Criticism and exegesis of sacred texts Books

Book SynopsisA series of Bible study guides following the format and content of the NIV Application Commentaries Series. Each study looks at the original meaning, bridging contexts, and contemporary significance of the text, and offers small group participants a better understanding and relevant application of the biblical material to their daily lives.

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Book SynopsisStand Strong in Life’s Furnaces How do you respond when the bottom drops out? What happens to your character quotient when things don’t go the way you planned? How do you react when the temperature is rising, you are under attack, and God seems far away? Daniel discovered that the furnace experiences of life refine and define us. Spiritual integrity rarely grows when everything goes our way. Instead, God uses things like a furnace, a lion’s den, a mad king, and exile in a foreign country to forge character in a soul. If you long to meet God in the challenging times and come through the fire stronger and more faithful, Daniel is ready to show the way.

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Book SynopsisLearn to Pray with the Master If you could ask the first disciples, “What was the Savior’s secret to living in alignment with the Father’s will and with power to face life’s challenges,” they would have answered with one word, “Prayer!” As we learn to talk with the Father, we grow strong in faith and obedience. The Lord’s Prayer is much more than a collection of words to be recited from memory. It is a Jesus-given springboard to launch us into the refreshing waters of God’s wisdom and strength. When we learn to pray with Jesus, we become like him. Will you dare to echo the plea of the first disciples, “Teach us to pray”?

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Book SynopsisThis unique source book on the subject of Bible characters is a monumental achievement to benefit Christians who want to have information on biblical characters at their fingertips. Included in this book is a guide to the pronunciation of all names.

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Book SynopsisThis monumental study is an analysis of the more than 250 parables in Scripture. It is not another tramp over the well-raked field of the parables found in the gospels, but rather, it is a comprehensive survey of the uses of parabolic illustration and instruction in the whole of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

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Book SynopsisThis volume helps students of the New Testament organize and synthesize the vast amount of biblical and extrabiblical material involved by providing a visual overview of the data, chronology, historical background, and criticism of the New Testament. This format allows facts, relationships, parallels, and contrasts to be grasped quickly and easily.

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Book SynopsisKnowledge may get your students pretty far in life, but it won’t be enough to get them through some of the daily challenges they will face as Christians. And it won’t help them grow in their faith. What students really need is God''s wisdom, and for that there’s no better place to start than the book of Proverbs. Through engaging activities and thought-provoking questions that get right to the heart of Proverbs, your students will see that even though this book was written thousands of years ago, the instructions still apply to them. By the end of this study, your students will know how to answer questions that include: • How do I know what path to take? • What does God have to say about premarital sex? • How should I respond to money? • How should I treat other people? • How should I handle criticism? Written with the busy youth worker in mind, Studies on the Go: Proverbs provides Scriptural depth and substance to be tackled in a manageabl

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Book SynopsisIn this rich companion to the Bible, scholar Tremper Longman III gathers the best in historical research and literary analysis to lead you through each book of the Old Testament. An abridged edition of the popular textbook, An Introduction to the Old Testament, this comprehensive guide includes questions for individual use or group discussion.

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Book SynopsisA series of Bible study guides following the format and content of the NIV Application Commentaries Series. Each study looks at the original meaning, bridging contexts, and contemporary significance of the text, and offers small group participants a better understanding and relevant application of the biblical material to their daily lives.

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Book SynopsisIn A Brief History of Old Testament Criticism---a concise, intelligent, in-depth historical overview ideal for classroom use---Mark Gignilliat discusses key critical scholars and their theories of Old Testament interpretation.

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Book SynopsisAre you searching for more than a surface reading of the Bible? These 52 weekly studies emphasize personal application and will draw you directly into God''s Word in order to love Him more. In this roll-up-your-sleeves look at Scripture from Anne Graham Lotz, each of the studies begins with a short reflection tied to the present day, providing you a springboard into the various passages presented from the Old and New Testaments. In a refreshing departure from other weekly Bible studies, the Anne doesn’t explain what the passage means or offer support on what she feels God is trying to say through Scripture. Instead, she asks insightful questions in each study, prompting you to personally dig into Scripture and discover God’s specific message for yourself.Into the Word is a spiritual study guide that leads you to the heart of God’s Word.

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Book SynopsisMen of the Bible offers both men and women a fresh way to read and understand the Bible--through the eyes and hearts of the men whose stories unfold in its pages.This unique book takes a close-up look at fifty-two men in Scripture--complex flesh-and-blood characters whose strengths and weaknesses will seem strangely similar to your own. Heroes and villains, sinners and prophets, commoners and kings--their dramatic life stories provide you with a fresh perspective on the unfolding story of redemption.Though our culture differs vastly from theirs, the fundamental issues we face in relation to God and the world remain the same. We still reach for great dreams and selfish ambitions. We wrestle with fear and indecision, struggle with sexual temptation, and experience the ache of loneliness and the devastation of betrayal. And, like many of these men, we long to walk more closely with the God who calls us into an intimate relationship with himself and who enables usTable of ContentsAdam . . .15 Cain and Abel . . .24 Noah . . . .32 Abraham .40 Isaac . . . .47 Esau . . . .55 Jacob . . . .63 Joseph . . .71 Judah . . . .79 Moses . . .87 Aaron . . .97 Joshua . .105 Achan . .113 Gideon . .122 Samson . .130 Boaz . . .137 Samuel . .145 Saul . . . .153 David . .160 Jonathan .168 Mephibosheth . . .177 Nathan . .185 Absalom .195 Solomon .205 Elijah . . .214 Elisha . .221 Naaman .228 Hezekiah 235 Josiah . . .244 Ezra . . .251 Nehemiah 259 Job . . . .268 Isaiah . . .276 Jeremiah .284 Daniel . .294 Hosea . . .302 Jonah . . .310 Joseph . .318 John the Baptist .325 Jesus . . .333 Matthew .340 James and John . .348 Mark . . .357 Peter . . .366 Luke . . .375 The Man by the Pool . . .383 Lazarus .390 Prodigal Son and Elder Brother . .400 Judas . . .409 Pontius Pilate . . .416 Stephen .425 Paul . . . .434

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Book SynopsisHow to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens connects each of the sixty-six books of the Bible to the person and work of Jesus Christ, setting readers on a path toward purposeful, independent reading and application of the entire Bible.Table of ContentsCovers 66 books of the Bible following this structure for each book: Introduction A brief (2–3 pp.) description of the focus of the book, its methodology, and the reason such a book is necessary. [E.g. Genesis] * Theme of the book * Brief background and significant details that substantiate the theme * Christ-focus (how the theme of the book ultimately finds its focus in Christ) * Application of the theme to life today Since the theme finds its focus in Christ and believers are being conformed to the likeness of Christ, then the theme of the book logically has implications for believers today. This section therefore gives brief, clear insights into the continuing relevance of the book to contemporary life. * Hook questions These are questions that enable the minister or evangelical Christian to see how the main theme of the book has importance for contemporary life, and to lead others to see that connection as well. * Memory passage This is a key verse or two from the book itself that summarize the theme of the entire book. Memory cards with the books’ themes and verses are also available as companion products. Summary Conclusion At the end of the book, the key theme, Christ-focus, application, and hook questions for each book are provided in a convenient summary chart.

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Book SynopsisThis is a collection of classic character sketches based on specific passages of Scripture.

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Book SynopsisProviding exegetical principles for the study of Old Testament ethics, this volume examines 'moral' texts of the Old Testament, and explores the content of Old Testament ethics and its meaning to believers today. It can be used quite effectively as a textbook for Ethics in the Old Testament.

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Book SynopsisUnderstanding the Old Testament is the crucial problem for the Christian. The three parts of this book (the Old Testament and scholarship, the Old Testament and theology, and The Old Testament and life) present issues rarely discussed by Christians, as well as models and solutions for age-old dilemmas.

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Book SynopsisSilva provides guidance for the study and use of biblical Hebrew and Greek which are often presented in studies on the languages of the Old and New Testaments. His work is a must for all serious students of biblical Hebrew and Greek.

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Book SynopsisNew Testament Theology is a guide through the second half of the Bible with a specific eye on the culture from which the authors emerged to write their books. It is an attempt to grasp the authors' true meaning in a way other than the traditionally academic fashion.

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Book SynopsisWhen first published in 1983, Biblical Words and Their Meaning broke new ground by introducing to students of the Bible the principles of linguistics, in particular, on lexical semantics -- that branch that focuses on the meaning of individual words. Silva''s structural approach provides the interpreter with an important lexical tool for more responsible understanding of the biblical text and more effective use of standard exegetical resources. This revised edition includes a bibliographical essay by Silva, Recent Developments in Semantics, and an appendix by Karen H. Jobes, Distinguishing the Meaning of Greek Verbs in the Semantic Domain for Worship, that provides the reader with a substantive example of lexical study.

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Book SynopsisThis volume is a revised, updated, and expanded edition of a very popular tool for pastors, teachers, and students for the study of the Old Testament.

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Book SynopsisExamines and compares the five major schools of thought regarding biblical theology.Understanding Biblical Theology provides an expert and clarifying look at the catch-all term “biblical theology,” a movement that tries to remove the often-held dichotomy between biblical studies for the Church and as an academic pursuit.Using a spectrum between history and theology, each of the five “types” of biblical theology are identified as landing somewhere on the continuum from “more theological” to “more historical” in concern and practice.This text defines them in detail and gives a brief developmental history for each one, exploring each method through the lens of one contemporary scholar who champions it: Biblical Theology as Historical Description (James Barr) Biblical Theology as History of Redemption (D. A. Carson) Biblical Theology as Worldview-Story (N. T. Wright)Table of ContentsIntroduction Type One: Biblical Theology as Historical Description Chapter 1: Definition Chapter 2: James Barr Type Two: Biblical Theology as History of Redemption Chapter 3: Definition Chapter 4: D. A. Carson Type Three: Biblical Theology as Worldview-Story Chapter 5: Definition Chapter 6: N. T. Wright Type Four: Biblical Theology as Canonical Approach Chapter 7: Definition Chapter 8: Brevard Childs Type Five: Biblical Theology as Christological Construction Chapter 9: Definition Chapter 10: Francis Watson Conclusion: The Future of Biblical Theology

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Book SynopsisTaken from the bestselling Systematic Theology text, the Making Sense of Series offers people bite-size pieces of seven core biblical doctrines. Making Sense of Salvation provides a clear biblical basis, clarity in the explanations, application to life, and much more for the doctrine of the application of redemption.

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Book SynopsisTaken from the bestselling Systematic Theology text, the Making Sense of Series offers people bite-size pieces of seven core biblical doctrines. Making Sense of the Future provides a clear biblical basis, clarity in the explanations, application to life, and much more for the doctrine of the future.

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Book SynopsisThe NIV Application Commentary helps readers with the vital task of bringing the ancient message of the Bible into a contemporary context. It gives preachers and teachers the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God’s Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.Trade Review“At a time when many pastors are deeply in need of inspiration and encouragement, these volumes… would be a good investment for congregations, even if it means adding a line to the annual budget.” * Christianity Today *“Here at last is a commentary which is not only academically well informed but which helps that commentary reader hear God’s Word and consider its implications; scholarship in service of the Church.” * Arthur Rowe, Spurgeon’s College *“If you want to avoid hanging applicational elephants from interpretational threads, then the NIV Application Commentary is for you! This series excels at both original meaning and contemporary significance. I support it one hundred percent.” * Howard G. Hendricks, Dallas Theological Seminary *“It is encouraging to find a commentary that is not only biblically trustworthy but also contemporary in its application. The NIV Application Commentary series will prove to be a helpful tool in the pastor’s sermon preparation. I use it and recommend it.” * Charles F. Stanley, Pastor, First Baptist Church of Atlanta *“It takes more than interpretation of God's Word to change lives, it takes application. Application is the bottom line in preaching and teaching. Without it, we’ve missed the point of the Bible. The NIV Application Commentary is an outstanding resource for pastors and anyone else who is serious about developing ‘doers of the Word.’” * Rick Warren, Pastor, Saddleback Valley Community Church *“The NIV Application Commentary builds bridges that make the Bible come alive with meaning for contemporary life--and the series do so concisely, clearly, and accurately. No wasted words or academic detours--just solid help and practical truth.” * Warren W. Weirsbe *“The NIV Application Commentary dares to go where few scholars have gone before---into the real world of biblical application faced by pastor and teachers every day. This is everything a good commentary series should be.” * Leith Anderson, Pastor, Wooddale Church *“The NIV Application Commentary is a magnificent gift to the church!” * Dr. R. Kent Hughes, Pastor, College Church, Wheaton, Illinois *“The NIV Application Commentary meets the urgent need for an exhaustive and authoritative commentary based on the New International Version. This series will soon be found in libraries and studies throughout the entire evangelical community.” * Dr. James Kennedy, PhD, Senior Minister, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church *“The NIV Application Commentary series doesn’t fool around: It gets right down to business, bringing this ancient and powerful Word of God into the present so that it can be heard and delivered with all the freshness of a new day, with all the immediacy of a friend’s embrace.” * Eugene Peterson *“The NIV Application Commentary series helps pastors and other Bible teachers with one of the most neglected elements of good preaching---accurate, useful application. Most commentaries tell you a few things that are helpful and much that you do not need to know. By dealing with the original meaning and contemporary significance of each passage, the NIV Application Commentary series promises to be helpful all the way around.” * Dr. James Montgomery Boice, Tenth Presbyterian Church *“The NIV Application Commentary series promises to be of great service to all who preach and teach the Word of God.” * J. I. Packer, Regent College *“The NIV Application Commentary series will be a great help for readers who want to understand what the Bible means, how it applies, and what they should do in response.” * Stuart Briscoe, Pastor, Elmbrook Church *“This series promises to become an indispensable tool for every pastor and teacher who seeks to make the Bible’s timeless message speak to this generation.” * Billy Graham *“This is the pulpit commentary for the 21st Century” * George K. Brushaber, President, Bethel College & Seminary *

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Book SynopsisUsing a short, practical format, this study provides twelve lessons to unlock the meaning and heart of the book of Psalms. 12 SESSIONS.

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Book SynopsisThis book makes the Greek New Testament and word studies based on it easily accessible to everyone, all in one volume.

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Book SynopsisThe nature of the Genesis narrative has sparked much debate among Christians. This book introduces three predominant interpretive genres and their implications for biblical understanding. Each contributor identifies their position on the genre or genres of Genesis, chapters 1-11, addresses why their interpretation is respectful of and appropriate to the text, and contributes examples of its application to a variety of passages.The positions include: Theological History(Genesis can be taken seriously as both history and theology) – defended by James K. Hoffmeier. Proto-History (the early Genesis narratives consist of a variety of literary genres; which, nonetheless, do not obscure the book''s theological teaching) – defended by Gordon J. Wenham. Ancient Historiography (an understanding of Genesis that seeks to reconcile the limitations of its human authors with theTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. What is Genre? 2. The Importance of Genre for Biblical Interpretation 3. Genre and Genesis 1. History of Interpretation from the Patristic Period to the Reformation 2. Rise of Critical Scholarship 3. Discovery of Ancient Near Eastern Parallels 4. Contemporary Interpretations View One: John Oswalt--Theology History View Two: Gordan Wenham--Proto-History View Three: Kenton Sparks--Ancient Historiography Conclusion

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Book SynopsisFew pastors continue to read their Hebrew Old Testament after seminary. One reason is that it is too time-consuming, since many words have to be looked up in the dictionary. The Reader''s Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament, now for the first time complete in one volume, enables the pastor and the student to read the Hebrew Old Testament with relative ease. Listed in sequence by chapter and verse are all words that occur fewer than fifty times in the Old Testament, complete with translation (based on Brown, Driver, and Briggs'' Lexicon) and numbers indicating how often the word occurs in the particular book and in the Old Testament as a whole. At the end of each entry is the page number in Brown, Driver, and Briggs'' Lexicon where a discussion of the word can be found. Appendixes list all Hebrew words occurring more than fifty times in the Old Testament and all Aramaic words occurring more than ten times.

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Book SynopsisJacob and Solomon were polygamists. Lot offered his daughters up for rape, David committed adultery (or rape?), and the Bible calls both men righteous. Instead of ignoring these R-rated "love" stories, as the church often does, Prostitutes and Polygamists: A Look at Love, Old Testament Style engages, discusses, and learns from them.Table of Contents1. Humans Behaving Badly 2. The Ideal: Husbands and Wives 3. Prostitutes: A Pimping Patriarch and a Pious Prostitute 4. Polygamists 5. Rapists and Adulterers 6. Incest-ers: Did Cain Really Marry his Sister? 7. Widows 8. Sodomites 9. Sex and the Single Savior

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Book SynopsisWBC series delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. It emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology.

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Book SynopsisThe Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship. Overview of Commentary Organization Introduction—covers issues pertaining to the whole book, including context, date, authorship, composition, interpretive issues, purpose, and theology. Each section of the commentary includes: Pericope Bibliography—a helpful resource conta

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Book SynopsisWBC series delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. It emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology.

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