• Keys to Understanding Scripture
• Keys to Using the Notes
• Key to Abbreviations & Symbols
• Scripture Reference format

1. Seek God's Face. As His Spirit moved holy men of God to record the words of Scripture, only the Holy Spirit can make hearts holy to receive them. Only He can breathe into us Life and understanding. (1Cor 2:9-14; John 16:13,14; Dan 9:3)
2. Search the Scriptures. No scripture is of "private interpretation". Scripture must be compared with scripture. Therefore, do not neglect the cross references in the notes that follow. The scripture references form the text of this commentary. (They should not be set aside as mere footnotes). All notes supplied by this compiler should be regarded simply as links from one scripture to another. (John 5:39; 2Pet 1:20,21)
3. Set Your Heart to Obey His Word. (John 7:16-18; John 14:21; Luke 6:46-49)
    

These notes have been assembled from personal Bible study. They are not meant to be a polished product. Rather the notes are meant to provide you with a resource which will help you come to your own understanding of the scripture text.

Normally, the Notes will display in the large upper window.

Generally, the displayed note page deals with one Bible chapter. At the top of the page, there is a link to the scripture passage under consideration. It is suggested that you Click this link to display the text in the Lower Left window. You should read carefully through the scripture passage more than once. If questions or insights come to mind as you read, write them down with pencil & paper. When you finish reading the scripture passage, study the Notes. Look for answers to your questions. Compare your insights with the Notes discussion. You can scroll through the scripture text as needed during the study.

In the notes, the Bible verses (in the chapter under study) are shown in bold italics to set it apart from other text.

The note following each verse (or group of verses) will point out and discuss important words and phrases from the passage.

Since the best Bible commentary is the Bible itself, you should consider the notes as a framework by which to compare Scripture with Scripture. The frequent scripture reference links are the heart of this study. When you click on these links, the linked passage will usually display in the Lower Right window. (If the link is to a verse in the chapter under study, it will display in the Lower Left window.) You may scroll the text to see the context.

Occasionally, there are links to other resources, or to relevant Book Notes at other Bible books or chapters. Some of these resources may display in the primary (upper) window. To return to the original chapter under study, use the Book Notes button, or the Book Notes link in the Resource Menu. Another option may be to open another instance of 'The Book' in a new browser window (or, Tab), then use the Book Notes button to navigate to the supplemental note (referenced in the link). This prevents disruption of the original study, and facilitates comparison of the passages.

Also see 'Notes (vs. Book Notes)' in the 'Key to Abbreviations & Symbols' (below).

Bold/Italics - Text in this format is

Scripture upon which a given note is commenting.

A.V. - Authorized Version of the Bible

(also called the King James Version)

Book Notes (vs. Notes) - See 'Notes' below.

c.    - Circa, at about the time of...

(Example: c. 1800 AD means "about 1800 AD")

cf.   - Contrast...

ch.   - Chapter(s)

CEMason - Alluding to or quoting from

class notes by Clarence E. Mason, professor, Philadelphia College of Bible, Phila, PA.

CJEllicott- Alluding to or quoting from

"A Layman's Commentary on the Bible: Titus, Philemon, Hebrews & James", CJ Ellicott, Zondervan, 1957

CHM  - Alluding to or quoting from

the works of C.H.Mackintosh (eg. "Notes on Genesis" or "Notes on Exodus", Fleming H. Revell Co., 1873.

CHS  - Alluding to or quoting from

the works of Charles Haddon Spurgeon (eg. "The Treasury of David" on the Psalms)

cp.   - Compare...

Darby - Alluding to or quoting from

"A literal translation of the Old Testament (1890) and the New Testament (1884)," by John Nelson Darby

eg.   - For example...

ESV  - English Standard Version of the Bible, 2011

ff. (f., or -f) - When used after a scripture reference,

means "and the following verses" (eg. Rom 5:1 ff, or Rom 5:1-f).

ie.   - That is...

GK   - Greek (usually followed by

transliteration and/or definition of a Greek word). Example:

GK=agape, self-sacrificing costly love, the type of love with which Christ loves us.

The Greek word "agape" is written in English characters and followed by a definition.

GWms - Alluding to or quoting from

"A Student's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures", George Williams, Kregel Pub., 1960

HB  - Hebrew (usually followed by

transliteration and/or definition of a Hebrew word). See example of usage at "GK" above.

HCSB - Alluding to or quoting from

"Holman Christian Standard Bible," by Holman Bible Publishers, 2009

Ironside - Alluding to or quoting from

one of several commentaries on NT books, by Dr. Harry A. Ironside, Litt. D.

JBS (or JBSmith)- Alluding to or quoting from

"A Revelation of Jesus Christ: A Commentary on the Book of Revelation" by J.B. Smith.

JVMcGee- See "McGee" below

KJV  - King James Version

lit.  - Literal, literally

LXX  - Septuagint, see below.

McGee - Alluding to or quoting from

the edited transcipts of "Thru the Bible" radio broadcasts by Dr. J. Vernon McGee

MSS   - Manuscript(s), ancient copies of the Scriptures.

NASB - New American Standard Bible version

NET or NET Bible - NET Bible, Second edition,

by Biblical Studies Press, 1996-2017

NIV  - New International Version (1984 edition)

NScofRB - Alluding to or quoting from the

"New Scofield Reference Bible", Oxford University Press, 1967.

Notes (vs. Book Notes) -

Some Book Notes studies include links to relevant Book Notes at other passages. These links appear in two forms:

• see Notes at...- The note will appear in one of the lower (or side) windows.
• see Book Notes at...- The note will appear in the main (upper) window.

Also see Keys to Using the Notes (above).

NScofRB - Alluding to or quoting from the

"New Scofield Reference Bible", Oxford University Press, 1967.

NT   - New Testament

OT   - Old Testament

re:  - Regarding, Relates to

ref. - Reference, Refers to

R.V. - Revised Version of the Bible

RSV - Revised Standard Version

Ryrie S.B.- "The Ryrie Study Bible", Moody Press, 1978

ScofRB. - Alluding to or quoting from the

"Scofield Reference Bible", Oxford University Press, 1917.

Septuagint - An early translation of the OT

into Greek, often abbreviated "LXX"

Stifler - Alluding to or quoting from

"The Epistle to the Romans", James M. Stifler, Moody Press, 1967.

TBKC - The Bible Knowledge Commentary,

John F. Walvoord & Roy B. Zuck, Victor Books, 1983.

ThomCRB- Thompson Chain Reference Bible,

B.B.Kirkbride Bible Co. and Zondervan Corp., 1983.

trans. - Translated

TSK - Treasurey of Scripture Knowledge

v. or vs.- Verse(s)

Vine- See WEVine

WEVine- a reference from

"Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words", Thomas Nelson Pub., 1985.

Wuest - As translated by

Dr. Kenneth Wuest, "The New Testament, an Expanded Translation"

WWiersbe - Alluding to or quoting from

"Be Hopeful, 1Peter", by Warren W. Wiersbe, Victor Books, 1983

x   - times ( 7x = seven times)

YLT - Young's Literal Translation of the Bible

#   - Number (#1 = number one).

=   - Equals, is, The meaning is...

Example: GK=agape

[ ]   - When occurring in line of Scripture text,

encloses words which are italicized in the KJV text.

[Note: The translators of the KJV, attempted to render the original languages into English as faithfully and literally as possible. When, in their judgment, they needed to supply a word to adequately convey the thought in English, this word was italicized. Due to formatting limitations, brackets are utilized instead of italics in this publication.]

Elsewhere, used as parenthesis (as above), [(double) parenthesis], and frequently to identify a reference [source].

{ }   - When occurring in line of Scripture text,

encloses a note or alternate reading.

^   - Therefore, It follows that...

 

Scripture Reference format:

[book] [chapter]:[verses]

Examples:

1Cor 15:1-5 [verses 1 through 5]

Joh 3:16-18,36 [vs.16 though 18, and v. 36]

Mat 28:1-f [v.1 and following]

Joh 3:36a [refers to the first clause of the verse]

Joh 3:36b [refers to the second clause of the verse]

Joh 3:36c [refers to the third clause, etc.]
 

• Book abbreviations are usually the first two or three letters of the complete book name.
  In the following links, the book names and corresponding abbreviations are listed. OT Books - NT Books (These links are also accessible from the Resource Menu.)
• Multiple chapter / verse references in the same book are usually separated by a semi-colon, without repetition of the book identifier.
  Example:
  Joh 3:16,17; 6:35-40 (John chapter 3 verses 16 and 17, and chapter 6 verses 35 through 40)
• In the Book Notes, the lesson text may include isolated scripture references without a book identifier. The book and/or chapter under study are assumed, unless otherwise stated.
  Example: (adapted from the Book Notes at John 3:2)
  these miracles- No one, not even His enemies, could deny them (7:31; 11:47,48). Nicodemus, impressed by miracles (cp. 2:23), had evidential faith. He regarded Jesus, as he regarded himself, as a teacher with God's blessing (cp. v.10).
  [In this example, all references are within the book of John. The last reference is within chapter 3 of John (the chapter under study).]
• Occasionally, where the text includes an isolated reference without a book identifier, the book identified, in the previous reference, can be assumed.
  Example: (adapted from the above example)
  ...No one, not even His enemies, could deny them (Joh 7:31). Nicodemus, impressed by miracles (cp. 2:23), had evidential faith.
  [In this example, both references are within the book of John.]