Bible Commentaries

Genesis 17:1-8 — in view of the thing God proceeded to reveal to Abram that He would do. It would require supernatural power. The references to the "covenant" in this chapter have caused some confusion. The Abrahamic Covenant (ch. 15) is in view (Genesis 17:4; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 17:11; Genesis 17:19; Genesis 17:21) but also the outward sign of that covenant that was the covenant of circumcision (Genesis 17:2; Genesis 17:9-10; Genesis 17:13-14; cf. Acts 7:8). Thus Moses used the word "covenant"

Genesis 6:1-2 — pseudepigrapha); Philo; Josephus; Justin Martyr; Tertullian; Cyprian; Ambrose; Pember; Clarence Larkin The Spirit World; Henry Morris, The Genesis Record; C. Fred Dickason, Angels: Elect and Evil; M. R. DeHaan, 508 Answers to Bible Questions; Boice, 1:245-48; R. S. Hendel, "When the Sons of God Cavorted with the Daughters of Men," Bible Review 3:2 (Summer 1987):8-13, 37; Merrill, p. 23; Wenham, pp. 140, 146; et al.] Arguments in favor of this view follow with responses. a.    The

Exodus 25:23-30 — right side as the priest entered from the courtyard. The priests placed twelve loaves (large pieces) of unleavened [Note: Josephus, 3:6:5.] bread in two rows [Note: William L. Lane, Hebrews 9-13, p. 220.] or piles [Note: Bill Mitchell, "Leviticus 24:6: The bread of the presence-rows or piles?" The Bible Translator 33:4 (October 1982):447-48.] on this table where they remained for seven days. They substituted twelve fresh loaves for the old bread each Sabbath (Leviticus 24:5-8). The term "bread

Nehemiah 6:1-14 — 4. The attacks against Nehemiah 6:1-14 Nehemiah recorded three separate plots the Jews’ enemies instigated to frustrate his effective leadership.

Leviticus 17:10-14 — God also prohibited the ingesting of blood (Leviticus 17:11; cf. Leviticus 3:17; Leviticus 7:26-27; Leviticus 19:26; Genesis 9:4; Deuteronomy 12:15-16; Deuteronomy 12:23-24; Deuteronomy 15:23). From this law the Jews developed methods of draining or washing the blood out of meat that resulted in kosher (meaning fit or proper) meat. [Note: Harrison, p. 181.] The incidence of blood

Isaiah 4:2 — "In that day" connects this section of the oracle with its earlier parts and shows that all of it deals with a future time (cf. Isaiah 2:12; Isaiah 2:17; Isaiah 2:20; Isaiah 3:8; Isaiah 3:18; Isaiah 4:1). However, here we learn that "that day" will be a day of glory and vindication for Israel, as well as retribution and judgment. In a general sense "The Branch of the Lord" refers to Israel, but this is also a messianic title here

Deuteronomy 1:6-40 — II. MOSES’ FIRST MAJOR ADDRESS: A REVIEW OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS 1:6-4:40 ". . . an explicit literary structure to the book is expressed in the sermons or speeches of Moses; a substructure is discernible in the covenantal character of the book; and a theological structure is revealed in its theme of the exclusive

Mark 4:13-20 — The explanation of the parable of the soils 4:13-20 (cf. Matthew 13:18-23; Luke 8:11-15)

Luke 8:16-18 — 3. The parable of the lamp 8:16-18 (cf. Mark 4:21-25) Jesus continued speaking to His disciples.

Acts 3:1-31 — 1. External opposition 3:1-4:31 Opposition to the Christians’ message first came from external sources, particularly the leaders of Judaism.

Romans 12:15 — Believers should share the joys and sorrows of their neighbors, especially fellow believers (1 Corinthians 12:26; Philippians 4:14).

1 Corinthians 4:21 — it stood in stark contrast to the spirit of arrogance in Corinth. Paul concluded this part of 1 Corinthians with a strong confronting challenge. "Christian leadership means being entrusted with the ’mysteries’ of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-7). "Christian leadership means living life in the light of the cross (1 Corinthians 4:8-13). "Christian leadership means encouraging-and if necessary, enforcing-the way of the cross among the people of God (1 Corinthians 4:14-21)."

Philippians 2:1 — B. Unity and steadfastness 2:1-4:1 In addition to walking worthily, the Philippians needed to walk in unity and steadfastness.

Colossians 4:10-14 — B. Greetings from Paul’s companions 4:10-14 Paul mentioned six individuals, five of whom he also named in Philemon.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 — Paul explained that three events had to take place before the judgments of the day of the Lord began (i.e., the judgments of the Tribulation). These were the apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2:3), the unveiling of the man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:8), and the removal of the restraint of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). The apostle presented these in logical rather than chronological order in this passage. The word "first" refers to the fact that the apostasy will

Hebrews 7:20-21 — Another oath from God (Psalms 110:4) launched Messiah’s priesthood. The Levitical priesthood had no such origin, another indication of its inferiority.

2 Peter 1:3 — Christians) everything we need to live godly lives. "’Power’ is one of the key-words of the epistle." [Note: Sidebottom, p. 105.] It is possible that Peter meant the apostles specifically when he wrote "us" in 2 Peter 1:3-4. [Note: R. H. Strachan, "The Second Epistle General of Peter," in The Expositor’s Greek Testament, 5:124.] The apostles are evidently in view in 2 Peter 1:1 ("ours"), and they may contrast with the readers ("you")

Revelation 14:1 — "And I looked" (Gr. kai eidon) introduces three scenes in chapter 14 (Revelation 14:1; Revelation 14:6; Revelation 14:14), as this phrase did twice in chapter 13 (Revelation 14:1; Revelation 14:11). "Behold" (Gr. idou, cf. Revelation 14:14) calls special attention to the greatness of the sight that John saw

Revelation 3:4-6 — 4. Promise 3:4-6 Jesus Christ held out blessings for the faithful few in the congregation to stimulate the rest to repent. White garments symbolic of one’s works (Revelation 19:8) are pure and free of defilement (cf. Revelation 7:9; Revelation 7:13;

1 Samuel 5:6-12 — The writer now began to stress the major theme in the ark narrative: the hand [power] of the Lord. [Note: Patrick D. Miller Jr. and J. J. M. Roberts, The Hand of the Lord: A Reassessment of the "Ark Narrative" of 1 Samuel, p. 48.] There are nine occurrences of this anthropomorphic phrase in this section of 1 Samuel (1 Samuel 4:8; 1 Samuel 5:6-7; 1 Samuel 5:9; 1 Samuel 5:11; 1 Samuel 6:3; 1 Samuel 6:5; 1 Samuel 6:9; 1 Samuel 7:13). The hand of the Lord represents Yahweh in