The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda

By Tony Evans and CSB Bibles by Holman

Tony Evans is one of the most influential church leaders of our time and has been studying and preaching the Gospel for over 50 years. He is senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, TX and founder of The Urban Alternative, a ministry which promotes a kingdom agenda philosophy designed to enable people to live all of life underneath the comprehensive rule of God.
 
The Tony Evans Bible Commentary includes an introduction to each Bible book followed by passage-by-passage exposition of the entire Bible by Dr. Tony Evans. In addition, there is a special front matter section with introductory resources. The insights in this commentary will help explain God’s Word in a fresh way. Applying these truths will empower readers to have transformed lives that then transfer the values of the kingdom of God to others.
 
The Tony Evans Bible Commentary features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture's life-changing message and to share it with others.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: BH Publishing Group
• Release date: Oct 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9780805499438

Tony Evans

Dr. Tony Evans is one of the most respected pastors in America. The first African American to graduate with a doctorate of theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, he is the founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. Dr. Evans is also president of the Urban Alternative, a ministry that promotes spiritual renewal in America through the church. The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans is broadcast daily on radio and TV all over the world. Learn more at TonyEvans.org.

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Tony Evans Bible Commentary

Copyright © 2019 by Holman Bible Publishers

Nashville, Tennessee. All Rights Reserved.

Some material in the Bible book introductions was previously published in the Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary, 2013, by B&H Publishing Group. Used by permission.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

The interior of the Tony Evans Bible Commentary was designed and typeset by 2k/denmark, Højbjerg, Denmark. Proofreading was provided by Peachtree Publishing Services, Peachtree City, Georgia.

ISBN: 978-0-8054-9942-1

BISAC: REL00605/RELIGION/Biblical

Commentary/General

Printed in China

1 2 3 4 5 — 21 20 19

RRD

Tony Evans Bible Commentary

Acknowledgments

Author Bio

Introduction

General Information

How to Study the Bible

Definitions of Key Terms and Doctrines

Theology Overview

Attributes of the Triune God

Bibliology

Names of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit

Doctrinal Outlines of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit

Kingdom Life

General Topical Index

Commentary

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation

Acknowledgments

A work of this magnitude requires an enormously committed support system. The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (and its companion The Tony Evans Study Bible) has been years in the making. It is for this reason I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who enabled this project to reach its completion.

First of all, I want to thank the B&H Publishing family for their hard work. This includes Trevin Wax who oversaw the publishing of this work. I am also grateful for the investment of time and energy given by the managing editor, Chris Cowan, with whom I spent countless hours critiquing, constructing, and reviewing the content of my exposition of every paragraph of God’s Holy Word. Thanks also to B&H’s editorial and production team, including J. D. Green, Lloyd Mullens, Garry Fulton, Dustin Curtis, and Bethany McShurley for the wonderful and professional way they put this project together.

A special thanks goes to my good friend Phil Rawley for his hard work and tremendous contribution with regard to certain elements of content. Thanks also go to Jeff Godby and 2k/denmark for their design and typesetting expertise.

I am also very grateful to my longtime executive assistant, Mrs. Sylvia Stewart, for the endless time and effort she put into keeping up with all the administrative duties connected with this project amidst all her other responsibilities. Finally, my appreciation goes to Mrs. Heather Hair, who helped to strategize, organize, and manage all the moving parts of this work during this multi-year process in an efficient and excellent way.

Dr. Tony Evans

Dr. Tony Evans is the founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, is founder and president of The Urban Alternative, served as chaplain of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, and is author of over one hundred books, booklets, and Bible studies. The first African American to earn a doctorate of theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, he has been named one of the 12 Most Effective Preachers in the English-Speaking World by Baylor University.

Dr. Evans holds the honor of writing and publishing the first full-Bible commentary and study Bible by an African American. His radio broadcast, The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, can be heard on more than 1,300 US outlets daily and in more than 130 countries.

Dr. Evans launched the Tony Evans Training Center in 2017, an online learning platform providing quality seminary-style courses for a fraction of the cost to any person in any place. The goal is to increase biblical literacy and to advance God’s kingdom agenda not only among lay people but also among those Christian leaders who cannot afford or find the time for formal ongoing education.

For more information, visit TonyEvans.org.

Introduction

This commentary is based on a simple yet profound biblical worldview: the glory of God through the advancement of his kingdom. This is the unifying theme of Scripture, from Genesis through Revelation. The concept of God’s kingdom is what ties all of the Bible together. When this central point of connectivity is lost to the reader, it is easy for Scripture to seem like a series of disconnected stories, events, personalities, and doctrines that do not strategically and thematically connect to one another.

The word kingdom means rule or authority. When linked to God, it refers to the rule of God in both heaven and earth encompassing both eternity and time. It is therefore comprehensive in nature. This kingdom is composed of a ruler (God), subjects (angels and people), a realm (creation), and regulations (laws).

The Bible unfolds how God’s kingdom operates in the affairs of the world and how God receives glory through his kingdom rule, even when that rule is being opposed by both angels and human beings. While God’s kingdom rule takes various forms with varying laws through varying administrations (i.e., dispensations), it nonetheless maintains its central goal of bringing God glory whether through blessing or judgment.

The kingdom agenda, then, is the visible manifestation of the comprehensive rule of God over every area of life. God’s kingdom agenda is carried out through four covenantal spheres: the individual, the family, the church, and the government (i.e., nations). A covenant is a divinely created relational bond through which God administrates his kingdom program. It establishes a legal relationship in the spiritual realm that is to be lived out in the physical realm. To operate and function underneath the umbrella of God’s kingdom covenants and guidelines is to position the specific covenantal relationship (i.e., individual, family, church, government) to experience God’s greatest involvement and benefits within that covenantal sphere. Conversely, to operate outside of and in opposition to God’s kingdom covenant is to experience the negative consequences of not being aligned and covenantally covered.

This commentary is designed to reflect this kingdom perspective through an exposition of each of the sixty-six books of the Holy Scriptures. My goal is that this work will serve as a valuable study resource for serious students of the Bible by combining exegesis, exposition, and exhortation that creates a relevant kingdom mindset.

As you use this study tool, remember:

Study the Scriptures with a view to meeting with God, not just learning about him.

Study the Scriptures by routinely asking, What should I do in light of what I have learned?

Study the Scriptures in their context in order to be accurate in your understanding of what the biblical authors are saying.

Study the Scriptures in prayer and in dependency on the Holy Spirit to open up your mind and heart to the meaning and contemporary relevancy and application of the text.

Study the Scripture with a kingdom mindset, seeking to identify God’s rule over every area of life.

While nothing can be added to or subtracted from God’s inerrant Word, it is my sincere hope that this tool will aid you in your understanding and application of the Bible to your life. For additional study notes, articles, and supporting materials, see also The Tony Evans Study Bible: Advancing God’s Kingdom Agenda. Most importantly, it is my prayer that your reading, studying, and obedience to the written Word will lead you into a deeper, more intimate relationship with the living Word, Jesus Christ, as kingdom disciples as you live all of life under his kingdom rule.

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KINGDOM AGENDA SERMONS

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KINGDOM LIFE SERMONS

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KINGDOM FAMILY SERMONS

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KINGDOM SOCIETY SERMONS

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How to Study the Bible

The Bible is a book unlike any other book. It is, in fact, a whole library of books, all bound together in one volume. These individual books were written by many different authors over an extended period of time. What makes the Bible so unique, though, is that its many human authors were all inspired by its one divine author—God himself! The Greek word Paul uses for inspired by God means God-breathed. These words that carry God’s breath are words that can change and transform our lives. Paul reminds us that all of Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16).

If we want to understand who God is, what his purposes are, and how he has made Himself known to the human race, we cannot afford to ignore the Bible. Whenever you purchase a complicated gadget it is usually accompanied by a set of instructions—a manufacturer’s handbook. Without this handbook you’ll find yourself having to guess at how it works. In a sense, the Bible is the manufacturer’s handbook for life. The one who created us has plans and purposes for us. If we don’t know the content of his manufacturer’s handbook, we won’t know his plans and purposes, nor will we know how to live as he intends.

Still, many people put little effort into reading the Bible. Sometimes the problem is just laziness or a wrong set of priorities. But that isn’t the only reason. The Bible can be a difficult book to understand. While its most important teachings are understandable by a child, there is much in the pages of Scripture that is not easy to grasp without some extra effort and help.

That’s where a study Bible comes in handy. It will provide you with some background material and theological explanation that will bring biblical truths into sharper focus. But don’t count on the study Bible to do all the work for you. If you want to get the most out of the Scripture you need to learn to read it for yourself and learn to interpret it by giving careful focus to the passage you are reading and by comparing what you learn there with the rest of what the Bible teaches.

What follows are some things you can do to help you get the most out of your biblical study.

Read Carefully

Though the Bible is an exciting book, you can’t read it in the same way you’d read a thrilling novel. If you race through the pages you will miss much of what it has to offer. Good Bible reading begins with reading slowly and carefully, and it is a good idea to have a pen and paper handy to jot down the things you observe. Or maybe you’ll want to write in the margins of your Bible. Mark down the things that inspire, challenge, or puzzle you. If there is a key verse or key idea you discover, you might want to underline it. You can make a study Bible your own by recording in it the things you are learning from it.

As you read, pay close attention to words like if, then, and therefore, which will help you understand the relationships between the concepts it teaches. These little words may reveal requirements and expectations that you need to keep in mind. Many of the Bible’s promises, for example, are conditional. There are things you are expected to do if that promise is to become real in your life. And in the New Testament letters, the word therefore is often a signal that what went before is the doctrinal basis on which a truth can be embraced and applied.

Read and read again. You might even try reading aloud as a way of forcing yourself to slow down and take in every thought. Above all, don’t be in a hurry. Read slowly and think about what each sentence and paragraph means. Don’t just hunt for an inspiring nugget of truth. Let every sentence speak to you!

Ask Questions

One of the common characteristics of children is that they are almost insatiably curious. They ask lots of questions, which can sometimes become exhausting for their parents. But it is the way they learn new things. One of the problems with adults is that they often stop asking questions as they grow older. So be more like a curious child as you read the Bible. Don’t assume you already know what it says. Keep your curiosity high and keep your heart and mind open. One great way to do this is by cross-examining the passage you are reading in order to make sure you are noticing all it has to say. See if you can answer these questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how? Exploring the answers to these questions will open new depths of understanding.

Pay Attention to the Context

Paying attention to context is extremely important if you want to accurately understand what the Bible is saying. Some people just search its pages for an individual verse that speaks to their need of the moment, without paying much attention to the verses that surround it. Reading this way is like treating the Bible as a fortune cookie or as a collection of inspirational memes. As you read the Bible, sometimes a verse will stand out and engage your heart in a very personal way. But when that happens, it’s important to see how that verse relates to the verses around it. If you don’t pay attention to the context, you are in danger of trying to make the Bible say something that it doesn’t actually say.

Every verse of the Bible is part of a chapter, and every chapter is part of a book, and every book of the Bible is part of one larger God-inspired message that unfolds across its pages. Many people don’t realize that the Bible wasn’t originally written in chapters and verses. Each book was one continuous text contained in a scroll, and it was not until the late Middle Ages that someone came up with the idea of dividing it into chapters and verses to make it more convenient for readers and as a tool for helping people locate specific passages they wanted to remember. You should keep that in mind before pulling a verse out of its context and applying it to your life.

As you read, pay attention to the immediate context of the neighboring verses and try to understand the main point that the biblical writer is making. Ask yourself how it fits in the context of the entire book. You should notice if the passage you are reading is part of a larger story or a larger argument and who is speaking or being spoken to. There are, for example, places in the Bible that contain the words of Satan or of a godless leader, and we don’t want to treat those in the same way we’d treat the words of Jesus!

As we study the Bible, it is important to keep our focus upon the main points and the most important teachings, and not allow ourselves to be sidetracked too much by secondary issues. Make sure you understand the big picture through your telescope before you pull out your microscope to examine the details! The Bible isn’t a puzzle book or a coded message, so don’t look for complicated symbols and secret meanings. Ask yourself what it meant to the original readers and how that applies to you today.

Be Ready to Obey

Applying what we read in the Bible to our daily lives is the highest purpose of Bible study. We don’t study it so that we can win theological arguments or impress people with our knowledge. We read it so that God can use it to transform our lives. Therefore, we should read the Bible with humility and an open heart, being ready to be challenged and changed by God’s Word. We should read it with an open mind, not assuming we already know what it means. The more you read the Bible, the more new and fresh truths you will discover in its pages. It is inexhaustible.

The Bible speaks with God’s own authority, so the proper response to such authority is obedience. James 1:23 tells us that the Bible is a mirror in which we can catch an honest glimpse of ourselves. As you read, you can perceive where you are falling short, where you are making improper compromises, where you are following your own desires instead of God’s best, and where you are placing your cultural prejudices over God’s truth. So, as you read Scripture, hear—and then obey.

Pray

Since the Bible is a spiritual book, it must be approached spiritually. You approach studying the Bible spiritually by bathing your study in prayer. In this way, the Holy Spirit can illuminate your mind regarding the meaning and application of its truth to your life (1 Cor 2:9-16; Eph 6:18).

The Big Story and All the Little Ones

The Bible is filled with history, biographies, miracles, prophecies, songs, poems, letters, and practical teaching. Each element deserves your time and attention, and each book contains wisdom and guidance for your life. But as you read and study, you should never lose sight of the big over-arching story of the Bible, which is the story of God’s redemptive love and his desire to be present with his people. It is a story about a King who will go to any lengths to invite his people into relationship with him and to join him in advancing his kingdom agenda in history.

The Old Testament tells the story of how that relationship grew and changed over time. It focuses upon the story of Israel, a people specially chosen by God to establish and advance his kingdom for his glory. He worked with his people in different ways through each of the covenants he made with them. The New Testament contains the fulfillment of these promises and covenants in the person of Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh.

The Bible tells a story with a big narrative arc, and that arc points toward God’s increasingly intimate dealings with his people. That’s why it is important to pay attention to where you are in the big story as you read through the Bible.

The Pentateuch (Genesis–Deuteronomy) tells of the creation of the universe, the fall of humanity, the calling of Abraham to be the father of a chosen people, God’s deliverance of his people from slavery through Moses, and the giving of the law as a sign of the covenant God made with his people. These five books are the foundation for everything that follows in the establishing and expansion of God’s kingdom.

The Historical Books (Joshua–Esther) record the many victories and failures of Israel. It is often not a pretty story! The historical books record the conquest of the land God had promised, the era of the judges, the rise of the monarchy, and the constant struggles against the temptations toward idolatry and immorality. They also tell of how Israel underwent a civil war and was divided into a northern kingdom (Israel) and a southern kingdom (Judah). This led to destruction and exile. The last few books reveal what happened when the Israelites finally emerged from exile.

The Poetical Books (Job–Song) were written at various times during the history of Israel, though the lion’s share were penned during the high points of the monarchy under David and Solomon, who are traditionally considered to be the authors of much that is in these books. Job struggles with the question of why there is suffering in the lives of good people. Psalms is a book of songs, praises, and prayers. Proverbs offers bite-sized nuggets of wisdom for living, Ecclesiastes centers on the meaning of a truly good and purposeful life. The Song of Songs reflects upon human and divine love. Since poetry is less straightforward than prose, these books take a different path to revealing important truths about God and our walk with him.

The Prophetic Books (Isaiah–Malachi) record the stories and messages of the men God raised up to challenge Israel for its unfaithfulness, injustice, and hypocrisy. The prophets challenged the status quo and pointed toward the future with hope. They gestured toward a time when God will powerfully intervene in history and make himself known. Included in these books are prophecies of the coming Messiah, as well as the coming realization of the kingdom of God upon the earth.

The Gospels (Matthew–John) give us four different, but complementary, perspectives on the life of Jesus. We see in them the story of the one who embodies the kingdom of God and who offers a path to salvation based upon his love, his sacrifice, and his grace. The Gospels also record Jesus’s kingdom teaching and his establishment of the church through his disciples.

Acts is the story of the early church, focusing especially on the ministries of Peter and Paul. It shows how the power of the Holy Spirit was unleashed upon God’s people so that they could bear witness to the truth—by miracles, healings, and especially by the powerful proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ and his kingdom program.

The Epistles (Romans–Jude) are a collection of letters that the apostle Paul and other early church leaders wrote to inspire, instruct, and encourage the church—as well as to challenge false teachings that were beginning to creep into the early congregations. These letters give us a picture of the early Christian communities and offer practical advice about living the life of faith.

Revelation is the last book of the New Testament, and the last book of the Bible. Unquestionably the most complex and difficult biblical book to interpret, it has spawned a variety of different interpretations. But the central message is clear: A day is coming when God will defeat all the powers of darkness and establish his eternal worldwide kingdom with his people. This is the great and grand hope of Revelation.

As you read and study each book of the Bible, remember that the big story is one of God’s love and redemption, and his desire to dwell with and in his people. The King is establishing a kingdom where he can rule in every heart, and where his grace will be the basis for relationship. Every page of the Bible is, in some way, pointing toward this ultimate hope.

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Definitions of Key Terms and Doctrines of the Christian Faith

Knowing key terms and sound doctrine matters as we come to know God in all of his of triune fullness as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as far as we can with our finite minds. God wants us to know him. Paul prayed that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him (Eph 1:17). Knowing God is the foundation of the wisdom we need to live victorious and abundant Christian lives (Prov 9:10). Below are explanations of key terms and a selection of doctrinal topics from God’s Word, as well as relevant Scripture for each.

Baptism: The ordinance of water baptism is an outward testimony of an inward reality—the salvation of a soul by the blood of Christ and the baptism of that person into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, formally initiating the life of discipleship.

Because water baptism is symbolic of this inner, spiritual work, it was never intended to have saving power in itself. The primary meaning of baptism for the believer is public identification with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection, pictured by the immersion of the believer in the waters of baptism. Baptism inaugurates the formal beginning of the believer’s life of discipleship (Matt 28:19; Rom 6:1-4; 1 Cor 12:13; Col 2:12; 1 Pet 3:21).

Biblical Justice: The equitable and impartial application of the rule of God’s moral law in society.

Biblical justice provides society with a divine frame of reference from which to operate. The word justice in Scripture means to prescribe the right way. Biblical justice is not a man-made, socially imposed, top-down system ultimately leading to the negation of freedom. Biblical justice promotes freedom by emphasizing accountability, equality, and responsibility in providing a spiritual underpinning in the personal and social realms. Biblical justice must always be coupled with righteousness (Gen 18:19; Ps 7:6; 9:16; 11:7; 33:5; 89:14; Matt 12:18-20).

Blessing: The capacity to experience, enjoy, and extend the goodness and favor of God in your life.

A blessing is not merely what God does for you or to you. A blessing is also what God is able to do through you in order to similarly bring a blessing to others. Christians who want God to bless them must be willing for God to bless others through them. We must align ourselves under the fundamentals of God’s covenant to be in a position to receive the blessings he has promised. Living in God’s kingdom brings blessings, but these blessings are often contingent upon living for his kingdom and underneath his authority (Gen 1:28; Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35; Gal 3:14; Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 3:9).

Calling: The customized life purpose God has ordained and equipped you to accomplish in order to bring him the greatest glory and achieve the maximum expansion of his Kingdom.

As followers of Jesus and subjects in God’s kingdom, believers have been placed on earth to carry out God’s will according to their personal gifts and his plan for each life. Your calling is unique to you and will often involve an intersection of your past experiences, passions, gifts, skills, position, and personality when God ushers you into its fulfillment (Acts 13:36; Gal 2:20; Eph 2:10; Phil 2:12-13).

Church: The spiritually redeemed body of believers that is to legislate the heavenly values of the kingdom of God on earth.

The church is built and God’s kingdom is advanced by faithful believers who serve Christ to the best of their ability. God designed the church to be the epicenter of culture, and the church’s strength or weakness is a major determining factor in the success or failure of human civilization, since the church alone possesses the keys of the kingdom and its authority. A church also provides a community in which spiritual gifts are to be used for the benefit of others, and a place where believers partake in worship, study, fellowship, and outreach (Matt 16:18-19; Acts 2:42-47; Eph 1:22; 2:11-22; 3:10; Col 1:18-24).

Confession: To acknowledge to God and others, as appropriate, that what God calls a sin we also call a sin in our own lives, thoughts, and actions.

Every misery we encounter is related to sin to some extent—whether it is our own sin, someone else’s sin, or just the evil, sinful world in which we live. But God’s mercy and grace extend beyond our sin through the blood of Christ. When God sees our pain, he feels and experiences it with us. But grace must precede mercy because God can’t help us with our pain until he first deals with our sin. That’s why we are told to confess our sins. Confession of your sin enables God to extend his mercy to you (Prov 28:13; Eph 2:1-5; Jas 5:16; 1 John 1:9).

Covenant: A divinely created relational bond through which God reveals himself and administers his kingdom program that’s designed to bring his greatest blessing to human beings who operate under its guidelines.

A biblical covenant involves far more than a contract. In a biblical covenant, you enter into an intimate relationship with another person or persons. Jesus’s blood has established the new covenant under which you are to align your life in order to receive its full covenantal blessings, covering, and protection. There must be covenantal alignment under the lordship of Jesus Christ in order to experience his kingdom presence, power, authority, provision, and covering (Deut 29:9; 1 Cor 10:16; Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24).

Dispensations: Divisions of time that can be defined as progressive stages in God’s revelation, each consisting of a distinct stewardship or rule of life.

Since each dispensation is distinct and identifiable—such as Innocence, Law, Grace, and Kingdom—there are different characteristics, administrations, jurisdictions and judgments in each period. Dispensationalism recognizes the movement of God in redemption history and identifies how he related to people in the time in which they lived with the divine revelation that he had communicated to them (Matt 5:21-22; John 1:17; Acts 17:31-32; 1 Cor 9:17; Eph 1:10; 3:2; Col 1:25).

Election: The sovereign prerogative of God to choose individuals, families, groups, and nations to serve his kingdom purposes as he so wills.

Election is specifically related to service, usefulness, and blessings—not individual salvation. Jesus died for all human beings without exception and desires for all to be saved (Rom 9:10-13; 1 Tim 2:4; 4:10; Heb 2:9; 2 Pet 3:8-11; 1 John 2:2).

Eternal Life: The never-ending reality of growing in our experiential knowledge of God while abiding in his unabated presence forever.

It’s important to see that Jesus did not define eternal life solely in terms of its length. Eternal life certainly means that we are going to live forever. But there’s much more to it than that. Even the lost will exist forever. The eternal life that God gives is a quality of life that Jesus defined as knowing God the Father and God the Son. This is personal, intimate knowledge, and it begins the moment we trust Christ (John 4:13-14; 10:27-30; 17:2-3; 2 Pet 1:2-3).

Eternal Security: The clear teaching of Scripture that those who come to know Christ as their Savior enter into an eternal relationship with God that guarantees their eternal security.

God’s power is able to keep believers from falling because it is up to him, not to us, to make good on the Bible’s guarantee of eternal life for true believers in Christ. Simply put, the doctrine of eternal security means that our redemption in Christ Jesus is permanent (John 10:27-30; Rom 8:31-39; Eph 1:13-14; 1 Tim 2:10-13; 1 John 5:11-13).

Evangelism: Sharing the good news of Christ’s substitutionary death and resurrection and his free offer of forgiveness of sin and eternal life to all who come to him by faith to receive it.

Every believer is called to share the gospel with every lost person possible, both at home and abroad. The act of sharing your faith is not reserved for ministers or evangelists. Jesus has given believers the task of telling others about him and the gospel of saving grace as we go about our daily lives. It can be as simple as doing a kind act for someone in need and then asking to pray with them afterwards while sharing the gospel, or it could be more elaborate (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 21:8; 2 Cor 5:18-21; Eph 4:11; 2 Tim 4:5).

Faith: Acting like God is telling the truth; acting like it is so even when it is not so in order that it might be so simply because God said so.

Faith is the opposite of sight, acting and judging things based solely on what we can see and perceive with our human senses. Faith always involves your feet. It is an action of your life, not merely words from your lips. A person can feel like they lack faith but still be full of faith if they choose to obey what God has revealed to do or say. Faith is not merely a feeling; it is an action in response to God’s revealed will (Rom 4:17; 2 Cor 5:7; Eph 2:8-9; Heb 11:1-3, 6).

Fellowship: Intimate communion with God and his people as they share the life and love of Christ with one another.

Biblical fellowship is not just coffee and donuts in Sunday school, or a meal in the fellowship hall. Fellowship is the sharing of our lives and sharing the life and love of Christ with other believers. The Bible teaches that Christians are bonded together in a relationship of unity as members of one another. In fact, those who withdraw from the community of believers will find their relationship with God limited by their failure to participate in the fellowship of the saints. (Acts 2:42; Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 11:29; Heb 10:25; 1 John 1:5-9).

Forgiveness: The decision to no longer credit an offense against an offender with a view to executing personal vengeance.

There are two basic categories of forgiveness: (1) Unilateral forgiveness is the decision to release someone from an offense who is either unable or unwilling to repent in order that the offended person is set free. Give to the Lord that situation in which someone misunderstood you, misread your motives, hurt you, or sinned against you. Forgive the people involved if that’s needed, and rest your case with God, realizing that he knows your heart. (2) Transactional forgiveness is the decision to release someone from an offense who repents of his or her sin, thus opening up the opportunity for reconcil­iation (Matt 6:12, 14-15; 18:21-35; 2 Cor 2:10; Eph 4:32; Col 3:12-13).

Freedom: The release from illegitimate bondage so that you can choose to exercise responsibility in maximizing all that you were created to be.

The freedom that is actualized through a kingdom perspective, that of embracing God’s sovereignty, generates a faith more powerful than any human weapon or system of philosophy could ever produce. It accesses God’s grace in such a way so as to grant a freedom that is not dependent upon externals. Authentic biblical freedom releases people from sin and illegitimate bondage to righteousness so that they can serve God and others as they fulfill his will for their lives (John 8:32-36; 2 Cor 3:17; Gal 5:1-4).

God: The eternally perfect uncreated Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of all things who is one in essence but exists in three coequal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the Trinity).

God exists before time and will exist beyond time. He sits outside of the confines of our finite humanity. He is the great I AM, dependent upon no one. Within him lies all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. His multiplicity of attributes comprise a sovereign and supreme being exhibiting an array of emotion, power, authority, and gentleness unlike any other. The many declarations in Scripture that God exists as a triune being have made the doctrine of the Trinity a central tenet of true, biblical faith (Gen 1:26; Matt 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14).

Grace: The inexhaustible goodness of God which he freely bestows upon human beings, which is undeserved, unearned, and unable to be repaid.

Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It is by grace that we are saved, and it is grace that is to serve as a believer’s motivation for righteous living and good works. Our gratitude for God’s grace provides the impetus for obedience, worship, and fellowship with the Lord. Personal power and strength become perfected as we experience a greater level of God’s grace. We are to grow in our understanding of grace and are also called to extend grace to one another as a reflection of God’s grace in our own lives (John 1:16; Rom 3:24; 5:15; 2 Cor 12:9; Eph 1:7-8; 2:8-9, 1 Pet 4:10; 2 Pet 3:18).

Grace over Law: The grace of God saves us totally apart from any merit of our own, overcoming the power of the law to condemn.

As Christians we often tend to get our Bible doctrines confused and start mixing truths that were never meant to be mixed. The Christians in Galatia got sidetracked because a group of people called the Judaizers had confused them about the relationship between the gospel of grace and the works of the law. Their message was that people needed to add law-keeping to grace to truly be saved and sanctified. But Paul wrote that salvation and sanctification is by grace through faith from first to last. The demands of the law are met as believers grow in grace (Rom 1:17; 3:20; 8:1-4; 11:6; Gal 2:21; 5:1-4; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 2:11, 12).

Hierarchy: A covenantally authorized functional order that operates within a particular alignment and chain of command.

The triune God perfectly illustrates this concept. Although the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equally God, the Son obeys and glorifies the Father, and the Spirit only speaks what the Father and Son tell him to say. Likewise, the Spirit’s calling is not to glorify himself but rather to glorify the Son. Based on the activity in the Trinity, God has established a hierarchy in human relationship as well. Hierarchy does not delineate value or equality; rather, it establishes an order for effective kingdom function (John 5:19; 16:14; 17:4; 1 Cor 11:3; Heb 13:17).

Hope: Confident expectation about the future based on the character and promises of God.

Local churches are to be centers of hope in every community where they minister. The church is supposed to be a little bit of heaven a long way from home. It is to be that place where the values of eternity operate in history—a place where weary people can go to find truth, acceptance, equality, freedom, safety, forgiveness, justice, and hope. Jesus is working to bring glory to himself and hope to mankind in fulfillment of his kingdom purposes and provisions (Jer 29:11-14; Matt 5:13-14; Rom 5:3-5; Heb 10:23; 1 Pet 3:15

Hypostatic Union: Two natures (divine and human) in one person (Jesus Christ) unmixed forever.

This is the term theologians use to describe the perfect union of Christ’s divine and human natures, both in their fullness without any confusion. Christ’s undiminished deity and perfect humanity are united forever in one person. Jesus was no less God when he became a perfect man. He was fully human but without sin. Jesus is the God-man, united forever in heaven. He is unique—God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14; Luke 2:52; Phil 2:5-8; Heb 2:14).

Inheritance: The temporal and eternal blessings and privileges afforded to faithful Christians for the enjoyment of all the rights and benefits of the King and his kingdom.

Believers are heirs of the kingdom promises to Abraham, having already been blessed by the King with all spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3). We only receive a portion of the rights and benefits of our inheritance in the present age. But when Jesus comes, we will receive our full inheritance based on our obedience, faithfulness, and fulfillment of God’s will for our lives (Rom 4:13-16; 8:17; Eph 1:3, 14, 18; Col 1:12; 3:24; Heb 9:15; 1 Pet 1:4).

Joy: The feeling and expression of the inner celebration and satisfaction of the soul that transcends circumstances.

Joy is the overflow of life, the stability inside despite chaos on the outside. The influence of the first-century church was so powerful in society that it brought great joy to the entire city of Samaria when Philip took the gospel there (Acts 8:8). The Holy Spirit’s task is to make real in the lives of true believers the comfort and confidence of their security in Christ (Neh 8:10; Luke 2:10-11; John 15:11; Rom 14:17; Phil 1:25; 1 Pet 1:8-9).

Justification: Justification is a legal term that means to acquit, to find the defendant not guilty.

In the New Testament, it means to declare the former defendant righteous. A basic definition of biblical justification is a judicial act by which God declares righteous those who believe in Jesus Christ. The picture is a courtroom in which we stand condemned by our sin. But justification is a pardon from a death penalty. On the cross, Jesus announced that the price for sin had been paid in full. Justification comes from God alone. The opposite of justification is condemnation (John 19:30; Rom 3:19-24; 5:1, 8-9; 8:33).

Kingdom: The sovereign and comprehensive rule of God over all of his creation.

The Bible declares that God’s kingdom is the entire universe, which includes the earth and all of its inhabitants (Ps 24:1). The job of the Holy Spirit is to bring people to recognize God’s right to rule as King and to submit to his authority. Jesus told the apostles that God will indeed establish his earthly kingdom someday, but in his own time. In the meantime, God has decided to set up his own kingdom communities. This community is called the church, brought into being by the Holy Spirit in order to exercise God’s kingdom authority in history (1 Chr 29:11; Ps 115:3; Dan 4:34-35; Matt 6:33; 16:18-19; 1 Thess 2:12; Heb 12:28).

Kingdom Agenda: The visible manifestation of the comprehensive rule of God over every area of life.

We are called to align our lives underneath God’s over-arching rule. His kingdom rule needs to remain at the forefront of our thinking in order to fully penetrate our choices and decisions thus bringing about the full realization of his covenantal blessings and authority. It transcends the politics of men and offers the solutions of heaven, removing the division humanity often erects between the sacred and the secular. This agenda is manifested through the four covenantal spheres of the individual, family, church, and community—which includes civil government (Ps 128:1-6; Matt 6:10, 33; John 18:36; Col 1:13; 4:11; Rom 13:1-7).

Kingdom Authority: The sovereign and comprehensive rule of God over all of his creation.

Kingdom authority is the divinely authorized right and responsibility delegated to disciples to act on God’s behalf in spiritually ruling over his creation under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Believers are given authority to rule in God’s kingdom under his direction and in accordance with his will and purposes. We gain access to this authority through living under the comprehensive rule of God in our lives. While authority is offered through Christ, it is not always accessed. There is a process to entering into the complete realization and execution of the divine mission for our individual lives, families, church, nation, and world (Gen 1:26-28; Deut 4:28-37, Dan 4:34-37; Matt 25:14-30; 28:18-20; Phil 3:14-20).

Kingdom Citizen: A visible, verbal follower of Jesus Christ who consistently applies the principles of heaven to the concerns of the culture.

Kingdom citizens have an obligation to fully utilize and fulfill their assigned tasks through the use of God-given resources and abilities for the benefit of society. Spiritual ministry and social responsibility work hand-in-hand. When the two are properly connected and integrated, people become productive citizens of society while also becoming prepared for life in eternity (Jer 29:7; Matt 5:13-16; Rom 13:1-7; Gal 6:10; 1 Tim 2:1-3; 1 Pet 2:17).

Kingdom Disciple: A believer who takes part in the spiritual developmental process of progressively learning to live all of life under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

This process of growth from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity enables the believer to become increasingly more like Christ. Kingdom discipleship is designed to be replicated again and again until Jesus has many brothers and sisters who look, act, and think like him (Matt 28:18-20; Rom 8:29, 2 Cor 3:17-18; 2 Tim 1:13; 2:2).

Kingdom Man: A male who is consistently living under the rule of God and lordship of Jesus Christ over every area of his life.

A kingdom man accepts his responsibilities under God and faithfully carries them out. When this man is faithful, God will move even pagan powers and other forces and circumstances on earth to support his kingdom man doing his kingdom business. Jesus is the perfect example of a kingdom man in his earthly ministry (Gen 18:19; Exod 34:23-24; John 17:4; 19:30; 1 Cor 11:3; Phil 3:7-14).

Kingdom Marriage: A covenantal union between a man and a woman who commit themselves to function in unison under divine authority in order to replicate God’s image and expand his rule in the world through both their individual and joint callings.

God established marriage and created the first family. A man and a woman together were to reflect God’s image, which is unity in diversity—God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The marriage union most fully expresses who God truly is, and it is the most comprehensive manifestation of his image on earth as well as the foundation for a stable society. Paul uses the sacred covenant of marriage to illustrate both the bond and function between Christ and his church (Gen 1:26-28; 2:22-25; Mal 2:10-17; Matt 19:3-10, Eph 5:22-23).

Kingdom Parenting: The responsibility to intentionally oversee the generational transfer of a comprehensive Christian worldview so that children learn to consistently live all of life under God’s divine authority.

Parents are to train children in the biblical principles of a kingdom worldview. Through consistent time in imparting truths from God’s Word to their children, parents disciple their children in spiritual growth. Kingdom parents leave a legacy and inheritance not only for their children but also for their children’s children. Children are to be like young olive plants around your table—indicating a regular pattern of purposeful development. Parents are also to encourage their children and lovingly correct them when they disobey (Deut 6:4-9; Psalm 128:3; Prov 13:22; 22:6; Eph 6:1-4; Col 3:20-21).

Kingdom Prayer: The divinely authorized methodology to access heavenly authority for earthly intervention.

Prayer links us to a heavenly realm we are unfamiliar navigating. Prayer is the God given communication link between heaven and earth, time and eternity, the finite and the infinite. Simply put, it is relational communication with God (Luke 18:1; Phil 4:4-7; 1 Thess 5:17; 1 Tim 2:1-2).

Kingdom Single: An unmarried Christian who has committed to fully and freely maximizing his or her completeness under the rule of God and the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

According to the apostle Paul, being single is a very good thing (1 Cor 7:26). In fact, a kingdom single is in the best possible spiritual position. Singlehood is a unique platform and position provided to you for great enjoyment, accomplishment, discovery, exploration, freedom, meaning and spiritual fellowship as well as eternal impact (1 Cor 6:17-20; 7:20, 25-40; Phil 4:11-13).

Kingdom Steward: A believer who faithfully oversees, protects, and expands the assets God has given him or her to manage on his behalf.

A kingdom steward carries out the divinely ordained responsibility of faithfully managing God’s assigned resources (time, talent, and treasures) in such a way that they bring him glory and expand his kingdom rule in the world. Stewardship is the responsibility to protect and expand the possessions of another, which for believers means recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God for which we are accountable as his stewards or managers (Matt 25:14-30; Luke 16:9-13; 19:11-27; 1 Cor 4:2; 16:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Pet 4:10).

Kingdom Woman: A female who is consistently living under the rule of God and lordship of Jesus Christ over every area of her life.

A kingdom woman has been uniquely tasked with the purpose of not only living out her own calling but also providing a strong help (ezer kenegdo) in the home and to her husband. In addition, she is to utilize her spiritual gifts and exercise her delegated positions of leadership for the benefit of the church and society. She models strength, diligence, charity, compassion, entrepreneurism, and dedication to those placed within her sphere of influence (Prov 31:10-31; Luke 8:2-3; Rom 16:1-2; 1 Cor 11:1-10; Eph 5:22-24, 33; 2 Tim 3:10-11; 1 Pet 3:1-6).

Local Church/Membership: A local church is called an ekklesia, meaning a body of called out ones taken from the world and joined to Jesus Christ in a living union, a body of which he is the head.

Many of the references to the church in the New Testament refer to a specific local church, or a group of local assemblies, whether in Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, etc. Every Christian becomes a member of the universal church at salvation, but is also exhorted to become a functioning, faithful member of a biblically sound local church. The role of the local church is to exercise the authority of the kingdom in history (Matt 16:18-19; 1 Cor 1:2; 2 Cor 1:1; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1; Heb 10:25).

The Lord’s Supper: Also known as communion, the Lord’s Supper is one of the two ordinances (along with baptism) given by Jesus Christ to his church through which believers publicly proclaim their association with and surrender to him through his death, burial, and resurrection.

The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus on the night before his crucifixion, as he observed the Jewish Passover with his disciples. Jesus transformed the elements by teaching that the bread represented his body which would soon be broken to atone for sin and that the cup represented the new covenant in his blood—the promise of the Passover lamb being fulfilled in the salvation he provided. In communion, the believer can experience the unique spiritual presence of Christ as well as accesses his authority in a unique way over the spiritual realms of darkness (Luke 22:14-23; 1 Cor 10:16; 11:23-29).

Lordship: The recognition of and submission to the rule of Christ over the life of a believer.

Believers in Jesus Christ are called to bring every area of life under Christ’s rule and lordship. Only as a believer acknowledges and submits to the lordship of Christ can the power and authority of God’s kingdom be made visible in history. God explicitly states that it is his determined purpose to bring all of history under the rule of Jesus Christ. There must be covenantal alignment under the lordship of Jesus Christ in order to experience his kingdom power, authority, provision, and covering (Rom 14:6-9; 1 Cor 8:5-6; Eph 1:9-10; Phil 2:9-11; Col 1:13).

Love: The decision to compassionately, righteously, and sacrificially seek the well-being of another.

Love is not first and foremost an emotion. Love is a decision. We are to choose love even when we do not feel like loving because we are called to love others as God has loved us. Our relationship with Christ is first and foremost one of love. Out of our intimate abiding with him, we are to extend love to those around us. It is by the mark of love that people are to recognize us as followers of Christ (John 3:16; 13:35; Rom 5:5; 1 Cor 13:1-8; 1 John 3:1; 4:10-11, 19-20).

Mercy: The expression of God’s steadfast love that relieves misery and does not give all that the sinner deserves.

Believers can praise God that even though they were once destined for death as members of Satan’s kingdom, God saved them by his mercy. Biblical justice also comes tempered with the potential for mercy toward the offender. The cross of Jesus Christ is the greatest example of this appeal for mercy. While on the cross, Jesus asked his Father to forgive those who were killing him. Through the parable of the two slaves who owed money, Jesus teaches that this principle of mercy that he offers us should govern how we treat others (Lam 3:22; Matt 5:7; 18:21-34; Eph 2:4-5; Heb 4:16).

Offices of Christ: The three major offices or categories of leaders for God’s people, Israel, in the Old Testament were prophet, priest, and king.

Each office was a separate calling and duty. Each of these offices was a type and a foretaste of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who now fulfills all three offices. Christ is the prophet we need to instruct us in the things of God. He is also our great high priest who redeemed us by offering his own body as the final and full sacrifice for sin. Christ is also our glorious, coming King, ruling over all things now from heaven he awaits his triumphant return to earth (Deut 18:15; Luke 4:24; Acts 3:22; Heb 4:14-16; Rev 19:16).

Original Sin: The entrance of sin into the human race through Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden.

When Adam fell by disobeying God and eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, his spirit died and his soul became contaminated by sin. His nature was changed and became corrupted, separated from God and in need of forgiveness and redemption. Since Adam is the father of the human race, every child of Adam is born in sin with what theologians call the Adamic nature (Gen 2:15-17; 3:6-7; Ps 51:5; Rom 5:12-14; Eph 2:1-3).

Peace: Well-being, contentment, and wholeness produced through an abiding faith in and relationship with God.

Peace does not mean that you will have no troubles. Peace means that God’s provision of his presence will lighten the stress those troubles produce. Peace is the umbrella in the storm, calming nerves and covering you from the results of worry. Peace comes through prayer and also through keeping your mind fixed on the truth of God’s Word. Peace is the order and calm the Holy Spirit brings into the life of a believer despite external circumstances (John 14:27; Rom 14:17; Eph 2:14-17; Phil 4:4-6).

Rapture: The split-second moment when Christ will return in the air to take his people, the church, home to be with him forever.

This is one of the themes of prophecy in the Bible. The Christians at Thessalonica were shaken because they feared they would never see their dead loved ones again. Paul wrote to assure them with the truth of the church’s rapture when the church is taken out of the world. The world will not realize the restraining and sanctifying influence of the church until God raptures his church and all of hell breaks loose on the earth in the tribulation (1 Thess 4:13-18; 2 Thess 2:7; Titus 2:13).

Reconciliation: The restoration of a previously broken relationship based on repentance and forgiveness.

Reconciliation involves removing the hostility between parties and restoring peace and harmony in a relationship. It means that the wall separating the hostility has been broken down; the breach has been healed. Jesus accomplished our reconciliation with God when He died on the cross for our sins. This should encourage believers to be reconciled with one another (Matt 5:24; Luke 12:58; Rom 5:10; 2 Cor 5:18-19; Eph 2:11-22; 2:14-16).

Redemption: To deliver through the payment of a price.

Christ’s death was the price God demanded to redeem us from slavery to sin. God never skips sin. Someone has to pay the price—either you or an acceptable substitute. On the cross Jesus said, It is finished (John 19:30), meaning, paid in full. All the requirements necessary to pay for our redemption were put up by Jesus Christ on the cross (Mark 10:45; 1 Cor 6:20; Gal 1:4; Eph 1:7-11 Titus 2:14; 1 Pet 1:18-19).

Repentance: The inner resolve and determination to turn away from a sin that is manifested by an external change in behavior coupled with appropriate restitution.

When a person bows to Jesus in repentance and submission, He becomes Lord of that person’s life. Christ’s death removed the barrier keeping sinners from being reconciled to a holy God, thus freeing God to save any and everyone who believes. We are still responsible to come to Christ in faith to be saved and in repentance to be in fellowship with him, but Christ’s death makes that avenue open and available to all (Mark 1:15; Luke 13:1-5; 19:1-10; Rom 2:4; 2 Cor 7:10).

Resurrection: To become alive again from the dead.

Six distinct resurrections are mentioned in Scripture. In the order of their occurrence they are the resurrection of Jesus Christ; the resurrection of an unnamed number of believers in Jerusalem who were resurrected when Christ arose from the grave; the resurrection of the church at the rapture; the resurrection of Old Testament saints at Christ’s second coming; the resurrection of tribulation believers; and the resurrection of the wicked for judgment (Matt 27:52-53; John 20:1-10; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Rev 20:5; 20:11-15).

Righteousness: The divine standard God has established for mankind’s actions and attitudes to be acceptable to him.

The vast difference between God and mankind is that he is righteous in his character and we are not. Since perfect righteousness on our part is required to enter God’s presence, Jesus Christ lived a perfectly sinless, righteous life and died on the cross for the payment of our sins. As a result, God could bestow on those who trust in Christ through faith his own righteousness as a gift of grace. We are then to live out God’s righteous standards in our daily lives (Rom 1:18-21; 3:10-22; 9:30; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 1:9-11; 1 Tim 6:11; Heb 12:14).

Sanctification: The process of the believer’s growth in Christ.

Positional sanctification was accomplished for every believer at the moment of salvation by receiving Christ’s righteousness (the same root word as sanctify). Progressive sanctification is the growth process by which believers seek to become more like Christ in their decisions and lifestyle. Entire or ultimate sanctification will only be achieved when we stand perfect before Christ in glory (1 Cor 1:2; 1 Thess 4:3; 5:22-23; 2 Thess 2:13).

Sanctions: The negative and positive consequences of obedience and disobedience.

The progress or regression of our lives, families, churches, and society is directly tied to divine sanctions operating in history. Sanctions, both positive and negative, are one of the distinctions of a spiritual covenant. This is the cause and effect relationship that is built into history. Sin brings destruction, and righteousness brings blessing (Deut 30:15-20; 2 Chr 15:3-6; Mal 2:13-16; 1 Cor 11:23-32).

Sin: The failure of man to measure up to God’s perfect standard of righteousness, whether in thought, word, or deed.

Human beings are sinners by nature—their sin inherited from the first Adam—as well as sinners by personal choice. The human heart has been thoroughly corrupted by sin, leaving people without Christ in a state of total depravity—a doctrine that means we have nothing within ourselves to commend us to God. To sin is to miss the mark, to fall short of God’s standard of righteousness and perfection. The result, or punishment, for sin is death, which is removed only by the saving grace of Jesus Christ (Jer 17:9; Rom 3:10-12, 23; 5:19; 6:23; 11:32).

Sovereignty/Providence: The sovereignty of God means that he exercises his prerogative to do whatever he pleases with his creation. His providence is the outworking of God’s eternal plan for mankind and all of his creation.

Providence is the invisible and mysterious hand of God at work in the details of history to bring to pass his sovereign will. God’s providence includes every part of creation, from the inanimate world to individuals and entire nations. In his righteous, wise, and loving providence, God is bringing to pass his eternal purposes for his glory and our eternal good (Ps 22:28; 24:1; 66:7; 103:19; Rom 8:28).

Spiritual Warfare: The cosmic conflict waged in the invisible spiritual realm but simultaneously fleshed out in the visible physical realm, which our

Reviews for The Tony Evans Bible Commentary

[James Hannah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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[Jennifer Radcliffe · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Tony Evans is a voice so needed in today's wicked and perverse world!!! This commentary goes along with me after my daily reading. His wisdom and insight is unmatched and I praise God for him. He is truly a faithful witness for the kingdom of God! May God continue to richly bless you Pastor Evans abundantly and may you continue to glorify Him! If you are struggling to understand the text, I highly recommend his commentary to help you in your walk with Christ. His words are practical and easy for all to comprehend.

[jef louis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great bible teaching to learn more about the word