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Comments have been prepared by Chris Haslam using reputable commentaries, and checked for accuracy by the Venerable Alan T Perry. While not intended to be exhaustive, they are an aid to reading the Scriptures with greater understanding.

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This book can be divided into two (and possibly three) parts. Chapters 1 to 39 were written before the exile, from about 740 BC to about 700 BC. These were difficult times for the southern kingdom, Judah: a disastrous war was fought with Syria; the Assyrians conquered Israel, the northern kingdom, in 723 BC, and threatened Judah. Isaiah saw the cause of these events as social injustice, which he condemned, and against which he fought valiantly. Chapters 40 to 66 were written during and after the Exile in Babylon. They are filled with a message of trust and confident hope that God will soon end the Exile. Some scholars consider that Chapters 56 to 66 form a third part of the book, written after the return to the Promised Land. These chapters speak of hope and despair; they berate the people for their sin, for worshipping other gods. Like Second Isaiah, this part speaks of the hope that God will soon restore Jerusalem to its former glory and make a new home for all peoples.

Vv. 1-11 (read during Advent) tell of the glorious procession back to Jerusalem, but vv. 12-31 speak to a people who are tempted to desert their faith in God. Here God (through his prophet) speaks directly to his people. Can anyone measure the extent of God’s domain in human terms ? (v. 12). So how can you think you can tell God what to do? Surely he decides what is just; surely he is the source of all “knowledge” (v. 14) and “understanding”. All nations are “like a drop from a bucket” (v. 15) compared to him. Finely crafted as the idols worshipped by other nations are, they cannot be compared to him (vv. 18-20).

Are you not aware – you and your ancestors back to creation itself – that it is God who controls the earth? (v. 21) He is enthroned on high (“above the circle”, v. 22, the horizon); to him humans appear to be “like grasshoppers”. (“Heavens” and “tent” – the vault of heaven – are reminders of the ancient world view: there God lived in the highest of the heavens, all of them above the stars.) Dynasties come and go, at his behest (vv. 23-24). God is “the Holy One” (v. 25); he created the stars (“these”, v. 26) effortlessly – by simply naming them. Why, O my people (“Jacob”, v. 27, “Israel”) do you think that God does not see how you live (“way”) and ignores your rights? Surely you know that God is from, and for, ever. Unlike you, he does not “grow weary” (v. 28); in fact, he helps doubters and “strengthens the powerless” (v. 29). “Those who wait for the Lord ” (v. 31), confident that he will care for his people, will be rewarded. He will restore them.

Psalms is a collection of collections. The psalms were written over many centuries, stretching from the days of Solomon's temple (about 950 BC) to after the Exile (about 350 BC.) Psalms are of five types: hymns of praise, laments, thanksgiving psalms, royal psalms, and wisdom psalms. Within the book, there are five "books"; there is a doxology ("Blessed be ... Amen and Amen") at the end of each book.

This hymn is an invitation to praise God for his universal power and providential care. He is to be praised for rebuilding Jerusalem and gathering the people, especially the “outcasts” (v. 2, exiles), the distressed (“brokenhearted”, v. 3) and the “downtrodden” (v. 6). There is no limit to his wisdom (v. 5b). He is creator of the universe (v. 4); he provides the winter rain (v. 8); through it comes “food” (v. 9) for “animals”, including “young ravens”. While we may delight in “strength” (v. 10) and “speed”, he “takes pleasure” (v. 11) in those who hold him in awe and who, knowing of his loving covenant with Israel (“steadfast love”, v. 11), look forward to better times. He guards Jerusalem (v. 13), blesses children even from the womb, and gives prosperity and peace (v. 14). He is active in natural phenomena: he sends “snow” (v. 16), “frost” and “hail” (v. 17) as punishment, but he forgives by melting them (v. 18). Only with Israel does he have a relationship based on the Law (v. 20)

Corinth was a major port which also commanded the land route from the Peloponnesus peninsula to central Greece. An industrial and ship-building centre, it was also a centre for the arts. Its inhabitants came from far and wide. In this epistle, Paul answers two letters he has received concerning lack of harmony and internal strife in the Corinthian church, a church he had founded. Paul wrote this letter from Ephesus (now in Turkey), probably in 57 AD.

Paul has written that, whatever others may think, he is an apostle for he has seen the risen Christ and he has brought many to him, especially at Corinth. So he, as are other apostles, is entitled “to be accompanied by a believing wife” (v. 5) and to be supported financially by the Church. However, lest asserting this “right” to be paid put an “obstacle” (v. 12) to faith in the way of coming to Christ, he will not insist on this right. Nothing must get in the way of “boasting” (v. 15, telling), the good news.

But proclaiming (boasting) the gospel is an obligation placed on him, so he has no grounds for bragging about his performance. He does not proclaim the good news of his own will, but rather as one commissioned to do so by God; however that he does so “free of charge” (v. 18), without being paid, is his choice (of his own will), so he is due a “reward” (v. 17). This reward is:

bringing even more people to him. He has brought people to Christ by becoming as one (v. 20) religiously with them: he has behaved in a way not to give offense to prospects for conversion, in order to establish communications with them, respecting their customs. He has voluntarily restricted the freedom he has in Christ, making himself “a slave to all” (v. 19). With those who are “weak” (v. 22), those who easily lose faith when apparent obstacles appear (e.g. eating meat left over from pagan rites) he has avoided doing what would upset them (e.g. he has refrained from eating such meat). He has accepted self-control and self-denial the more effectively to spread the good news (v. 23). He can only share in Christ’s gifts if he carries out God’s commission.

Mark

As witnesses to the events of Jesus life and death became old and died, the need arose for a written synopsis. Tradition has it that Mark, while in Rome, wrote down what Peter remembered. This book stresses the crucifixion and resurrection as keys to understanding who Jesus was. When other synoptic gospels were written, i.e. Matthew and Luke, they used the Gospel according to Mark as a source. Mark is most probably the John Mark mentioned in Acts 12:12: his mother's house was a meeting place for believers.

Mark has begun to tell us of a day, a sabbath, early in Jesus’ ministry spent at Capernaum. In the synagogue, Jesus has taught “as one having authority” (v. 22) beyond knowledge of the scriptures; he has healed a man possessed by evil – simply by commanding the evil force to leave him.

Now, with the four disciples he has called so far, he heals the mother of Peter’s wife. That she serves them shows that she is completely and immediately cured (v. 31). Note that Jesus “took her by the hand”: no respected religious leader would do so, especially not on the Sabbath. Was she so seriously ill that Jesus could not wait a few hours to heal her until the Sabbath ended, thus avoiding controversy as to whether this healing could be done on the Sabbath? Mark doesn’t tell us of any.

Then, after the Sabbath, at the start of the next Jewish day (“that evening”, v. 32), many who are in like condition to the man in the synagogue (mentally ill) and to Peter’s mother-in-law (physically ill) are brought to him. Many gather around the doorway (“door”, v. 33) of the house to see his miracles. The evil forces recognize his power over them but he intends to show himself as God’s agent later, so he does not “permit the demons to speak” (v. 34). Jesus then withdraws to be alone to commune with God (v. 35). Perhaps Peter and the others see him as missing an opportunity to heal, but Jesus insists that his mission extends beyond Capernaum (v. 38). He travels throughout the region, proclaiming the good news to Jews who meet for worship and study, and overcoming evil forces in people (v. 39).

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