Recent commentaries

Salvation is Not of The Law

Galatians 2:15–2:21
The basis of salvation is the issue in this passage. Is salvation through Christ alone or does it come through Christ and adherence to the law. If observing the Jewish laws cannot justify us, why should we still obey the ten commandments and other Old Testament laws? Paul says we are Jews by ... Read more

Paul Confronts Peter About Hyprocrisy.

Galatians 2:11–2:14
Apparently sometime after the conference described in the previous verses, Peter came from Jerusalem to Antioch (v. 11). At first, he mingled freely with the Gentiles, enjoying their fellowship. Then some men from Jerusalem arrived who were following strict Jewish traditions ... Read more

Paul Goes to Jerusalem

Galatians 2:1–2:10
False teachers seemed to follow Paul everywhere he went. No sooner had he given out the gospel and people believed, than false teachers tried to discredit Paul’s message and challenge his authority. Paul’s coworkers in the Gospel were Barnabas, a circumcised Jew who was a great ... Read more

Paul explains his conversion

Galatians 1:18–1:24
Three years after Paul’s conversion he went to Jerusalem and visits with Peter. This was his first visit to this city as a Christian. He stayed fifteen days and only saw Peter and James (vv. 18-20). The Apostles were suspicious of him, and he had a tough time getting into the church fellowship! ... Read more

Paul’s Personal Testimony

Galatians 1:11–1:17
It seems that the Judaizers had called into question Paul’s authority to teach spiritual truths. Paul begins with a testimony of his past conduct as an unconverted Jewish rabbi (vv. 13-17). He told how he loved reliĀ¬gion but hated Christians and persecuted them. In fact, it was religion that kept ... Read more

Paul Explaines His Authority

Galatians 1:1–1:10
Paul was accused by some Jewish Christians of diluting Christianity to make it more appealing to the Gentiles. Paul’s authority came from the following sources ... Read more

Jacob’s Burial and Joseph’s Promise

Genesis 50:1–50:26
The Egyptians were a very demonstrative people. They tore their clothes, smote their breasts, threw dust and mud on their heads and chanted funeral songs with the accompaniment of the tambourine. It was an astonishing sight for the local people. After weeping over his father’s dead body Joseph ... Read more

Jacob Blesses His Sons

Genesis 49:1–49:33
Jacob called his sons to his bedside and revealed the future of their descendance (vv. 1-2). Reuben was a man of dignity and power, but he was also unstable and unfit for leadership. Reuben’s descendance would be among the first taken into captivity. Simeon and Levi (vv. 5-7) were men ... Read more

Jacob Blesses Ephraim And Manasseh

Genesis 48:1–48:22
The news came to Joseph one day that his father was very sick. He immediately took his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to see his father (v. 1). Jacob sat up in bed and when Joseph presented his two sons to him the aged patriarch pronounced his blessing on them and gave them the inheritance ... Read more

Joseph’s Family Settles in Goshen

Genesis 47:1–47:31
All the brothers with their families and flocks settled down in the land of Goshen. Joseph introduces them to Pharaoh (vv. 1-2). Pharaoh asked them what they did for a living, and they reply that they have been shepherds all their lives. They formally asked permission to live in ... Read more

Joseph Takes His Family to Egypt

Genesis 46:1–46:34
While Joseph’s brothers had come to repentance in chapter 44 and realized the forgiveness of Joseph in chapter 45, it is not until this time, late in the life of Jacob, that he comes to a significant turning point of his life. While he may well have been saved years before (Gen. 28:10), he has not ... Read more

Joseph Reveals His Identity

Genesis 45:1–45:28
When Joseph saw their concern for their father and for Benjamin, he knew that they had really changed. Quickly he sent all the servants out of the room, and with a burst of emotion he revealed himself to his brothers (vv. 1-2). At first they were stunned by the news and feared he would seek ... Read more

Joseph Tests His Brothers With a Silver Cup

Genesis 44:1–44:34
Joseph had still another test for his brothers. He had his servant fill up their sacks with grain and again put their money back in the sacks (v. 1). Then he had him put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack (v. 2). The next morning the eleven men left to return to their father with the grain (v. 3) ... Read more

The Brothers Bring Benjamin to Joseph

Genesis 43:16–43:34
The story now focuses on Joseph’s plans. The brothers again went to Egypt and this time Benjamin was with them. As soon as they arrived, they were taken to Joseph’s house (vv. 16-17). They were frightened because they did not know what he would do to them (v. 18). Soon a servant brought ... Read more