Bible Commentaries

Psalms 128 overview — the prosperity of Zion - the good of Jerusalem, and peace upon Israel. Of course this is to be regarded as a general statement, or as indicating what will commonly be true as the restilt of religion. See Psalms 37:9, note; Psalms 37:33, note; Psalms 112:2-3, note. Thus industry, temperance, prudence, tend to promote health and long life, so that health and a long life are the general result; but it would be unfair to regard one who should assert this as meaning to say that it is universally true,

Psalms 70 overview — This psalm bears to the closing part of Psalms 40:0 (Psalms 40:13-17, see the notes in the Introduction to that psalm) a resemblance similar to that between Psalms 14:1-7 and Psalms 53:1-6. The one is not indeed a mere copy of the other, but the one is substantially the same as the other, with some slight variations,

Ecclesiastes 3 overview — the germ of the great question of later times - how to reconcile man’s free will with God’s decrees. Solomon’s way of stating it is that to every separate work, which goes to make up the great aggregate of human activity (the “travail,” Ecclesiastes 3:10), there is a season, an appropriate time which God appoints for its being done Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. To the question Ecclesiastes 3:9 What profit? he answers that the works of people, if done according to God’s appointment, are a part of that beautifully

Isaiah 9 overview — deliverance, while at the same time it denounces the sins of the nation, and assures the nation that the anger of the Lord is not turned away. The previous chapter had closed by describing a time of general calamity and darkness. This begins Isaiah 9:1-4 by showing that the calamity would not be so great as in former times. It would be mitigated. There would be light - particularly in the dark regions of Zebulun and Naphtali - the provinces lying most exposed to the Syrian invasion. This light or

Luke 22:3 — palabra significa correctamente un adversario o un acusador. Es el nombre que en las Escrituras se le da comúnmente al príncipe o líder de los espíritus malignos, y se le da a él porque él es el "acusador o calumniador" de los justos (ver Apocalipsis 12:1; compare Job 1:6), así como porque él es el "adversario" de Dios. Siendo del número de los doce - Uno de los doce apóstoles. Esto agravó mucho su crimen. Debería haber estado atado por la mayoría de los lazos tiernos con Jesús. Era uno de su familia,

John 16:1 — persecutions and trials. He was also himself about to be removed by death. They were to go into an unfriendly world. All these things were in themselves greatly fitted to shake their faith, and to expose them to the danger of apostasy. Compare Luke 24:21. If they had not been apprised of this, if they had not known why Jesus was about to die, and if they had not been encouraged with the promised aid of the Holy Spirit, they would have sunk under these trials, and forsaken him and his cause. And we may

Acts 10:1 — “a proselyte of the gate”; that is, one who had renounced idolatry, and who observed some of the Jewish rites, though not circumcised, and not called a Jew. But there is no sufficient evidence of this. The reception of the narrative of I Peter Acts 11:1-3 shows that the other apostles regarded him as a Gentile. In Acts 10:28, Peter evidently regards him as a foreigner - one who did not in any sense esteem himself to be a Jew. In Acts 11:1, it is expressly said that “the Gentiles” had received the

Acts 21:8 — probably there abode.The evangelist - This word properly means one who announces good news. In the New Testament it is applied to a preacher of the gospel, or one who declares the glad tidings of salvation. It occurs only in two other places, Ephesians 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:5. What was the precise rank of those who bore this title in the early Christian church cannot perhaps be determined. It is evident, however, that it is used to denote the office of preaching the gospel; and as this title is applied to

Acts 22:17 — When I was come again to Jerusalem - That is, three years after his conversion. See Galatians 1:17-18.While I prayed in the temple - Paul, like other converts to Christianity from among the Jews, would naturally continue to offer his devotions in the temple. We meet with repeated instances of their continuing to comply with the customs of the

Romans 1:24 — tendency of man was to these sins; That the tendency of idolatry was to promote them; and, That all that was needful, in order that people should commit them, was for God to leave him to follow the devices and desires of his own heart; compare Psalms 81:12; 2Th 2:10, 2 Thessalonians 2:12. To uncleanness - To impurity, or moral defilement; particularly to those impurities which he proceeds to specify, Romans 1:26, etc.Through the lusts of their own hearts - Or, in consequence of their own evil and

Romans 13:2 — - La palabra "condenación" aplicamos ahora exclusivamente al castigo del infierno; a futuros tormentos. Pero este no es necesariamente el significado de la palabra que se usa aquí κρίμα krima. A menudo simplemente denota "castigo"; Romanos 3:8; 1 Corintios 11:29; Gálatas 5:1. En este lugar, la palabra implica "culpa" o "criminalidad" al resistir la ordenanza de Dios, y afirma que el hombre que lo haga será castigado. No está claro si el apóstol quiere decir que será castigado por "Dios" o por

1 Corinthians 15:7 — evangelists have only mentioned the more prominent instances, and enough to substantiate the fact of his resurrection. This James, the fathers say, was James the Less, the brother or cousin-german of the Lord Jesus. The other James was dead (see Acts 12:1) when this Epistle was written. This James, the author of the Epistle that bears his name, was stationed in Jerusalem. When Paul went there, after his return from Arabia, he had an interview with James (see Galatians 1:19, “But other of the apostles

1 Corinthians 8:12 — are led further into error, and believe that the idol is something, and is to be honored. They are thus led into sin, and their conscience is more and more perverted, and oppressed more and more with a sense of guilt.Ye sin against Christ - Because:(1) Christ has commanded you to love them, and seek their good, and not to lead them into sin, and,(2) Because they are so intimately united to Christ (see the notes at John 15:1 ff) that to offend them is to offend him; to injure the members is to injure

2 Corinthians 1:5 — Christ sought to promote; and were substantially of the same nature. They arose from opposition, contempt, persecution, trial, and want, and were the same as the Lord Jesus was himself subjected to during the whole of his public life; compare Colossians 1:24. Thus, Peter says 1 Peter 4:13 of Christians that they were “partakers of Christ’s sufferings.”So our consolation also aboundeth by Christ - By means of Christ, or through Christ, consolation is abundantly imparted to us. Paul regarded the Lord Jesus

1 Thessalonians 2:18 — Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul - The phrase “even I Paul,” seems to be used by way of emphasis. He had a special desire to go himself. He had sent Timothy to them 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 3:5, and perhaps, some might have been disposed to allege that Paul was afraid to go himself, or that he did not feel interest enough in them to go, though he was willing to send one to visit them. Paul, therefore,

2 Timothy 2:2 — he was ordained. It is by no means improbable that such a charge was given then to a newly ordained minister, as it is now. On such an occasion, the apostle would be likely to state a summary of Christian doctrine, - (compare the notes at 2 Timothy 1:13), - and to exhort Timothy to a faithful adherence to it.The same commit thou to faithful men - In the same way as those things have been committed to you. The reference is undoubtedly to ordination to the ministerial office. Timothy was to see that

1 Peter 5:13 — The Greek is, ἡ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι συνεκλεκτὴ hē en Babulōni suneklektē; and might refer to a church, or to a female. Wall, Mill, and some others, suppose that the reference is to a Christian woman, perhaps the wife of Peter himself. Compare 2 John 1:1. But the Arabic, Syriac, and Vulgate, as well as the English versions, supply the word “church.” This interpretation seems to be confirmed by the word rendered “elected together with” - συνεκλεκτὴ suneklektē. This word would be properly used in

Jude 1:24 — able to keep you from falling - This ascription to one who was able to keep them from falling is made in view of the facts adverted to in the Epistle - the dangers of being led away by the arts and the example of these teachers of error. Compare Jude 1:3. On the ascription itself, compare the notes at Romans 16:25-27. The phrase “to keep from falling” means here to preserve from falling into sin, from yielding to temptation, and dishonoring their religion. The word used (ἀπταιστους aptaistous) occurs

Revelation 1:19 — Write the things which thou hast seen - An account of the vision which thou hast had, Revelation 1:10-18.And the things which are - Give an account of those things which thou hast seen as designed to represent the condition of the seven churches. He had seen not only the Saviour, but he had seen seven lampstands, and seven stars in the hand of the

Revelation 5:10 — And hast made us unto our God kings and priests - See the notes on Revelation 1:6.And we shall reign on the earth - The redeemed, of whom we are the representatives. The idea clearly is, in accordance with what is so frequently said in the Scriptures, that the dominion on the earth will be given to the saints; that is, that there