Bible Commentaries

2 Chronicles 3 overview — INSTRUCTIONS SOLOMON RECEIVED FOR BUILDING THE TEMPLE, AND THINGS HE DID SINFULLY The chief problem in this chapter relates to verse 3, which in our version states that: "These are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building of the house of God." Yet the foundations are not even mentioned in this chapter. Furthermore, the RSV states that "These are Solomon's measurements."

Job 13 overview — JOB'S FOURTH DISCOURSE CONTINUED There are three divisions in this chapter: (1) He accuses his "comforters" of forging lies (Job 13:1-12); (2) he again affirms his uprightness and righteousness (Job 13:13-19); and (3) he proclaimed his submissiveness to God's will (Job 13:20-28). This third paragraph was called by Scherer, "A new attack upon God";The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 3, p. 997. but, of course, it is no such thing.

Psalms 99 overview — HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, IS THE LORD OF HOSTS (Isaiah 6:3) "This Psalm falls into three parts: (1) Psalms 99:1-3; (2) Psalms 99:4-5; and (3) Psalms 99:6-9, each concluded with a declaration of God's holiness. It is an echo of the Trisagion of the seraphim (Isaiah 6:3)."F. Delitzsch, Vol. V-C, p. 99. In the

Proverbs 15:11 — "Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah; How much more then the hearts of the children of men!" This is parallel with Proverbs 15:3 and concerns the omniscience of God. (See comment there.) "The word Abaddon occurs six times in the Old Testament, and like the word Sheol, is a place name for the realm of the dead."William J. Beecher, in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Chicago, Illinois: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915), p. 3.

Daniel 3:2-7 — Babylonian words. As Leupold stated, "These Persian names make it impossible to assume that this was written during the times of the Exile."Ibid. It is a characteristic of the Biblical style that the lists of the musical instruments are repeated in Daniel 3:5; Daniel 3:7; Daniel 3:15, and that the list of officers is repeated in Daniel 3:2-3; Daniel 3:27. In their diligent efforts to discover some evidence that Daniel was composed in the Greek period, some of the critics note that some of the musical instruments

Nahum 3:19 — shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off (Nahum 1:15). She is carried away (Nahum 2:7). She is empty, and void, and waste (Nahum 2:10). Where is the den of lions? (Nahum 2:11). The voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard (Nahum 2:13). I will set thee as a gazing-stock (Nahum 3:6). Nineveh is laid waste (Nahum 3:7). Thou shalt be hid (Nahum 3:11). Fire shall devour thee (Nahum 3:15). The sword shall cut thee off (Nahum 3:15). Their place is not known where they are (Nahum 3:17). There

Matthew 3:11 — and in fire. Seven baptisms are mentioned in the New Testament, three of which are mentioned in this verse. They are: 1.    The baptism unto Moses (1 Corinthians 10:2). 2.    The baptism of sufferings (Mark 10:38-39). 3.    The baptism for the dead (1 Corinthians 15:29). 4.    The baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11, see above). 5.    The baptism of fire (Matthew 3:11, see above). 6.    The

Matthew 3:5-6 — Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan; And they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. All Judaea … Matthew 3:5 is hyperbole in which there is an intentional exaggeration for the sake of emphasis. There are many figures of speech in the Holy Scriptures, and a proper understanding of them is necessary to a true understanding of God's word. There are other figures

Matthew 7:15-16 — 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 are called

Mark 3:32 — And a multitude was sitting about him; and they say unto him. Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. If "friends" in Mark 3:21 means these same persons, why did not the multitude use such a word here? All rules of fair exegesis are violated by the gratuitous assumption that this passage refers to the same group as that mentioned in Mark 3:21.

John 5:33 — needed or received in this context, because it was "from men." Ye have sent unto John … refers to the deputation (John 1:19) sent out by the priests and to the positive witness of Christ which was borne by the great herald (John 1:19-35; John 3:23-36). The hierarchy should have believed John's witness: (1) that Jesus is the Christ; (2) that Jesus is the Messiah; (3) that Jesus is the Bridegroom; and (4) that Jesus is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Also John

Romans 1:2 — redemptive gospel Paul preached was the very same system proclaimed and partially unfolded in the Old Testament. The identity and character of the Messiah, the nature of his kingdom, and the ultimate replacement of the old covenant with a new (Jeremiah 31:31-35) — all of these things, and many others, are contained in the Old Testament. By so bold a claim, Paul at once established the principle that any believer of the Old Testament should likewise be a believer of the New Testament; for they

Romans 3:13 — Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips. This progression to sins against fellow creatures was introduced by the last clause of Romans 3:12, quoted from Psalms 53:2. Paul did not invent this charge of wickedness, but only read it out of the Old Testament, the indictment being further detailed and stated in Psalms 5:9; Psalms 140:3. The figure of speech here shows how utterly repugnant

Galatians 3:29 — corporate totality the seed singular which is Christ, in the sense of his spiritual body. This enabled the Gentiles to be accounted the true seed of Abraham, bypassing the Law of Moses altogether, thus inheriting through the promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:18). Huxtable has this pertinent observation on this final verse of the chapter: Those who believe in Christ and are baptized in him are to be understood as here being affirmed to be "Abraham's seed," because, being

Ephesians 4:30 — And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption. Ye were sealed … See under Ephesians 1:13 for more extended remarks on this, also in my Commentary on Romans, Romans 3:23 f. Grieve not the Holy Spirit … Any of the sins Paul was forbidding in these verses would, of course, grieve the Holy Spirit in the heart of any Christian committing

Joshua 3 overview — ISRAEL CROSSES THE JORDAN RIVER Joshua 3 and Joshua 4 must certainly stand on a very high plateau of importance, due not merely to the astounding miracle that took place, but also to the typical nature of the historic movement of Israel across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The narrative

Colossians 3:9 — dramatically switched metaphors. He had been speaking of "putting to death," but here he changed to "put off," the new figure being that of stripping off old clothes, a metaphor that often occurs in the New Testament. In Galatians 3:27, Paul wrote, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ"; and here a little later, beginning in Colossians 3:12, Paul will outline what is meant, partially, by putting on Christ. Also in Revelation, the clothing

1 Thessalonians 3 overview — chapter in focus was as follows: Paul left Silas and Timothy at Berea, proceeding to Athens (Acts 17:14-15). On arriving in Athens he urgently summoned them to join him. They did so at once, and Timothy was sent back to Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:1-12). Silas was sent to another part of Macedonia (Berea?) (Acts 18:5). Paul left Athens and went to Corinth (Acts 18:1). Both Silas and Timothy joined Paul at Corinth (Acts 18:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:6). This epistle was written shortly after the reunion

2 Timothy 3:15 — D. White, op. cit., p. 174. The sacred writings … In the next verse, Paul used the word "Scripture." Why the distinction? Paul did this for the simple reason that he wishes to draw a distinction between the Old Testament (2 Timothy 3:15) and WHATEVER has a right to be called divinely inspired Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16). The latter comprises more than the former. William Hendriksen, op. cit., p. 300. The earnest conviction of this writer supports Hendriksen's comment on this, and

1 John 5 overview — Throughout this epistle, John repeatedly emphasized the three tests: faith, obedience and love. All three were stressed in 1 John 2, and most of 1 John 3 was devoted to obedience and love. 1 John 4 emphasized faith and love. The three go together, however, as is evident throughout this letter. In the opening paragraph of this chapter (1 John 5:1-5), "faith" (or belief) occurs in 1 John 5:1;