Bible Commentaries

2 Kings 12 overview — THE REIGN OF JOASH: SOLOMON'S TEMPLE REPAIRED A full century had passed since the death of Solomon. Rehoboam reigned for 17 years (1 Kings 14:21); Abijah reigned for 3 years (1 Kings 15:2); Asa reigned for 41 years (1 Kings 15:10); Jehoshaphat reigned for 25 years (1 Kings 22:42); Jehoram reigned for 8 years (2 Kings 8:17); Ahaziah reigned for 1 year (2 Kings 8:25-26);p and the usurper, Athaliah,

2 Chronicles 34 overview — THE DISCOVERY OF THE BOOK OF MOSES IN THE TEMPLE XV. JOSIAH (640-609 B.C.) With the exception of 2 Chronicles 34:3-7 and 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, all of the events in these three concluding chapters of Second Chronicles we have already discussed in the parallel accounts in 2 Kings 22:1 to 2 Kings 25:12, where we have devoted pages 273 to 330 to our

Lamentations 2 overview — WHAT THE LORD HAD DONE TO ZIONAnthony L. Ash, Jeremiah and Lamentations (Abilene, Texas: A.C.U. Press, 1987), p. 335. "This chapter is all taken up with God. In Lamentations 2:1-12, all the woes are bemoaned as being God's work, and His alone; and Lamentations 2:13-17 give a short resume of this; Lamentations 2:18 f urges the city to cry to God for help; and, in Lamentations 2:20-22, she does so."Peake's Bible Commentary

Ezekiel 25 overview — PART II, ORACLES AGAINST THE NATIONS (Ezekiel 25-32)ORACLES AGAINST AMMON, MOAB, EDOM, AND PHILISTIA In our commentaries upon four dozen Biblical books, we have already commented upon the Divine Oracles against these four nations. For those who are interested in a more detailed study of these, reference

Haggai 2 overview — The last three of Haggai's four messages are found in this second chapter (Haggai 2:1-9; Haggai 2:10-19; and Hag. 2:20-13). In the first and the last of these, one finds two prophecies of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:15-16 — Jesus had just said. The broad way will have its advocates, false teachers, who will attempt to widen the narrow way and breach the strait gate. This passage suggests the great apostasy which is elaborated in the following New Testament passages: Acts 20:29-31; 2 Corinthians 11:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-8; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:1-7; and Revelation 17 and Revelation 18. It is essential that Christians recognize false teachers or prophets, as they

Deuteronomy 6 overview — Saviour's temptation (Matthew 4). It was to this very chapter that Jesus turned for the word that confounded and defeated the sophistry of the Pharisees on the occasion of their captious question, "Which is the great commandment in the law?" (Matthew 22:34). This is an appropriate place, therefore, to note how frequently Christ, the apostles, and the writers of the N.T. quoted directly from Deuteronomy. As a matter of fact, the Cross-Reference Bible (ASV) has exactly 182 N.T. references to Deuteronomy

2 Corinthians 1 overview — After the salutation (2 Corinthians 1:1-2), this chapter is wholly given to Paul's affirmation of his absolute sincerity and integrity. As Hughes said, "The import of 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 seems to have been missed by many commentators." Philip E. Hughes, Paul's Second

2 Corinthians 12:5 — On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my weakness. Such a one … such a man … such a one … (2 Corinthians 12:2-3; 2 Corinthians 12:5). Each is the equivalent of "a man in Christ" (2 Corinthians 12:2) and should be understood as Paul's repeated affirmation of the truth of his experiences being, in a sense, not his own but Christ's.

2 Corinthians 3:5 — Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account any thing as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God. See under 2 Corinthians 3:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:3. Although claiming the Corinthians as his epistle, he wished to make it clear that the true author is God, and that to him all of the glory belongs, hence the repetition of this thought here. Back in 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5:12 — glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart. Throughout this part of this noble epistle, Paul was laying the groundwork for a decisive attack upon his enemies that would be unleashed in 2 Corinthians 10. There is a hint of what is to come here; but for the moment Paul was establishing a few facts with reference to himself, these being: (1) his integrity (2 Corinthians 5:11); (2) the acute need to commend himself (2 Corinthians 5:12);

2 Corinthians 6 overview — Paul here discussed the trials of ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 6:1-10), made a strong emotional appeal to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 6:11-13), and gave instructions against Christians mixing with the pagans (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

2 Corinthians 7 overview — The first verse of this chapter concludes the paragraph which began at 2 Corinthians 6:14. 2 Corinthians 7:2-4 are a concluding thought connected with Paul's appeal in 2 Corinthians 6:11-13. Paul's stern warning to the Corinthians to come out from among the pagans and "be ye separate" (2 Corinthians 6:14—7:1)

2 Thessalonians 3 overview — Following the prayer which concluded the previous chapter, Paul, in this, urgently requested that the Thessalonians would continue to pray for him (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5). Various practical exhortations were then given (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15), especially with regard to busybodies and idlers. Paul's autographic attestation and benediction (2 Thessalonians 3:16-18) conclude the letter.

Titus 2 overview — DeWelt said that "The care of individual members of the church is the subject of Titus 2." Don DeWelt, Paul's Letter to Timothy and Titus (Joplin: College Press, 1961), p. 154. Throughout there is a strong emphasis upon the family which is the basic unit of every worthwhile society ever to appear on earth. The five particular classes

2 Peter 3 overview — There is here a continuation of the discussion of the great apostasy to occur in the "last days" (2 Peter 3:1-7), revelations concerning the "day of the Lord," with refutation of the mockers (2 Peter 3:8-13), and exhortations to stedfastness, and the doxology (2 Peter 3:14-18).

2 Peter 3:1 — This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them, I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance; (2 Peter 3:1) Beloved … This word is somewhat of a keynote in this chapter, occurring here, and in 2 Peter 3:2; 2 Peter 3:14-15; 2 Peter 3:17. It contrasts with the vehement pronouncements against the false teachers and mockers. The second epistle

1 John 2:28 — And now, my little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. Abide in him … See under 1 John 2:24. This admonition is actually the whole point of the letter. If he shall be manifested … This shows that John was by no means certain that such a period as "a last hour" which he had already positively identified as coming soon, would

2 John 1:7 — "the man of sin" with John's "antichrist," despite the fact of Purcell's addressing his entire refutation against an affirmation which was not made by Campbell. Despite the general confusion to the effect that Paul's man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2) should be identified with John's "antichrist," there is no solid ground for this. It could be, however, that "antichrist," a spirit already working in John's time, should be identified with the "lawless one"

Revelation 20:12 — throne … The general resurrection of all people is assumed to have already occurred at this point in the vision. The dead are there before the throne, standing and waiting for their sentence. The hour has struck which Jesus promised in John 5:28-29. There are no absentees; all are present. "This is the only bodily resurrection that the Scriptures know." R. C. H. Lenski, op. cit., p. 604. The entirety of all people will be there, even the living, who will be "changed" for