Analytical Bible Expositor: Hebrews to Revelation

This eloquently written epistle is addressed to Jewish Christians in order to reaffirm their commitment to Christ, and encouraged them to persevere through persecution and laxity of faith. It exalts Christ as superior to all else and gives examples of how to live by the doctrine of Christ. Butler’s commentary is insightful, and includes some observations as to why Hebrews is thought to have been written by Paul.

“This chapter cites some significant ways in which faith in Jesus Christ affects the life of the believer,” writes Butler. A practical and spiritually rich epistle on living the Christian life, James stresses the necessity of putting one’s faith into action. Butler’s verse-by-verse commentary shines light on some of the best practical advice for daily living contained in the New Testament.

Written during a time of great persecution, 1 Peter is still powerful and inspiring today. With the assurance of Christ’s return, 1 Peter encourages readers to persevere during times of suffering, and instructs believers on ways for living a hopeful, holier life. Butler’s insightful commentary helps explain these wonderful teachings by contextualizing them for our modern world.

Distressed at the rising number of false teachers, Peter was compelled to urge his fellow Christians to become stronger in their knowledge of faith in order to battle the rising apostasy generated from heretical imposters. Rebuffing those impatient for the Lord’s final judgment and return, Peter explains that the delay in the second coming of Christ gives more time for people to reject Satan and accept Christ as their Savior. Deftly guiding the reader through this important New Testament book, Butler breaks down every chapter of 2 Peter to its core elements and provides useful commentary on every important verse.

This epistle is a reminder of God’s love for Christians. In return, Christians need to admit their sins and seek God’s forgiveness. John’s letter reiterates man’s relationship with God and the responsibilities of all Christians in leading a Christian life. Butler examines the authorship of First John and the nature of sin, and provides in-depth commentary on this important book.

“This epistle emphasizes love for the saints and loyalty to the Savior,” writes Butler. Butler breaks down this succinct but important book into four sections:

• The Commencement of the Epistle (II John 1: 1–3)
• The Commandments in the Epistle (II John 1: 4–6)
• The Contending in the Epistle (II John 1: 7–11)
• The Closing of the Epistle (II John 1: 12,13)

The shortest book in the Bible, John’s letter to Gaius commends the generous hospitality shown to those spreading the Gospel in and around Gaius’s city. It also warns against the false teachings of Diotrephes, and contains praise for Demetrius, a faithful missionary. Butler’s astute analysis of Third John is divided into five parts:

• The Commencement of the Epistle (III John 1: 1,2)
• The Communication for Gaius (III John 1: 3–8)
• The Censure of Diotrephes (III John 1: 9–11)
• The Commendation of Demetrius (III John 1: 12)
• The Closing by the Writer (III John 1: 13,14)

“God is not taken by surprise by evil, but evil may be surprised to discover that God is ready for their judgment. He has already reserved a place for the wicked,” observes Butler. He is referring to the problem of apostasy, the main subject of the book of Jude. Very similar to 2 Peter, Butler divides his examination of Jude into four parts:

• The Commencing of the Epistle (Jude 1: 1–3)
• The Characterizing of Apostates (Jude 1: 4–16)
• The Conduct of Apostasy (Jude 1: 17–23)
• The Closing of the Letter (Jude 1: 24, 25)

One of the most studied books in the Bible, the Book of Revelation is a challenging and mysterious work. Butler dedicates almost two hundred pages examining and explaining each verse and chapter, providing historical context and great insight into John’s prophesies. Butler is expert at organizing each chapter into distinctive segments, formulating an easy system to study Revelation’s complicated structure. With each chapter beginning with a helpful introduction and his employment of unadorned language, Butler has made this complex work accessible for anyone.