Bible Commentaries

Proverbs 2 overview — "This chapter presents the five fruits of wisdom."George DeHoff's Commentary, Vol. III, p. 252. (1)    The seeker shall find God (Proverbs 2:1-8). (2)    Wisdom provides many precious rewards (Proverbs 2:9-11). (3)    God's man is delivered from evil (Proverbs 2:12-15). (4)    He is safe from harlotry (Proverbs 2:16-19). (5)    He will receive a special inheritance (Proverbs 2 : Proverbs 2:20-22).

Song of Solomon 2 overview — It will be noted that I associated Song of Solomon 2:1 and Song of Solomon 2:2 with Solomon's blandishments in the previous chapter. See my comment on Song of Solomon 1:15-17; Song of Solomon 2:1 there.

Daniel 2 overview — This chapter might well be entitled "The King's Dream," that being the principal feature of it. An outline of the chapter is as follows: (1) the occasion for the dream (Daniel 2:1); (2) the king's demand (Daniel 2:2-9), (3) the failure of all the wise men (Daniel 2:10-11); (4) the king's decree that they should all be put to death (Daniel 2:12-13); (5) Daniel's request for a delay (Daniel 2:14-16); (6) the dream and its interpretation

Joel 2 overview — This chapter begins with the announcement that "the day of Jehovah cometh," and the summons of all of the people to a solemn convocation in the presence of God (Joel 2:1-3). There is a strong eschatological overtone in Joel 2:1, a note which is echoed again and again in the chapter. "The eschatological warning already sounded in Joel 1:15 is several times repeated (Joel 2:1-2; Joel 2:10-11)."John H. Thompson, The

Micah 2 overview — the preceding chapter foretold the approaching doom of both the northern and southern kingdoms of "the house of Jacob," Micah announced the crimes of the people, especially of the nobles, for which God had determined to punish the entire nation (Micah 2:1-2). He particularly identified that punishment as their removal from the land which they mistakenly believed was "theirs," not the Lord's (Micah 2:4-5). He then identified and refuted the "false prophets" whose lies had deceived the people and encouraged

Habakkuk 2 overview — Habakkuk. How could the holy and righteous God use a wicked state like Babylon to punish Judea, which with all of their sins were yet better than the Babylonians? Habakkuk took up his watch to await God's answer; and Jehovah promptly answered (Habakkuk 2:1-3). Apparently, there was a terrible disappointment to Habakkuk in the revelation that the great new world power (Babylon) would be no better, in any sense, than was Assyria; and God's answer consisted of five terrible woes pronounced against the

Mark 2 overview — This chapter finds Jesus back again in Capernaum where he healed the man borne of four (Mark 2:1-12). Events related to the call of Matthew were given (Mark 2:13-17); questions regarding fasting were answered (Mark 2:18-22); and the Pharisees accused Jesus' disciples of breaking the sabbath (Mark 2:23-28). All of this is a continuation of the Galilean ministry.

Luke 2 overview — This chapter details the birth of Christ (Luke 2:1-7), the annunciation to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20), ceremonies of the law of Moses observed on behalf of Jesus (Luke 2:21-24), the prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35), the thanksgiving of Anna (Luke 2:36-39), episode when Jesus was twelve years old (Luke 2:40-51), and a one-sentence summary of some eighteen years of Jesus' life (Luke 2:52).

Acts 20:29-30 — indicates that the central apostasy would concern the government of the church; and as Protestants have often affirmed, "The Pope himself is only an elder gone wrong!" Other New Testament passages bearing upon the apostasy are Matthew 7:15-23; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 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; Revelation 17:3-6; Revelation 18:1-5.

Romans 2 overview — Testament. The Jews had held, theoretically, to the teachings of the Old Testament, but had not obeyed it, and were just as excessively sinful as the Gentiles, and were here declared by Paul to have been guilty "of the same things" (Romans 2:1), a reference to the catalogue of 21 grievous sins of the reprobate Gentiles he had just recorded in Romans 2:28-29. The Jews had actually caused God's name to be blasphemed (Romans 2:24); and yet, despite their abominable conduct, the Jews imagined

2 Corinthians 12 overview — Subjects treated by Paul in this chapter are: the revelations he received from the Lord (2 Corinthians 12:1-6), the counteracting thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), another regret at the necessity of glorying (2 Corinthians 12:11-12), his independence (2 Corinthians 12:13-15), a reply to false charges (2 Corinthians 12:16-18), and certain cautions and warnings (2 Corinthians 12:19-21).

2 Corinthians 2 overview — The apostle Paul wrote much like some people talk; one thing led to another; and he often digressed from a line of thought, coming back to it only after a parenthetical discussion of something else. This trip through 2 Corinthians is as exciting as a drive down Oak Creek canyon, with one sensational view following another. Paul concluded his explanation of the change in his plans (2 Corinthians 2:1-4), recommended leniency to the Corinthians in a disciplinary problem

2 Corinthians 3 overview — An excellent outline of this chapter is by Farrar: F. W. Farrar, The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 56. Paul spoke of letters of commendation (2 Corinthians 3:1-3); his sufficiency as of God (2 Corinthians 3:4-6); the new covenant is more glorious than the one given to Moses (2 Corinthians 3:7-11); Paul's ministry needs no veil on the face (2 Corinthians 3:12-13); the veil still darkens Israel

2 Corinthians 4 overview — Broomall has an interesting outline of this chapter, as follows: The hidden and the open (2 Corinthians 4:1-2). The blinded and the enlightened (2 Corinthians 4:3). Slaves and Master (2 Corinthians 4:5). Darkness and Light (2 Corinthians 4:6). The frail and the mighty (2 Corinthians 4:7). Trials and triumph (2 Corinthians 4:8-10). Death and

2 Thessalonians 2 overview — The great feature of this chapter, of course, is Paul's great prophecy of "the man of sin" (2 Thessalonians 2:3-10), for a full discussion of which, see excursus at the end of the chapter. The prophecy is preceded by a warning that the Thessalonians should not expect the Second Advent immediately (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2), and followed by an expression of renewed thanksgiving and prayer upon their behalf (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17).

2 Timothy 3 overview — This chapter has a vivid description of the great apostasy (2 Timothy 3:1-9), signs of which were already present, an appeal to Paul's own inspiring and inspired example (2 Timothy 3:10-15), and one of the most impressive paragraphs in all the Bible with reference to the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17). For more extensive discussion of the apostasy, the man of sin, and antichrist, see excursus at end of 2 Thessalonians 2.

1 Peter 1:19 — Christians. As Polkinghorne said: The Passover lamb (Exodus), as the sacrifice whereby Israel was delivered from bondage and separated to the Lord, is richly significant in context, as is also the lamb of Isaiah 53, the passage so largely quoted in 1 Peter 2:22-25. G. J. Polkinghorne, op. cit., p. 588. But with precious blood … This passage, with the preceding verse, sets forth Christ as the paschal lamb for Christians and describes the nature of the ransom price. Christ's purpose of redeeming people

2 Peter 1 overview — The keynote of this whole epistle is knowledge (2 Peter 1:2-3; 2 Peter 1:5-6; 2 Peter 1:8; 2 Peter 2:20-21; and 2 Peter 3:18); but it is a very special kind of knowledge which is meant. The Greek word is [@epignosis], that is, precise and correct knowledge. Stephen W. Payne, Wycliffe Bible Commentary,

2 Peter 2 overview — paragraph in the ASV, but a workable outline of it is given by Strachan, thus: R. H. Strachan, Expositor's Greek Testament, Vol. V (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967), pp. 133-141. The false teachers and their judgment (2 Peter 2:1-3). Historical illustration of Divine judgment on the wicked, and care of the righteous (2 Peter 2:4-10 a). Further description of the false teachers (2 Peter 2:10 b-14). The example of Balaam (2 Peter 2:15-16). The libertines are themselves

1 John 2:11 — and destroys the soul itself, blinds the eyes, stops the ears, and hardens the heart and petrifies the central functions of reason and intelligence; and those who indulge in it receive "in themselves the recompense of their error" (Romans 1:27), becoming in their own persons the just reward of such wickedness. In this verse also appears the close connection between blindness, of which Jesus often spoke and the darkness which is another application of the same metaphor. Notice the progressive