Bible Commentaries

Genesis 11:1-9 — the building of the tower of Babel but the dispersion of the peoples. We can see this in the literary structure of the passage. [Note: Ross, Creation and . . ., p. 235. Cf. J. P. Fokkelman, Narrative Art in Genesis, p. 22; Wenham, Genesis 1-15, pp. 234-38; and Waltke, Genesis, pp. 176-77.] A    All the earth had one language (Genesis 11:1) B    there (Genesis 11:2) C    one to another (Genesis 11:3) D    Come, let’s

Genesis 2:25 — (’arom) and "crafty" (Genesis 3:1, ’arum) points to a word play. This word for nakedness means unclothed whereas the one in Genesis 3:7 (’erom) and elsewhere describes those under God’s judgment (cf. Deuteronomy 28:48; Ezekiel 16:39; Ezekiel 23:29). [Note: Sailhamer, "Genesis," p. 49.] Genesis 2:18-25 teach us much about marriage. 1.    God instituted it. 2.    God intended it to be monogamous (not monotonous).

Exodus 7:14-19 — 4. The first three plagues 7:14-8:19 Psalms 78:43 places the scene of the plagues in northern Egypt near Zoan. The plagues were penal; God sent them to punish Pharaoh for his refusal to obey God and to move him to obey Yahweh. They involved natural occurrences

Ezekiel 39:29 — The Lord would no longer prove inaccessible to His people because He would bestow His Spirit on all the Israelites. [Note: See Cooper, p. 349, for a helpful chart contrasting nine ideals present in Eden, lost in the Fall, and restored to Israel in the future, drawn from chapters 33-39.] There are at least eight views as to the time of this future invasion. 1.    The

Daniel 5 overview — Neo-Babylonian Empire between Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar’s reigns, I recommend Archer, "Daniel," pp. 69-70.] The events of this chapter therefore occurred about 66 years after those in chapter 1, and about 36 years after those in chapter 4. Daniel received the revelation in chapter 7 in the first year of Belshazzar (553 B.C., Daniel 7:1), and the revelation in chapter 8 in Belshazzar’s third year (551 B.C., Daniel 8:1). Thus chapter 5 follows chapters 7 and 8 chronologically by

Habakkuk 3 overview — insight led Habakkuk to write the prayer of praise that concludes the book. It is "one of the most moving statements of faith and trust found in Scripture." [Note: Ibid.] This hymn is similar in language and imagery to Deuteronomy 33, Psalms 18:4-19, and Psalms 68. Its structure is chiastic, as indicated by the headings below.

Matthew 10:2-4 — "apostles." This noun, apostolos in Greek, comes from the verb apostello meaning "to send." This was not a technical term until Jesus made it such. It continued to refer generally to people sent out with the Christian message such as Barnabas (Acts 14:4; Acts 14:14; Romans 16:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28-29; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25). It referred to any messenger (John 13:16) and even to Jesus (Hebrews 3:1). Paul became an apostle who received his commission directly from the Lord, as the 12

Matthew 16:18 — "I say to you" (cf. Matthew 5:18; Matthew 5:20; Matthew 5:22; Matthew 5:28; Matthew 5:32; Matthew 5:34; Matthew 5:39; Matthew 5:44; Matthew 8:10) may imply that Jesus would continue the revelation the Father had begun. However the phrase occurs elsewhere where that contrast is not in view. Undoubtedly it means that Jesus was about to teach the disciples

Matthew 5:3-10 — identified the theme of this Sermon as "greater righteousness" and divided it as follows: (I) On Those Who Practice the Greater Righteousness (Matthew 5:3-16); (II) On Practicing the Greater Righteousness toward the Neighbor (Matthew 5:17-45); (III) On Practicing the Greater Righteousness before God (Matthew 6:1-18); (IV) On Practicing the Greater Righteousness in Other Areas of Life (Matthew 6:19 to Matthew 7:12); and (V) Injunctions on Practicing the Greater Righteousness (Matthew 7:13-27).

Deuteronomy 1:1-5 — of its composition. "The time was the last month of the fortieth year after the Exodus (Deuteronomy 1:3 a), when the men of war of that generation had all perished (Deuteronomy 2:16), the conquest of Trans-Jordan was accomplished (Deuteronomy 1:4; Deuteronomy 2:24 ff.), and the time of Moses’ death was at hand. It was especially this last circumstance that occasioned the renewal of the covenant. God secured the continuity of the mediatorial dynasty by requiring of Israel a pledge of obedience

Luke 8:2-3 — Luke’s mention of the women in this section prepares for his citing them as witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection later (cf. Luke 23:49; Luke 23:55; Luke 24:6; Luke 24:10; Acts 1:14). This is Luke’s third recent reference to women who benefited from Jesus’ ministry to them, several of whom responded by ministering to Him (cf. Luke 7:12-15; Luke 7:36-50). Their example provides

John 21:18-19 — 2:226-27.] This stretching took place when the Roman soldiers fastened the condemned person’s arms to the crosspiece of his cross. This often happened before they led him to the place of crucifixion and crucified him. [Note: Beasley-Murray, pp. 408-9.] Peter had been learning how his self-confidence led to failure and how he needed to depend on Jesus more (i.e., "You know . . ."; John 21:15-17). Jesus reminded Peter that as time passed he would become increasingly dependent

Joshua 6:6-14 — occur interchangeably here (Joshua 6:8). The Lord was over the ark, and the ark represented the Lord’s presence. Evidently the whole Israelite nation did not march around the walls of Jericho. Only warriors and priests circled the city (Joshua 6:3-4; Joshua 6:6; Joshua 6:9, et al.). The "people" referred to in the context (Joshua 6:7; Joshua 6:16, et al.) were these people, not all the Israelites. Probably representatives of the tribes participated in this march rather than all the soldiers

2 Timothy 3:5 — Finally these people would (19) make a pretense of being religious but deny the source of true spiritual power (i.e., God’s Word). This last characteristic makes clear that those individuals described in 2 Timothy 3:2-4 would even claim to be Christians (i.e., false teachers and their followers). Timothy was to avoid association with people who demonstrated these characteristics except, of course, for purposes of evangelism and instruction. "Self-love is the basic

Hebrews 11:33-35 — Joshua conquered kingdoms. Daniel shut the lions’ mouths (Daniel 6:17-22), as did Samson (Judges 14:5-6), David (1 Samuel 17:34-37), and Benaiah (1 Chronicles 11:22). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego escaped fiery deaths (Daniel 3:23-27). David, Elijah, Elisha, and Jeremiah avoided execution. Women even received their dead back because they believed

1 Peter 5:10 — Furthermore God gives sufficient grace (2 Corinthians 12:9). He has called us to experience eternal glory ultimately (1 Peter 1:1). Both our calling and our glory are in Christ. God will make us complete (Gr. katartizo, "to mend [nets]," Matthew 4:21) establish us, strengthen us for service, and give us peace in His will. "What Peter has done is pile up a number of closely related terms that together by their reinforcing one another give a multiple underscoring of the good that God is intending

1 Peter 5:8 — Trust in God is not all that we need, however. We also need to practice self-control and to keep alert (cf. 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 4:7) because Satan is on the prowl (cf. Job 1:7; Matthew 26:41; 1 Corinthians 16:13). Peter’s readers were in danger from him if they gave in to his temptation to regard their sufferings as an indication of God’s disinterest or ill will (cf.

2 Peter 3:15 — his salvation (cf. Philippians 2:12-13) in terms of progress in sanctification." [Note: Wheaton, p. 1258.] Peter regarded Paul as a "dear brother" who was one with him in his allegiance to God and His Word. Perhaps Peter had Romans 2:4 in mind when he said Paul wrote the same thing he had just said.

Revelation 13:13 — Pharaoh’s magicians, only with greater effectiveness, the second beast will have authority to perform supernatural miracles (cf. Exodus 7:11; Exodus 7:22; Exodus 8:7). These will be genuine signs and wonders, not just tricks (Revelation 16:13-14; Revelation 19:20; Matthew 24:4-5; Matthew 24:11; Matthew 24:24-25; 2 Thessalonians 2:9). [Note: See Gregory H. Harris, "Satan’s Deceptive Miracles in the Tribulation," Bibliotheca Sacra 156:623 (July-September 1999):308-24.] Like Elijah

2 Samuel 14:1-20 — Joab’s scheme to secure Absalom’s pardon 14:1-20 Evidently Joab (David’s commander-in-chief and nephew by his half-sister, Zeruiah; 1 Chronicles 2:16) concluded that it would be politically better for David and Israel if David brought Absalom back to Jerusalem from Geshur (cf. 2 Samuel