping dependeth upon the word, lest it come in hazard amidst so many dangers. And it is very expedient for us to know how God will keep us. For because his majesty is hid from us, until we come unto him by his word,

Romans 12:2 — required from us: It is not that of the flesh only, or of the inferior part of the soul, as the Sorbonists explain this word; but of the mind, which is the most excellent part of us, and to which philosophers ascribe the supremacy; for they call it ἡγεμονικὸν, the leading power; and reason is imagined to be a most wise queen. But Paul pulls her down from her throne, and so reduces her to nothing by teaching us that we must be renewed in mind.

Romans 6:4 — (Galatians 3:27.) Thus indeed must we speak, as long as the institution of the Lord and the faith of the godly unite together; for we never have naked and empty symbols, except when our ingratitude and wickedness hinder the working of divine beneficence. (185) By the glory of the Father, that is, by that illustrious power by which he exhibited himself as really glorious, and as it were manifested the greatness of his glory. Thus often is the power of God, which was exercised in the resurrection of Christ,

1 Corinthians 13:13 — 13.But now remaineth faith, hope, love. This is a conclusion from what goes before — that love is more excellent than other gifts; but in place of the enumeration of gifts that he had previously made, he now putsfaith and hope along with love, as

1 Corinthians 2:3 — from his being so mean and abject according to the flesh, he shows that the power of God shone out the more conspicuously in this, that he could effect so much, while sustained by no human helps. He has in his eye not merely those foolish boasters (107) who aimed at mere show, with the view of obtaining for themselves a name, but the Corinthians, too, who gazed with astonishment on their empty shows. Accordingly a recital of this kind was fitted to have great weight with them. They were aware that

2 Corinthians 4:6 — which he had previously said that Christ is the image of the Father, (2 Corinthians 4:4) he now says, that the glory of God is manifested to us in his face. Here we have a remarkable passage, from which we learn that God is not to be sought out (Job 11:7) in His unsearchable height, (for He dwells in light that is inaccessible, 1 Timothy 6:16,) but is to be known by us, in so far as He manifests himself in Christ. Hence, whatever men desire to know respecting God, apart from Christ, is evanescent,

2 Corinthians 6:1 — 1.Assisting. He has repeated the instructions of embassy with which the ministers of the gospel have been furnished by God. After they have faithfully communicated these instructions, they must also use their endeavor, that they may be carried into effect,

Galatians 2:2 — 2.And I went up according to revelation. (41) He now proceeds to prove his apostleship and his doctrine, not only by works, but also by a Divine revelation. Since God directed that journey, which had for its object the confirmation of his doctrine, the doctrine was confirmed, not by the concurrence

Colossians 2:2 — and mere opinion; for that man truly knows the Lord who does not vacillate or waver in doubt, but stands fast in a firm and constant persuasion. This constancy and stability Paul frequently calls (πληροφορίαν) full assurance, (which term he makes use of here also,) and always connects it with faith, as undoubtedly it can no more be separated from it than heat or light can be from the sun. The doctrine, therefore, of the schoolmen is devilish,

1 Timothy 4:1 — 1 Ahora el Espíritu claramente dijo que había amonestado diligentemente a Timoteo acerca de muchas cosas; y ahora él muestra la necesidad, porque es apropiado proveer contra el peligro que el Espíritu Santo advierte acercarse rápidamente, es decir, que

Hebrews 10:38 — just, etc. He means that patience is born of faith; and this is true, for we shall never be able to carry on our contests unless we are sustained by faith, even as, on the other hand, John truly declares, that our victory over the world is by faith. (1 John 5:4.) It is by faith that we ascend on high; that we leap over all the perils of this present life, and all its miseries and troubles; that we possess a quiet standing in the midst of storms and tempests. Then the Apostle announced this truth,

Hebrews 9:28 — Christ is abundantly sufficient for us. Hence he says, that he once appeared and made a sacrifice to abolish sins, and that at his second coming he will make openly manifest the efficacy of his death, so that sin will have no more power to hurt us. (160) To bear, or, take away sins, is to free from guilt by his satisfaction those who have sinned. He says the sins of many, that is, of all, as in Romans 5:15. It is yet certain that all receive no benefit from the death of Christ; but this happens,