Bible Commentaries

Exodus 30:1-38 — Anointing Oil. The Incense 1-10. The Altar of Incense. The use of incense in worship was probably due to the worshipper’s desire to honour God by offering to Him what he enjoys himself. ’Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart’ (Proverbs 27:9). It served also to counteract the strong smell of burning flesh, and was therefore usually presented as an accompaniment of sacrifice, and offered either in censers (Leviticus 10:1; Leviticus 16:12; Numbers 16:17), or on an altar erected for the

1 Kings overview — Jeremiah 39-42, 52 of parts of 2 Kings 24, 25), but the statement is improbable, so far at least as the present form of the books is concerned. Jeremiah, whose prophetic ministry began as early as the 13th year of Josiah (Jeremiah 1:2), i.e. about 627, can scarcely have survived till after 561. 2. Sources. In the course of the narrative reference is made to three different sources authorities for the history of the times described, viz. the Acts of Solomon (1 Kings 11:41), the Chronicles of the Kings

2 Kings overview — Jeremiah 39-42, 52 of parts of 2 Kings 24, 25), but the statement is improbable, so far at least as the present form of the books is concerned. Jeremiah, whose prophetic ministry began as early as the 13th year of Josiah (Jeremiah 1:2), i.e. about 627, can scarcely have survived till after 561. 2. Sources. In the course of the narrative reference is made to three different sources authorities for the history of the times described, viz. the Acts of Solomon (1 Kings 11:41), the Chronicles of the Kings

Ezekiel 1:1-28 — ’thirteenth’ for ’thirtieth’), or some Babylonian epoch otherwise unknown to us; (3) that ’the thirtieth year’ is an insertion made with the object of harmonising the different periods assigned for the duration of the exile by Jeremiah (70 years, Jeremiah 25:11; Jeremiah 29:10) and Ezekiel (40 years, Ezekiel 4:6) respectively. Of these explanations (1) is improbable, and if (3) be not accepted we are shut up to some of the forms of (2). Among these 625 b.c. (Nabopolassar) seems a more

Joel overview — Author. Nothing is mentioned concerning the personality of the prophet Joel beyond the name of his father, Pethuel (Joel 1:1); but he clearly lived in Jerusalem, since the Temple appears ever present before him (Joel 1:9, Joel 1:13-14, Joel 1:16; Joel 2:17), and the sound of alarm is given from Zion (Joel 2:1), and the people are summoned thither for a solemn assembly (Joel 2:17). He also does not notice the northern kingdom, but speaks of Judah and Jerusalem having suffered from their enemies (Joel 3:1,

Numbers overview — Numbers 10:10. This section includes the first numbering of the people, the order of the camp and the march (1-4); laws regarding lepers, marital jealousy, and the vow of the Nazirite (5, 6); the offerings of the princes for the service of the tabernacle (7); regulations regarding the lighting of the golden lamps and the consecration of the Levites (8); the celebration of the Passover in the wilderness (Numbers 9:1-14); the cloudy pillar and the use of the silver trumpets (Numbers 9:15 to Numbers 10:10). Part

Matthew 16:1-28 — subtle discussions as to when, why, and under what circumstances heathen, Samaritan, and Christian leaven is to be regarded as unclean. 9, 10. See on Matthew 15:32. 12. Cp. Luke 12:1, and see on Matthew 16:6. 13-20. St. Peter’s confession (Mark 8:27; Luke 9:18). Jesus now undertook another distant excursion, partly to escape the hostility of the Pharisees (Matthew 16:4), but chiefly to hold private converse with His disciples, and to lead them on to the recognition of His Messiahship and divine

Matthew 4:1-25 — therefore, a temptation to disobedience, like that of our first parents. Satan would have had our Lord act independently, setting up His will against God’s, instead of conforming it to His in filial obedience. (b) The next temptation (Matthew 4:5-7) was more subtle. The devil took Him in spirit to the lofty platform (not pinnacle) overlooking the courts of the Temple, from which a great multitude could be conveniently addressed. It was from this platform or pulpit that James the Lord’s brother

Deuteronomy 33:1-29 — MSS of LXX insert Simeon äs the subject of the second clause. It will be observed that he is not otherwise mentioned at all, though the omission may be explained by the fact that the tribe of Simeon was absorbed in that of Judah (Joshua 19:9). 7. Let his hands.. for him] RV ’with his hands he contended for himself’ (or, ’for it,’ i.e. the people). Judah was the champion of the tribes: see e.g. Judges 1:1; Judges 20:18. 8. On the Urim and Thummim see Exodus 28:30. Jehovah

Luke 10:1-42 — Martha and Mary 1-16. Choice and mission of the Seventy (peculiar to Lk). Another step in the organisation of the Church. The Seventy receive a subordinate commission, similar to that of the apostles, to preach and to cast out devils (Luke 10:9, Luke 10:17). Two motives may be discerned in the sending forth of so numerous a body of missionaries. (1) The time before His Passion was now short, and Jesus wished the message of salvation to reach as many Israelites as possible. (2) He wished to train His followers

Luke 19:1-48 — was,’ i.e. to distinguish Him in the dense crowd which surrounded Him. 4. A sycomore] not the English sycamore, but a tree which receives its name from the fact that its fruit is like a fig, and its leaves like those of the mulberry: cp. Luke 17:6 and Amos 7:14. Sycamores are not now very common in Palestine. 5. At thy house] Jericho was a priestly city, and according to the Talmud contained as many priests as Jerusalem. Specially significant, therefore, was Christ’s resolution to lodge

John 11:1-57 — circumstances of the family, and the characters of the sisters in the two Gospels are quite in agreement. 2. St. John assumes that the fact of the anointing is already known in a general way from the synoptists (see Matthew 26:6; Mark 14:3, and cp. Luke 7:36), but since their narratives are somewhat obscure and confusing, he intends to give later on (John 12:1.) a more accurate account. 3. Lovest] The love which Christ bore to the whole human race did not prevent Him from forming special friendships.

Acts 16:1-40 — inhabited by Phrygians, but at this time by Gauls. Here they suppose that St. Paul was delayed by illness (Galatians 4:13), and seized the opportunity of preaching and founding numerous Celtic or Gallic churches which are nowhere mentioned in Acts. 7. RV ’And when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not.’ Leaving Antioch, St. Paul journeyed northward through the province of Asia till he came to the borders of Mysia

Acts 2:1-47 — Comforter (or Advocate) ’that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive; for it be-holdeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He abideth with you, and shall be in you’ (John 14:17). Primarily, Pentecost is to be regarded as the Consecration of the Church for its work of evangelising the world. The fiery tongues which lighted upon the Apostles symbolised the gift of ’boldness with fervent zeal constantly to preach the gospel

Romans 4:1-25 — fulfilled by faith. Now he turns to the past, to show that acceptance by faith is not a new idea. It was faith for which Abraham was accepted, not works (Romans 4:1-8), nor circumcision (Romans 4:9-12), nor on account of obedience to the Law (Romans 4:13-17). The history shows the nature of the faith which God accepts (Romans 4:18-22), in our case as well as in Abraham’s0. 1-8. It was faith, not works, for which Abraham was accepted. Paraphrase. ’(1) Take, e.g., the case of Abraham. His descendants

Ephesians overview — evidence in favour of Ephesians is very strong. As Renan says, among the Pauline Epistles it ’is perhaps the one of which there are most early quotations as the composition of the Apostle of the Gentiles.’ Not only the witnesses between 170 and 220 (Irenæus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Muratorian Canon) treat it as unquestionably Pauline, but also those who wrote about a century earlier. Marcion (cirEphesians 130) included it in his collection of St. Paul’s writings.

Philippians 3:4 — presumir de una prerrogativa externa? Entre los siete puntos de superioridad enumerados en Filipenses 3:5 , cuatro llegaron a Saúl por nacimiento, tres por adquisición. El octavo día era la fecha adecuada para la circuncisión del infante ( Génesis 17:12 ); Israel, el nombre del pacto del pueblo de Jehová; Benjamín, la tribu eminente por suplir al primer rey de Israel y, posteriormente, permanecer fiel al trono de David; un hebreo derivado de los hebreos,uno cuya familia conservó el idioma del hogar:

Colossians 1:1-29 — me.’ 2. Faithful] better, ’believing.’ And the Lord Jesus Christ] RV rightly omits. 3. Better, ’We always give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when we pray for you.’ 5. For the hope] i.e. based on the hope. 6, 7. It is the gospel as Epaphras taught it them, not that urged on them by the false teachers, which is exercising this worldwide influence. The universal corrects the local. 7b. RV ’who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf’ is probably

Colossians 2:1-23 — emphasise these truths about Christ lest you should be beguiled by plausible persuasions. (5) While I am physically absent from you, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing with you and beholding your order and the firm foundation of your faith in Christ. (6, 7) Let your moral life in Christ Jesus be in harmony with the teaching through which you received Him as Lord; be firmly rooted and built up in Him, established in faith as you were taught, abounding in thankfulness. (8) Let no one lead you away as his

1 Peter overview — That both writer and readers were expecting a severe persecution is the first and strongest impression which the letter leaves on us. But this ’fiery trial’ is only expected; it is not even certain that it will come at all (1 Peter 3:14-17). As yet there has been suffering from slander and isolation, but now something worse is certainly looked for. What had caused this expectation? In 64 a.d. there had been a great fire at Rome, which the Emperor Nero was suspected of having caused. He