Bible Commentaries

Genesis 4:25-26 — The family of Seth 4:25-26 Seth’s name, from the Hebrew verb translated "granted" and meaning "to set or place," expresses Eve’s faith that God would continue to provide seed despite death. [Note: Waltke, Genesis, p. 101.] Many commentators

Leviticus 4:1-13 — 4. The sin offering 4:1-5:13 The sin offering was a very important offering since it was to be offered before any of the others. It also played a key role on the Day of Atonement. Ancient Near Easterners offered certain offerings before God incorporated

Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 — Position and prestige 4:13-16 It is also futile to work to gain advancement and popularity, thinking that these advantages will provide ultimate satisfaction. "He has reached a pinnacle of human glory, only to be stranded there." [Note: Ibid., p. 52.] Ecclesiastes

Isaiah 50:1 — The Lord continued to speak through His prophet. He addressed again Zion’s charge that God had forsaken and forgotten His people (Isaiah 49:14). He had not issued Israel a certificate of divorce (cf. Deuteronomy 24:1-4); He had not stopped desiring to have her for Himself (cf. Isaiah 49:14-18; Judges 2:14; Judges 3:8; Judges 4:2; Judges 10:7). [Note: See Joe M. Sprinkle, "Old Testament

Habakkuk 3:17-18 — Even though everything would get worse in Judah, Habakkuk determined to praise Yahweh and to rejoice in the God who would save him (cf. Psalms 18:46; Psalms 25:5). The prophet pictured the worst of circumstances by using a variety of rural metaphors drawn from plant and animal life. Taken together they have the effect of saying that no matter what bad thing may happen, Habakkuk, and hopefully all

Zephaniah 1:4-3 — B. The judgment on Judah 1:4-2:3 Zephaniah gave more particulars concerning the fate of Judah (Zephaniah 1:4 to Zephaniah 2:3) and Jerusalem (Zephaniah 3:1-7) than about the fate of the rest of humanity (Zephaniah 1:2-3; Zephaniah 2:4-15; Zephaniah 3:8). He did this both in the

Zechariah 4 overview — E. The gold lampstand and the two olive trees ch. 4 This vision would have encouraged the two leaders of the restoration community, Zerubbabel and Joshua, by reminding them of God’s resources, and it would have vindicated these leaders in the eyes of the Israelites. Chapter 3 brought Joshua forward

John 13:33 — "Little children" (Gr. teknia, dear children) occurs only here in the fourth Gospel, but John used it seven times in 1 John mirroring Jesus’ compassionate spirit (1 John 2:1; 1 John 2:12; 1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:7; 1 John 3:18; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:21; cf. Galatians 4:19). Death and ascension to heaven would separate Jesus from them.

Acts 4:24 — The effect of opposition during Cyrus’ reign 4:24 The reference in this verse to the work stopping indicates that at this point, the writer returned to the opposition he had been describing earlier (Acts 4:1-5). Acts 4:6-23 are parenthetical. They record later events and simply illustrate the continuing

2 Corinthians 6:11-4 — 1. An appeal for large-heartedness and consistency 6:11-7:4 "Centuries of speechmaking had taught ancients the value of an emotional appeal (pathos) at the climax of arguments; Paul likewise clinches his appeal to be reconciled in 2 Corinthians 6:11 to 2 Corinthians 7:4, emphasizing both affection (2 Corinthians

Ephesians 4:1-9 — A. Spiritual walk 4:1-6:9 Paul had explained the unity of Jewish and Gentile believers in the church and had prayed for the realization of that unity in experience (Ephesians 2:11 to Ephesians 3:21). He now told how to attain a spiritual walk, namely, a life that manifests

Philippians 4:11 — up to the present has been a sort of schooling from which he has not failed to master its lessons." [Note: Hawthorne, p. 198.] Every Christian needs to learn to be content. When Paul urged his readers to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4) he was preaching what he practiced (Philippians 4:5-8). The apostle’s contentment and joy even in prison indicate his spiritual maturity, and it challenges us all. "Socrates said as to who is wealthiest: ’He that is content with

Colossians 4:6 — love, patience, sacrifice, undeserved favor, etc. Salt probably represented both attractiveness, since salt makes food appealing, and wholesomeness, since salt was a preservative that retarded corruption in food (cf. Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50; Ephesians 4:29). Furthermore one should wisely suit his or her speech to each need. The words "seasoned with salt" refer to witty speech in classical Greek, but Paul probably meant attractive and wholesome speech in view of other biblical uses of the

1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 — The Thessalonians were not ignorant of these events since Jesus and Paul had revealed them (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). In both Semitic and Greek thought, to be described as a "son" of something was to be characterized by that thing. [Note: Morris, The First . . ., p. 156.] In this case what characterized the Thessalonians was the light (in contrast

1 Timothy 5:22 — Paul also urged Timothy to minimize the possibility of elder failure by being extremely careful about whom he appointed in the first place. Laying on hands in this context probably refers to public ordination (cf. 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). [Note: Knight, The Pastoral . . ., p. 239; Earle, p. 381; Kelly, p. 127; David A. Mappes, "The ’Laying on of Hands’ of Elders," Bibliotheca Sacra 154:616 (October-December 1997):473-79.] Another view is that

1 Timothy 6:11-16 — through 10. He addressed them to Timothy personally since he, as a leader of the church, had the greatest responsibility to set the example for the rest. Paul called on Timothy to persevere. This section is the climax of the epistle. "In chaps. 1 and 4 Paul establishes the pattern of criticizing his opponents (1 Timothy 1:3-7; 1 Timothy 4:1-5) and then following with words of encouragement to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:18-20; 1 Timothy 4:6-16), which include reference to Timothy’s spiritual beginnings

2 Timothy 2:14 — brought back to his own recollection (i.e., 2 Timothy 2:3-13, but especially 2 Timothy 2:11-13). Furthermore, he should warn them against emphasizing hair-splitting controversies in their ministries since these do more harm than good (cf. 1 Timothy 1:4; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Timothy 6:4-5). "In the end disputing about words seeks not the victory of truth but the victory of the speaker." [Note: R. W. Ward, Commentary on 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus, p. 171.]

2 Timothy 4:9-10 — Paul urged Timothy to join him in Rome soon. He did not expect to live much longer (cf. 2 Timothy 4:6). "The constitutional method of inflicting capital punishment on a Roman citizen was by the lictor’s axe. The criminal was tied to a stake; cruelly scourged with the rods, and then beheaded." [Note: W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson,

Hebrews 4:9 — involves continuing to trust and obey God (i.e., walking by faith daily as opposed to apostatizing). Christians will enter into our rest, if we have persevered in faith, when we receive our inheritance from Jesus Christ at His judgment seat (1 Corinthians 4:1-5; 2 Corinthians 5:9-10). Millennial rest in the Promised Land will be the portion of Israel in the future. Walter Kaiser also interpreted the rest as future. He believed that first Israel and then all believers would fulfill this promise by possessing

Revelation 1:12 — When John turned to see the person who spoke to him he saw a majestic figure clothed in a long robe standing among seven lampstands (cf. Exodus 25:31-40; Zechariah 4:2; Zechariah 4:10; Matthew 18:20). This person would have resembled a priest in Israel ministering in the tabernacle or temple. The seven lampstands represent seven churches (Revelation 1:20; cf. Zechariah 4:2-6). [Note: See Appendix 2,