Bible Commentaries

Daniel 8:23 — guilt, too, shall then be at the full, when they who rejected Christ shall receive Antichrist; fulfilling Jesus words, "I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive" (compare Genesis 15:16; Matthew 23:32; 1 Thessalonians 2:16). of fierce countenance— (Deuteronomy 28:50); one who will spare neither old nor young. understanding dark sentences—rather, "artifices" [GESENIUS]. Antiochus made himself master of Egypt and Jerusalem successively

Hosea 14:5 — 5. as the dew—which falls copiously in the East, taking the place of the more frequent rains in other regions. God will not be "as the early dew that goeth away," but constant (Hosea 6:3; Hosea 6:4; Job 29:19; Proverbs 19:12). the lily—No plant is more

Amos 3:5 — 5. When a bird trying to fly upwards is made to fall upon the earth snare, it is a plain proof that the snare is there; so, Israel, now that thou art falling, infer thence, that it is in the snare of the divine judgment that thou art entangled [LUDOVICUS

Jonah 2:8 — vanities—regard or reverence idols, powerless to save ( :-). mercy—Jehovah, the very idea of whom is identified now in Jonah's mind with mercy and loving-kindness. As the Psalmist ( :-) styles Him, "my goodness"; God who is to me all beneficence. Compare Psalms 59:17, "the God of my mercy," literally, "my kindness-God." Jonah had "forsaken His own mercy," God, to flee to heathen lands where "lying vanities" (idols) were worshipped. But now, taught by his own preservation in conscious life in the fish's belly,

Micah 7:16 — 16. shall see—the "marvellous things" (Micah 7:15; Isaiah 26:11). confounded at all their might—having so suddenly proved unavailing: that might wherewith they had thought that there is nothing which they could not effect against God's people. lay . . . hand upon . . . mouth—the gesture of silence

Habakkuk 3 overview — AMID CALAMITIES. This sublime ode begins with an exordium (Habakkuk 3:1; Habakkuk 3:2), then follows the main subject, then the peroration (Habakkuk 3:2- :), a summary of the practical truth, which the whole is designed to teach. (Deuteronomy 33:2-5; Psalms 77:13-20 are parallel odes). This was probably designed by the Spirit to be a fit formula of prayer for the people, first in their Babylonian exile, and now in their dispersion, especially towards the close of it, just before the great Deliverer

Mark 8:12 — had such abundant evidence already. There shall no sign be given unto this generation—literally, "If there shall be given to this generation a sign"; a Jewish way of expressing a solemn and peremptory determination to the contrary (compare Hebrews 4:5; Psalms 95:11, Margin). "A generation incapable of appreciating such demonstrations shall not be gratified with them." In Psalms 95:11- : He added, "but the sign of the prophet Jonas." (See on Psalms 95:11- :.)

Luke 1:10 — worshippers. Hence the language of Psalms 141:2; Revelation 8:3. But that the acceptance of this daily offering depended on the expiatory virtue presupposed in the burnt offering, and pointing to the one "sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savor" (Ephesians 5:2), is evident from Isaiah 6:6; Isaiah 6:7.

Acts 23:5 — 5. I wist not . . . that he was the high priest—All sorts of explanations of this have been given. The high priesthood was in a state of great confusion and constant change at this time (as appears from JOSEPHUS), and the apostle's long absence from Jerusalem,

Romans 1:7 — influences from Him also. The name of no man can be placed by the side of the Almighty. He only, in whom the Word of the Father who is Himself God became flesh, may be named beside Him for men are commanded to honor Him even as they honor the Father (John 5:23)" [OLSHAUSEN].

Romans 5:12 — such way as this: "Even so, by one man righteousness has entered into the world, and life by righteousness." But, instead of this, we have a digression, extending to five verses, to illustrate the important statement of :-; and it is only at Romans 5:18 that the comparison is resumed and finished.

Romans 6:6 — our union with the crucified Saviour. that our old man—"our old selves" that is, "all that we were in our old unregenerate condition, before union with Christ" (compare Colossians 3:9; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:22-24; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:24; Galatians 6:14). is—rather, "was." crucified with him—in order. that the body of sin—not a figure for "the mass of sin"; nor the "material body," considered as the seat of sin, which it is not; but (as we judge) for "sin as it dwells in us in

1 Corinthians 3:21 — All men (including your teachers) belong to Christ, and therefore to you, by your union with Him; He makes them and all things work together for your good (Romans 8:28). Ye are not for the sake of them, but they for the sake of you (2 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 4:15). They belong to you, not you to them.

2 Corinthians 11:3 — truest interests at heart, and of this "other" professing friend being more concerned for her than God. corrupted—so as to lose their virgin purity through seducers (2 Corinthians 11:4- :). The same Greek stands for "minds" as for "thoughts" (2 Corinthians 10:5, also see on 2 Corinthians 11:2); intents of the will, or mind. The oldest manuscripts after "simplicity," add, "and the purity" or "chastity." in Christ—rather, "that is towards Christ."

Ephesians 4:6 — Ephesians 4:4- :); for other parts of Scripture prove that the Spirit is not "in all" men, but only in believers (Romans 8:9; Romans 8:14). God is "Father" both by generation (as Creator) and regeneration (Ephesians 2:10; James 1:17; James 1:18; 1 John 5:1).

Colossians 4:6 — levity, serious without gloom. Compare Luke 4:22; John 7:46, as to Jesus' speech. seasoned with salt—that is, the savor of fresh and lively spiritual wisdom and earnestness, excluding all "corrupt communication," and also tasteless insipidity (Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50; Ephesians 4:29). Compare all the sacrifices seasoned with salt (Ephesians 4:29- :). Not far from Colosse, in Phrygia, there was a salt lake, which gives to the image here the more appropriateness. how ye ought to answer every man— (1

1 Thessalonians 1:10 — again. his Son . . . raised from the dead—the grand proof of His divine Sonship (1 Corinthians 1:8- :). delivered—rather as Greek, "who delivereth us." Christ has once for all redeemed us; He is our Deliverer ALWAYS. wrath to come— (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Colossians 3:6).

2 Thessalonians 3:5 — 5. If "the Lord" be here the Holy Ghost (2 Corinthians 3:17), the three Persons of the Trinity will occur in this verse. love of God—love to God. patient waiting for Christ—rather as Greek, "the patience (endurance) of Christ," namely, which Christ

1 Timothy 4:4 — 4, 5. Translate as Greek, "Because" (expressing a reason resting on an objective fact; or, as here, a Scripture quotation)—"For" (a reason resting on something subjective in the writer's mind). every creature . . . good— (Genesis 1:31; Romans 14:14; Romans

1 Timothy 6:15 — 15. in his times—Greek, "His own [fitting] times" ( :-). The plural implies successive stages in the manifestation of the kingdom of God, each having its own appropriate time, the regulating principle and knowledge of which rests with the Father (1 Timothy