Bible Commentaries

Job 36:12 — 12. ( :-). without knowledge—that is, on account of their foolishness (Job 4:20; Job 4:21).

Psalms 106:31 — 31. counted . . . righteousness—"a just and rewardable action." for—or, "unto," to the procuring of righteousness, as in Romans 4:2; Romans 10:4. Here it was a particular act, not faith, nor its object Christ; and what was procured was not justifying righteousness, or what was to be rewarded with eternal life; for no one act of man's can be taken for complete obedience. But it

Psalms 89:46 — 46. How long, c.—(Compare Psalms 13:1 Psalms 88:14; Jeremiah 4:4).

Proverbs 4:20 — 20-22. (Compare Proverbs 4:10; Proverbs 4:13; Proverbs 3:8, &c.).

Isaiah 26:3 — 3. mind . . . stayed— (Psalms 112:7; Psalms 112:8). Jesus can create "perfect peace" within thy mind, though storms of trial rage without (Isaiah 57:19; Mark 4:39); as a city kept securely by a strong garrison within, though besieged without (so Philippians 4:7). "Keep," literally, "guard as with a garrison." HORSLEY translates, (God's) workmanship (the Hebrew does not probably mean "mind," but "a thing formed,"

Isaiah 44:11 — 11. his fellows—the associates of him who makes an idol; or of the idol (see Deuteronomy 7:26; Psalms 115:8; Hosea 4:17). they are of men—They are mortal men themselves; what better, then, can the idol be than its maker? gathered together . . . stand up—as in a court of justice, to try the issue between God and them (see on Isaiah 44:4; Isaiah 44:4- :). yet—wrongly inserted in English Version. The issue of the trial shall be, "they shall fear," &c.

Isaiah 44:7 — 7. Who but God can predict future events and declare also the order and time of each (see on Isaiah 44:4; Isaiah 44:4- :)? call—"openly proclaim" (Isaiah 40:6) things to come [MAURER]. Or, "call forth" the event; command that it happen (Isaiah 46:11; Isaiah 48:15), [BARNES]. set . . . in order—There is no chance or confusion; all events occur in

Jeremiah 22:24 — 24. As I live—God's most solemn formula of oath (Jeremiah 46:18; Jeremiah 4:2; Deuteronomy 32:40; 1 Samuel 25:34). Coniah—Jeconiah or Jehoiachin. The contraction of the name is meant in contempt. signet—Such ring seals were often of the greatest value

Ezekiel 9:1 — is the "cry" here for vengeance, showing how vain was the former. them that have charge—literally, officers; so "officers" ( :-), having the city in charge, not to guard, but to punish it. The angels who as "watchers" fulfil God's judgments (Daniel 4:13; Daniel 4:17; Daniel 4:23; Daniel 10:20; Daniel 10:21); the "princes" (Jeremiah 39:3) of Nebuchadnezzar's army were under their guidance. draw near—in the Hebrew intensive, "to draw near quickly."

Zephaniah 2:11 — 11. famish—bring low by taking from the idols their former fame; as beasts are famished by their food being withheld. Also by destroying the kingdoms under the tutelage of idols (Psalms 96:4; Isaiah 46:1). gods of the earth—who have their existence only on earth, not in heaven as the true God. every one from his place—each in his own Gentile home, taught by the Jews in the true religion: not in Jerusalem alone shall men worship God,

Malachi 2:4 — 4. ye shall know—by bitter experience of consequences, that it was with this design I admonished you, in order "that My covenant with Levi might be" maintained; that is, that it was for your own good (which would be ensured by your maintaining the Levitical command) I admonished you, that ye should return to your duty [MAURER] (compare Malachi 2:5; Malachi 2:6). Malachi's function was that of a reformer, leading back the priests and people to the law (Malachi 4:4).

Matthew 4 overview — CHAPTER 4 :-. TEMPTATION OF CHRIST. ( = Mark 1:12; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:1-13).

Luke 4:35 — 35. rebuked them, &c.—(See on Luke 4:41). thrown him, &c.—See on Luke 4:41- :.

1 Corinthians 2:3 — subject, "Christ crucified," and 1 Corinthians 2:2- : the mode of preaching: "my speech . . . not with enticing words," "but in demonstration of the Spirit." weakness—personal and bodily (2 Corinthians 10:10; 2 Corinthians 12:7; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 4:13). trembling—(compare Galatians 4:13- :). Not personal fear, but a trembling anxiety to perform a duty; anxious conscientiousness, as proved by the contrast to "eye service" (Galatians 4:13- :) [CONYBEARE and HOWSON].

1 Corinthians 4:3 — amounts to a very small matter"; not that I despise your judgment, but as compared with God's, it almost comes to nothing. judged . . . of man's judgment—literally, "man's day," contrasted with the day (1 Corinthians 3:13) of the Lord (1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:4). "The day of man" is here put before us as a person [WAHL]. All days previous to the day of the Lord are man's days. EMESTI translates the thrice recurring Greek for "judged . . . judge . . . judgeth" (1 Corinthians 4:4), thus:

Galatians 5:1 — 1. The oldest manuscripts read, "in liberty (so ALFORD, MOBERLEY, HUMPHRY, and ELLICOTT. But as there is no Greek for 'in,' as there is in translating in 1 Corinthians 16:13; Philippians 1:27; Philippians 4:1, I prefer 'It is FOR freedom that') Christ hath made us free (not in, or for, a state of bondage). Stand fast, therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage" (namely, the law, Galatians 4:24; Acts 15:10). On "again," see on Galatians 4:9.

Ephesians 4:1 — highest honor, and he glories in his bonds for Christ, more than a king in his diadem [THEODORET]. His bonds, too, are an argument which should enforce his exhortation. vocation—Translate, "calling" to accord, as the Greek does, with "called" (Ephesians 4:4; Ephesians 1:18; Romans 8:28; Romans 8:30). Romans 8:30- : similarly grounds Christian duties on our Christian "calling." The exhortations of this part of the Epistle are built on the conscious enjoyment of the privileges mentioned in the former part.

Colossians 2:19 — himself on) things which he hath seen." Each must hold fast the Head for himself, not merely be attached to the other members, however high in the body [ALFORD]. from which—rather, "from whom." the body—that is, all the members of the body (Ephesians 4:16). joints—the points of union where the supply of nourishment passes to the different members, furnishing the body with the materials of growth. bands—the sinews and nerves which bind together limb and limb. Faith, love, and peace, are the spiritual

1 John 4:7 — 7. Resumption of the main theme (1 John 2:29). Love, the sum of righteousness, is the test of our being born of God. Love flows from a sense of God's love to us: compare 1 John 4:9; 1 John 3:16, which 1 John 3:16- : resumes; and 1 John 4:13; 1 John 3:24, which similarly 1 John 3:24- : resumes. At the same time, 1 John 3:24- : is connected with the immediately preceding context, 1 John 3:24- : setting forth Christ's incarnation,

Revelation 4:2 — c.—Greek, "I became in the Spirit" (see on :-): I was completely rapt in vision into the heavenly world. was set—not was placed, but was situated, literally, "lay." one sat on the throne—the Eternal Father: the Creator ( :-): also compare Revelation 4:8 Revelation 1:4, where also the Father is designated, "which is, and was, and is to come." When the Son, "the Lamb," is introduced, Revelation 1:4- :, a new song is sung which distinguishes the Sitter on the throne from the Lamb, "Thou hast redeemed