Bridgeway Bible Commentary

1 Bridgeway Bible Commentary A running explanation of the biblical text for the people of today's world Don Fleming Bridgeway Bridgeway Bible Commentary Don Fleming 1988, 1994, 2005 First published in an 8-volume set as Bridge Bible Handbooks 1988 Reprinted 1990, 1992 First published as Bridge Bible Commentary 1994 Reprinted 1997, 2001, 2003 First published as Bridgeway Bible Commentary 2005 ISBN 0 947342 72 9 All Rights Reserved Bridgeway Publications GPO Box 2547 Brisbane 4001 Australia Contents Preface Genesis Exodus Leviticus

2 Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms

3 Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Old Testament Prophecy Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos

4 Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi The New Testament World Introduction to the Four Gospels Jesus and the Kingdom Index to the Four Gospels The

5 Four Gospels Acts The post-Acts Period Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James

6 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation Preface The origins of this Commentary go back to my missionary years in Thailand, when I began writing a few books in the Thai language to help local people understand the Scriptures. The result, after many years, was a series of fifteen mini-commentaries on the Thai Bible .

7 Although the success of the books in Thai was due largely to the lack of available alternatives, news of the books spread, and it was suggested that I prepare an English equivalent for use in other countries. Over some years the fifteen-volume series was produced in English, but by this time I had written several other books and their production was scattered over a variety of countries. When Bridgeway Publications in Australia undertook a project to republish all these books in a new format, the fifteen volumes were revised and reissued in eight volumes under the series title, Bridge Bible Handbooks.

8 Those eight books are now combined into the one-volume Bridgeway Bible Commentary , which is a companion in size, style and format to the Bridgeway Bible Dictionary, an A to Z of biblical information. The eight Handbooks were dedicated to people who, in different ways, had a significant influence in my life and ministry. Since the present volume is not a new work but a reformatted (and in parts revised) version of the eight Handbooks, no new dedication attaches to it. Instead I am pleased to acknowledge again my indebtedness to those to whom the earlier editions were dedicated.

9 Book 1 Philip and Pat Juler Book 2 Chun Kertyoo Book 3 Reg and Marjorie Vines Book 4 David Clines Book 5 John and Grace Robertson Book 6 Bob and Vic McCallum Book 7 Chue Petnamngern Book 8 Vic and Jean Fleming In the present book, as in my other books, my aim is to provide biblical reference material that bridges two gaps at the same time. First, I want to bridge the gap in time and culture between the world of the Bible and the world of today. Second, I want to bridge the gap between the technical reference works and the non-technical reader. Above all, my desire is to produce books that will encourage people to read the Bible .

10 Though labelled a Commentary , this volume is not a word-by-word or verse-by-verse technical reference book. But neither is it a survey that flies over the top of the various biblical books without touching the text. Perhaps running Commentary would be a more appropriate description. My suggestion is that instead of trying to dig deep or squeeze lessons from the Bible , we relax a little, try to understand what each book is saying, and then let the Bible do whatever it wants to do. Let the Bible speak for itself which