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The New Daily Study Bible

New Testament
WILLIAM BARCLAY
LINDA FOSTER (EDITOR)

‘The only commentaries that I’ve used consistently are those written by William Barclay. They are absolutely fantastic and I wouldn’t give up my set for anything.’ Steve Chalke, Oasis Trust

‘William Barclay’s “magnum opus” is now able to delight and serve a new generation of Bible students and preachers.’ Ministry Today World-renowned for his thought-provoking Daily Study Bible series, William Barclay is one of the best-loved commentators on the Bible. His brilliant communication, down-to-earth approach and sheer enthusiasm inspire spirituality and faith among his readers. Over 7 million people worldwide have bought The Daily Study Bible series, in many languages.

New readers will find Barclay’s wide-ranging insight readily accessible in The New Daily Study Bible series. Barclay’s language has been sensitively updated, and out-of-date references have been removed. Readers familiar with his work will find it enhanced throughout with explanation of contexts, sources for quotations and other details. The revision involved William Barclay’s son Ronnie at all stages.

‘Paints pictures with words and draws you in’ – Steve Chalke

EXTRACT
 

The Falling Away
By AD 100, certain things had almost inevitably happened within the Church, especially in a place like Ephesus.
(1) Many were now second- or even third-generation Christians. The thrill of the first days had, to some extent at least, passed away. In 'The Prelude', Wordsworth said of one of the great moments of modern history:

Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive.

In the first days of Christianity, there was a glory and a splendour; but now Christianity had become a thing of habit, `traditional, half-hearted, nominal'. People had grown used to it, and something of the wonder had been lost. Jesus knew human nature, and he had said: 'The love of many will grow cold' (Matthew 24:12). John was writing at a time when, for some at least, the first thrill had gone and the flame of devotion had died to a flicker.
(2) One result was that there were members of the Church who found that the standards which Christianity demanded were becoming a burden and who were tired of making the effort. They did not want to be saints in the New Testament sense of the term. The New Testament word for saint is hagios, which is also commonly translated as holy. Its basic meaning is different. The Temple was hagios because it was different from other buildings; the Sabbath was hagios because it was different from other days; the Jewish nation was hagios because it was different from other nations; and Christians were called to be hagios because they were called to be different from other men and women. There was always a distinct division between Christians and the world. In the Fourth Gospel, Jesus says: `If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world – therefore the world hates you' (John 15:19). 'I have given them your word,' said Jesus in his prayer to God, 'and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world' (John 17:14).
All of this involved an ethical demand. It demanded a new standard of moral purity, a new kindness, a new service, a new forgiveness – and it was difficult. And, once the first thrill and enthusiasm were gone, it became harder and harder to stand out against the world and to refuse to conform to the generally accepted standards and practices of the age.
© William Barclay
 

Millions of copies sold worldwide

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