II Peter 1-21 1 The introduction of the name Simeon, before Peter, and slave in addition to apostle, gives us a clue to the character of this second epistle. The emphasis is laid on practice rather than precept. It is concerned with living rather than learning. 2 The recognition of God and of Jesus Christ,…

I John 1:1-8 1 The ministry of John is based upon his personal acquaintance with the Lord in the flesh. Indeed, this was the prime qualification of all the twelve apostles (Ac.1:21). They were to bear witness to the evidence of their senses, both before and after His resurrection. They saw and handled Him, and…

John, just as truly as Peter and James, ministered to the Circumcision, and referred to the nations as outside the sphere of fellowship (cf 3 Jn. 7). Even when he widens the scope of blessing to include the whole world, he lays the heaviest stress on its relation to the favored nation. “He is the…

1 It is a striking fact that John never appeals to his apostleship in his epistles. In this short note, as well as in the next one, he is simply an elder. This accords with the private character of this missive, yet it undoubtedly reflects the waning authority of the twelve apostles as the apostasy…

2 The prosperity of the soul must not be confounded with spiritual prosperity. Like the salvation of the soul (1 Pt.1:9), it refers to that physical enjoyment and satisfaction which will be fully known in the coming kingdom. The Circumcision are promised all physical blessing on the earth; we are blessed with every spiritual blessing…

Jude, the last of the epistles to the Circumcision, is the prelude to the apocalyptic judgments. Its framework reveals the fact that the central theme is the coming of the Lord in judgment upon the irreverent (14-15). Indeed, it seems to suggest that Enoch himself will prophesy, as one of the two witnesses (Un.11:3-12), to…

The title of this scroll, “The Unveiling of Jesus Christ,” is an epitome of this whole prophecy. Hitherto Christ has hid himself. Here He is about to throw off the covering and take His public place in the affairs of mankind. He must be unveiled. His name and title are the clue to the character…

Peter’s epistles correspond with Peter’s personal experiences. In contrast with Paul, he was a devout Israelite who accepted the Messiah at the beginning of His ministry, not a fierce persecutor after His ascension. His name was changed from Simon (Hearing), the son of John, to Peter (Rock), the son of Jonah (Dove). As such he…

The historical setting and occasion for this epistle is found in the book of Acts (17:1-15, 18:5). By constraint of the Spirit of God, after he had revisited the scenes of his first missionary journey, Paul is led to go across to Macedonia. He perceived a vision in which a Macedonian entreated him, “Cross over…

Paul’s perfection epistles are emphatically the truth for the present. The Ephesian letter, being addressed to all believers in Christ Jesus, in contrast with the Circumcision, who hardly knew Him by this title, is the ranking revelation for the members of the joint body of Christ. Here first are revealed those secrets which distinguish this…