Bible Commentaries

1 Corinthians 3:12 — persons cemented to the Church by them, the reality of whose conversion, through the teachers' instrumentality, will be tested at the last day. Where there is the least grain of real gold of faith, it shall never be lost (1 Peter 1:7; compare 1 Corinthians 4:12). On the other hand, the lightest straw feeds the fire [BENGEL] (Matthew 5:19).

1 Corinthians 5:2 — 2. puffed up—with your own wisdom and knowledge, and the eloquence of your favorite teachers: at a time when ye ought to be "mourning" at the scandal caused to religion by the incest. Paul mourned because they did not mourn (2 Corinthians 2:4). We ought to mourn over the transgressions of others, and repent of our own (2 Corinthians 12:21) [BENGEL]. that—ye have not felt such mourning as would lead to the result that, &c. taken away from among you—by excommunication. The incestuous

2 Corinthians 2:10 — Church (of which you are constituent members) may suffer no hurt by the loss of a soul, and that ye may learn leniency as well as faithfulness. in the person of Christ—representing Christ, and acting by His authority: answering to 1 Corinthians 5:4, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Corinthians 6:17 — 17. Quoted from :-, with the freedom of one inspired, who gives variations sanctioned by the Holy Spirit. be ye separate—"be separated" (Hosea 4:17). touch not the unclean thing—rather, "anything unclean" (2 Corinthians 7:1; Micah 2:10). Touching is more polluting, as implying participation, than seeing. receive you—The Greek implies, "to myself"; as persons heretofore out of doors, but

2 Corinthians 7:1 — 1. cleanse ourselves—This is the conclusion of the exhortation (2 Corinthians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 John 3:3; Revelation 22:11). filthiness—"the unclean thing" (2 Corinthians 6:17). of the flesh—for instance, fornication, prevalent at Corinth (2 Corinthians 6:17- :). and spirit—for instance, idolatry, direct or indirect (1 Corinthians 6:9; 1

Galatians 6:4 — 4. his own work—not merely his own opinion of himself. have rejoicing in himself alone—Translate, "Have his (matter for) glorying in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another (namely, not in regard to his neighbor, by comparing himself with

Ephesians 1:17 — 17. A fit prayer for all Christians. the God of our Lord Jesus—appropriate title here; as in :- he treats of God's raising Jesus to be Head over all things to the Church. Jesus Himself called the Father "My God" (Matthew 27:46). the Father of glory—(Compare Acts 7:2). The Father of that infinite glory which shines in the face of Christ, who is "the glory" (the true Shekinah); through whom also "the glory of the inheritance" (Ephesians 1:18) shall be ours (John 17:24; 2

Ephesians 1:9 — loving "good pleasure" toward us; also the time and manner of His doing so, are according to His good pleasure. purposed— (Colossians 1:27- :). in himself—God the Father. BENGEL takes it, "in Him," that is, Christ, as in Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 1:4. But the proper name, "in Christ," Ephesians 1:10, immediately after, is inconsistent with His being here meant by the pronoun.

Ephesians 2:10 — 10. workmanship—literally, "a thing of His making"; "handiwork." Here the spiritual creation, not the physical, is referred to (Ephesians 2:8; Ephesians 2:9). created—having been created (Ephesians 4:24; Psalms 102:18; Isaiah 43:21; 2 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17). unto good works—"for good works." "Good works" cannot be performed until we are new "created unto" them. Paul never calls the works of the law "good works." We are not saved

Ephesians 6:19 — natural or acquired power. The shortest road to any heart is by way of heaven; pray to God to open the door and to open your mouth, so as to avail yourself of every opening (Jeremiah 1:7; Jeremiah 1:8; Ezekiel 3:8; Ezekiel 3:9; Ezekiel 3:11; 2 Corinthians 4:13).

1 Thessalonians 5:9 — 9. For—assigning the ground of our "hopes" (1 Thessalonians 5:8). appointed us—Translate, "set" (Acts 13:47), in His everlasting purpose of love (1 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Timothy 1:9). Contrast Romans 9:22; Judges 1:4. to—that is, unto wrath. to obtain—Greek, "to the acquisition of salvation"; said, according to BENGEL, Of One saved out of a general wreck,

2 Thessalonians 1:3 — the state of circumstances [ALFORD]. Observe the exact correspondence of the prayer (1 Thessalonians 1:3- :, "The Lord make you to abound in love") and the answer, "The love of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth" (compare 1 Thessalonians 4:10). meet—right.

2 Timothy 2:14 — 14. them—those over whom thou dost preside (Titus 3:1). charging—Greek, "testifying continually": "adjuring them." before the Lord— (Titus 3:1- :). that they strive not about words—rather, "strive with words": "not to have a (mere) war of words"

Titus 1:15 — the things, but in the disposition of him who uses them; in opposition to "the commandments of men" ( :-), which forbade certain things as if impure intrinsically. "To the pure" inwardly, that is, those purified in heart by faith (Acts 15:9; Romans 14:20; 1 Timothy 4:3), all outward things are pure; all are open to, their use. Sin alone touches and defiles the soul (Matthew 23:26; Luke 11:41). nothing pure—either within or without (Romans 14:23). mind—their mental sense and intelligence. conscience—their

Titus 1:3 — fixed by God for it (Acts 1:7). manifested—implying that the "promise," Acts 1:7- :, had lain hidden in His eternal purpose heretofore (compare Colossians 1:26; 2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:10). his word—equivalent to "eternal life" (Titus 1:2; John 5:24; John 6:63; John 17:3; John 17:17). through preaching—Greek, "in preaching," of rather as ALFORD (see on John 17:17- :), "in the (Gospel) proclamation (the thing preached, the Gospel) with which I was entrusted." according to—in pursuance of (compare

Titus 3:7 — (accounted righteous through faith at our 'regeneration,' and made righteous by the daily 'renewing of the Holy Ghost') by His grace (as opposed to works, :-) we should be made heirs." his grace—Greek, "the grace of the former," that is, God (Titus 3:4 Romans 5:15). heirs— (Romans 5:15- :). according to the hope of eternal life— Titus 1:2, and also the position of the Greek words, confirm English Version, that is, agreeably to the hope of eternal life; the eternal inheritance fully satisfying

Hebrews 11:31 — repentance, faith, and preservation (Matthew 21:31; Matthew 21:32). believed not—Greek, "were disobedient," namely, to the will of God manifested by the miracles wrought in behalf of Israel (Matthew 21:32- :). received—in her house (Joshua 2:1; Joshua 2:4; Joshua 2:6). with peace—peaceably; so that they had nothing to fear in her house. Thus Paul, quoting the same examples (Hebrews 11:17; Hebrews 11:31) for the power of faith, as James (James 2:21; James 2:25; see on James 2:25- :; James 2:25- :) does

Hebrews 7:4 — 4. consider—not merely see, but weigh with attentive contemplation, the fact. even—"to whom (as his superior) Abraham even paid tithe (went so far as to pay tithe) of (consisting of, literally, 'from') the best of the spoils (literally, 'the top of

1 Peter 4:1 — the believer: a general proposition. hath ceased—literally, "has been made to cease," has obtained by the very fact of His having suffered once for all, a cessation from sin, which had heretofore lain on Him (Ephesians 6:13- :, especially, 1 Peter 4:7). The Christian is by faith one with Christ: as then Christ by death is judicially freed from sin; so the Christian who has in the person of Christ died, has no more to do with it judicially, and ought to have no more to do with it actually. "The

1 John 2:3 — 3. hereby—Greek, "in this." "It is herein," and herein only, that we know (present tense) that we have knowledge of (perfect tense, once-for-all obtained and continuing knowledge of) Him" (1 John 2:4; 1 John 2:13; 1 John 2:14). Tokens whereby to discern grace are frequently given in this Epistle. The Gnostics, by the Spirit's prescient forewarning, are refuted, who boasted of knowledge, but set aside obedience. "Know Him," namely, as "the righteous"