Biblical Studies
Showing 226–300 of 1324 results
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Paul Politics And New Creation
$111.00Add to cartPaul, Politics, and New Creation: Reconsidering Paul and Empire nuances Paul’s relationship with the Roman Empire. Using rhetorical, sociohistorical, and theological methods, Najeeb T. Haddad reevaluates claims of Paul’s anti-imperialism by situating him in his proper Hellenistic Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts.
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Your Glory : A Biblical Study
$21.99Add to cartLike the blind men who touched different parts of the elephant and thought they knew the whole, we touch just a piece of God’s glory and think we know what it is. But we can’t agree with each other, so we must not know. Or we try to wrap it up in one big idea: God is great, full of splendour! But does that help?
Moses asked God, “Show me your glory!” And God shouts to be known. Yet, just like the boy in The Emperor’s New Clothes, a voice inside me cries out, “I don’t see it! There must be more!” Do you see and understand God’s glory? If we did, we would be terrified, undone, never the same. And I long for you to know it that way, too.
This study examines every use of the key words used for glory in the Old Testament and the New. We will see the lie about glory that changed everything. Yet the truth about glory is both dangerous and good. It binds us to God in an indivisible eternal bond. It is our identity and purpose for being. It gives to us a magnificent burden that is just the beginning of seeing and knowing glory.
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Journey Into Gods Word Second Edition
$18.99Add to cartA guide to learn the skills you need to understand and apply God’s Word. Now revised and updated!
Life is a journey, and like any journey, it requires an accurate, reliable roadmap to get us where we need to go. God has provided such a guide in his Word. But just as a navigator needs to learn how to interpret all the contours and symbols of a map, so also we need to be able to understand how the Bible communicates its directions to us.
In Journey into God’s Word, Second Edition reader’s will:
*Be introduced to the Interpretive Journey, a five-step framework for understanding how to read any Bible passage
*Learn vital reading skills that aid in their comprehension of not just the Bible, but of any piece of literature
*Discover the importance of understanding historical-cultural and literary contexts
*Receive guidance on choosing a Bible translation for their study
*Be given practical tips for reading specific genres in the Bible like, Gospels, letters, Law, prophecy, poetry, and more
Journey into God’s Word, Second Edition helps Bible readers acquire these skills and become better at reading, interpreting, and applying the Bible to life. Based on the bestselling college/seminary textbook Grasping God’s Word it takes the proven principles from that book and makes them accessible to people in the church. It starts with general principles of interpretation, then moves on to apply those principles to specific genres and contexts. Hands-on exercises guide readers through the interpretation process, with an emphasis on real-life application. This second edition has been revised and updated to match the fourth edition of Grasping God’s Word with a five-step Interpretive Journey.
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Elements Of Biblical Exegesis
$29.99Add to cartWorld-renowned scholar Michael Gorman presents a straightforward approach to the complex task of biblical exegesis. This third edition of Gorman’s widely used and trusted textbook (over 60,000 copies sold) has been thoroughly updated and revised to reflect developments in the academy and the classroom over the past decade. The new edition explains recent developments in theological interpretation and explores missional and non-Western readings of the biblical text. Adaptable for students in various settings, it includes clear explanations, practical hints, suggested exercises, and sample papers.
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Gods Messiah In The Old Testament
$30.00Add to cartTwo respected Old Testament scholars offer a fresh, comprehensive treatment of the Messiah theme throughout the entire Old Testament and examine its relevance for New Testament interpretation. Addressing a topic of perennial interest and foundational significance, this book explores what the Old Testament actually says about the Messiah, divine kingship, and the kingdom of God. It also offers a nuanced understanding of how New Testament authors make use of Old Testament messianic texts in explaining who Jesus is and what he came to do.
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Odyssey Of Grace Part Two The New Testament In Review From Ephesians To Rev
$19.99Add to cartIn the Odyssey of Grace series, Cy Mersereau invites you to join him as he travels through the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. In this series, each book of the New Testament is summarized, with special consideration given to topics of common, and sometimes controversial, interest.
The journey begins with the coming of Christ in the four Gospels, then threads its way through the epistles and ends with Revelation, where time dissolves into the eternal state. Along the way, the reader will encounter adventure, history, theology, advice for practical Christian living, and become acquainted with some of the more fascinating personalities of the early church.
The author of each book has his own style, his own emphasis, and his own story that is part of the larger story of Jesus Christ and the redemption he purchased for us on Calvary two thousand years ago.
Some of the topics covered here include:
*Prophetical insights from believers of various backgrounds on the book of Revelation.
*The hotly contested miracle of Jesus turning water into wine.
*Judas, his betrayal of Christ, and how and when he died
*A discussion of the book of Philemon to address the question of whether the Bible promotes slavery
*A comprehensive look into why the Gospel of Mark has so many endings and which is the right one.Join in on the conversation as Cy discusses these questions, and so many more!
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Misreading Scripture With Indivdualist Eyes
$32.00Add to cartThe Bible was written within collectivist cultures. When Westerners, immersed in individualism, read the Bible, it’s easy to misinterpret important elements-or miss them altogether. In any culture, the most important things usually go without being said. So to read Scripture well we benefit when we uncover the unspoken social structures and values of its world. We need to recalibrate our vision. Combining the expertise of a biblical scholar and a missionary practitioner, Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes is an essential guidebook to the cultural background of the Bible and how it should inform our reading. E. Randolph Richards and Richard James explore deep social structures of the ancient Mediterranean-kinship, patronage, and brokerage-along with their key social tools-honor, shame, and boundaries-that the biblical authors lived in and lie below the surface of each text. From Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar to Peter’s instructions to elders, the authors strip away individualist assumptions and bring the world of the biblical writers to life. Expanding on the popular Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes, this book makes clear how understanding collectivism will help us better understand the Bible, which in turn will help us live more faithfully in an increasingly globalized world.
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Perspectives On Paul
$29.99Add to cartThis five-views work brings together an all-star lineup of Pauline scholars to offer a constructive, interdenominational, up-to-date conversation on key issues of Pauline theology. The editors begin with an informative recent history of biblical tradition related to the perspectives on Paul. John M. G. Barclay, A. Andrew Das, James D. G. Dunn, Brant Pitre, and Magnus Zetterholm then discuss how to interpret Paul’s writings and theology, especially the apostle’s view of salvation. The book concludes with an assessment of the perspectives from a pastoral point of view by Dennis R. Edwards.
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Pauls Works Of The Law In The Perspective Of Second Century Reception
$38.00Add to cartWhen Paul wrote that we are justified by faith apart from “works of the law” what did he mean? Matthew J. Thomas examines how Paul’s second-century readers understood the conflicting interpretations, how their readings relate to “old” and “new” perspectives, and what their collective witness suggests about the apostle’s own meaning.
What did Paul mean by “works of the law”? Paul writes that we are justified by faith apart from “works of the law,” a disputed term that represents a fault line between “old” and “new” perspectives on Paul. Was the apostle reacting against the Jews’ good works done to earn salvation, or the Mosaic law’s practices that identified the Jewish people? Matthew J. Thomas examines how Paul’s second-century readers understood these points in conflict, how their readings relate to “old” and “new” perspectives, and what their collective witness suggests about the apostle’s own meaning. Surprisingly, these early witnesses align closely with the “new” perspective, though their reasoning often differs from both modern viewpoints. They suggest that Paul opposes these works neither due to moralism, nor primarily for experiential or social reasons, but because the promised new law and covenant, which are transformative and universal in scope, have come in Christ.
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Salvation To The Ends Of The Earth
$35.00Add to cartThe saving mission of Jesus constitutes the foundation for Christian mission, and the Christian gospel is its message. This second edition of a classic NSBT volume emphasizes how the Bible presents a continuing narrative of God’s mission, providing a robust historical and chronological backbone to the unfolding of the early Christian mission.
Few biblical topics are as important as mission. Mission is linked inextricably to humanity’s sinfulness and need for redemption and to God’s provision of salvation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This good news of salvation must be made known. The saving mission of Jesus constitutes the foundation for Christian mission, and the Christian gospel is its message. This second edition of New Studies in Biblical Theology volume Salvation to the Ends of the Earth emphasizes the way in which the Bible presents a continuing narrative of God’s mission-ranging from the story of Israel to the story of Jesus and that of the early Christians. At the same time, it provides a robust historical and chronological backbone to the unfolding of the early Christian mission. The apostle Paul’s writings and the General Epistles are incorporated with the Gospel with which they have the closest and most natural canonical and historical affinity. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.
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Reading Scriputre As The Church
$40.00Add to cartThe Bible is meant to be read in the church, by the church, as the church. Although the practice of reading Scripture has often become separated from its ecclesial context, theologian Derek Taylor argues that it rightly belongs to the disciplines of the community of faith. He finds a leading example of this approach in the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who regarded the reading of Scripture as an inherently communal exercise of discipleship. In conversation with other theologians, including John Webster, Robert Jenson, and Stanley Hauerwas, Taylor contends that Bonhoeffer’s approach to Scripture can engender the practices and habits of a faithful hermeneutical community. Today, as in Bonhoeffer’s time, the church is called to take up and read.
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Resurrecting Justice : Reading Romans For The Life Of The World
$30.00Add to cartThe theme of justice pervades the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
And all Christians agree that justice is important. We often disagree, however, about what justice means, both in Scripture and for us today. Many turn to Old Testament laws, the prophets, and the life of Jesus to find biblical guidance on justice, but few think of searching the letters of Paul. Readers frequently miss a key source, a writing in which justice is actually the central concern: the book of Romans. In Resurrecting Justice, theologian Douglas Harink invites readers to rediscover Romans as a treatise on justice. He traces Paul’s thinking on this theme through a sequential reading of the book, finding in each passage facets of the gospel’s primary claim–that God accomplishes justice in the death and resurrection of Jesus Messiah. By rendering forms of the Greek word dikaiosyne as “just” or “justice,” Harink emphasizes the inseparability of personal, social, and political uprightness that was clear to Paul but is obscured in modern translations’ use of the words “righteous” and “righteousness” instead. Throughout this book, Harink includes personal reflection questions and contemporary implications, helping readers connect Paul’s teaching to issues in their world such as church life, politics, power, criminal justice, and violence. Romans demands nothing less than a fundamental rethinking of all things in the light of the gospel. And in Romans the life, death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus makes all the difference in how we think about justice. Resurrecting Justice makes clear that the good news of a justice that can come only from God is crucial not only for individual lives but for all peoples and nations of the world.
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Fascinating Bible Studies On Every Parable
$15.99Add to cartJesus knew the power of stories to touch people’s hearts, so he used parables to teach his followers about the kingdom of God. If you want to know God better, the keys are in the parables.
This book provides short studies on every parable in the Bible. You’ll learn what God wants us to know from the prodigal son, the good Samaritan, the lost sheep, the talents, the sower, and many more.
Each study includes a summary of the parable, the Scripture reference where it can be found, information on the historical and cultural setting, and key points. At the end of each study are questions that open the door to discussion, reflection, or further investigation and help you get to the heart of the parable.
A wonderful tool for small groups or to add variety to your personal devotions. Let these studies draw you nearer to God as they enhance your understanding of his Word.
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Ancient Jewish And Christian Scriptures
$45.00Add to cartAncient Jewish and Christian Scriptures examines the writings included in and excluded from the Jewish and Christian canons of Scripture and explores the social settings in which some of this literature was viewed as authoritative and some was viewed either as uninspired or as heretical. John J. Collins, Craig A. Evans, and Lee Martin McDonald examine how those noncanonical writings demonstrate the historical, literary, and religious aspects of the culture that gave rise to the writings. They also show how literature excluded from the Jewish and Christian canons of Scripture remains valuable today for understanding the questions and conflicts that early Jewish and Christian faith communities faced. Through this discussion, contemporary readers acquire a broader understanding of biblical Scripture and of Jewish and Christian faith inspired by Scripture.
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Here Are Your Gods
$22.00Add to cartWhen the Israelites exclaimed, “Here are your gods!” at the sight of the golden calf, they were attempting to hold on to the God of their history while fashioning idols for their own purposes. In today’s Western world, plenty of shiny false gods still hold power-idols of prosperity, nationalism, and self-interest. Christians desperately need to name and expose these idols. We must retrieve the biblical emphasis on idolatry and apply it anew in our journey of following Jesus. In “Here Are Your Gods,” Old Testament scholar Christopher J. H. Wright combines a biblical study of idolatry with practical discipleship. He calls readers to consider connections between Old Testament patterns and today’s culture, especially recurring temptations to trust in political power. Now as much as ever, we need a biblically informed understanding of the many ways humans make gods for themselves, the danger of idols, and how God calls us to join him in the battle against idolatry as part of his ongoing mission to be known and worshiped by all peoples.
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From Widows To Warriors
$20.00Add to cartThis Bible study introduces and retells every female character who contributes to one or more Old Testament stories, diving deeply into what each woman’s story means for us today with questions for reflection and discussion.
For too long the women of the Bible have been depicted in one-dimensional terms. On one side are saints, such as Mary, while on the other are “bad girls,” such as Eve and Jezebel. Just as often, the female characters of the Bible are simply ignored. However, the women of the Bible are complex, multidimensional individuals whose lives are inspiring, funny, and tragic in ways too many of us never hear.
In this first of two volumes, Lynn Japinga acquaints us with the women of the Old Testament. From flawed heroes like Ruth and Rahab to fierce fighters like Deborah and Jael to tragic characters like Jephthah’s daughter and the unnamed concubine of the book of Judges, readers will encounter a wealth of foremothers in the faith in all their messy, yet redeemable, humanity. This Bible study introduces and retells every female character who contributes to one or more Old Testament stories, diving deeply into what each woman’s story means for us today with questions for reflection and discussion.
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When Did Eve Sin
$19.99Add to cartDid Eve sin before Adam?
When responding to the serpent’s temptation to eat the forbidden fruit, Eve says that one “must not touch it” (Gen 3:2-3). In this, Eve appears to embellish upon God’s clear command that one must not eat from the tree (Gen 2:17). Did Eve add to God’s command, becoming the first legalist? Was this an innocent mistake? Or is the answer altogether different?
Jeffrey J. Niehaus tackles this issue head-on in When Did Eve Sin? Though many commentators believe that Eve altered God’s command, there are notable exceptions in the history of interpretation that suggest another answer. Using Scripture to interpret Scripture and analyzing biblical stories where characters retell the facts, Neihaus recognizes a common scriptural pattern that resolves the mystery of Eve’s words.
Niehaus examines his view’s implications for biblical historiography, what it meant to eat from the tree of life, how a sinless being can fall into sin, and the nature of the mysterious serpent. Everyone engaging with these questions will be deftly guided by Niehaus’ thorough study of this thorny issue.
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Last Great Outpouring
$19.99Add to cartAfter four hundred years of prophetic silence, God sent John the Baptist to announce the coming of the Messiah, the baptism He would bring, and the in-breaking of the kingdom of God on earth. In response, people streamed to the Jordan River to hear John’s words and be baptized by him in the Jewish ritual mikveh bath for cleansing from sin and defilement. John’s calling was to prepare the people for the coming glory.
Our God is nothing if not consistent-the same yesterday, today and forever. As in the days leading to the return of Jesus, He therefore continues to send messengers in advance to announce coming moves of the Spirit in order to prepare His people to receive. Author R. Loren Sandford believes God is about to do something huge, wonderful, and even unprecedented in scope and impact, and he is urging Christians everywhere to prepare for it.
Beginning with the prophet Haggai and moving through the Bible, Loren lays a foundation for his belief that the time of the last great outpouring and the Lord’s return is now.
He writes, “The church in our day has been ravaged and diminished in influence under pressure from the idolatrous culture that surrounds us and that, figuratively speaking, a remnant is even now returning from exile. It’s time to rebuild on a biblical foundation and construct a temple adequate to contain the outpouring God is about to send.”
Loren says we must reject our present culture, which is steeped in consumerism and a focus on self, and return to a culture of covenant. The former has weakened and destroyed us, while the latter will edify and strengthen us.
As John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way, prophetic voices are now rising to proclaim that the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit in history is coming. The great last days’ move of God approaches and the call for preparation now is the same as John preached so long ago. Through reliable prophetic voices, God now cries for holiness and cleansing to uproot everything in ourselves and in our churches not solidly rooted in the nature of Jesus and the Father.
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Greek Word Study
$24.99Add to cart“Flour. Sheep. Coins. Wheat. Jesus never abandoned the familiarity of His time because what He had to say was so celestial or deep. Instead, He took advantage of what people already understood. In doing so, He didn’t just leave a way of salvation for us, but also a pattern of teaching to follow. This alone was my inspiration for how I chose to write Greek Word Study.”–author Chris Palmer
In a follow-up to his highly acclaimed book Letters from Jesus: Studies from the Seven Churches of Revelation, the Rev. Chris Palmer has written Greek Word Study: 90 Ancient Words That Unlock Scripture. With wit, humor, grace, and scholarship, Chris offers biblical insights while teaching Koine Greek words and phrases one delightful bite at a time. Unlike other books that overwhelm readers with Greek grammar, word formation, tenses, and the like, Chris makes the language accessible to anyone, using modern stories and analogies that engage readers and draw them into the Scriptures. Learning some Greek words and phrases helps you read the Bible in high definition!
“You don’t need to be scholar to read this book and you don’t need to know an ounce of Greek either. In fact, you don’t even have to really know much about the Bible at all,” Chris says. “All you need to do is just kick back and enjoy.”
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Acts : And You Will Be My Witnesses
$9.99Add to cartActs is a goldmine of adventure, filled with spellbinding stories interlaced with sermons and speeches. The theology of Acts arises from the drama that unfolds a drama that invites us to step in and join a narrative that is still unfolding. Study the story of God as told by Luke about the spark of the Christian church as it expanded and spread like wildfire throughout the ancient world. Over the course of seven weeks, gain deeper insight into stories about the mission of God, the Day of Pentecost, the sermon of Simon Peter, the healing of a lame man, the conversion of Saul, Peter’s rooftop experience, and the debate at the Council of Jerusalem. And remember, the ACTion does not end when the book of Acts ends. We are still called to be God’s witnesses in the world today.
A faithful reading of God’s Word leads to a faithful response from God’s people. The Shaped by Scripture series teaches a simple, engaging method of studying the Bible that will lead to honest interpretation and a changed relationship with God.
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Navigating Tough Texts
$23.99Add to cartA guide for reading and understanding difficult New Testament verses.
While the core message of the New Testament is clear, there are often puzzling, alarming, or confusing things we encounter when we get into the details of the text.
Murray J. Harris, veteran scholar and translator, is an ideal guide through these complicated passages. In Navigating Tough Texts, he clearly and concisely provides exegetical insights to over one hundred tricky New Testament verses that have implications for theology, apologetics, mission, and the Christian life.
Navigating Tough Texts is an indispensable resource for pastors, students, and curious Christians who want to be better readers of the many important–and often confusing–New Testament passages.
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Helplessness Of God
$16.99Add to cartMany people are uncomfortable with the way in which leadership has been exercised within Christianity, and in this book Nicholas King looks at what the Bible tells us about the exercise of authority. The message is that human beings, with the exception of Jesus, always get it wrong, unless they are prepared to ‘lead by listening’ or exercise authority as an act of loving service. For the only absolute authority is God. Why speak of ‘the helplessness of God’? Because God is voluntarily dependent on our response, helpless until we make our decision, and will not force us to choose our own good. God’s love is never tyrannical, always utterly respectful of human freedom. That must be the way ahead for authority in the Church.
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Biblical Theology According To The Apostles
$28.00Add to cartHow did the apostles understand the Old Testament?
Although relatively few in number, the New Testament’s explicit summaries of the Old Testament story of Israel give readers direct access into the way the earliest Christians told this story-that is to say, into the way they did biblical theology.
This stimulating New Studies in Biblical Theology volume examines the passages in the Synoptic Gospels, Acts, Paul’s letters, and Hebrews which recount the characters, events, and institutions of Israel’s story in chronological order and at substantial length. The authors demonstrate just how valuable a lens these summaries provide for a clearer vision of the earliest Christians’ practice of biblical theology. In doing so, they also show how contemporary readers can and should follow the apostles’ example.
Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.
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Gospels As Stories
$21.99Add to cartPopular writer and teacher Jeannine Brown shows how a narrative approach illuminates each of the Gospels, helping readers see the overarching stories. This book offers a corrective to tendencies to read the Gospels piecemeal, one story at a time. It is filled with numerous examples and visual aids that show how narrative criticism brings the text to life, making it an ideal supplementary textbook for courses on the Gospels. Readers will gain hands-on tools and perspectives to interpret the Gospels as whole stories.
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No Half Truths Allowed Study Guide (Student/Study Guide)
$9.99Add to cartWhen it comes to proclaiming the Gospel message, half-truths, vague notions, and generalizations can be dangerous.
In today’s Church, many people are spreading a gospel that is full of half-truths, unaware that they are believing lies about Who God is and what our roles as Christians are. Our responsibility as Christians is to dive into God’s Word and find His truths for ourselves. In this study guide, you will be directed to explore the Scriptures for yourself to find the true Gospel.
Designed as a companion piece to No Half-Truths Allowed: Understanding the Complete Gospel Message by Christine Paxon and Rose Spiller, No Half-Truths Allowed Study Guide is an interactive study guide with questions and Scriptures to help readers delve even deeper into understanding the complete Gospel message.
Though this study guide can stand alone without the book, it is designed as a supplement to give a richer and deeper understanding of the Gospel message and is easily adaptable for individual or small group study. Learning is enriched and more fun when we do it together!
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No Half Truths Allowed
$15.99Add to cartWhen it comes to proclaiming the Gospel message, half-truths, vague notions, and generalizations can be dangerous.
What are the important truths we need to know and share with others? Is it enough to believe that God loves us and wants a relationship with us? Is it enough to “ask Jesus into our hearts”? Is it enough to recite the “sinner’s prayer,” or do we need to repent of our sin? Is going to church and serving others enough? Is what Jesus suffered more than a gruesome death on a cross? If Jesus, who is fully God, was crucified, did God die on Good Friday? Is God mad at us when we sin and happy when we’re behaving? Can we lose our salvation?
If you’re not sure of the answers to any of these questions, you are not alone. Join Christine Paxson and Rose Spiller as they explore the answers to these and many other questions about the true Gospel message in No Half-Truths Allowed: Understanding the Complete Gospel Message. Learn what Jesus did for you, why He did it, and how you can articulate the Gospel to others. Also available is the companion No Half-Truths Allowed Study Guide, an interactive study guide with questions and Scriptures to help readers delve even deeper into understanding the complete Gospel message.
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How To Read Daniel
$22.00Add to cartBeyond the familiar lions’ den and fiery furnace, much of the book of Daniel seems baffling to modern readers.
The first half recounts stories full of ancient Near Eastern protocol and imperial court drama; the second half features apocalyptic visions of monstrous beasts and cosmic conflict. Many Christians misunderstand or simply avoid the book. But failing to read Daniel well means missing a critical part of God’s message to us. According to Tremper Longman III, when we read Daniel on its own terms and in its original context, we’ll discover that all of the book is easier to understand than we might think. In this volume of the popular How to Read Series, Longman brings his expertise as an Old Testament scholar and teacher to orient readers to a proper engagement with Daniel. He examines the book’s genre, structure, historical background, and major theological message before diving deeper into each of the stories and visions. As we learn how to enter the world of Daniel, we find a message not only for his generation but also for ours: even in hostile circumstances, God is in control, and he will have the final victory. Longman draws out this theme of Daniel for the twenty-first century, finding help for faithful living in a toxic culture and hope in a troubled world. How to Read Daniel is the perfect starting point for anyone studying, teaching, or seeking a reliable guide to this ancient book.
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Odyssey Of Grace Part One The New Testament In Review From Matthew To Galat
$19.99Add to cartIn the Odyssey of Grace series, Cy Mersereau invites you to join him as he travels through the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. In this series, each book of the New Testament is summarized, with special consideration given to topics of common, and sometimes controversial, interest.
The journey begins with the coming of Christ in the four Gospels, then threads its way through the epistles and ends with Revelation, where time dissolves into the eternal state. Along the way, the reader will encounter adventure, history, theology, advice for practical Christian living, and become acquainted with some of the more fascinating personalities of the early church.
The author of each book has his own style, his own emphasis, and his own story that is part of the larger story of Jesus Christ and the redemption he purchased for us on Calvary two thousand years ago.
Some of the topics covered here include:
*Prophetical insights from believers of various backgrounds on the book of Revelation.
*The hotly contested miracle of Jesus turning water into wine.
*Judas, his betrayal of Christ, and how and when he died.
*A discussion of the book of Philemon to address the question of whether the Bible promotes slavery.
*A comprehensive look into why the Gospel of Mark has so many endings and which is the right one.Join in on the conversation as Cy discusses these questions, and so many more!
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Figural Reading And The Old Testament
$26.00Add to cartDon Collett, an experienced Old Testament teacher, offers an account of Old Testament interpretation that capitalizes on recent research in figural exegesis. Collett examines the tension between figural and literal modes of exegesis as they developed in Christian thought, introduces ongoing debates and discussions concerning figural readings of Scripture, and offers theological readings of several significant Old Testament passages. This book will work well as a primer on figural exegesis for seminarians or as a capstone seminary text that ties together themes from courses in Bible, exegesis, and theology.
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Defending Shame : Its Formative Power In Paul’s Letters
$28.00Add to cartOur culture often views shame in a negative light. However, Paul’s use of shame, when properly understood and applied, has much to teach the contemporary church. Filling a lacuna in Pauline scholarship, this book shows how Paul uses shame to admonish and to transform the mind of his readers into the mind of Christ. The author examines Paul’s use of shame for moral formation within his Jewish and Greco-Roman context, compares and contrasts Paul’s use of shame with other cultural voices, and offers a corrective understanding for today’s church. Foreword by Luke Timothy Johnson.
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Pauline Eschatology : The Apocalyptic Rupture Of Eternal Imperialism
$23.00Add to cartWhen seeking to understand what Paul and his coworkers were trying to accomplish, it is no longer possible to ignore Graeco-Roman cultural, economic, political, and religious beliefs and practices. Nor can one ignore the ways in which colonized and vanquished peoples adopted, developed, subverted, and resisted these things. Therefore, in order to properly contextualize the Pauline faction, the traditional background material related to Paul and politics must be developed in the following ways: Pauline eschatology must be examined in light of apocalyptic resistance movements; Pauline eschatology must be understood in light of the realized eschatology of Roman imperialism; and the ideo-theology of Rome (its four cornerstones of the household unit, cultural constructs of honor and shame, practices of patronage, and traditional Roman religiosity now all reworked within the rapidly spreading imperial cult[s]) must be explored in detail. This is the task of Pauline Eschatology, the second volume of Paul and the Uprising of the Dead. In it, we will witness how Pauline apocalypticism ruptures the eternal now of empire, and this, then, paves our way for the detailed study of Paulinism that follows in volume 3, Pauline Solidarity.
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James : Consider It Pure Joy
$9.99Add to cartIn James, we find one of the clearest examples of the Jewish contributions to Christianity-a strong ethic. First-century Jews believed that body, soul, and spirit were one. Therefore, one could not act contrary to how one believed. Over the course of seven weeks exploring the concepts of practical Christian living presented in the book of James, you will discover: the secret of living a joy-filled life in the midst of trouble, the tools for finding salvation through obedient faith, how to keep the commandments by loving your neighbor, and how God wants you to live in Christian fellowship.
A faithful reading of God’s Word leads to a faithful response from God’s people. The Shaped by Scripture series teaches a simple, engaging method of studying the Bible that will lead to honest interpretation and a changed relationship with God.
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Genesis 12-27 : And God Said To Abraham
$9.99Add to cartGenesis is the foundational book for the entire biblical canon. In Genesis we find the themes of creation, relationship, covenant, hope, and redemption that will come to characterize God’s grand story throughout the rest of the Bible, all the way to Revelation. Grab a Bible and a pen and explore what our response should be to these family- and relationship-centered stories. Journey through seven weeks of study that will cover both well-known and lesser-known narratives, including God’s call of Abraham, Abraham and Lot, God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael, God’s test of Abraham, Isaac and Abimelek, and Jacob and Esau.
A faithful reading of God’s Word leads to a faithful response from God’s people. The Shaped by Scripture series teaches a simple, engaging method of studying the Bible that will lead to honest interpretation and a changed relationship with God.
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Bedrock Of Christianity
$18.99Add to cartCan we all agree on some things about Jesus, regardless of our belief–or unbelief?
Perhaps surprisingly, there is a lot upon which all scholars can agree. When surveying historical scholarship, there are certain truths about Jesus that Christians, agnostics, and skeptics must affirm.
In The Bedrock of Christianity, Justin Bass shows how–regardless of one’s feelings about Christianity–there lies a bedrock of truths about Jesus’s life and ministry that are held by virtually all scholars of religion. Through an examination of each of these key facts, readers will encounter the unalterable truths upon which everyone can agree. Useful for both Christians and non-Christians alike, this study demonstrates what we can really know about the historical truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
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Demons : What The Bible Really Says About The Powers Of Darkness
$22.99Add to cartThe truth about demons is far stranger–and even more fascinating–than what’s commonly believed.
Are demons real? Are they red creatures with goatees holding pitchforks and sitting on people’s shoulders while whispering bad things? Did a third of the angels really rebel with Satan? Are demons and “principalities and powers” just terms for the same entities, or are they different members of the kingdom of darkness? Is the world a chaotic mess because of what happened in Eden, or is there more to the story of evil?
What people believed about evil spiritual forces in ancient biblical times is often very different than what people have been led to believe about them today. And this ancient worldview is missing from most attempts to treat the topic.
In Demons, Michael Heiser debunks popular presuppositions about the very real powers of darkness. Rather than traditions, stories, speculations, or myths, Demons is grounded in what ancient people of both the Old and New Testament eras believed about evil spiritual forces and in what the Bible actually says. You’ll come away with a sound, biblical understanding of demons, supernatural rebellion, evil spirits, and spiritual warfare.
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Studies In The Deeper Life
$24.99Add to cartThis outstanding Bible study course by legendary teacher E. W. Kenyon was written to lead Christians into a deeper walk with the Master. Profound scriptural truths are presented in a simple and east-to-understand manner. As it takes you through the pages of the Bible, you will begin to see who you are in Christ, what He has done for you, and your standing before God the Father. An ideal study for both groups or individuals.
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Bible In The Light Of Our Redemption
$24.99Add to cartWritten by beloved Bible teacher E. W. Kenyon, this challenging study course covers the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, highlighting the long view of God’s unfolding plan of redemption. Appropriate for groups or individuals, both the new believer and the mature Christian, it lays out the legal claim for who and what we are in Christ. This course will build your faith and challenge you to a deeper walk with our Redeemer.
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Rapture Part 2
$14.99Add to cartThis second part of the book explains about the signs of heaven that are related to the second coming of the Lord Jesus.
His first coming is marked by a sign in the sky in the form of a star in the east as explained in Matthew 2:2:
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
God also gave signs in the sky relating to His second coming:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: (Acts 2:20)
From 2014-2019 there were sixteen sky signs referred to the verse, in the form of nine solar eclipses and seven total lunar eclipses (moons like blood), thirteen of which occur right on the feast days of the people of Israel and three on the days that we interpret related to end-time events, that are on the day would be the beginning of great tribulation, on the day of the cessation of daily sacrifices, and the last day of great tribulation in Jerusalem.
Furthermore, the eclipses of years 2018 have the same interval of days with the ones in 2015, especially when reckoned from the calendar year beginning on the 1st day of Nissan and the other calendar year beginning on the 15th day of Shevat.
The Bible records that the end times will occur when conditions are safe and peaceful, but they will suddenly turn into chaos accompanied by severe persecution.
“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonans 5:3)
In medical science, the normal gestation period lasts 266 days, and the Lord gave a lot of signs similar to pregnancy (266).
In addition, the book also explains the Israelite festivals and their meanings and prophecies. The Israelites have seven main feasts which are divided into two, namely the festivals of Rainy Season and the festival of Summer. The three festivals of the Rainy Season were fulfilled at the time of the first coming of the Lord Jesus. The four summer festivals in the form of the feast of the Trumpet, the day of Atonement, the feast of Tabernacles and the day of Hanukkah have not yet been fulfilled. Many theologians believe that the holidays will be fulfilled in connection with the second coming of the Lord Jesus.
Surprisingly, when we interpreted end-time events based on data of solar eclipses and total lunar eclipses , Israel’s feasts and Bible verses, it turns
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4 Portraits One Jesus 2nd Edition
$64.99Add to cartTo Christians worldwide, the man Jesus of Nazareth is the centerpiece of history, the object of faith, hope, and worship. Even those who do not follow him admit the vast influence of his life. For anyone interested in knowing more about Jesus, study of the four biblical Gospels is essential.
The second edition of Four Portraits, One Jesus has been updated throughout to meet the needs to today’s students. It is a thorough yet accessible introduction to the four biblical Gospels and their subject, the life and person of Jesus. Like different artists rendering the same subject using different styles and points of view, the Gospels paint four highly distinctive portraits of the same remarkable Jesus.
With clarity and insight, Mark Strauss illuminates these four books addressing the following important areas:
*First he addresses the nature, origin, methods for study, and historical, religious, and cultural backgrounds of the Gospels.
*He then moves on to closer study of each narrative and its contribution to our understanding of Jesus, investigating things such as plot, characters, and theme.
*Finally, he pulls it all together with a detailed examination of what the Gospels teach about Jesus’ ministry, message, death, and resurrection, with excursions into the quest for the historical Jesus and the historical reliability of the Gospels.This textbook together with its workbook, video lectures, and laminated sheet gives students everything they need for a thorough and enriching study of Jesus and the Gospels.
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Unmasking Revelation : A Study Of Revelation To Reveal Its Positive Message
$19.99Add to cartThe Book of Revelation was meant to ignite awe and worship.
There is a special blessing promised to all who read and obey the words of Revelation (1:3). Yet many Christians slam their Bible shut before reading because they find the end times prophecy to be confusing, weird, and even scary.
Revelation was never meant to be feared or skipped over. In Unmasking Revelation, Sam Chess walks through how Jesus left first century Christians with the hope of His return, and how the letter of Revelation was given as a guide to how it all would end. Jesus was going to victoriously win and satan, and death, and hell, and even the curse of sin itself (22:3) would be purged off this planet!
Through Unmasking Revelation, the difficult parts of Revelation become understandable, and the weird and frightening are “unmasked” to simply unfold the storyline of Jesus’ (and Christians’) final triumphant victory.
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Rapture Part 1
$14.99Add to cartThe end of times is a topic that always attracts the attention of the Lord’s congregation since the beginning, because in the last days, the believers will be raised into the clouds to meet the Lord. However, Lord Jesus also stated that in the last days, there will be a severe persecution. That is why they need to prepare themselves to face this severe persecution.In this first part of the book, the authors present very basic things that should be known by Christians, namely, things relating to the end times which include:Signs and marks 666 which must not be accepted by Christians.This section explains the link between “Biochip” and 666 and the reasons and verses that explain why God’s children may not accept chip666. What are the consequences for a child of God who receives Chip666 and what is the fate of a child of God who refuses to accept it.The importance of knowing the last world ruler, because from this kingdom will emerge ten kings and antichrists.There are four main end times figures, namely Satan, ten kings, antichrist and false prophets. The Bible clearly explains these four figures so we can interpret these figures today.Rapture: what and when.The rapture will occur after the time of tribulation but before the vials of God’s wrath. This means that God’s children will experience persecution.The difference between the tribulation period and God’s wrath period.Tribulation period: when it starts and ends.The events that occurred related to the opening of each seal of the seven seals in the Book of Revelation.Emergence and duties of “two witnesses of God.”When the appearance of two witnesses of God and what are their duties.Christian preparations and attitudes in the end times.Because at the end times all of God’s children will experience persecution, so much preparation must be done. Where the preparation is not only related to the physical but primarily spiritual preparation that requires time and sincerity.In addition, at the end of this book, the estimated “The Book of Revelation in a New Structure” is included.Many Christians have difficulty understanding the contents of the Book of Revelation. This happened, for one thing, because the contents and events in the Book of Revelation were not sequential from beginning to end, there are several events that were repeated in other sections, because the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation from two visions, where some of the two visions are related to the same things. If all the same events are
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Beginners Guide To New Testament Studies
$24.99Add to cartThis accessible and balanced introduction helps readers sort out key views on the most important debated issues in New Testament studies. Well-known New Testament scholar Nijay Gupta fairly presents the spectrum of viewpoints on thirteen topics and offers reflections on why scholars disagree on these matters. Written to be accessible to students and readers without advanced training in New Testament studies, this book will serve as an excellent supplementary text for New Testament introduction courses.
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Theology Of The New Testament
$60.00Add to cartFollowing his well-received Apostle Paul, prominent European scholar Udo Schnelle now offers a major new theology of the New Testament. The work has been translated into English from the original German, with bibliographic adaptations, by leading American scholar M. Eugene Boring.
This comprehensive critical introduction combines historical and theological analysis. Schnelle begins with the teaching of Jesus and continues with a discussion of the theology of Paul. He then moves on to the Synoptic Gospels; the deutero-Pauline, catholic, and Johannine letters; and Revelation, paying due attention to authorship, chronology, genre, and canonical considerations. This is an essential book for anyone with a scholarly interest in the New Testament.
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Do Miracles Happen Today
$7.99Add to cartLots of extraordinary stuff happens in the Bible. People walk on water. People touch handkerchiefs and are healed. People disappear into the sky. Did these really happen? What was their purpose?
And do miracles happen today? How do we respond if someone says they’ve seen a miracle happen? Should we hold healing services? What can I say to a child about praying for healing? How should we react when prayers for healing aren’t answered?
In this warm and accessible book, Tim Chester looks at the Bible’s view of the existence and purpose of miracles and gives a careful and balanced view on whether healings and other miraculous things happen today.
It will help Christians to explore these questions and others regarding miracles, signs and wonders, and know how to pray.
Includes additional questions on:
– Why did Jesus tell people not to tell others about his miracles?
– How should I respond when I hear a claim that a miracle has happened?
– Should we hold healing services?
– What can I say to a child about praying for healing?Questions Christians Ask are short, readable books which clearly explain how the Bible answers the tough questions Christians are asking.
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Galatians A Biblical Study
$20.00Add to cartWalk the path of holiness, stir your faith in God, and break free from the bonds of a sinful nature with Joyce Meyer’s Galatians commentary, featuring inspiring questions and space for your reflections.
Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia speaks largely to how important it was to Paul that the people embrace unity in Christ, no matter their differences. Galatians teaches that we’re justified by faith in Christ only and encourages us to pursue a life of holiness, not in our own strength, but in the knowledge of God’s empowering grace in our lives.
In this comprehensive study tool, Joyce Meyer offers an in-depth look at Galatians and emphasizes that we are not only saved by faith, we must learn to live by faith as well.
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Fragrance Of Jesus
$12.99Add to cartThe Fragrance of Jesus looks at 20 of Jesus’ miracles in terms of them being glimpses of God’s kingdom; as demonstrations of God’s power and also illustrations of qualities that will be experienced in his kingdom: some here and now and some when Jesus returns. Patrick Coghlan invites readers on a personal journey of discovery, encouraging them to understand prayerfully more about the kingdom–and apply lessons from Scripture to their daily lives and experiences.
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Hope Of Israel
$34.00Add to cartThis volume highlights the sustained focus in Acts on the resurrection of Christ, bringing clarity to the theology of Acts and its purpose. Brandon Crowe explores the historical, theological, and canonical implications of Jesus’s resurrection in early Christianity and helps readers more clearly understand the purpose of Acts in the context of the New Testament canon. He also shows how the resurrection is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures. This is the first major book-length study on the theological significance of Jesus’s resurrection in Acts.
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Paul And The Language Of Faith
$40.99Add to cartA dynamic reading of Paul’s faith language, outlining its subtle nuances as belief, trust, and faithfulness.
Faith language permeates the letters of Paul. Yet, its exact meaning is not always clear. Many today, reflecting centuries of interpretation, consider belief in Jesus to be a passive act. In this important book, Nijay Gupta challenges common assumptions in the interpretation of Paul and calls for a reexamination of Paul’s faith language. Gupta argues that Paul’s faith language resonates with a Jewish understanding of covenant involving goodwill, trust, and expectation. Paul’s understanding of faith involves the transformation of one’s perception of God and the world through Christ, relational dependence on Christ, as well as active loyalty to Christ.
Pastors and scholars alike will benefit from this close examination of Paul’s understanding and use of faith language. For Gupta, Paul’s understanding involves a divine-human relationship centered on Christ that believes, trusts, and obeys.
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Boundless God : The Spirit According To The Old Testament
$21.99Add to cartThe word ru^ah (commonly translated as breath, wind, spirit, or Spirit) occurs in the Old Testament 389 times–more frequently than torah, shalom, or sabbath. In this volume, a popular Old Testament scholar, whose previous books have received wide acclaim, cracks open the challenging and provocative world of the Spirit in the Old Testament, offering readers cogent yet comprehensive insights.
Grounded in scholarship yet accessible and inviting, this book unlocks the world of the Spirit, plunging readers into an imaginative realm of fresh senses, sounds, and skills. The book gives readers the opportunity to recapture Israel’s tenacious sense of the Spirit’s energy as it was expressed by a series of vibrant verbs: blowing, breathing, coming, resting, passing, pouring, filling, cleansing, leading, and guiding. Readers will encounter in these pages all of the Old Testament expressions of the Spirit–passages that will challenge the conventional, confront the commonplace, and transport them to a world of wisdom, work, and wonder.
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Story Retold : A Biblical-Theological Introduction To The New Testament
$60.00Add to cartNew Testament introductions tend to fall into two categories: those that emphasize the history behind the text through discussions of authorship, dating, and audience, and those that explore the content of the text itself. Few introductions have integrated the Old Testament into their discussions, and fewer still are those that rely on the grand narrative of the Old Testament. But the New Testament was not written within a vacuum. Rather, it stands in continuity with the Old Testament. Israel’s story is the church’s story. In The Story Retold, G. K. Beale and Benjamin L. Gladd explore each New Testament book in light of the broad history of redemption, emphasizing the biblical-theological themes of each New Testament book. Their distinctive approach will encourage readers to read the New Testament in light of the Old, not as a new story but as a story retold.
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In The Garden
$15.99Add to cartConsider not only the lilies of the field, but all the plants, trees, herbs, shrubs, and flowers that play a role in the biblical narrative through this illustrated guide. From the barley Ruth harvested to the hyssop David craved, from the frankincense the Wise Men brought to Jesus to the sycamore tree Zacchaeus climbed, the Bible is peppered with allusions to the plants that were a part of daily life in the ancient Near East and in New Testament Israel. With original illustrations, this beautiful gift book clarifies the biblical references to fifty plants in four categories–trees and shrubs, flowers, edible plants, and medicinal plants–and provides delightful new insights into the Word of God. Includes an index to each plant with corresponding Bible references, a calendar of Jewish festivals and their associated plants, and tips for growing your own Bible garden.
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Eyewitness To Crucifixion
$18.99Add to cartStephen M. Miller’s journalistic approach to Bible knowledge is fascinating-and has sold over two million copies of his books! Now Miller has set his sights on crucifixion, gathering firsthand testimony from ancient witnesses to discover, What does it really mean that Jesus was executed on a Roman cross? You’ll examine the historical context for your faith as seen through first-century eyes-and draw closer to Jesus in gratefulness, godly sorrow, and awe.
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Blood Covenant : The Hidden Truth Revealed At The Lord’s Table
$14.99Add to cartLegendary Bible teacher Dr. E. W. Kenyon unveils the meaning and miracles available to every Christian through a complete understanding of The Blood Covenant. The Bible is composed of two covenants, or agreements. The old covenant, between God and Abraham, was sealed by circumcision. The new covenant, between God and every believer, is sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ. As you understand your rights as a Christian stemming from this covenant, you will experience an incredible boost to your walk of faith as you lay hold of amazing blessings. The Blood Covenant brings all the power, victory, and miracles of God into the everyday life of the believer.
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Least Of These
$27.99Add to cartJesus cared for the least, but did Paul?
The apostle Paul has a reputation for being detached from the concerns of the poor and powerless. In this book, Carla Swafford Works demonstrates that Paul’s message and ministry are in harmony with the teaching of Jesus. She brings to light an apostle who preaches and models good news to the “least of these”–the poor, the marginalized, the disadvantaged, and the vulnerable.
The Least of These begins by highlighting the presence of the marginalized in Paul’s ministry by looking at poverty in Paul’s churches, the involvement of slaves and freedpersons in the community, and the role of women in the Pauline mission. Works then examines the significance of the marginalized in Pauline theology by investigating how the apostle employs metaphors of the “least.”
Like Jesus, Paul cared deeply for people at the margins. Paul’s ministry is consistent with that of Jesus. Both men cared for the poor. Paul served the least in his mission, modeling his apostolic ministry after the cross of Christ. Works shows that Paul, far from being an abstract thinker, was a practical theologian teaching a message and leading a life of compassion, kindness, and care.
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Pauls Idea Of Community
$28.00Add to cartThis highly readable investigation of the early church explores the revolutionary nature, dynamics, and effects of the earliest Christian communities. It introduces readers to the cultural setting of the house churches of biblical times, examines the apostle Paul’s vision of life in the Christian church, and explores how the New Testament model of community applies to Christian practice today. Updated and revised throughout, this 40th-anniversary edition incorporates recent research, updates the bibliography, and adds a new fictional narrative that depicts the life and times of the early church.
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Choice Gleanings From The Book Of Romans
$9.99Add to cartThe book of Romans elucidates God’s plan of salvation and His relentless grace for both the Jew and the gentile. God’s love and faithfulness are vividly revealed through the sacrifice of Jesus His only begotten son as an atonement for our sins. Emulating God’s love, Paul yearns for his kinsmen’s salvation as he continues to preach the gospel. In summary, the book of Romans is a powerful toolkit for salvation and Christian living.
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Paul Apostle Of Gods Glory In Christ
$55.00Add to cartHow should students of Scripture engage with discerning the shape of Paul’s thought? In this second edition of a trusted resource, Thomas R. Schreiner seeks to unearth Paul’s worldview by observing what Paul actually says in his writings and laying out the most important themes and how they are connected. While thoroughly informed by contemporary Pauline studies, Schreiner offers an accessible account of Paul’s theology..
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Jesus Divorce And Remarriage
$12.99Add to cartWhat did Jesus really say about divorce and remarriage?
Challenging the evangelical near-consensus that Jesus permitted divorce and remarriage in certain circumstances, Gordon Wenham argues that while Jesus permitted separation in cases of sexual immorality, he did not permit divorce and remarriage.
Presenting a revisitation and expansion of several decades of thought and debate on the topic, Wenham builds his case from a close reading of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels, showing how his teaching pushed against the culture of his day. In addition, Wenham brings in insights from ancient Near Eastern marriage laws, the Old Testament, the writings of Paul, and the earliest Christian interpreters of the Gospel divorce texts.
Readers will be challenged by a careful biblical argument that provides a counterpoint to the majority view. No study on divorce and remarriage will be complete without considering Jesus, Divorce, and Remarriage.
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Surprised By The Parables
$18.99Add to cartJesus’ parables can’t simply be interpreted, they must be experienced.
In the gospels, Jesus used parables to teach transformative lessons and convey deep spiritual truths about the kingdom of God. But he often used them to confront and challenge his audience as well, forcing them to open or close their hearts to the kingdom.
Jesus understood the power of stories, but there are some things lost in translation when we try to interpret those same stories thousands of years removed from their original context. The unexpected twists and surprises in the parables might be missed by a modern audience because they’re unfamiliar with the underlying points of reference.
In Surprised by the Parables, Michelle Lee Barnewall explores the ancient context these parables drew from. These stories of grace reveal many of the mysteries central to God’s character, and understanding the ancient world behind them will help us see the parables from a new perspective.
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Bearing Gods Name
$22.00Add to cartWhat does the Old Testament–especially the law–have to do with your Christian life? In this warm, accessible volume, Carmen Joy Imes takes readers back to Sinai, arguing that we’ve misunderstood the command about “taking the Lord’s name in vain.” Instead, Imes says that this command is really about “bearing God’s name,” a theme that continues throughout the rest of Scripture.
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Including The Stranger
$28.00Add to cartThe Old Testament, particularly the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, and 1-2 Kings), has frequently been regarded as having a negative attitude towards foreigners. This has meant that these texts are often employed by those opposed to the Christian faith to attack the Bible–and such views can be echoed by Christians. While the story of David and Goliath is cherished, other episodes are seen to involve “ethnic cleansing” or “massacre” and are avoided. David Firth’s contention is that this approach emerges from an established interpretation of the text, but not the text itself. In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume, he argues that the Former Prophets subvert the exclusivist approach in order to show that the people of God are not defined by ethnicity but rather by their willingness to commit themselves to the purposes of Yahweh. God’s purposes are always wider than Israel alone, and Israel must therefore understand themselves as a people who welcome and include the foreigner. Firth addresses contemporary concerns about the ongoing significance of the Old Testament for Christians, and shows how opponents of Christianity have misunderstood the Bible. His reading of the Former Prophets also has significant ethical implications for Christians today as they wrestle with the issues of migration and what it means to be the people of God. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.
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What Does The Bible Say About Old Age
$16.95Add to cartHave you ever wondered what the Bible says about growing old? This book deals directly with this timeless question that affects most human beings, especially in modern times.
Contrary to being something to be dreaded, the Bible affirms the positive value of aging. Surprisingly, the biblical perspective goes far beyond the simple affirmation that gray hair brings wisdom. Its viewpoint is more complex and nuanced, with an amazing number of biblical stories that touch the theme of old age and all that comes with it.
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Myths And Mistakes In New Testament Textual Criticism
$45.00Add to cartA renewed interest in textual criticism has created an unfortunate proliferation of myths, mistakes, and misinformation about this technical area of biblical studies. Elijah Hixson and Peter Gurry, along with a team of New Testament textual critics, offer up-to-date, accurate information on the history and current state of the New Testament text that will serve apologists and offer a self-corrective to evangelical excesses.
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Holy Imagination : A Literary And Theological Introduction To The Whole Bib
$40.99Add to cartMost literary works have one primary voice, a discourse that expresses an author’s dominant culture and ideology. The whole Bible, however, should be read by allowing numerous voices or discourses during a thousand years of literary imagination to emerge and interact. This dialogic reading process introduces theological insights that are larger than the individual parts of the Bible.
Many books about the Bible introduce students to this sacred literature through a critical tour of the historical events and cultures that were present when the authors were at work. Holy Imagination, however, groups sections of the Bible by genre, to include the whole canon.
This “reader’s introduction” is informed by literary theory and theological synthesis. For example, the first section will describe the primordial history in Genesis 1-11 as literary myth. How do we use the term myth when it is applied to the beginning of Genesis? The next section, the ancestral narratives in Genesis 12-50 is described as “formational narratives of identity.” How do the stories use sibling rivalry to shape national identity then and now?
Each section in the introduction will identify and describe the genre (myth, historiography, poetry, apocalyptic literature, and so on) and then move into a discussion about its literary characteristics. Once the range of materials within a genre is evaluated, the introduction will deploy literary tools useful in reading a particular genre. The application of these tools will be guided by a set of “literary rules.”
Reading is always an act of interpretation. The Bible is a theological text. The Bible is a literary text in that it is written and uses literary devices. Scripture comes to us in a variety of forms/genres and knowing the genre helps the reader in the task of reading. Scripture comes from multiple sources, representing a variety of perspectives over time. These different sources form a dialogue from which greater meaning can be achieved.. This dialogue is ongoing and never-ending (always making new meanings). Scripture is highly metaphorical, and metaphor is a distinct form of dialogue.
Holy Imagination can serve as the primary text for an introductory course on the whole Bible. For instructors who prefer an historical-critical structure, this book could be an appreciated supplementary text that gives new Bible readers the larger picture of the wider biblical literature.
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Not Scattered Or Confused
$50.00Add to cartThe Hebrew Bible displays a complicated attitude toward cities. Much of the story tells of a rural, agrarian society, yet those stories were written by people living in urban environments. Moreover, cities frequently appear in a negative light; the Hebrew slaves in the book of Exodus were forced to build cities, and the book of Samuel’s critique of monarchy assumes an urban setting that supports that monarchy. At the same, time Ezra-Nehemiah makes restoration of Jerusalem and its wall a holy priority, and Genesis 1-11 (and subsequent references to the primeval narrative) show a much more layered view of the dangers and opportunities of the urban context. As the world’s population continues to move into cities and we debate the impact on human life and the natural environment, it becomes increasingly important to know how the biblical writers understood the ways in which urban life enhances and disrupts human thriving. In this book, McEntire offers a comprehensive and hopeful understanding of the Bible and the city.
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Galatians Debate : Contemporary Issues In Rhetorical And Historical Interpr
$47.00Add to cartStudents and scholars reading the secondary literature on Galatians must often negotiate specialized language and complex lines of argumentation. In addition to the theological jargon that traditionally characterizes discussion of Galatians, there is also a significant amount of rhetorical and sociohistorical terminology.
This volume facilitates familiarity with the technical terminology and with issues central to the interpretation of Galatians and presents examples of the prevailing points of view as well as some recent challenges to them. The essays included explore the rhetorical and epistolary approaches to examining Galatians, comprise a comprehensive introduction to significant research in the field, and represent some of the best work available. Mark Nanos offers an introduction and glossary of terms to help students begin their study and a comprehensive volume bibliography and modern author and ancient sources indexes for those who are continuing on to further study.
Contributors
John M. G. Barclay
Robert M. Berchman
Hans Dieter Betz
C. Joachim Classen
Nils A. Dahl
James D. G. Dunn
Philip F. Esler
Paula Fredriksen
Robert G. Hall
G. Walter Hansen
A. E. Harvey
James D. Hester
Robert Jewett
Paul E. Koptak
B. C. Lategan
Troy Martin
J. Louis Martyn
Dieter Mitternacht
Mark D. Nanos
Joop Smit
Johan S. Vos
Nikolaus Walter -
World Around The Old Testament
$45.00Add to cartLeading Experts Introduce the People and Contexts of the Old Testament
What people groups interacted with ancient Israel? Who were the Hurrians and why do they matter? What do we know about the Philistines, the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and others?
In this up-to-date volume, leading experts introduce the peoples and places of the world around the Old Testament, providing students with a fresh exploration of the ancient Near East. The contributors offer comprehensive orientations to the main cultures and people groups that surrounded ancient Israel in the wider ancient Near East, including not only Mesopotamia and the northern Levant but also Egypt, Arabia, and Greece. They also explore the contributions of each people group or culture to our understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures.
This supplementary text is organized by geographic region, making it especially suitable for the classroom and useful in a variety of Old Testament courses. Approximately eighty-five illustrative items are included throughout the book.
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Paul And The Giants Of Philosophy
$28.00Add to cartWhat forces shaped the intellectual world of the Apostle Paul?
How familiar was he with the great philosophers of his age, and to what extent was he influenced by them? When he quoted Greco-Roman sources, what was his aim? Pauline scholars wrestle with such questions in journal articles and technical monographs, but now Paul and the Giants of Philosophy brings the conversation into the college classroom and the church. Each essay addresses Paul’s interaction with Greco-Roman philosophical thinking on a particular topic, such as faith, slavery, gift-giving, and the afterlife. And each chapter includes discussion questions and reading lists to help readers engage the material further. Dodson and Briones have gathered contributors with diverse views from various traditions who are united in the desire to make Paul’s engagement with ancient philosophy accessible to many readers.
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Unseen Realm : Recovering The Supernatural Worldview Of The Bible
$22.99Add to cartIn The Unseen Realm, Dr. Michael Heiser examines the ancient context of Scripture, explaining how its supernatural worldview can help us grow in our understanding of God. He illuminates intriguing and amazing passages of the Bible that have been hiding in plain sight. You’ll find yourself engaged in an enthusiastic pursuit of the truth, resulting in a new appreciation for God’s Word.
*Why wasn’t Eve surprised when the serpent spoke to her?
*How did descendants of the Nephilim survive the flood?
*Why did Jacob fuse Yahweh and his Angel together in his prayer?
*Who are the assembly of divine beings that God presides over?
*In what way do those beings participate in God’s decisions?
*Why do Peter and Jude promote belief in imprisoned spirits?
*Why does Paul describe evil spirits in terms of geographical rulership?
*Who are the “glorious ones” that even angels dare not rebuke?After reading this book, you may never read your Bible the same way again.
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Participating In Christ
$30.00Add to cartWorld-renowned scholar Michael Gorman examines the important Pauline theme of participation in Christ and explores its contemporary significance for Christian life and ministry. One of the themes Gorman explores is what he calls “resurrectional cruciformity”–that participating in Christ is simultaneously dying and rising with him and that cross-shaped living, infused with the life of the resurrected Lord, is life giving. Throughout the book, Gorman demonstrates the centrality of participating in Christ for Paul’s theology and spirituality.
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Exodus Part Two
$17.95Add to cartPart Two of this study covers the final 25 chapters of Exodus. Beginning with the insecurity of the desert wanderings, to encountering God on Sinai and then constructing the tent of dwelling, God’s people learn what it means to be part of a covenant with the one who liberates and also gives the Law to guide and direct them. 4 lessons.
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Exodus Part One
$17.95Add to cartThe exodus is the central event of the Old Testament, giving meaning to everything else we find in its pages. Part One of this study takes us through the first fifteen chapters of Exodus-from slavery to the call of Moses, from plagues to crossing the sea, from captivity to freedom in the Sinai. Discover that God hears those who are beaten down and liberates those who are in need of his justice. 5 lessons.
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Letters From Jesus
$24.99Add to cart“In Revelation 2:2, Jesus tells the church in Ephesus something intimate-Google Street View intimate. He says, ‘I know your works’ (Oida ta erga sou). Four words don’t seem like much, but in the Greek, it packs a punch…. Jesus chooses the Greek word oida, which expresses total, comprehensive knowledge. It is intimate knowledge that comes from being up close and personal. This knowledge isn’t hazy on the details. It doesn’t struggle to remember. It preserves the particulars. In the mind’s eye, everything is sharp and clear, like a well-taken photograph.” -Chris Palmer
Letters from Jesus: Studies from the Seven Churches of Revelation explores Christ’s warnings to the seven most prominent churches in Asia Minor in the book of Revelation. These letters date back to 95 A.D., but they help us make a fascinating discovery about civilization: life hasn’t changed that much over the last two millennia.
Author Chris Palmer illustrates the truths contained in the Letters from Jesus using modern, everyday day examples. The host of the popular podcast Greek for the Week, he unpacks Greek words and phrases in these verses from Revelation with humor, joy, and biblical scholarship.
Why study Greek, even just a little bit? As Chris explains, looking at the New Testament in the original language in which it was written can offer us some beautiful insights into God’s Word. “It’s like reading the Bible in high definition,” he says. Also, “studying God’s Word in the original language forces us to approach it with reverence and awe, humbling ourselves to obey what it says, whether it’s something we want to hear or not.”
