Additional information
by J. B. Smith (Author), J. O. Yoder (Editor)
From the Introduction by Merrill C. Tenney: This commentary is an attempt to make plain the meaning of Revelation. With commendable reserve, Dr. Smith has restricted himself largely to interpretation by other passages of Scripture which are related to Revelation by actual quotation or by striking parallelism. His painstaking studies of vocabulary and of related ideas make the book valuable to the earnest student of the Bible. Dr. Smith is a futurist and a premillenarian, holding that all of the Book of Revelation beginning with the fourth chapter relates to the future period of judgment known as 'the great tribulation, ' which will be followed by the personal return of Christ and by the establishment of His kingdom. In this regard he is in a long line of renowned commentators, including Seiss, Gaebelein, Ottman, and others. The distinguishing feature of this commentary is its use of Biblical statistics and comparisons. The uses of important terms in the Revelation are cataloged, and their interpretation is derived from their context. The appendices contain some extensive studies of individual topics, correlating information not easily obtainable elsewhere. Dr. Smith follows a literal interpretation except where avowed symbolism demands a different procedure. He has sought to make his exposition consistent in method and in results. His use of Greek is apt, and shows a careful investigation of the underlying vocabulary of the Greek text. This commentary will probably be the mainstay of premillennial exposition for some years to come.
Author Biography
Jacob Brubaker Smith was born at St. Jacobs, Ontario in 1870. He was educated at Elkhart Institute, Ohio Northern University, Temple University, and Oskaloosa College, where he received M.A. and D.D. degrees. Ordained in 1897, Smith held pastorates in Missouri and Ohio. He served as a leading minister, educator, and writer in the Mennonite Church from the time of his ordination until his death in 1951. Smith served on the faculty of Hesston College and as the first president of Eastern Mennonite College. He also authored the 'Greek-English Concordance of the New Testament', for which he is most noted.
