How can we know that we possess eternal life? The apostle John answered that question in the three epistles that bear his name. He wrote that we must first believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that Christ came in the flesh. Second, we must obey God’s commandments. Third, we must love others. In this illuminating and engaging commentary on John’s letters, pastor-scholar Douglas Sean O’…
The book of 2 Samuel charts the remarkable trajectory of David’s reign as king. Blessed through God’s anointing, his leadership binds together a broken nation and gives them victory. But when David becomes unwary, he is overcome by sin: the adultery and murder he commits serve as a timeless warning regarding the perils of temptation. The sword of God’s judgment falls on David and his hous…
When people think of 1 Samuel, they think of David, the man after God's own heart. Yet 1 Samuel introduces us to two great alter egos Samuel and Saul. And let's not forget Eli, Hannah, and Jonathan!
A Personal Word : Not long ago I published a special edition of the King James Version of the Bible. We offered this Bible on one of our guarterly television specials, and thousands of our viewers wrote for it. We also gave the Bible freely to more than 500 major prisons throughout the United States and Canada. At the back of this Bible I inserted ten of my own sermons on “THE MIRACLES OF JES…
This commentary’s subtitle, “Defend the Faith,” highlights its recurring emphasis on defending and promoting orthodox theology. Other significant themes include the conducting of public worship, the qualifications of elders and deacons (and the wives who have a share in their ministry), the personal godliness of the gospel minister, the proper spiritual and practical care of various membe…
The Apostle's Overriding Preoccupation throughout his Pastoral Letters is with the truth that it may be faithfully guarded and handed on. John Stott is at pains to convey Paul's passionate concern for the future of the gospel, and for younger pastors charged with its care. Paul's concern is as pertinent today. Contemporary culture, John Stott points out, is being overtaken and submerged by r…
At first sight, the Gospel of Mark is a simple account of the ministry of Jesus, with lots of stories, plenty of action, a large amount of human interest, and some very straight and searching questions, mostly from Jesus himself. Yet underlying the Gospel is the cross and the cost of discipleship, focusing the question of who Jesus was, and how people should respond to him. Donald English's …
The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widel…
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell a vital story of a community revived and restored by God’s grace through gifted individuals―preparing the way for the coming Messiah. In his practical and devotional expository commentary, pastor-theologian Derek W. H. Thomas shows what this gripping narrative can teach us about kingdom life in our own time. In their different ways, Ezra and Nehemiah both…
The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widel…