Randall House Bible Commentary (9 vols.)
by 9 authors Robert E. Picirilli, Jack Wilson Stallings, F. Leroy Forlines, Thomas L. Marberry, Daryl Ellis, W. Stanley Outlaw, Paul V. Harrison, Gwyn Pugh, Craig Shaw
Randall House 1987–2010
Overview
The authors of these commentaries are firmly committed to the cardinal Christian doctrines: the classical Trinitarian doctrine; the virgin birth, deity, vicarious atonement, bodily resurrection, and literal second coming of Christ; salvation by grace involving the necessity of the new birth; permanent personal existence in heaven or hell; and so on. They are in the mainstream of the traditional Christian faith and share with many other groups the heritage of Baptists.
These commentaries are not intended to be highly technical. Nor are they meant to be merely devotional. The aim is to steer a course between the two kinds of commentaries, producing volumes that can be understood by the general Christian public and yet that seriously expound the text. Every writer is expected to comment with the Greek text before him, but to do so in a way that the reader who has not had formal instruction in Greek can understand what he says. Inasmuch as possible, technical comments about Greek words or syntax are put in parenthesis so that you may read around those comments if you wish. Greek words are transliterated in English italics. The commentaries are not meant to provide for detailed treatment of problems of textual criticism. In most cases, where significant manuscript differences exist, the variations are given enough attention that the reader will be able to understand what is involved.
Key Features
- Includes a summary and "Application: Teaching and Preaching the Passage" in each section of commentary for better understanding
- Cites a variety of books, reference works, and articles
Individual Titles
This verse-by-verse exposition commentary on Mark highlights and explains important Greek words from the original manuscripts as it examines difficult theological concepts.
Robert E. Picirilli has served as Professor, Registrar, and Academic Dean on both graduate and undergraduate levels at Free Will Baptist Bible College. His published works include Book of Galatians; Romans; and more recently Paul the Apostle, Grace, Faith, Free Will: Contrasting Views of Salvation: Calvinism and Arminianism. Dr. Picirilli has been active in the Evangelical Theological Society where he has presented papers and held all of the offices. He is a frequent contributor to denominational publications and professional theological journals.
In this volume on John, Jack Stallings reveals both his expertise in handling the Scripture and his pastor's heart. He has given us a commentary on John that makes the teaching and events in Christ's ministry come alive. We always feel that we are right there, aware of the intentions and attitudes of our Lord, His disciples, and His antagonists. Stallings lays open the method of the Fourth Evangelist, including his "open secrets" and his overriding purpose. The Gospel becomes a work with an obvious unity, moving purposefully through the material, providing us with a thrust very different from that of the Synoptics, and yet without contradiction.
There are a few places in the Gospel where the texts have theological implications that speak specifically to issues involved in the "Arminian" theology. At certain locations, extended comments have been inserted on these theological issues.
Jack Wilson Stallings was born in 1944 in Auroram, Missouri. He received his B.A. from Free Will Baptist Bible College in 1966 and the M.Div. from Covenant Theological Seminary in 1969. He has pastored in several states and has been since 1976 pastor of the Collinswood Free Will Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia. In addition to his pastoral ministry, Mr. Stallings has taught at Southeastern Free Will Baptist College. His previous writings include various magazine articles, The Mandate for Christian Schools and Humanism.
In writing this commentary, the author became impressed at Paul's burden for the Jews. He believed that the main burden of Paul in 1:18–3:20 was to get the Jew to see that he was lost. Paul gave considerably more attention to the case against the Jews in 2:1–3:8 than he did the Gentile in 1:18–32. Paul's burden in chapters 9, 10, and 11 was to get the unbelieving Jew to see that he was lost. He wanted him to see that salvation was not guaranteed to him simply because he was a Jew. He wanted the Jew to see that God was deeply interested in his salvation. As distinguished from the dispensationalist who sees a disjunctive relationship between Israel and the church, the author sees a conjunctive relationship between Israel and the church. In fact, Forlines sees the church as a continuation of Israel. The viewpoint is clearly established by Paul in chapter 11. This view is also supported by the way Paul anchors salvation both for Jews and Gentiles in the Abrahamic Covenant in chapter 4.
It is the author's policy as near as was reasonably possible, where difference of opinion exists, to present the different viewpoints and to list some of the commentators who subscribed each view.
Forlines has tackled the arduous task of producing a detailed commentary on one of the most difficult books of the Bible in a style that could be understood by the general Christian public. The Randall House series is intended as a serious exposition that could benefit both the lay reader as well as the academic community, being neither highly technical nor merely devotional. Forlines takes the reader through problem after problem with clarity of thought and writing. He lists and discusses each view with precision and insight. . . . Forlines' work makes a positive contribution to the literature on Paul's epistle to the Romans, especially in understanding the theological stance of the Free Will Baptists within the Arminian camp and in cataloging the various interpretative views of problem passages.
—Richard A. Young, Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga, TN
F. Leroy Forlines taught the book of Romans for over 40 years at Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville. During his 50 years at Free Will Baptist Bible College, he has taught Romans, Systematic Theology, Old Testament Theology, Evangelism, Missions, Biblical Ethics, Law and Grace, Progressive Revelation, Eschatology, Theological Trends and Issues, Minor Prophets, Understanding and Helping People, Biblical Interpretation, and Greek. Simultaneously, he served as a student dean for seventeen years. Forlines is a prolific writer who wrote a monthly column, "Christian Doctrine" in Contact magazine for fifteen years. His published works include Biblical Ethics, Systematics, The Quest for Truth, many articles, papers, and short books.
The Corinthians letters are, perhaps more than any others in the New Testament, for churches and pastors. They deal with the problems of church life and with the way Paul, as the pastor par excellence, wrestled with those problems. Second Corinthians, in particular, presents us with a side of Paul we almost do not see elsewhere. Here Paul reveals his "down" side, if you please: the fact that he suffered not just externally but internally experiencing distress and uncertainty. Paul was no superman. Even so, the letter also shows us what kept him going, even when closer to defeat than we might like to consider. Among other things, he understood that he was, in reality, marching in the triumphal procession of the Lord Christ.
Robert E. Picirilli has served as Professor, Registrar, and Academic Dean on both graduate and undergraduate levels at Free Will Baptist Bible College. His published works include Book of Galatians; Romans; and more recently Paul the Apostle, Grace, Faith, Free Will: Contrasting Views of Salvation: Calvinism and Arminianism. Dr. Picirilli has been active in the Evangelical Theological Society where he has presented papers and held all of the offices. He is a frequent contributor to denominational publications and professional theological journals.
This verse-by-verse exposition commentary on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians highlights and explains important Greek words from the original manuscripts as it examines difficult theological concepts.
Thomas L. Marberry, B.A., M.Div., Ph.D., is an alumnus of Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College, Baylor University, and Southwestern Theological Seminary. Dr. Marberry has held pastorates in Texas and Oklahoma; served as Assistant Clerk of the Texas State Association of Free Will Baptists; Chairman of the Central Texas District Ordaining Council; Vice President of the Oklahoma State Ministers' Conference; instructor and Professor at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore, Oklahoma, where he serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Robert E. Picirilli, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., D.D., authored the commentary on the books of Ephesians and Philippians in this volume. He has been active in teaching New Testament Greek and Interpretation for more than 25 years at Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tennessee. During his tenure there Dr. Picirilli has served as Professor, Registrar, and Academic Dean.
Daryl Ellis, B.A., Free Will Baptist Bible College, M.Div., Covenant Theological Seminary, has served as Associate Pastor, Minister of Education, Interim Pastor, and Pastor. His ministry has been in Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee. The Michigan native pastored the Bethel Free Will Baptist Church in South Roxana, Illinois, from 1981–1986 and was called to the Cross Timbers Free Will Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee, where he has pastored since 1986. Reverend Ellis has been active in the Missouri and Illinois State Associations of Free Will Baptists. He served as Moderator of the Missouri State Association in 1985 and 1986.
The eschatological epistles of 1 and 2 Thessalonians; Philemon, one of the Prison Epistles; as well as 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, the Pastorals, make up the content of this commentary. These inspired epistles, all from the pen of the Apostle Paul, cover a time frame from approximately A.D. 50 to A.D. 66 according to Dr. Robert E. Picirilli. These key New Testament epistles afford us invaluable insights into the customs, practices, problems, and doctrines of the early Christian church. They also reveal considerable details about the life, travels, imprisonment, and ministry of the Apostle Paul. Commentary on the eschatological epistles gives the serious student of Scripture food for thought in confirming or challenging his views of Christ's Second Coming, end-time events, and the man of sin.
The pastoral epistles, sometimes referred to as the ecclesiastical letters because of their emphasis on church administration, offer keen insight, instruction and qualifications for church leadership. The book of Philemon confronts us with the brotherhood of Christianity whatever our rank, station, or former conduct. These commentaries are written by men who hold to a strong conservative stance on the fundamentals of the faith. The purpose of these commentaries is to serve, enlighten, edify, and encourage you.
Dr. Stanley Outlaw received his B.A. degree from Free Will Baptist Bible College, Nashville, Tennessee, his M.A. and his Ph.D. in New Testament Greek from Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina. Since 1966 he has been teaching New Testament Greek and Bible at Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tennessee. He is the author of A Survey of the Books of Genesis, Matthew, Mark, Hebrews, and James, all published by Randall House Publications.
Robert E. Picirilli, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., D.D., authored the commentary on the books of Ephesians and Philippians in this volume. He has been active in teaching new Testament Greek and Interpretation for more than 25 years at Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tennessee. During his tenure there Dr. Picirilli has served as Professor, Registrar, and Academic Dean.
Daryl Ellis, B.A., Free Will Baptist Bible College, M.Div., Covenant Theological Seminary, has served as Associate Pastor, Minister of Education, Interim Pastor, and Pastor. His ministry has been in Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee. The Michigan native pastored the Bethel Free Will Baptist Church in South Roxana, Illinois, from 1981–1986 and was called to the Cross Timbers Free Will Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee, where he has pastored since 1986. Reverend Ellis has been active in the Missouri and Illinois State Associations of Free Will Baptists. He served as Moderator of the Missouri State Association in 1985 and 1986.
Hebrews extensively treats matters that do not receive the same kind of attention anywhere else in the New Testament. Stanley Outlaw, who taught Hebrews many times during his career at Free Will Baptist Bible College, has given us a commentary that is both practical and able in its exposition. Dr. Outlaw knows New Testament Greek well, having also taught that for many years. At the same time, he has a pastor's heart. In this commentary, then, he has capably combined careful exegesis of the text with practical, pious application.
Hebrews deals with some things that are not so thoroughly dealt with in the rest of the New Testament. No other New Testament writer so carefully explains the relationship between the Mosaic system and the person and work of Jesus Christ. Hebrews enables us to understand exactly the meaning of the sacrifices and priestly ministry that helped define Israel, the Old Testament people of God, especially their function to point forward to Him who would be the only finally effective sacrifice and high priest, Jesus Christ. The possibility of apostasy is a theological issue that has long occupied the Christian church. In Hebrews the discussion of apostasy is at the forefront. Even commentators who do not believe that apostasy is possible, after all, acknowledge that the five major warning passages of Hebrews indicate that it is. We ought to master its teaching on this subject and warn those to whom we minister accordingly.
W. Stanley Outlaw was ordained as a Free Will Baptist minister in southeast Alabama, near Dothan, in 1959. He has pastored churches in Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina. He attended Troy State University in southern Alabama and graduated from Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville in 1962. He received a M.A. in Bible and a Ph.D. in New Testament Interpretation from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. Dr. Outlaw returned to Free Will Baptist Bible College to teach Bible and Greek in 1966, ministering full time in that capacity for the next 32 years. Students fondly remember his drilling of New Testament Greek and his enthusiastic presentation of such Bible course as Old and New Testament Survey, Genesis/Exodus, Daniel and Revelation, and Hebrews. He continues to teach, write, and preach throughout the denomination.
Dr. Paul Harrison has written the commentary on the epistles of the two brothers of the Lord, James and Jude. Robert Picirilli has written on Peter's two letters, having had strong interest in 2 Peter, at least, since the dissertation dealt with some of the exegetical problems in that epistle. Some difficult passages occur in these four books: the apparent conflict between Paul and James on justification by faith, Jude's use of apocryphal literature, 1 Peter's reference to Christ's preaching to the "spirits in prison," and others. Even so, the authors are convinced more than ever that these "general epistles" are very practical for our day and will richly repay careful study.
Paul V. Harrison completed his studies at Free Will Baptist Bible College in 1979. He subsequently earned masters' degrees from Middle Tennessee State University (M.A. in history) and Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.). He continued his studies at Mid-America, earning the Th.D. in church history in 1990. While a student there, he taught English and Theological Research and Writing for three years. Dr. Harrison was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 1980. In that same year he began duties as Dean of Men at Free Will Baptist Bible College where he served for four years. While serving in that capacity he also taught Bible Doctrines and New Testament Greek at the college. Since June of 1991 he has pastored Cross Timbers Free Will Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.
Robert E. Picirilli, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., D.D., authored the commentary on the books of Ephesians and Philippians in this volume. He has been active in teaching new Testament Greek and Interpretation for more than 25 years at Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tennessee. During his tenure there Dr. Picirilli has served as Professor, Registrar, and Academic Dean.
The letters of John are important. They give modern believers a snapshot of what life was like within the Christian community of Asia Minor in the first century. They point out that life was not always easy for Christians of the first and second generations. These three brief letters bring modern readers face to face with the external opposition as well as with the doctrinal errors and internal conflicts that the early churches confronted on a regular basis.
Thomas L. Marberry, B.A., M.Div., Ph.D., is an alumnus of Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College, Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Marberry has pastored Free Will Baptist churches in Texas and Oklahoma. He has also held several denominational offices at the district, state, and national levels. For nine years he served as President of El Seminario Biblico La Cruz in Reynosa, Tamps., Mexico. He is currently Vice President for Academic Affairs and instructor at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore, Oklahoma, where he has served for 26 years. Dr. Marberry is the author of numerous articles and book reviews.
Gwyn L. Pugh, born in Haleyville, AL in 1953 to A.L. and Audra Pugh, started training early for the privilege of writing in the Randall House Bible Commentary Series. Strong's preaching on the imminence of Christ's return stirred him to accept Christ at the age of ten. He graduated from Free Will Baptist Bible College with a B.S., from Covenant Theological Seminary with an M.Div., and from Trinity Theological Seminary with a Th.D.. He has written on many books of the Bible and has also contributed to Integrity: A Journal of Christian Thought.
Craig D. Shaw received his B.A. from Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in 1988. Graduate studies were completed at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received a M.Div. in 1992. He continued graduate studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he received a D.Min. in 2004. Dr. Shaw ministered as a pastor in churches in Texas and Oklahoma. His education service included Dean of Students, Professor, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Hillsdale, where his regular teaching responsibilities included Greek, New Testament, and Church History at both the graduate and undergraduate level.
Product Details
- Title: Randall House Bible Commentary
- Editor: Robert E. Picirilli
- Publisher: Randall House
- Volumes: 9
- Pages: 3,765
About Robert E. Picirilli
Robert E. Picirilli received his B.A. from Free Will Baptist Bible College in 1953. Graduate studies were complete at Bob Jones University where he received the M.A. in theology in 1955 and the Ph.D. in New Testament text in 1963. He was awarded the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Bob Jones University in 1967. Dr Picirilli's teaching career has been at Free Will Baptist Bible College since 1955 except for one year when he was a graduate assistant. He taught New Testament Greek and Interpretation at Free Will Baptist Bible College for over 25 years. He has served as Professor, Registrar, and Academic Dean on both graduate and undergraduate levels at his alma mater. Dr. Picirilli presently serves as Professor Emeritus at Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tennessee. He has also been active in the Evangelical Theological Society where he has presented papers and held all of the offices. He is a frequent contributor to denominational publications and professional theological journals. His published works include Book of Galatians; Romans; and more recently Paul the Apostle; Grace, Faith, Free Will: Contrasting Views of Salvation: Calvinism and Arminianism.