Category Archives: Commentary

1 Samuel 1:1 – 2:11

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Eli the Priest: The Corruption of the Priesthood 1 Samuel 1 – 3     Hannah’s Faith, the Birth and Dedication of Samuel 1 Samuel 1:1 – 2:11     CHAPTER 1 1 And there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, […]

1 Samuel 17

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   The Battle of Elah: David Defeats Goliath 1 Samuel 17   Typical Teaching in David and Goliath. There are many pictures in the Old Testament of New Testament truth. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning” (Rom 15:4). In any book, illustrations are often helpful to understand the text. The […]

Romans 5:12-21

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Deliverance From Sin as a Principle Romans 5:12 – 8:17   The need for deliverance. Often when souls are converted they are initially full of appreciation, although still naive about the flesh. Time goes by and they sin, and sin again, and again…and discover the presence of indwelling sin (Rom. 7). They become shocked and afraid. […]

Genesis 25:11-34

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Isaac: Earthly Pleasures vs. the Eyes of Faith Genesis 25:11 – 27:46   Isaac. Less is written of Isaac than of Abraham, Jacob, or even Joseph. Yet there is much to learn from his life, and from his place in the purposes of God. As we trace the history of Isaac’s father Abraham, […]

Genesis 48

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Jacob Blesses the Sons of Joseph Genesis 48   Genesis 48. In this chapter we have the event that is perhaps the highlight of Jacob’s life. In blessing the sons of Joseph, Jacob demonstrates once and for all that he has learned the lesson God was seeking to teach him throughout his lifetime. It […]

Judges

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   THE BOOK OF JUDGES   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21   O U T L I N E – Preface: The Degeneration of Israel Judges 1:1 – 3:7 – Mingling with the Nations to be Dispossessed Judges 1 – 2:5 – The Breach with Jehovah: The Cycle of Decline Judges 2:6 – 3:7 […]

Matthew 7:7-29

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   The Characteristic Virtues Needed for Subjects of the Kingdom Matthew 7:7-29     ContentsEarnestness and Confidence in Prayer (7:7-11)Consistency in Display of Love to Others (the “Golden Rule”) (7:12)Energy and Reality are Required by God (7:13-14)Discernment of False Prophets (7:15-20)Discernment of False Disciples (7:21-23)The Wise and Foolish: Wisdom of Practical Obedience (7:24-27)Conclusion: Response […]

Matthew 28

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   The Resurrection of Christ Matthew 28    Christ’s Resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is vital to Christianity because it is the proof that our sins are gone, and that God is satisfied with the work of Calvary. The Lord rose bodily from the dead, not merely in spirit, as some have taught through the […]

1 Corinthians 13

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Divine Love: the Motive for the Exercise of Gifts 1 Corinthians 13   1 Corinthians 13. This chapter brings before us the activity of divine love in the exercise of gift. It is the perfect sequel to ch.12, where the gifts, their unity and diversity are explained. The “more excellent way” mentioned at the end of […]

1 Kings 7

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Solomon’s Houses & The Completion of the Temple 1 Kings 7       CHAPTER 7 1 And Solomon was thirteen years building his own house; and he finished all his house. 2 And he built the house of the forest of Lebanon; its length was a hundred cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits, and its […]

1 Kings 22

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Ahab and Jehoshaphat: the King’s Disguise, and Judgment Falls 1 Kings 22       CHAPTER 22 1 And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. 2 And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 And the king of Israel said […]

Daniel 12

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   The Great Tribulation Daniel 12     CHAPTER 12 1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of distress, such as never was since there was a nation until that time. And at that time thy […]

2 Corinthians

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS, CALLED SECOND CORINTHIANS   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13   O U T L I N E – True Christian Ministry: The Life of Christ Displayed 2 Corinthians 1 – 7 – Introduction: an Account of Paul’s […]

Colossians 1

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Introduction: Christ the Preeminent One Colossians 1   Colossians 1. In this chapter, Paul points the saints to the glory and preeminence of Christ. The danger they were faced with from the false teachers was of getting occupied with angels, rituals, and other false objects. Paul addresses these errors in ch.2, but before […]

Hebrews 11

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   The Life of Faith: A Great Cloud of Witnesses Hebrews 11   Hebrews 11. Having brought out the principle of Hab. 2:4 that “the just shall live by faith”, the writer enters into a digression on the subject of the life of faith. The principle that a believer can only continue for God’s […]

3 John

Overview. Brief pastoral letter. Considered appendices. In 1 Jn. a nature that loves, in 2 and 3 Jn it loves “in the truth”. Both connect with “receiving”. In 2 Jn “receive not”. In 3 Jn “receive”, positive aspect. A sister, prone to nurture, vs a brother, prone to harsh. Gaius dear to John. Walked in truth, good state of soul. Commended for receiving, hospitality. Challenges: physical health, in assembly with dictator. John writes to encourage, footsteps for faith, encouraged fellowship with Dimetrius.

Greeting (v.1)

v.1 Greeting. Style and content indicate John writer. Writes as an elder, a seasoned saint, a pastoral ministry. Divine love exists in God’s family. Love “in truth”; love proven genuine by obedience (1 Jn 5:1-3). True love for brethren based on love for God, the begetter. If in disobedience to truth, not divine love.

Commendation of Gaius and Encouragement (vv.2-8)

v.2 Prospering in Health and Soul. Healthy spiritually, not medically. Cannot blame state of soul on environment. Maintained soul in communion, self-judgment, word abiding in him. John desired his body prosper in proportion. Would we want? Spiritual health more important.
 
v.3 Holding and Walking in Truth. (1) “Held” the truth fast, precious, taken seriously. (2) “walked” in it, a practical manifestation, lived out. Not hypocritical. Not merely intellectual. Seen by others (perhaps locals in Ephesus?) or visitors. A source of joy. 
 
v.4 No Greater Joy. Profound statement. Testament to the divine love of elder for spiritual children. Not a self-interested joy, a higher thing to desire God’s rights granted by those we love. When truth recognized and practiced, the love follows is wonderful. Christ the truth (John 14:6), perfectly revealed truth about God, all things brought into light. He who walks in truth is judged by measure of God revealed by Christ. Positionally “in him that is true” (1 John 5:20), practically walking in the truth.
 
vv.5-7 Love through Hospitality. Hospitality toward visiting brethren. “The brethren” and “the strangers” are same people. Previously unknown. If the Gaius in Rom. 16:23, then opened home to Paul’s amanuensis. A major way love shown. Might entertain angels (Heb. 13:2 see Luke 24:29). The household gets blessed (e.g. Obededom). Love of God in Gaius. Witnessed love before all in assembly. In v.7 additional details. Great distance away. Travelling expensive (Prov. 6:10-11; 24:33-34). “For the name”; serving the Lord as called by Him. Took no financial support. Truth remains a gift; not for profit. Still blessed thing to support laborers. Set forward, thereby having fellowship (v.8). “Worthily of God” conveys approval of God.
 
v.8 Receiving Fellow-Workers. General exhortation for all believers: receive when genuine. Have fellowship in their labor and “with the truth”.

Diotrephes, the Terrible Condition, His Judgment (vv.9-10)

vv.9-10 Diotrephes. John had written, Diotrephes refused. Loved the preeminence, not the brethren as Gaius. One should have it (Col. 1:18). He rejected God-given authority, excommunicated those who would (v.10). Total contrast to Gaius. Former refused, latter received. The truth itself became test for both. A positive antagonist. Did not receive apostles’ witness (1 Jn. 4:6), not manifest eternal life, love brethren. Cannot assume a believer. Tares among wheat. Wolves entering the flock. How resolved? Not governmentally struck (1 Cor. 11:30), allowed to go on. Not start a movement to overthrow. If John came, with apostolic authority (1 Cor. 4:21). Not “when” but “if”. Must be prepared to continue while things not right in assembly. Duty to separate (2 Tim. 2:19), judge evil (1 Cor. 5:12), but 3 John shows believer can continue committing judgment to Christ (Heb. 3:6).
 

Instructions to Gaius: Footsteps for Faith in a Dark Day (vv.11-12)

v.11 Do Good and Not Evil. Danger of evil affecting us (Gal. 6:9; 2 Thess. 3:13). Two ways: (1) normalize bad behavior, flesh tempted, (2) frustrated and respond with evil. Either “overcome by evil” (Rom. 12:21). Instead, overcome evil with good. Abstract truth: doing good characterizes the family, evil the unbeliever.
  
v.12 Fellowship. Individual faithfulness, yet companions encourage. Power to walk alone, yet with fellowship. Tenderly, John encourages fellowship. Demetrius four witnesses. (1) “all”, public testimony, include Diotrephes! Example Daniel (Rom. 12:20). (2) “the truth itself”, conduct in line with scripture. (3) apostles, this letter an example. (4) Gaius’ observations.

Conclusion (vv.13-14)

vv.13-14 Conclusion. Much better face-to-face. In person, a bond of fellowship strengthened. Desired peace, given circumstances. Greetings important, including names. A mark of genuineness.

Judges 16:4-31

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Samson’s End Judges 16:4-31     ContentsSamson’s Love for Delilah, He Tells His Secret (16:4-17)Delilah’s Betrayal, Samson’s Capture and Imprisonment (16:18-21)Samson Brings Down the House of the Philistines (16:22-31) Samson’s Love for Delilah, He Tells His Secret (16:4-17)   4 And it came to pass afterwards that he loved a woman in the […]

Acts 9

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Saul’s Conversion: A Chosen Vessel Acts 9   Acts 9. This chapter records the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus, that defender of Judaism and fierce persecutor of early Christians, through a personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus. This event marked not only Saul’s conversion, but also […]