Advancing God's Kingdom: Insights from a Decade of Commentary
Summary
The journey of creating a comprehensive Bible commentary has been both a challenge and a blessing. Over the years, I have grown in my understanding of the Word of God, which has required me to revisit and sometimes correct past teachings. This process has been a labor of love, driven by the desire to help others see the overarching theme of advancing the kingdom of God throughout Scripture. This theme is not only central to the Bible but should also be central to our lives. The work involved early mornings and long days, but the challenge was invigorating. It required a delicate balance between providing deep exegetical insights and making the truth applicable to everyday life.
The Tony Evans Bible Commentary is the culmination of this effort, a project that spanned a decade and resulted in nearly 1500 pages of insights. Completing this work felt like a significant milestone, a legacy that I hope will guide others in understanding the unified message of the Bible. Each of the 66 books contributes uniquely to the kingdom of God, and this commentary aims to illuminate how each part fits into the grand narrative of Scripture. I am grateful for the opportunity to have dedicated over 50 years to preaching and teaching God's Word, and I pray that this commentary will be a valuable resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the Bible.
Key Takeaways
- The journey of creating a Bible commentary is a testament to the inexhaustible nature of God's Word. As we grow in our understanding, we may need to revisit and refine our interpretations, recognizing that maturity brings deeper insights. This process is a reminder that our spiritual journey is ongoing and that we should remain open to learning and growth. [00:42]
- Advancing the kingdom of God is a central theme of the Bible and should be the guiding principle of our lives. This perspective encourages us to align our actions and decisions with God's purposes, seeking to contribute to His kingdom in all we do. It challenges us to live with intentionality and purpose, reflecting God's love and truth in our daily interactions. [00:57]
- The balance between exegetical depth and practical application is crucial in teaching and understanding Scripture. While deep study is essential, it must be paired with relevance to everyday life, ensuring that biblical truths are not only understood but also lived out. This balance helps us to apply God's Word in meaningful ways, transforming our lives and the lives of those around us. [01:47]
- The creation of a Bible commentary is a legacy project that reflects a lifetime of dedication to God's Word. It serves as a resource for others to grasp the unified message of the Bible and to see how each book and passage contributes to the kingdom of God. This work is a reminder of the impact that a life dedicated to God's service can have on future generations. [02:39]
- Understanding the Bible as a unified narrative helps us to see the interconnectedness of its teachings. Each book and passage fits into the larger story of God's redemptive plan, offering insights into His character and purposes. This perspective encourages us to study Scripture holistically, seeking to understand how each part contributes to the whole. [02:56]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:27] - The Challenge of Commentary
[00:42] - Growth and Correction
[00:57] - Advancing the Kingdom
[01:12] - The Early Morning Challenge
[01:27] - Balancing Exegesis and Application
[01:47] - Making Truth Relevant
[02:02] - Completing the Commentary
[02:18] - A Legacy Work
[02:39] - Over 50 Years of Preaching
[02:56] - Unified Message of the Bible
[03:09] - Conclusion
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
2. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
3. Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Observation Questions:
1. What challenges did the pastor face while creating the Bible commentary, and how did these challenges contribute to his growth in understanding the Word of God? [00:27]
2. How does the pastor describe the theme of advancing the kingdom of God in relation to the Bible and our lives? [00:57]
3. What balance did the pastor strive to achieve in his commentary, and why was this balance important? [01:47]
4. How does the pastor view the completion of the Bible commentary in terms of his life's work and legacy? [02:39]
Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the theme of advancing the kingdom of God challenge individuals to align their actions with God's purposes? [00:57]
2. How might the process of revisiting and refining past teachings reflect the ongoing nature of spiritual growth and maturity? [00:42]
3. What does the pastor mean by the "unified message of the Bible," and how does this perspective influence our understanding of Scripture? [02:56]
4. How can the balance between exegetical depth and practical application transform the way we live out biblical truths? [01:47]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you had to revisit and refine your understanding of a biblical teaching. How did this process impact your spiritual growth? [00:42]
2. How can you intentionally seek to advance the kingdom of God in your daily life, and what specific actions can you take to align with this theme? [00:57]
3. Consider the balance between deep study and practical application in your own Bible study. How can you ensure that you are not only understanding but also living out biblical truths? [01:47]
4. What legacy do you hope to leave in terms of your dedication to God's Word, and how can you begin to build that legacy today? [02:39]
5. How does understanding the Bible as a unified narrative change the way you approach your personal study of Scripture? [02:56]
6. Identify one area of your life where you can better reflect God's love and truth. What steps will you take this week to make this change? [00:57]
7. How can you encourage others in your community to see the interconnectedness of the Bible's teachings and apply them to their lives? [02:56]
Devotional
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Quotes
One of the problems of doing a commentary is that you're dealing with an inexhaustible truth that is the Word of God, so you always are growing in your knowledge of it. So, I had to look at all that I had preached, I had to look at what I had not preached yet and taught on, and then go back and study those passages and actually sit down with paper and pen and write. To be honest, I had to correct some things I had preached many years ago due to maturity and growth and deeper understanding of the Word of God. [00:16:03]
It began to come together and I began to see this worldview weave throughout all of the scripture that it made sense to do the project and to see people understand the concept of advancing the kingdom of God as the theme of the commentary, because it's the theme of the Bible, and therefore should be the theme of their lives. And so, it got exciting. [00:49:58]
Now, I must admit when you're getting up at 2, 3, 4 o'clock in the morning to work on the commentary when you've got a full day of activities ahead, it wasn't always fun, but it was always a challenge. And so, that became for a 10-year period of time, in and out, a lifestyle to work on this, re-work on this, re-read it, re-correct it, re-analyze it, have our editors feeding me back questions, and going back at it again and again and again. [01:12:95]
Having to recognize when you're to exegetical and not applicational enough, but having to recognize when you're too applicational and the people need more content explanation, so you're walking the thin line of making truth relevant. And we've tried to do this in the Tony Evans Bible commentary as we try to maintain the theme of advancing the kingdom of God. [01:47:26]
I must admit, having completed almost 1500 pages that are in this commentary, when I finally sent in the last book that we finished, and all 66 books were completed, part of me was ready to go to heaven because I felt like, "What more can you do on earth then have such a legacy work as a work like this?" So, I am proud of what God has allowed me to do over these over-50 years of preaching his Word, and over these 10 years of working on this Legacy Project, the Bible Commentary. [02:18:95]
I figure it will help people grasp the Word of God and see how its unified while being able to look at every one of the 66 books and see its contribution to the kingdom of God, while at the same time looking at each passage of each of the books to see how the parts fit into the whole of the book that fits into the whole of Scripture. [02:56:09]
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