Bible Commentaries

Psalms 31:14-18 — 4. David’s prayer for deliverance 31:14-18 Reaffirming his trust in the Lord, David called on Him to silence his enemies and to save him from their hateful hands. He asked God to shut their slanderous mouths also.

Song of Solomon 5:2 — Again the woman dreamed (cf. Song of Solomon 3:1-4). In her dream, her husband came to her-having been outdoors in the evening. His mind appears to have been on making love in view of what follows.

Jeremiah 42:1-7 — The remnant’s flight to Egypt 42:1-43:7 This chapter continues the narrative begun at Jeremiah 41:4. The remnant leaders asked Jeremiah to obtain the Lord’s instructions concerning their proposed flight to Egypt (Jeremiah 42:1-6).

Mark 13:28-32 — 6. The time of Jesus’ return 13:28-32 (cf. Matthew 24:32-41; Luke 21:29-33) Jesus began this discourse with exhortation (Mark 13:4-13), and He ended it the same way (Mark 13:28-37).

1 Corinthians 12:8 — manifests Himself through believers. The list is representative rather than exhaustive as is clear when we compare this list with other similar ones (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:28-30; 1 Corinthians 7:7; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; 1 Corinthians 13:8; 1 Corinthians 14:6; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:11). In this verse there is no definite article before the word "word" in either of its uses. This probably points to Paul’s referring to an utterance of wisdom or knowledge, namely,

1 Corinthians 16:1-12 — questions the Corinthians had asked Paul rather than with Paul’s concluding comments because it begins "peri de" (1 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Corinthians 7:25; 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 12:1; 1 Corinthians 16:12; cf. 1 Corinthians 8:4). Probably they had asked about the collection Paul was assembling in a letter or through messengers. This is the least confrontational section in this epistle, though we can detect tension here too. Problems over this collection emerge clearly in 2

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 — of life in the midst of death and glory following as a result of present suffering also continue. "Few chapter divisions are more unfortunate than this one since what follows (2 Corinthians 5:1-10) details the thought expressed in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Failure to appreciate this fact unduly complicates these already difficult verses by removing their contextual constraints." [Note: Lowery, p. 565.] What about the believer who dies before he or she has followed God faithfully for very

Galatians 2:19 — virtue of his incorporation into Christ (cf. Galatians 2:17) and participation in Christ’s death Paul has undergone a death whereby his relation to the law has been decisively severed and the law has ceased to have any claim on him (cf. Romans 7:4; Romans 7:6). But since the vicarious death of Christ for sinners was exacted by the law (cf. Galatians 3:13) and was ’first an affirmation of [the law’s] verdict,’ Paul’s death to the law through participation in Christ’s

Galatians 6:3-4 — is to remember that we are not intrinsically superior (cf. Romans 12:3). An objective review of our accomplishments should also remind us that the only legitimate ground for justifiable self-satisfaction is God’s working through us (Galatians 6:4). The emphasis is on personal responsibility. "Two errors might keep a believer from fulfilling this role [of bearing one another’s burdens]. The first is conceit, that is, thinking himself to be more important than he is. . . .

Ephesians 1:22 — the future when He reigns during the Millennium (Psalms 8:6; 1 Corinthians 15:27; Hebrews 2:6-8). [Note: See Donald R. Glenn, "Psalms 8 and Hebrews 2 : A Case Study in Biblical Hermeneutics and Biblical Theology," in Walvoord: A Tribute, p. 45.] The third manifestation of God’s power in Christ is the Son’s appointment as Head over the church (cf. Ephesians 4:15; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18). This aspect of His lordship is evident now. "There is given to the Church,

Philippians 2:17 — The prospect that Paul might receive a death sentence soon arose again in his thinking. He described his present life as the pouring out of a drink offering in Israel’s worship (cf. 2 Timothy 4:6; Numbers 15:1-10; Numbers 28:4-7). After the priest offered a lamb, a ram, or a bull as a burnt offering, he poured wine beside the altar. This was the last act in the sacrificial ceremony, all of which symbolized the dedication of the believer to

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 — 1. Continued growth 4:1-2 In this last major section of the epistle, introduced by "Finally," Paul urged his readers to continue walking (behaving day by day) as the missionaries had instructed them (cf. Galatians 5:25). They needed to "excel still more."

1 Timothy 4:13 — crucial. First, he should continue to make sure the church leaders read the Scriptures in the meetings of the church. This practice, carried over from temple and synagogue worship, was central in the corporate worship of God’s people (cf. Exodus 24:7; Deuteronomy 31:11; 2 Kings 23:2; Nehemiah 8:7-8; Luke 4:16; Acts 15:21; 2 Corinthians 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:27). [Note: See Towner, The Letters . . ., p. 317.] Second, exhortation should continue to accompany the reading of the Word. "Exhortation"

Titus 2:11 — the proper response to God’s grace. God has manifested His grace (unmerited favor) in Christ and the gospel. This has resulted in two things: the possibility of salvation for all and the actual salvation of all who believe in Christ (1 Timothy 2:4; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 Timothy 4:10). "In the Greek, ’has appeared’ stand emphatically at the beginning, stressing the manifestation of grace as a historical reality. The reference is to Christ’s entire earthly life-his birth, life,

Hebrews 7:1-2 — peace (cf. Hebrews 12:10-11; Psalms 85:10; Isaiah 32:17; Romans 5:1; James 3:17-18). The fact that Melchizedek was a priest is clear from two facts: he blessed Abraham, and Abraham paid tithes to him of all the spoils that he had taken in war (Hebrews 7:4; cf. Genesis 14:23-24). According to Moffatt, the Jews under the Mosaic Covenant did not pay tithes from the spoils of war. [Note: Moffatt, p. 91.] This was a pagan custom. These verses point out four important facts about Melchizedek: (1) he was a

James 1:11 — The flower of the grass refers to its stage of green, lush growth when it is at the peak of its vitality. Soon it withers and turns brown in the Middle East (cf. Matthew 6:30). Likewise the rich man may fade quickly (cf. James 4:13). "Speaking of his friend, a poor Christian, a wealthy unbeliever remarked, ’When I die, I shall leave my riches. When he dies he will go to his.’" [Note: Adamson, p. 66.] Our trials as well as our triumphs on the earth are

1 John 3:4 — purifying oneself in anticipation of his coming. Now he deals more closely with the negative side of all this, the need for believers to abstain from sin and the possibility of their doing so." [Note: Marshall, p. 175.] "The present vv, 1 John 3:4-9, form six strophes, each of which divides . . . roughly into half. The two halves of the strophes balance one another; for the second part of the v provides a development of the first part (1 John 3:4-5; 1 John 3:7), or a parallel (1 John

Revelation 15:2 — John again "saw" (cf. Revelation 15:1; Revelation 15:5) the sea of glass that was similar to crystal (Revelation 4:6; cf. Exodus 24:10; Ezekiel 1:22), though here he wrote that it also had fire in it. The sea most likely represents chaotic evil (cf. Revelation 4:6). The fire suggests the judgment that is about to come. Another view is that the fiery sea represents

Revelation 3:18-19 — self-sacrifice, the things they really needed (cf. Isaiah 55:1). Instead of real gold they should buy "gold refined by fire," namely, pure spiritual riches (cf. Psalms 66:10; Proverbs 17:3; Zechariah 13:9; Luke 12:21; 1 Timothy 6:18; James 1:3-4; James 2:5; 1 Peter 1:7; 1 Peter 4:12-13). Instead of the black garments that were popular in Laodicea they should buy "white garments" that symbolize righteous conduct (Revelation 19:8). [Note: Mounce, p. 127.] Instead of the eye salve that

Revelation 7:1 — The phrase "after this" (Gr. meta touto) indicates that what follows is a new vision (cf. Revelation 4:1). The general chronological progression of the visions suggests that the events John saw now will happen at the end of the first half of the Tribulation. What John saw in this vision supports that conclusion. [Note: Moffatt, 5:394.] The angels described