Brethren New Testament Commentary
BNTC - 1 and 2 Peter
by J. Eric Brubaker. 168 pp., clothbound.
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The epistles of Peter were written by the Apostle Peter. This view has been challenged in recent times, even though it has been the view of the church through the ages. Beside internal evidence of Peter's authorship, each epistle implies that the writer was an eyewitness of the events described.
The primary theme in 1 Peter is the believer's living hope in the midst of persecution and suffering. The trials endured by Christians identify them with Christ and His suffering. Peter refers to trials in 1:6, 2:19, 3:14, and 3:17. Peter encourages believers to meet trials with the knowledge that victory would be theirs at last, for after they have suffered, the Lord will give them eternal glory. In 2 Peter, the writer stresses the need for followers of Christ to have true knowledge in order to offset the inroads of error. Chapter 1 declares that Christians are partakers of the divine nature (1:4). In chapter 2, Peter castigates false teachers, and in chapter 3 he declares that God's judgment is delayed so that unbelievers may repent.
The writer of the commentary on 1 and 2 Peter is J. Eric Brubaker who serves on the plural ministry team in the Middle Creek Church of the Brethren (Atlantic Northeast District). The General Editor of the series is Harold S. Martin, a Church of the Brethren elder, former public school teacher, and editor of the BRF Witness.
BNTC - Gospel of Matthew
by Harold S. Martin. 343 pp., clothbound.
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The Gospel of Matthew is a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament. If one would go from the book of Malachi directly into the Gospel of Mark, there would be a sense of bewilderment because Mark does not give an account of the ancestry and birth of Jesus.
Matthew's book is often called "The Gospel of the King." It was written especially for those who were looking for the Messiah, and were expecting him to be a King who would lead a revolt against Rome, and make Israel a free nation again. Matthew's purpose is to show his readers that the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament were indeed fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.
Matthew begins his account by giving the genealogy of Jesus, and then tells of Jesus' birth and early years. Following His baptism by John, and His defeat of Satan in the desert, Jesus began His public ministry by calling the disciples, healing the sick, and casting out demons. Of all the four Gospel accounts, Matthew is the most systematic in presenting the teachings of Jesus.
The book of Matthew was used almost universally in the early church as a source book for instructing new converts in the faith.
The General Editor of the series is Harold S. Martin, a Church of the Brethren elder, former public school teacher, and editor of the BRF Witness. Harold and his wife Priscilla live at the United Zion Retirement Community near Lititz, Pennsylvania. Harold is also the writer of this Commentary on Matthew.
BNTC - Gospel of Luke
by Harold S. Martin. 308 pp., clothbound.
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The Gospel according to Luke was written by a medical doctor named Luke. Luke was a traveling companion of the Apostle Paul. He was a non-Jewish writer and a scholarly historian. His purpose was to present a historically accurate account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and to present it in such a way that Jesus was seen as a perfect Savior who felt compassion especially for downtrodden people.
Luke did not personally witness most of the events that he wrote about in the Gospel. He refers to six miracles not named in the other Gospels—including the miraculous drought of fish, the raising of the widow of Nain's son. the cleansing of ten lepers, and the healing of the wounded ear of Malchus, Also, Luke names seventeen parables not described elsewhere—including the Good Samaritan, the rich fool and his barns, the builder who did not count the cost to finish his building, and the Pharisee and the publican.
Luke traces the ancestry of Jesus back to Adam, and makes clear the truth that God is interested in all people everywhere, He supplies more information about faithful women than the other Gospel writers. He pictures Jesus as the champion of the poor and distressed.
The General Editor of the series is Harold S. Martin, a Church of tht Brethren elder, former public school teacher, and editor of The BRF Witness, Harold and his wife Priscilla live at the United Zion Retirement Community near Lititz, Pennsylvania. Harold is also the writer of this Commentary on The Gospel of Luke.
BNTC - Gospel of John
by Harold S. Martin. 304 pp., clothbound.
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In this Gospel account, John presents Jesus as true God, and truly man. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but His life never had a beginning. Jesus existed with the Father before time began, for He Himself is eternal God. At least five times John witnesses to the deity of Christ.
John also emphasizes the humanity of Jesus. He speaks of Jesus as having been tired, hungry, troubled, loving, brave, and loyal to His friends. Jesus, who was the God-man, was functionally subordinate to the Father who sent Him into the world. He was obedient to the Father, and He always did the Father's will, even unto death on the cross.
It is from the Gospel of John that we decide the length of Jesus' public ministry. John mentions at least three Passover journeys, and refers most likely to a fourth Passover (although the feast named in John 5:1 is not clearly identified as the Passover). The Synoptic Gospels mention only one Passover in connection with the ministry of Jesus—the one at the time of His crucifixion.
BNTC - Romans
By Harold S. Martin. 224 pp., clothbound.
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The letter known as the book of Romans was written by Paul to the Christians at Rome sometime about A.D. 56 or 57. Paul had completed his third missionary journey and was in Corinth, where he composed the letter which was then carried to Rome by a sister in Christ named Phoebe. The letter to the Romans was not the earliest of Paul's epistles, but it was placed first among the New Testament epistles because of its major importance. Romans is the most systematic presentation of the gospel message to be found anywhere in the Bible. Unless readers grasp the meaning of Romans, they will not be well grounded in the Christian faith.
The book of Romans has two large sections—a doctrinal section in chapters 1-8, and a practical section in chapters 12-16. Between the two main sections there is a parenthesis relating to the nation Israel. The primary theme of the book of Romans centers on salvation—a free gift, offered by God's grace, grounded upon Christ's death, and received by our personal response.
BNTC - 1 Corinthians
by Harold S. Martin. 224 pp., clothbound.
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The epistle known as 1 Corinthians was written to the Christians at Corinth--a bustling maritime city in Greece. Corinth had a reputation for rampant immorality. Most of the converts came from a pagan background, and thus needed instruction and help as they moved from the ethical standards of the pagan society to those of the Christian life.
Numerous problems beset the young believers at Corinth. The church was divided into competing factions; some were suing each other at the law; there was a case of flagrant immorality; problems related to marriage and divorce troubled the church. Questions about the role of women, the Lord's Supper, and spiritual gifts had plagued the congregation.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul addressed these issues and set down instructions for God's people down through the ages.
BNTC - 2 Corinthians
By Harold S. Martin. 152 pp., clothbound.
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Second Corinthians is not an ordered theological treatise like some of Paul's other letters. In 2 Corinthians, Paul expresses his human emotions, and we also get a look into his mind and heart.
In the early part of the epistle, Paul explains that God comforts us in our afflictions so that we can encourage others with the comfort which we have received from the Lord. The object of Paul's preaching was to win people to faith in Jesus Christ. There is also a plea for God's people to separate from sin and from alliances with unbelievers.
In the mid-section of the letter, Paul speaks about the collection for the poor Christians in Jerusalem. In the final section Paul vindicates his apostleship, and closes with the only Trinitarian benediction found anywhere in the Bible. In 2 Corinthians we learn about some of Paul's experiences which are not mentioned at any other place in the Bible. We read about his escape from Damascus in a basket, his being caught up into "the third heaven," his "thorn in the flesh," and his unusual trials and sufferings.
BNTC - Acts of the Apostles
by Mark E. Baliles. 352 pp., clothbound.
The book of Acts provides the link that connects the four Gospels with the remaining part of the New Testament. Luke begins the account by telling about the ascension of Jesus, mentioning another command of Jesus to take the gospel message to the ends of the earth, and then gives much information about the earliest days of the church.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell what Jesus began to do and teach. The book of Acts tells what Jesus continued to do and teach through the apostles in the church. The Acts of the Apostles presents the account of the establishment and development of the early Christian church.
In Acts we learn about the giving of the Holy Spirit, the early advance of the gospel, and the formation and spread of the church. The Acts gives the historical background for many of the New Testament books which are named in the Epistles. This commentary is a tool which attempts to explain and apply the teaching of the text through an exposition and an application of the Bible message. There are helpful divisions to aid in structured teaching of God's Word.
The writer of the commentary on the book of Acts is Mark E. Baliles, serving as pastor of the Indian Creek Church of the Brethren in Vernfield, PA. The General Editor of the series is Harold S. Martin, a Church of the Brethren elder and editor of the BRF Witness.