Bible Commentaries

Matthew 8 overview — CHAPTER 8. THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS. These two chapters consist mainly of miracle narratives, the greater number being reports of healing acts performed by Jesus, nine in all, being the second part of the programme sketched in chap. Matthew 4:23-25 . These

Matthew 8:11-12 — Matthew 8:11-12 . This logion is given by Luke (Luke 13:28-29 ) in a different connection, and it may not be in its historical place here. But its import is in thorough harmony with the preceding reflection on the spiritual state of Israel. One who said the

2 Corinthians 10:3 — strongholds , which is the ultimate object of every campaign, and which, being achieved, is the seal of victory; καθαίρειν τὰ ὀχυρώματα is the regular LXX phrase for the reduction of a fortress (see Proverbs 21:22 , Lamentations 2:2 , 1Ma 5:65 ; 1Ma 8:10 ).

2 Corinthians 12:18 — 2 Corinthians 12:18 . παρεκάλεσα Τίτον κ . τ . λ .: I exhorted Titus (see on 2 Corinthians 8:6 ), and I sent the brother with him . This was the mission from which Titus’ return is recorded above (2 Corinthians 7:6 ), We do not know the name of his companion; but

2 Corinthians 5:8 — 2 Corinthians 5:8 . θαρροῦμεν δὲ κ . τ . λ .: nay (the δέ is resumptive of the thought in 2 Corinthians 5:6 , which has been interrupted by 2 Corinthians 5:7 , the grammatical structure involving an anacoluthon), we are of good courage (for this is demanded even of

2 Corinthians 8:13-14 — 2 Corinthians 8:13-14 . οὐ γὰρ ἵνα κ . τ . λ .: for the collection is not made in order that there may be relief to others, i.e. , to the Judæan Christians, and pressure to you, but by equality, your abundance at the present season being a supply for their want,

Ephesians 1:3-8 — Ephesians 1:3-8 . DOXOLOGY, OR ASCRIPTION OF PRAISE TO GOD FOR THE BLESSINGS OF HIS LOVE AND GRACE. This extends over six verses, in one magnificent sentence intricately yet skilfully constructed, throbbing in each clause with the adoring sense of the majesty of that

1 Thessalonians 5:6 — 1 Thessalonians 5:6 . To be alert, in one’s sober senses ( νήφειν ), is more than to be merely awake. Here, as in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 , the Christians are summoned to live up to their privileges and position towards the Lord. “There are few of us who are not rather ashamed of our sins and follies as we look out on the blessed morning sunlight, which comes to us like a bright-winged

2 Thessalonians 1:8 — 2 Thessalonians 1:8 . Those who know not God are of course not pagans as such but immoral pagans, in the sense of Romans 1:28 f. Those who refuse obedience to the gospel are, as the repetition of the article suggests, a different class of people, perhaps drawn both from

Titus 1:8 — Titus 1:8 . φιλόξενον : See on 1 Timothy 3:2 . φιλάγαθον : In Wis 7:22 , the πνεῦμα which is in σοφία is φιλάγαθον , loving what is good . The epithets which immediately precede and follow φιλάγαθον in Wisd. have no reference to persons, with the exception

Hebrews 7:8 — Hebrews 7:8 . Another note of the superiority of Melchizedek. καὶ ὧδε μὲν δεκάτας … “And here men that die receive tithes, but there one of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.” ὧδε “here,” i.e. , in this Levitical system with which we

James 4:1 — Intro. to O.T. in Greek , p. 567), in answer to the question: “Why do not the majority of men take possession of virtue”? it is said: “ Ὅτι φυσικῶς ἅπαντες ἀκρατεῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς ἡδονὰς f1τρεπόμενοι γεγόνασιν . Cf. 4Ma 6:35 ; Luke 8:14 ; Titus 3:3 ; 2 Peter 2:13 . τῶν στρατευομένων ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν ὑμῶν : the same thought is found in 1 Peter 2:11 , παρακαλῶ ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν σαρκικῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν αἵτινες στρατεύονται κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς , cf. Romans 7:23 ; 1 Corinthians 9:7 .

1 Peter 1:19 — . The blood of Christ, the true paschal lamb, was the (means or) agent of your redemption. The type contemplated is composite; the lamb is the yearling sheep ( שה πρόβατον , but Targum-Onkelos has אמר lamb and שה is rendered ἀμνός in Leviticus 12:8 ; Numbers 15:11 ; Deuteronomy 14:4 ) prescribed for the Passover (Exodus 12:5 ). But the description perfect ( τέλειον תמים ) is glossed by ἀμώμου ( cf. Hebrews 12:14 ), which is the common translation of תמים in this connection, and ἀσπίλου which

2 Peter 2:3 — Corinthians 2:17 , 1 Timothy 6:5 . οἶς τὸ κρίμα ἔκπαλαι οὐκ ἀργεῖ : ‘whose judgment has for long not been nactive,” although there is an appearance of delay. This delay is the argument used by the false teachers. ἔκπαλαι occurs in O.G.I.S., 584 5 (ii. A.D.) διʼ ὧν ἔκπαλαι αὐτὴν (sc. τὴν πατρίδα ) εὐεργέτ [ ησεν ]. ( Cf. 2 Peter 3:4 and 2 Peter 2:1 , ἐπάγοντες ἑαυτοῖς ταχινὴν ἀπώλειαν .) For ἀργεῖ see note on 2 Peter 1:8 . The judgment has long been gathering, and is impending. νυστάζει .

1 John 4:6 — made and nearly double the usual price. When anything particularly profitable escaped the lips of the preacher, the hearer would observe to himself: “Excellent! This should touch my heart; but oh, the wig!” τῆς ἀληθείας see note on 1 John 1:8 . τὸ πν . τῆς πλάνης , “the spirit that leadeth astray”.

1 John 5:9 — 1 John 5:9 . According to the Jewish law threefold testimony was valid (Deuteronomy 19:15 ; cf. Matthew 18:16 ; John 8:17-18 ). Read (as in 1 John 3:20 ) ὅ , τι μεμαρτύηκεν , “what He hath testified concerning His Son,” i.e. the testimony of His miracles and especially His Resurrection (Romans 1:4 ). The variant ἥν is a marginal gloss indicating

Revelation 12:6 — Revelation 12:6 . ἀπὸ κ . τ . λ ., = ὑπό of agent (so Acts 2:22 ; Acts 4:36 , etc., Ps. Sol. 15:6, and a contemporary inscription in Dittenberger’s Sylloge Inscr. 655 8 συντετηρημένα ἀπὸ βασιλέων καὶ Σεβαστῶν ) only here in Apocalypse. On the flight of the faithful to the wilderness, a stereotyped feature of the antichrist period, cf. A. C. 211 f. Apocalyptic visions, particularly in the form of edited sources or

Revelation 19:2 — Revelation 19:2 . ἔφθειρεν , as the first Babylon had been denounced for her depraving influence by Jeremiah (51) Jer 28:25, τὸ ὄρος τὸ διεφθαρμένον τὸ διαφθεῖρον πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν . The impatient cry of Revelation 6:10 has now been answered. God “has avenged the blood ( i.e. , the murder) of his servants at her hand ( i.e. , on her),” the LXX rendering ( e.g.

Revelation 2:22 — P. i. 262 f.). μοιχ ., men and women who imitate her licentiousness. θλ ., physical distress, illness. μετανοήσουσιν , the fut. indic., expresses rather more probability than subj. with ἐὰν μή ( cf. Blass, § 65, 5). For tense of βάλλω see Zechariah 8:7 , LXX, etc.

Revelation 21:3-4 — σκην . (chosen on account of its “assonance with the Hebrew to express the Shekinah ,” Dr. Taylor on Pirke Aboth iii. 3) is the real tabernacle (Hebrews 8:2 ; Hebrews 9:11 ). The whole meaning and value of the new Jerusalem lies in the presence of God (En. xlv. 6, lxii. 14, Test. Jude 1:25 , etc.) with men which it guarantees. The O.T. promises are realised (see reff.); God is accessible, and men are