Category Archives: Commentary

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Samson’s End Judges 16     ContentsSamson Takes Away the Gates of a City to Avoid Capture (16:1-3)Samson’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 Takes Away the Gates of a City to Avoid Capture (16:1-3) CHAPTER […]

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 […]

Acts 23

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Paul’s Defense before the Sanhedrin & Deliverance to Felix Acts 23   Acts 23. In this chapter, Paul appeared before the Sanhedrin and things initially went from bad to worse. After rebuking the high priest and then retracting his words, Paul appealed to the resurrection in order to divide the council, which led […]

Psalm 4

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Psalm 4 Trusting God in Times of Pressure   Psalm 4. Here we have another Psalm of David, and although the heading does not specify the circumstances in which it was written, some expositors feel it is a natural sequel to the preceding Psalm; i.e. David fleeing from Absalom. But while Psalm 3 […]

Psalm 20

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Psalm 20 Messiah in Distress and Deliverance, as Seen by the Remnant   Psalm 20. This is a Psalm of David, and it can be considered an unofficial Messianic Psalm. As we will see, the Psalm is prophetic of Christ, and yet we have no New Testament quotations that establish it. This Psalm […]

Psalm 36

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Psalm 36 The Remnant’s Estimation of the Wicked and of Jehovah   Psalm 36. This is a Psalm of David, and the heading suggests that the Psalm is written from the standpoint of “the servant of Jehovah”. In this Psalm we see the spirit of Christ in the remnant. It is “the servant of […]

Psalm 52

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Psalm 52 The Trust of the Wicked and the Righteous   Psalm 52. From the issue of Israel’s repentance, we now transition back into the circumstances of the great tribulation, in which the remnant are persecuted. This Psalm begins a series that concludes with Israel’s victory in Psalm 60, after which there is […]

Psalm 68

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Psalm 68 A Summary of God’s Delivering Power for Israel    Psalm 68. This Psalm is one of David, and really gives us a summary of God’s deliverance of Israel, beginning with the deliverance from Egypt, but transitioning into their final blessing. It looks forward to the Millennium! It uses seven different names […]

Psalm 84

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Psalm 84 Israel Returning to the Courts of Jehovah   Psalm 84. This is a Psalm of the Sons of Korah, to be delivered to the chief musician. It is composed “upon Gittith” meaning “Winepress” (Psalms 8; 81; 84), perhaps indicating a song that would be fitting for a time of harvest, and […]

Psalm 100

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Psalm 100 Restored Israel Summons the Nations to Jerusalem to Praise Jehovah   Psalm 100. This Psalm is titled “A Psalm of thanksgiving”, and it gives us the thanksgiving of restored Israel in the Millennium, calling on the nations to come up to Jerusalem to praise Jehovah!   PSALM 100 A Psalm of thanksgiving. […]

Psalm 116

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Psalm 116 The Response of the Delivered Soul in Praise and Devotion to Jehovah   Psalm 116. This is a Psalm of praise for past deliverance. Prophetically it is the expressions of restored Israel when delivered from the great tribulation, reflecting on the character of Jehovah, and leading to love and praise.   […]

Psalm 132

Bk Sec Outline Sec Bk   Psalm 132 Messiah’s Throne Established in Zion   Psalm 132. This Psalm was written by Solomon (compare vv.8-10 with 2 Chron. 6:41-42). It reiterates David’s exercise, wanting to give the ark its proper place, in building a temple. Historically it is connecting with David bringing home the ark to Jerusalem. It is prophetic […]