Bible Commentaries

Ezra 4 overview — 2. The opposition to construction ch. 4 No project that seeks to honor God and advance His will in the world will go unopposed by Satan and his agents. This chapter reveals that Israel’s enemies opposed temple reconstruction energetically and for many years. "From this point onward

Numbers 23:27-14 — Consequently this time he did not seek indications of the will of God in omens as he had done previously (Numbers 23:1). He simply proclaimed the message the Holy Spirit revealed to him (Numbers 23:2). Balaam intended his opening words (Numbers 23:3-4) to impress upon Balak that the Almighty God had inspired his oracle. The phrase "falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered" (found also in Numbers 23:16), ". . . has usually been interpreted as describing the particular

1 Corinthians 14:36-40 — Concluding confrontation 14:36-40 Paul concluded his answer to the Corinthians’ question concerning spiritual gifts (chs. 12-14) and his teaching on tongues (ch. 14) with a strong call to cooperation. He zeroed in on their individualism (1 Corinthians 14:36; cf. 1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 4:10 — Paul summarized the four preceding contrasts with another paradox. He was in one sense always dying but in another sense never lifeless. Paul’s use of nekrosis ("dying," 2 Corinthians 4:10) rather than thanatos ("death") shows that what he had in mind was not our identification with Jesus in His death. It was rather our sharing in His sufferings by being exposed to danger and death for His sake daily (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:5-6;

2 Corinthians 5:11-10 — 4. The life of a minister of Christ 5:11-6:10 The section of this epistle that expounds the glory of the Christian ministry (2 Corinthians 2:14 to 2 Corinthians 6:10) builds to a climax in the following verses (2 Corinthians 5:11 to 2 Corinthians 6:10).

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 — C. Personal watchfulness 5:1-11 In view of the imminency of Christ’s return Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to be ready to meet the Lord at any time. "The former [paragraph, i.e., 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18] offered instruction concerning the dead in Christ; this [paragraph] gives a word of needed exhortation to the living." [Note: Hiebert, p. 207.] Other contrasts between these passages are the Rapture and the day of the Lord, and resurrection

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 — (Revelation 17:3), and simply the beast (Revelation 17:8; Revelation 17:16; Revelation 19:19-20; Revelation 20:10). Satan will empower him to deceive many people into thinking he is God by doing awe-inspiring, powerful miracles (cf. Revelation 13:2-4; Revelation 17:8). "The use of parousia here probably suggests a parody of Christ’s Parousia (2 Thessalonians 2:8)." [Note: Bruce, p. 173.]

1 Timothy 5:21 — Paul could hardly have stressed the importance of absolute objectivity and honesty in dealing with offending leaders more strongly (cf. 1 Timothy 6:13; 2 Timothy 4:1). God, Christ Jesus, and the elect angels are all judges (Matthew 25:31; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; Revelation 14:10). Paul urged Timothy on behalf of these judges to judge fairly. The apostle may have been thinking of Deuteronomy 19:17 here since that verse also specifies a trio of judges in a context of judging an accused offender.

Hebrews 1 overview — I. THE CULMINATING REVELATION OF GOD CHS. 1-2 This writer customarily began with a brief statement that presented the theme of each major section of his discourse. The first such statement appears in Hebrews 1:1-4 and introduces the theme of the culminating revelation of God, which continues through Hebrews 2:18. "The final disclosure of God’s mind and purpose has been made in his Son, who is far superior to the angels; beware then of taking it casually

Hebrews 6:10 — not turn aside from it (i.e., apostatize). "Not unjust" is understatement; God is eminently just. This is also litotes, a figure of speech that sets forth a positive idea by stating its negative opposite (cf. Acts 12:18; Acts 15:2; Acts 17:4; Acts 17:12; Acts 19:24; Acts 27:20; et al.). [Note: For further discussion of rhetorical elements in Hebrews, see Trotter, pp. 164-77.]

James 1:19-27 — value of trials and our options in trials, James next exhorted his readers to respond properly to their trials. In this section he stressed the Word of God because it is the key to resisting temptations and responding to trials correctly (cf. Matthew 4:1-11). "Receptivity to the Word, responsiveness to the Word, and resignation to the Word are essential to spiritual growth. One must accept God’s Word, act on it, and abide by it." [Note: Ibid.]

James 2:6 — When a Christian dishonors the poor, he or she treats them exactly opposite to the way God treats them (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:22; 1 Peter 2:17). Instead of favoring Christians, James reminded his readers that the characteristic response of the rich to them had been to oppress them (cf. Mark 13:9; Acts 4:1-3; Acts 13:50; Acts 16:19; Acts 19:23-41). How inconsistent it is to despise one’s friends and honor one’s foes! The oppression in view could have been physical and or legal.

2 Peter 1:12-15 — A. The Need for a Reminder 1:12-15 Peter returned to the subject of God’s promises (2 Peter 1:4). He developed the importance of the Scriptures as the resource of the believer. He did so to enable his readers to appreciate their value and to motivate them to draw upon them so they would grow in grace. "These verses make it obvious that Peter’s

1 John 2:12-14 — A. Appreciating Spiritual Advances 2:12-14 John began this section by affirming the spiritual competence of his readers. He reminded them of their spiritual blessings to motivate them to cultivate intimate fellowship with God. "Because his readers are Christians and have in part experienced

1 John 3:24 — 1. God’s Indwelling Affirmed 3:24 Obedience results in mutual abiding, God in man and man in God. God "abides" in every obedient believer, but He indwells every believer (cf. John 15:4-5; John 15:7; Romans 8:9). The evidence that God "abides" in us is the manifestation

1 John 4:20 — A claim to love God is a poor substitute for genuine love of the brethren. 1 John 4:19 left open the possibility of such a claim. John therefore clarified that a claim to love God is not a true demonstration of love. In John’s hyperbolic parlance, failing to love is to hate. Love for the unseen God will find expression in love for our brethren whom we can see. It is easier to love someone we can see than it is to love someone we cannot see.

1 John 4:7 — Love, as well as faith (i.e., acknowledging the true doctrine of Christ, 1 John 4:1-6), is a product of God’s Spirit. The believer (one "born of God") who also "knows" God (i.e., has intimate fellowship with Him) loves (cf. 1 John 2:3-5). "The love which the New Testament enjoins involves a consuming

Revelation 1:1-20 — I. THE PREPARATION OF THE PROPHET CH. 1 The first chapter contains a prologue to the book, which is similar to the one in John 1:1-18, the prologue to John’s Gospel (cf. 1 John 1:1-4). It also relates a vision that God gave John that prepared him for what follows. This presentation has the effect of showing that Jesus Christ is the culminating figure in human history (cf. Hebrews 1), and it prepares the reader for the revelation of His future acts that constitutes the bulk of this book.

Revelation 1:18 — Death and Hades here (cf. Revelation 6:8). John saw his beloved teacher of Galilee, on whose chest he had laid his head, in an entirely different light than he had seen Him before, except in His transfiguration (Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2; cf. Revelation 4:10; Revelation 10:6).

Revelation 9:2 — of the place from which the locusts emerge (cf. Ephesians 2:2). In Revelation smoke usually relates to judgment, doom, and torment (Revelation 9:17-18; Revelation 18:9; Revelation 19:3), though it also has connections with holy things (Revelation 8:4; Revelation 15:8). The context specifies a negative connotation here (cf. Genesis 19:28; Exodus 19:18). What John saw resembled smoke billowing out of an active volcano.