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Since the publication of Gospel Light, a commentary on the Four Gospels, hundreds of letters have requested further Comments on the New Testament. This volume, like the former work, aims to throw light on the obscure and difficult passages of the New Testament. The Scriptures are the inspired Word of God which was revealed to the prophets and the apostles who, in turn, recorded them first for the people of their own country and then to the world.
The writers were Easterners, therefore, they wrote in the vernacular which was understood by the simple and unlearned people. Moreover, the Authors of this sacred literature, to make clear their points, used idioms, similes and metaphors which were in common use and which are still in use today.
Eastern customs and manners also played an important part in transmitting and recording the Word of God. The Hebrew prophets, as well as Jesus and his apostles. illustrated their sayings with parables. Most of these Eastern customs are alien to Western thought and speech. This is the reason some of the simple expressions in the New Testament are the subject of theological arguments. The people of the Semitic race with their cultural background understood the language including the parables of the writers and they understood their teaching. On the other hand, the converts from other races whose customs and habits of life were different could not easily penetrate the Eastern mind and the subtlety of Semitic thought. The difficulty in transmitting thought from one language into another is conceded by all biblical scholars. This especially true of Semitic languages which have a limited vocabulary and words having divers meanings and thoughts and ideas expressed in figures of speech.
Today educators and scholars throughout the world are cognizant of the important part which Semitic languages played in the Bible. This is also true of other important books and documents. It is difficult to transmit thought from one tongue to another without loss of meaning.
I believe God preserved the ancient and pure biblical culture and language for a purpose. Great empires and splendor went down and have become nothing but history but God's truth has remained.
My humble attempt in this work is to elucidate the difficult and obscure passages so that those who are seeking guidance and comfort from the Bible may more easily understand its message. This I have done with diligence and the best of my knowledge of Aramaic and other Semitic languages. My main objective in this work has been to explain Eastern customs and manners which play an important part in the Scriptures. I have tried to avoid as much as possible theological and controversial passages which to me are destructive rather than constructive.
May this work be helpful to all those who sincerely seek to understand the teaching of our Lord.