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876. The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Luke 18:1-8

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... , perhaps after v. 35 or 37, since that section is concerned with the end time and the return of the Son of Man (see v. 30). The appearance of v. 8b here provides a significant literary link to 17:20–37, but it is surely secondary to the original form of the Parable of Widow and the Judge. With its presence at this point a new application has been assigned the parable. Not only does the parable illustrate the need for persistence in prayer in general, but now the parable is made to illustrate the need to ...

877. The Parable of the Ten Minas

Luke 19:11-27

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... elements are not echoed in the Matthean version of the parable. Fitzmyer (pp. 1230–31) thinks that underlying both Gospels is a common parable, with the Matthean form closer to the original form, as it was found in the sayings source. Gundry (pp. 502–3), however, reasons that Luke’s more complicated version is closer to the original. Since it is more likely that Luke would have added the part about the man going away to become king, rather than that Matthew would have dropped it (why should Matthew ...

878. Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Luke 24:36-49

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... While the two were still talking about their experience, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Although a few manuscripts omit the last part, the earliest ones have it and so it should probably be regarded as original (cf. John 20:19). This sudden, dramatic appearance terrifies the disciples, who think that Jesus is a ghost (or “spirit”; cf. Mark 6:49 where the disciples suppose that the water-treading Jesus is a phantom). The disciples’ fear, of course, gives Jesus ...

879. Paul's Longing to Visit Rome

Romans 1:1-17

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... incomprehensible fact that God loves the world in spite of its rebelliousness. It is the master plan of God’s love, the wonderful and awesome surprise that where the world deserved nothing from God it could hope for everything from God. Grace was the origin of Paul’s apostleship. The NT makes two seemingly contradictory statements about Paul. By his own admission he was “the chief of sinners” (1 Tim. 1:12–17), but he was also a “chosen instrument” of God (Acts 9:15–16). These two statements ...

880. God's Wrath Against Mankind

Romans 1:18-32

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... �homo” comes from the Greek word meaning “same,” not the Latin homo, “man”) not because it is a worse sin but because it exemplifies better than other sins the very nature of sin, which is the perversion of an original good, and hence idolatry. His choice of terminology, natural … unnatural relations, is instructive. Homosexuality is a forsaking of a natural relationship instituted according to the purpose of the Creator, i.e., heterosexuality, for an unnatural relationship which reverses the ...

881. No One Is Righteous

Romans 3:9-20

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... , etc.) occurs six times in the quotations. The crowning blow of human unrighteousness is that There is no fear of God (v. 18). Failure to fear God eliminates the possibility of knowing God. The remarkable thing about the list, as Dunn notes, is that originally the passages cited were Jewish indictments of unrighteous Gentiles, in the spirit of 1 Enoch 99:3–4 (Dunn, Romans 1–8, pp. 147–48). In Paul’s hands, however, they no longer function as such. Not only are those who think themselves righteous ...

882. Abraham Justified by Faith

Romans 4:1-25

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... believers before he was the father of Jewish believers, for he was the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised before he was the father of the covenant. His becoming forefather of the Jews was a subsequent specification of an original fatherhood of all who believe, namely, of Gentiles. Thus, both Gentile Christians and Jewish Christians (and in that order!) may appeal to Abraham as father. Six times in this section Paul affirms that “righteousness is credited to them” by faith (vv. 3, 5 ...

883. Future Glory

Romans 8:18-27

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... as sons and daughters and the redemption of our bodies (v. 23). This is Paul’s second front. Believers are determined not by groanings, but by the Spirit; not by the way things are, but by the way they will be. The word for firstfruits, aparchē, which originally derived from the practice of OT sacrifice, carries here a metaphoric sense of something given by God in pledge of a full gift to come, similar to the guarantee of the Spirit in 2 Corinthians 1:22 and 5:5. The Spirit is God’s firstfruits or ...

884. The Remnant of Israel

Romans 11:1-10

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... 14). But God’s perspective differed greatly from Elijah’s. And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal” (v. 4; again loosely quoted from 1 Kings 19:18). The Greek original does not exactly say God’s answer. A word occurring only once in all the NT, ho chrēmatismos, and meaning, “a divine statement or answer,” appears here. The choice of expression heightens the contrast between Elijah’s opinion and the divine authority ...

885. Divisions In the Church

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... 39 [1977], pp. 224–39) that relates Paul’s comments about wisdom to the Hellenistic-Jewish appreciation as found in Philo and Wisdom of Solomon is much nearer the mark, although the concern for wisdom in Corinth could be non-Jewish in its origin and could reflect a form of religiosity parallel to that of pagan mystery religions—see H. Conzelmann, 1 Corinthians (Hermeneia; Philadelphia: Fortress, 1975), esp. pp. 14–16, 38–39. As Barrett points out, Paul can use “wisdom” in a variety of ways to ...

886. Marriage

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... of men and women in the church. For Paul mission is more important than marriage, and marrying or refraining from marriage should facilitate God’s purposes, not hinder the doing of God’s will. 7:39 With this verse Paul seems to shift back to the subject he originally addressed in 7:1–24, the situation of the married women and the nature of the marital bond for those who are already married. The position that Paul stakes out at the outset of the discussion, A woman is bound to her husband as long as he ...

887. The Believer's Freedom

1 Corinthians 10:23--11:1

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... . The NIV can be read as if Paul were offering polite advice (Nobody should seek); in fact, he speaks commandingly, “Let no one seek …!” 10:25 The reference to the market is striking; Paul uses a Gk. word, makellon, that has a Latin origin, macellum, designating an area with enclosures where various merchants would offer a variety of food- and meatstuffs. The Latin ring of this term is highly appropriate for the city of Corinth, which was located in Achaia, but as a refounded, reconstituted Roman city ...

888. The Resurrection of the Dead

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... and Christ, see Rom. 5. 15:22 On Adam and Adam typology in antiquity, see R. Scroggs, The Last Adam: A Study in Pauline Anthropology (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1966); and L. Goppelt, Typos: The Typological Interpretation of the Old Testament in the New (German original, 1939; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1982). More particularly, on this use of the OT in this passage, see J. Lambrecht, “Paul’s Christological Use of Scripture in 1 Cor. 15.20–28,” NTS 28 (1982), pp. 502–27. 15:23 The focus shifts ...

889. The Beast out of the Sea

Revelation 13:1b-10

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... sea is similar to the dragon. Like the dragon, it has all the symbols of kingly authority (ten crowns on his horns; cf. 17:10; Dan. 7:7) and brute power (seven heads … and on each head a blasphemous name; cf. Ps. 74:13–14). Both form and place of origin indicate that it is an agent of the Evil One. The mythic sea, like the Abyss (cf. 11:7; 17:8), is associated with evil monsters, such as Leviathan (cf. Job 41:1–34); and in Daniel’s dream, echoed in John’s description of his own vision of beasts ...

890. Balaam’s First Oracle

Numbers 23:1-12

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... or even mention of the divine spirit is here; Balaam simply speaks as a prophet of God. The opening of the fourth oracle is almost identical to that of the third. One line is added: who has knowledge from the Most High, further indication of the divine origin of Balaam’s words. Balaam then prophesies that one will come out of Israel. That interpretation seems better than interpreting the him in the first part of verse 17 as Israel. The next lines say, A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out ...

891. The Second Census

Numbers 26:1-65

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... Manasseh and Ephraim as the Joseph tribes. 26:33 The names of the daughters of Zelophehad are preserved in place names. 26:42 Dan lists only one clan, Shuham, but the census figure is large. Some commentators suggest that the clan list and census figures were originally independent. 26:46 The reason for listing Asher’s daughter Serah is unknown. 26:51 See the commentary on Num. 1 and the first census, and especially the note on 1:20–46, for the large numbers in the census figures. Budd ties the shape of ...

892. The Philistines Capture the Ark

1 Samuel 4:2-11

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... Eli’s sons, were killed, and the ark that was intended to protect them was captured. Additional Notes Within these Ark Narratives, Samuel is notable by his absence. This has sometimes been seen as indicating that chs. 4–6 originated separately from chs. 1–3, with the original writer of chs. 4–6 being unaware of Samuel’s existence. However, apart from Samuel there are several connections between the two sections and the point being made here is not related to Samuel’s growing up. It could ...

893. Samuel Anoints Saul

1 Sam 9:1–10:8

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... of Ramah and he had just returned home, or whether he was briefly visiting a nearby town. 9:14–17 The time lapsed between the decision to appoint a king and Samuel’s meeting with Saul is unknown. Samuel’s arrangement of this sacrificial feast was originally unconnected, but in some way God had made it clear to Samuel that the chosen king was about to emerge. The feast served as an opportunity for Samuel to get to know Saul and also, symbolically and unknown to Saul, as a precoronation celebration. The ...

894. Samuel's Farewell Speech

1 Samuel 12:1-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... motives in Samuel. Their recognition that their request for a king had been influenced by a wrong understanding of God could have easily led to a revoking of the new system. But Samuel was well aware that, whatever fault there may have been in the original request, the way forward did now lie with kingship. In itself it did not conflict with and could, properly exercised, enhance the kingly rule of God. The ambiguity of Samuel’s position is very well expressed within this speech. 12:20–25 If verse 19 ...

895. David and Goliath

1 Samuel 17:1-58

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... son of Jesse of Bethlehem. It is hard to reconcile Saul’s lack of knowledge of David before this incident with their meeting in chapter 16, and the writers make no attempt to do so. It is possible that material from a number of original sources has been incorporated without subjecting them to a rigorous editing process. Additional Notes 17:1 Socoh and Azekah are south of previous Philistine incursions. This is thus a different stage in the ongoing conflict. The Philistines had been driven back but had not ...

896. David Destroys the Amalekites

1 Samuel 30:1-31

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... some of David’s men. 30:12 The down-to-earth realism of this narrative, describing the exhaustion of the men and the details of the food given to the slave, provides support for the view that it originated as an eyewitness account. 30:14 The Kerethites, allies of the Philistines, also originated from Crete. 2 Sam. 8:18 tells us that there was a Kerethite section in David’s entourage. Possibly this defeat of their common enemy (the Amalekites) led to a developing alliance with and loyalty to David, which ...

897. David Anointed King over Judah

2 Samuel 2:1-7

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... homeland is not clear. But in the course of time and after making sure that he was not stepping outside God’s purposes (v. 1), David returned to Judah and set up a base in Hebron. The two wives who had been with him in exile and his originally makeshift army, now a force to be reckoned with, accompanied him. Once he was settled, the leaders of Judah came and officially recognized David as their king. Whether or not there was a widespread knowledge of David’s anointing by Samuel—and such news has a way ...

898. David Becomes King Over Israel

2 Samuel 5:1-5

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... . 17:14–20. The dual recognition of leaders by God and by the people led is a common motif in the OT. This second anointing of David, this time as king over Israel, not just Judah (2 Sam. 2:4), makes sense within that context (the original anointing of David by Samuel in 1 Sam. 16:13 indicated future potential rather than position). Theologically, David was king because God had chosen him as king. Sociologically, he was king (at least of the northern tribes) because he and the tribes signed and sealed a ...

899. David and Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11:1-27

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... point. The LXX has a longer version in which David reacts as Joab predicted, by getting angry and then being pacified by news of Uriah’s death. On occasions where accounts in the MT and the LXX differ in length, the longer version is usually seen as the original. In this instance the extra material reiterates what is known. It is difficult to be sure whether it was added to clarify Joab’s words or omitted to simplify the passage. In either case it has no effect on the meaning of the chapter. 11:21 This ...

900. David Counts the Fighting Men

2 Samuel 24:1-17

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... of public prosecutor who could, as in Job or Chronicles, be an Accusing Angel or a human accuser acting as Abishai did (2 Sam. 19:21). Both Samuel and Chronicles use the same source material, but it is not possible to determine which is the original at this point. It could be that the Chronicler wanted to avoid describing God as tempter and therefore introduced the concept of Satan. It is equally possible that the writers of Samuel wanted to emphasize God’s sovereignty and that all things are under God ...

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