This set of detailed commentaries provides valuable exegetical, historical, cultural, and linguistic information on the original text. Over the years this series has been instrumental in shedding light on the Scriptures so that translators all over the world could complete the important task of putting God's Word into the many languages spoken in the world today. Over the years church leaders and Bible readers have found the UBS Handbooks to be useful for their own study, since many of the issues Bible translators must address when trying to communicate the Bible's message to modern readers are the ones Bible students must address when approaching the Bible text as a part of their own private study and devotions.
“He appears to have been an influential and tyrannical man, who tried to isolate the congregation he wanted to domineer” (Page 183)
“in the sense of ‘truthful behavior,’ ‘a life in accordance with God’s will,’ see” (Page 186)
“I pray. In the New Testament the Greek verb usually indicates prayer to God but in letters of the time it is currently used in the non-religious sense of ‘to wish,’ ‘to hope.’ In this passage it has probably the latter meaning.” (Page 176)
“The reference is to well-being in general. The Greek verb used has the literal meaning of, ‘to be led along a good road,’ then, ‘to get along well,’ ‘to succeed.’” (Page 176)
“One should avoid a term that refers specifically or exclusively to people from foreign countries or nations.” (Page 179)