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Introduction to Ezra

 

INTRODUCTION TO EZRA

This book in the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions is called the "First" Book of Ezra Nehemiah being reckoned the "second"; but with the Jews both were accounted but one bookF1Origen apud Euseb. Hist. Eccl. l. 6. c. 25. Hieron. Opera tom. 3. Epist. ad Paulin. fol. 6. B. & ad Domnion. & Rogat. fol. 7. G. ; in the Syriac version it is called the Writing or Book of Ezra the Prophet; and this title is given him both by JewsF2Seder Olam Zuta p. 108. and ChristiansF3Lactant. Institut. l. 4. c. 11. ; in the Arabic version it is called the First Book of Ezra the Priest skilful in the Law; and that he was a priest is clear since he was the son of Seraiah the high priest who was slain by Nebuchadnezzar and the younger brother of Josedech who succeeded his father as high priest and uncle to Joshua that succeeded him; and he was also a ready scribe in the law of Moses see Ezra 7:1. That Ezra was the writer of this book is believed by the JewsF4T. Bab. Bava Bathra fol. 15. 1. and by the generality of Christians; only HuetiusF5Demonstr. Evangel. prop. 4. p. 208 209. thinks that the six first chapters were written by another hand but his reasons are not satisfactory; and it has been universally received as canonical by all; it agrees with the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah and serves to illustrate them; it is of use for the continuation of the sacred history to point at the fulfilment of prophecies concerning the return of the Jews from captivity and the rebuilding of the temple; and to give us an account of the state of the church in those times the troubles and difficulties it met with and what care was taken to keep the tribes and families distinct that it might be known from whom the Messiah sprung; this book contains an history of seventy years according to the calculation of Bishop UsherF6Annal. Vet. Test. p. 146 193. from A. M. 3468 to A. M. 3538.


{a} Origen apud Euseb. Hist. Eccl. l. 6. c. 25. Hieron. Opera tom. 3.
Epist. ad Paulin. fol. 6. B. & ad Domnion. & Rogat. fol. 7. G.
{b} Seder Olam Zuta p. 108.
{c} Lactant. Institut. l. 4. c. 11.
{d} T. Bab. Bava Bathra fol. 15. 1.
{e} Demonstr. Evangel. prop. 4. p. 208 209.
{f} Annal. Vet. Test. p. 146 193.

Commentator

John Gill (November 23 1697-October 14 1771) was an English Baptist a biblical scholar and a staunch Calvinist. Gill's relationship with hyper-Calvinism is a matter of academic debate.

He was born in Kettering Northamptonshire. In his youth he attended Kettering Grammar School mastering the Latin classics and learning Greek by age eleven. The young scholar continued self-study in everything from logic to Hebrew. His love for Hebrew would follow Gill throughout his life.

At the age of about twelve Gill heard a sermon from his pastor William Wallis on the text "And the Lord called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou?" (Genesis 3:9). The message stayed with Gill and eventually led to his conversion. It was not until seven years later that young John made a public profession when he was almost nineteen years of age.

His first pastoral work was as an intern assisting John Davis at Higham Ferrers in 1718 at age twenty one. He was subsequently called to pastor the Strict Baptist church at Goat Yard Chapel Horsleydown Southwark in 1719. In 1757 his congregation needed larger premises and moved to a Carter Lane St. Olave's Street Southwark. His pastorate lasted 51 years. This Baptist Church was once pastored by Benjamin Keach and would later become the New Park Street Chapel and then the Metropolitan Tabernacle pastored by Charles Spurgeon.

During Gill's ministry the church strongly supported the preaching of George Whitefield at nearby Kennington Common.

In 1748 Gill was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by the University of Aberdeen. He was a profound scholar and a prolific author. His most important works are:

John Gill is the first major writing Baptist theologian. His work retains its influence into the twenty-first century. Gill's relationship with hyper-Calvinism in English Baptist life is a matter of debate. Peter Toon has argued that Gill was himself a hyper-Calvinist which would make Gill the father of Baptist hyper-Calvinism. Tom Nettles has argued that Gill was not a hyper-Calvinist himself which would make him merely a precursor and hero to Baptist hyper-Calvinists.

 

¢w¢w¡mJohn Gill¡¦s Exposition of the Bible¡n

 

New King James Version Bible NKJV

The NKJV was commissioned in 1975 by Thomas Nelson Publishers. One-hundred-and-thirty respected Bible scholars church leaders and lay Christians worked for seven years with the goal of updating the vocabulary and grammar of the King James Version while preserving the classic style of the of the 1611 version.

The task of updating the English of the KJV involved many changes in word order grammar vocabulary and spelling. One of the most significant features of the NKJV was its removal of the second person pronouns "thou" "thee" "ye " "thy " and "thine." Verb forms were also modernized in the NKJV (for example "speaks" rather than "speaketh").

 

Young¡¦s Literal Translation (YLT)

Young¡¦s Literal Translation was completed in 1898 by Robert Young who also compiled Young¡¦s Analytical Concordance. It is an extremely literal translation that attempts to preserve the tense and word usage as found in the original Greek and Hebrew writings. The online text is from a reprint of the 1898 edition as published by Baker Book House Grand Rapids Michigan. Obvious errors in spelling or inconsistent spellings of the same word were corrected in the online edition of the text. This text is Public Domain in the United States.