Bible Commentaries

Proverbs 4:1-9 — 6. Teaching the love of Wisdom 4:1-9 "This chapter is comprised of three discourses on the value of wisdom, each including the motifs of instruction, exhortation, command, and motivation." [Note: Ross, p. 922.] The first section of verses in this chapter shows how parents

Song of Solomon 4:12-15 — 4. The bride’s purity 4:12-15

Song of Solomon 6:4-13 — 4. Restoration of intimacy 6:4-13

Isaiah 2 overview — B. The problem with Israel chs. 2-4 This second major segment of the introduction to the book (chs. 1-5) contrasts what God intended Israel to be (Isaiah 2:1-5), with what she was (Isaiah 2:6 to Isaiah 4:1), and what God will make of her in the future (Isaiah 4:2-6). Thus the progress of thought is from the ideal to the real and back to the ideal.

Ezekiel 34:15-16 — God Himself would feed His flock and lead the sheep to rest (cf. Ezekiel 34:3). He would seek the lost, return the scattered, heal the broken, and strengthen the sick (cf. Ezekiel 34:4; Ezekiel 34:6; Isaiah 61:1-2; Micah 2:12; Micah 4:6-8; Luke 4:16-21). He would also destroy the fat, strong shepherds who had failed Him by feeding these leaders judgment.

Ezekiel 4:4-8 — Lying on the side 4:4-8

Ezekiel 41:3-4 — In his vision Ezekiel’s guide then went into the most holy place and measured the doorway leading into it from the holy place. This doorway was two cubits (3 feet 4 inches) deep and six cubits (10 feet) wide. The projecting wall on either side of this entrance, which also formed part of the wall of the holy place and the most holy place, projected inward seven cubits (11 feet 8 inches) from the side walls of the

Daniel 4:19-27 — 4. Daniel’s interpretation 4:19-27

Amos 4:4-5 — Religious hypocrisy 4:4-5

Micah 4:1-8 — 1. The exaltation of Zion 4:1-8 Micah mentioned several characteristics of the future kingdom of Messiah in this section. Micah 4:1-3 are similar to Isaiah 2:2-4. Scholars debate whether Isaiah borrowed from Micah or vice versa, whether they both drew from an older original source, or whether they each received their similar words directly from the Lord. There is no way to tell for sure.

Zephaniah 3:13 — In contrast to their conduct since the Exodus, the Jews would do nothing wrong, tell no lies, and practice no deceit (cf. Zephaniah 3:1-4). They will resemble a flock of sheep at peace grazing and lying down with nothing to disturb them (cf. Psalms 23; Micah 4:4). "When the Creator is worshipped and served as he ought to be, paradise is regained." [Note: Baker, p. 117.]

Zechariah 3:10 — In that day, the Lord promised, the Israelites would all invite their (Gentile) neighbors to join them in enjoying their peace and prosperity. Israel would enjoy peace and security as never before, even under the reign of Solomon (1 Kings 4:25; cf. 2 Kings 18:31; Micah 4:4). Then God will lift the curse that He imposed on the creation at the Fall, and there will be agricultural prosperity as well as spiritual prosperity (Isaiah 11:1-9; Isaiah 35; Isaiah 65:17; Daniel 7:13-14; Daniel 7:27;

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 — Paul followed the two positive expressions of love with seven verbs that indicate how it does not behave. The first five of these marked the Corinthians, as we have seen. They were envious (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 4:18), boastful (ostentatious; 1 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 8:2; 1 Corinthians 14:37), proud (1 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 4:18-19; 1 Corinthians 5:2; 1 Corinthians 8:1), rude (1 Corinthians 7:36; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16) and self-seeking (1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 9:8-9 — Second, the Old Testament supported this point. God made special provision in the Mosaic Law for the oxen that served people by threshing their grain (Deuteronomy 25:4). In so doing, Paul said, God was teaching His concern for the maintenance of all who serve others, not just oxen. [Note: See Jan L. Verbruggen, "Of Muzzles and Oxen: Deuteronomy 25:4 and 1 Corinthians 9:9," Journal of the Evangelical Theological

Ephesians 4:13 — The end in view is completeness in Christ. As each believer exercises the gifts (abilities God has given him or her, Ephesians 4:7), three things happen. First, the body enjoys unity (Ephesians 4:3-6). Second, it becomes more spiritually mature (Ephesians 4:15). Third, it becomes more Christ-like (cf. Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 3:19). Unity of the faith (cf. Ephesians 4:5), full

Philippians 4:17 — the gifts themselves. It was the spiritual reward that would come to the Philippians because of their financial investments in his ministry. "They themselves will be Paul’s eschatological ’reward’ (Philippians 2:16; Philippians 4:1); their gift to him has the effect of accumulating ’interest’ toward their eschatological ’reward.’" [Note: ibid., p. 447.] Throughout this section dealing with gifts Paul used common business terminology (i.e., "the

Philemon 1:23-24 — Epaphras was the evangelist of the Lycus Valley and a leading man in the church at Colossae, probably the leading pastor (Colossians 1:7; cf. Philippians 2:25). He was probably not in prison with Paul (Colossians 1:8; cf. Colossians 4:10). "Fellow-prisoner" is more likely a figurative expression referring to the Christian’s spiritual warfare. Paul mentioned his other four companions in Colossians 4:10; Colossians 4:14.

Hebrews 1:1-4 — A. The Agent of God’s Final Revelation 1:1-4 The writer began his epistle with an affirmation of Jesus Christ’s greatness to introduce his readers to his subject. This section is one sentence in the Greek text. It contrasts God’s old revelation with the new, specifically by presenting

2 Peter 1:6 — "Self-control" (Gr. egkrates) means mastery of self, disciplined moderation, controlling one’s desires and passions (cf. Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 25:28; Acts 24:25; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Galatians 5:23; Philippians 3:12-16; 1 Timothy 4:7-8; James 4:17). Many of the early Christian heresies taught that since the body was evil (some claimed) or unimportant (others claimed) it was not necessary to curb fleshly

Revelation 8:2 — John saw someone, perhaps God, give seven trumpets to a group of seven angels standing before the heavenly throne (cf. Revelation 1:4; Revelation 3:1; Revelation 8:6; Revelation 15:1). Exactly who these angels were is not clear. Some interpreters have identified them with seven archangels in Jewish tradition (cf. Book of Jubilees 1:27, 29; 2:1-2; 2:18; 15:27; 31:14; Tobit 12:15; Enoch