Search Tools
Bible - modify search
New Defender's Study Bible Notes
13:20 with joy. This hearer’s response is emotional rather than knowledgeably volitional. He hears what seems to be a happy release from his troubles and fears, and so receives Christ immediately and joyfully. But there is no root—or foundation—for his purely experiential faith. He feels good about it for a while, but salvation comes not through feelings.
13:21 because of the word. Unbelievers do not persecute believers because of their joyful feelings, but because of Christ and the Word. Emotional believers who have no grounding in the solid truth of the Word, and not knowing why they believe, cannot resist attacks of unbelievers (and of Satan) on their professed faith.