47 matching verse commentaries
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
And watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: For, when Christ comes, he will know you as his disciples if you love one another; but if there be an absence of Christian affection when he comes, he will say at once that you have missed the main mark of discipleship.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves,.... Not but that charity, or love, is to be exercised towards all men, even towards enemies, but more especially towards the saints, and that under such a consideration in which it cannot be exercised towards others; namely, as their brethren in Christ, and as belonging to him, as the...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Not your own sins, but the sins of your friends, so that you will not see them. Where love is thin, there faults are always thick. Wherever there is true love in the heart, we make many apologies and allowances for the weaknesses and infirmities of our friends. Often, we cannot see the faults in them;...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Use hospitality,.... Or, "be lovers of strangers", as the phrase may be rendered, and as it is in the Syriac version; that is, such as are of a distant country, or come from afar, and are unknown by face, especially good men, that are obliged to remove from their native country for the sake of religion, or by one providence or another; and these...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whatever “the gift” is, whether it be money, or talent, or grace, “even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” God gives much to...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Use hospitality one to another without grudging. Whenever saints of God traveled in those days, there were few public inns available for their accommodation, so they stayed with brethren in Christ as they went on their way.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
As every man hath received the gift,.... That is, from God, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions add. This is a general rule laid down by the apostle, according to which, distribution of every kind, whether in things temporal or spiritual, is to be made, even according to the nature, quality, and quantity of the gift received: the greatest gift God...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. God’s grace takes many shapes, it is manifold; and he gives to one brother one form of grace, and to another quite a different form; and, to a third, yet another form of his blessing. now, as nations increase their wealth...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God,.... This is an application of the above general rule to a particular case, the public ministry of the word, for that is here meant: "if any man speak"; not in any manner, or on any subject; not in a private way, or about things natural and civil; but in public, and concerning divine things:...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
If any man speak — Let him speak thoroughly well; but, in order that he may do so, what shall be his model? 1Pe_4:11. Let him speak as the oracles of God/ As truthful]y, carefully, solemnly, as the Book itself speaks: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.” 1Pe_4:11. If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial,.... By which may be meant either the destruction of Jerusalem, which was at hand, and of which the apostle may be thought to give the Jews he writes to notice of before hand; that they might be prepared for it, and not be overwhelmed with consternation and amazement when they should hear of...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: In Peter’s day, the Christians were called, not only to what might he metaphorically termed, “the fiery trial,” but they had literally to suffer thus for Christ’s sake. Nero had multitudes of Christians brought to his...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings,.... Not of his personal sufferings; though they were partakers of the benefits and blessings which come through them, and result from them, such as justification, peace, and pardon, and which are matter and ground of rejoicing; but of the sufferings of his body, the church, which is...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; did not your Saviour say, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ,.... For being called by his name; for bearing the name of Christians; for believing in him, and professing him; and for the sake of his Gospel, which is sometimes called his name, Acts 9:15 not that the apostle makes any doubt of this, for nothing is more certain than that the saints shall be reproached,...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
For the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. Whenever they speak against you that which is not true, they think that they shall slander the name of God by slandering you; but they do no such thing. As far as they are concerned, God is evil spoken of; but, then, that is...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
But let none of you suffer as a murderer,.... The punishment for murder was death by the law of God, Genesis 9:6 or as a thief; whose fine or mulct, according to the Jewish law, was a fivefold or fourfold restitution, according to the nature of the thing that was stolen, Exodus 22:1 or as an evildoer; a breaker of any of the laws of God or men,...
Spurgeon - Verse Expositions - Charles H. Spurgeon
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. A curious mixture that, — is it not? A murderer is classed with “a busybody in other men’s matters.” But, really, people of this latter sort are very obnoxious. there are some who seem as if they cannot mind their own business; I...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian,.... Because he is one, and professes himself to be one. This name was first given to the disciples at Antioch, either by themselves, or by the Gentiles; however, it being agreeable to them, was retained; it is only mentioned here, and in Acts 11:26, let him not be ashamed; neither of Christ, and his Gospel,...