Bible Commentaries

2 Corinthians 5:17 — Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) had had another effect besides altering Paul’s viewpoint (2 Corinthians 5:16). 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 each begin with the same Greek word, hoste: "therefore" or "so." Whenever a person experiences conversion, as Paul did,

Galatians 4:31 — reminding his readers of the very basic and drastic difference between himself and the Galatians, who were children of faith, and the legalists and nomists, who were children of the flesh. Paul’s defense of salvation by faith alone (chapters 3-4) points out in the strongest terms the incompatibility of faith and works as methods of obtaining justification and sanctification. The Judaizers were trying to get the Galatians to submit to the Mosaic institutions to merit something from God. This

Ephesians 5:23 — Eve had done (Genesis 3:9). The husband’s leadership makes the wife’s submission reasonable. It requires taking the initiative, integrity, and serving the wife (i.e., lightening the load of those who follow; cf. Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 10:42-45). Leadership also involves managing the home, not dominating it. A good manager creates an environment in which each person can achieve his or her maximum potential. A responsible father also keeps his children under control (1 Timothy 3:4). Leading

Philippians 1:21 — from sin, suffering, and sorrow. Furthermore he would have glorified God by persevering faithfully to the end of his life. The Christian can take a radically different view of death than the unbeliever who has no hope, as Paul did (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). "Paul’s hope for the future, centered as it was in Jesus, kept him from making too much of his current circumstances. This hope enabled him to reassess his circumstances, not by suppressing his emotions, evident throughout this letter,

Philippians 2:1 — for the Philippians, which came as a comforting gift from God, should impel them to respond positively to his request also. Third, the fellowship that the Holy Spirit creates should also make Christians submissive (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:13; Ephesians 4:3). It seems best to take this reference as including both our participation in the Spirit and the common life that He has created for us. [Note: Kent, p. 121; William Hendricksen, New Testament Commentary: Exposition of Philippians and Exposition of

Philippians 2:10 — The purpose of the Father’s having given the Son great exaltation and a name suitable to such a position is that every person will bow in submission to His authority (cf. Isaiah 45:23 where all bow before Yahweh). "Residents of first-century Philippi felt strongly compelled to proclaim their social location publicly in the pecking order of this highly stratified Roman colony." [Note: Idem, "The Humiliation of Christ

Philippians 3:20 — should follow Paul’s example and not that of these sensualists is that as Christians we have a citizenship in heaven as well as one on earth. Our heavenly citizenship and destiny are far more important than our brief earthly sojourn (cf. Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 11:10). The Roman citizenship the Philippians enjoyed meant a great deal to them (Acts 16:12; Acts 16:21). All believers need to learn to live as foreigners and pilgrims on this earth (Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11). [Note: See John A. Witmer,

Colossians 3:4 — reached by legalistic observances, knowledge, visionary experiences and the like. . . "But if the ’already’ pole received the emphasis, the ’not yet’ of salvation still needed to be mentioned, and here in Colossians 3:4 we find a clear future reference." [Note: O’Brien, Colossians . . ., pp. 171-72.] In view of this prospect the Colossians and we need not pursue another system that claims to provide more than we have in Christ. God has provided all we need

1 Timothy 5:9-10 — She had been hospitable. This demonstrated good works in her community. (3) She had humbly served her Christian brothers and sisters. "Washed the saints’ feet" seems to be a figure of speech for humble service in the church family. (4) She had helped people in special need, an example of good works toward the needy. (5) She had "devoted herself" to good works. Good works had been important to her presumably as an expression of her faith in Christ. Some writers believed

2 Timothy 2:24-26 — knowledge. [Note: Kelly, p. 190.] He must also gently correct the erring with a view to their restoration to correct doctrine and correct practice. Thus they may escape the devil’s trap and be able to do God’s will again. [Note: Robertson, 4:622.] ". . . the three characteristics just named, ’gentle,’ ’able to teach,’ and ’forbearing,’ correspond respectively to the three elements in the task to be performed-’in meekness,’ ’instructing,’

Titus 1:4 — readers that he regarded Titus, an uncircumcised Gentile, and himself, a Jew, as sharing the same faith. Note the testimony to the deity of Christ that Paul gave by referring to both Christ Jesus and God the Father as "our Savior" (Titus 1:3-4). "Here alone he [Paul] calls Christ soter, ’Savior,’ rather than kurios, ’Lord.’ It is as if he anticipates the two crucial theological arguments that undergird his ethical exhortations in chapters 2 and 3, in both of which

Titus 2:9-10 — address attitude and the last two fidelity. [Note: Knight, p. 315.] Believing slaves were (1) to be submissive to their own masters in everything and (2) to try to please their masters. They were (3) to refrain from talking back when given instructions, (4) not to steal from them, and (5) to prove completely trustworthy. Again the reason for this kind of behavior follows. It is that such behavior is in harmony with and therefore adorns (contributes to the enhancement of by providing a complimentary setting

Hebrews 10:21-22 — Second, we can have confidence to enter God’s presence because we have a great High Priest (cf. Hebrews 7:1 to Hebrews 10:18). We should draw near with freedom from guilt and with holy conduct (cf. Hebrews 4:16). This is the first of three admonitions (in Hebrews 10:22-25) that together constitute the main exhortation in the epistle. [Note: Guthrie, p. 213.] This first one refers to personal devotion. "Sincere" means true and dependable. We should

James 5:6 — The oppression of the rich extends to putting to death those who stand in their way even though these people resist the rich righteously. As in James 4:2, James may have been using "put to death" hyperbolically. Many Christians have experienced persecution from people who are trying to guard their own financial security (e.g., Acts 8:18-24; Acts 19:23-28). However if day laborers do not get

1 Peter 1:13 — laid aside for work. The shirt was worn long for ceremonial occasions or when at relative rest, such as talking in the market, but for active service, such as work or war, it was tucked up into a belt at the waist to leave the legs free (1 Kings 18:46; Jeremiah 1:17; Luke 17:8; John 21:18; Acts 12:8). Thus Peter’s allusion pictures a mind prepared for active work." [Note: Davids, p. 66. Cf. Exodus 12:11 LXX.] Sober of spirit describes a Christian who is in full control of his speech

1 Peter 5:9 — Whereas God commands us to forsake the world and deny the lusts of the flesh, we should resist the devil (cf. Ephesians 6:11-13; James 4:7). Satan’s desire is to get the Christian to doubt, to deny, to disregard, and to disobey what God has said. The Greek word translated "resist" means to defend oneself against as opposed to attacking. It is easier to resist when we

1 John 3:1 — The Holy Spirit’s production of righteous behavior in abiding Christians is evidence of God’s great love for us. John used love language more frequently in 1 John (46 times) and in his Gospel (44 times) than any other New Testament writer. Paul used it third most frequently in Ephesians (20 times). [Note: See Yarbrough, pp. 174-75 for a graph and a table of the occurrences in all the New Testament books.] Scripture

Jude 1:20 — Christian life. Second, true believers are not devoid of the Spirit (Judges 1:19). We have Him and can pray in Him, namely, pray for God’s help in harmony with the Spirit’s desires (Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:26-27; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Galatians 4:6). Our greatest resource is God Himself. We secure His help through prayer. "The development of spiritual maturity is vitally related to the practice of prayer at all times and in all places." [Note: Hiebert, "An Exposition . . .

Revelation 17:9 — (cf. Revelation 13:18). Evidently many would incorrectly identify these seven heads. Indeed various writers have suggested a multitude of different interpretations. The most popular of these include seven Roman emperors, [Note: Beckwith, pp. 699, 704-11; Swete, pp. 220-21. For refutation of this view, see Ladd, pp. 228-29.] the seven hills of Rome, [Note: E.g., Newell, p. 263; Mounce, pp. 313-14; Beasley-Murray, p. 256. For extensive evidence that these are kingdoms rather than literal mountains,

Revelation 8:6 — The whole scene quite clearly symbolizes God sending judgment on the earth in response to His people’s accumulated prayers (cf. Exodus 3:7-10; Exodus 19:16-19; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:18). The trumpet judgments to follow are what He will send. The storm theophany, therefore, apparently implies the awful calamities that will come in the trumpet and bowl judgments that are ahead. [Note: Robert L.