Sandra Richter gives an overview of the Old Testament, organizing our disorderly knowledge of the Old Testament people, facts and stories into a memorable and manageable story of redemption that climaxes in the New Testament.

    Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, Amos, and Silas each faithfully sought after God in the shadows of His chosen leaders. They answered God's call to serve without recognition or fame. And they gave everything, knowing their reward might not come until the next life.

    . .Until the prophet demanded his presence at the feast of the new moon and secretly anointed him king of Israel.There was no one to confide in, no outlet for the burning questionshis secret was safe with no one. But the Habiru guessed and swore their allegiance to him. The final words of a dying warrior seared into his soul: Yahweh has given you much. Take only what comes from His hand. He will place you where you need to be so that you will be able to do the task given to you."He would cling to these words for strength time and again as Yahweh led him first into the court of the troubled king, then onto the battlefield to face the giant Goliathall the while binding his life and loyalty to the prince whose throne he must someday take.

    Now it’s time to really put her talent to work. Her ticket out of Mayville is Traynor Deveraux. A trusting pastor with a brilliant career ahead, Traynor doesn’t realize that his cunning new bride isn’t just dreaming of a new life, but running from an old one—and from an irredeemable reputation that could destroy their futures.Seduced by the material possessions that come with position and power, Jessie soon uses her wiles to move her unwitting husband to the forefront of the country’s leading ministry. She’s prepared to do it by any means possible—including sex, lives, betrayal, and blackmail—all the while building nothing more secure than her own private hell. And when the walls come tumbling down, Jessie Belle will pay a price she never imagined, and discover one last chance at redemption and forgiveness she never expected.

    -- Contains all the devotions of the gift edition plus the daily Bible reading schedule-- A great addition to a personal Bible study-- Fits inside a purse or briefcase for those on the go

    This is accomplished through the power of His Holy Spirit, and through your own diligence and discipline.In this book, author Charles Stanley lays out 30 Life Principles that can help you in the process. You will learn: “God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm,” “fight all your battles on your knees and you will win every time,” “God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him,” and much more. These principles are laid out as a study guide for use in individual devotional or group study—enough for every day of the month. By practicing these 30 Life Principles, you will be cooperating fully with the Spirit of God, and your life will grow into the likeness of Christ.

    Three books in one, bringing you closer to the Savior. In Come Thirsty, Max Lucado encourages you to visit the well and drink deeply, to receive Christ's work on the cross, the energy of his Spirit, and his lordship over your life, and his unending, unfailing love.Using the illustration of weary travelers in Traveling Light, Lucado invites us to release the burdens of our excess baggage that we were never intended to bear--with the Twenty-third Psalm as our guide.In Next Door Savior, master storyteller Max Lucado presents the life of Jesus Christ in stunning contrast, revealing the irresistible human qualities and the undeniably divine characteristics of Jesus. Lucado describes, as only he can, a Savior who is as approachable as a next-door neighbor, yet mighty enough to save humanity.

    By eliminating the need to look up definitions, the footnotes allow the user to read the Hebrew and Aramaic text more quickly, focusing on parsing and grammatical issues. A Reader's Hebrew Bible offers the following features: * Complete text of the Hebrew and Aramaic Bible using the Leningrad Codex (minus critical apparatus)* Shaded Hebrew names that occur less than 100 times* Footnoted definitions of all Hebrew words occurring 100 times or less (twenty-five or less for Aramaic words)* Context-specific glosses* Stem-specific glossed definitions for verb forms (Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and so forth)* Ketib/Qere readings both noted in the text and differentiated appropriately* Marker ribbonFeaturing a handsome Italian Duo-Tone binding, A Reader's Hebrew Bible is a practical, attractive, and surprisingly affordable resource.

    Arranged into six readings per week, this simple, easy-to-do plan will revolutionize your daily quiet time with God. Features include: (1) Discipleship Journal's "Book-at-a-Time" reading plan, (2) Inspirational words from Psalms or Proverbs and thoughtful questions for deeper reflection, and (3) Alternative reading plans that allow you to start any day of the year and read at your own pace.

    In October 2008, a meeting of the world Synod of Bishops scheduled by Pope Benedict XVI will focus on "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church." Coinciding with that meeting is the launch of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture (CCSS), a series that responds to the desire of Catholics to access the living Word of God. The Gospel of Mark is the first of seventeen volumes, which will cover the entire New Testament. Written by trusted Catholic biblical scholars, these commentaries interpret Scripture in the light of Catholic tradition. Accessibly written yet substantive, the CCSS fills a gap in the available literature by offering commentaries that cover more than brief study guides but are less daunting than scholarly commentaries.

    You’ll see why in these three powerful works, packed into one hardbound, collectible edition.BROKENNESSNancy DeMoss has discovered an irrefutable spiritual principle: before every great movement of God there is always a time of deep repentance. Here is her moving, true account of how God created that brokenness in others—and the astonishing revival that followed.SURRENDERFor a Christian, waving the white flag doesn’t mean, “I give up!” It means, “Victory at last!” Struggling with stubborn habits? Secret sin? Spiritual strongholds? The key isn’t how committed you are to the battle—it’s how surrendered you are to God. Here is the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for—the first step towards a deeper, richer, victorious spiritual life.HOLINESSYour fullest experience of God will only come when your life is holy and your heart is pure.If you’re longing for a deeper connection with God, you must first answer His call to holiness. Here Nancy Leigh DeMoss shares practical principles for having a life that is set apart—and a heart is set on fire.

    Peter’s Square. What is it about music?  Consider what happens when you chance upon your favorite song on the radio.  What emotions does it stir?  What season of your life does it zoom you back to?  Now, imagine if you can hear the greatest song ever written.  To what heavenly places would it lift you? The Bible actually claims to contain the song of all songs: the boldly erotic Song of Songs.  Here, as countless saints attest, we discover that sexual love provides the mystical key enabling us to enter into everlasting union with God.  Heaven’s Song takes you there.  With profound insight, Christopher West guides you through the “unabridged” version of John Paul II’s talks on the erotic poetry of the Song of Songs and the great spiritual contest surrounding the marriage of Tobias and Sarah.  If you are already familiar with the Theology of the Body, you will delight in this new material. If not, this book serves as a superb introduction to John Paul’s revolutionary teaching and is certain to whet your appetite for more. In this book, intended for married, single and celibate alike, you will discover: What makes the Song of Songs the “authentic soundtrack” of Christianity What’s at the root of the sexual chaos in our culture and how to find peace in the midst of it Why there is a violent spiritual attack on marriages today and how to be victorious over it How to live an integrated sexual life as a path to union with God The “secret” of Mary (according to St. Louis de Montfort) in living an embodied spirituality Real-life stories of men and

    When complete, the twelve volumes of the series will cover all the Sundays in the three-year lectionary cycle, along with movable occasions, such as Christmas Day, Epiphany, Holy Week, and All Saints' Day.For each lectionary text, preachers will find four brief essays--one each on the theological, pastoral, exegetical, and homiletical challenges of the text. This gives preachers sixteen different approaches to the proclamation of the Word on any given occasion.The editors and contributors to this series are world-class scholars, pastors, and writers representing a variety of denominations and traditions. And while the twelve volumes of the series will follow the pattern of the Revised Common Lectionary, each volume will contain an index of biblical passages so that nonlectionary preachers, as well as teachers and students, may make use of its contents.

    When complete, the twelve volumes of the series will cover all the Sundays in the three-year lectionary cycle, along with movable occasions, such as Christmas Day, Epiphany, Holy Week, and All Saints' Day.For each lectionary text, preachers will find four brief essays--one each on the theological, pastoral, exegetical, and homiletical challenges of the text. This gives preachers sixteen different approaches to the proclamation of the Word on any given occasion.The editors and contributors to this series are world-class scholars, pastors, and writers representing a variety of denominations and traditions. And while the twelve volumes of the series will follow the pattern of the Revised Common Lectionary, each volume will contain an index of biblical passages so that nonlectionary preachers, as well as teachers and students, may make use of its content.

    Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." -Psalm 143:8 (NIV)Grab your coffee, find your favorite chair, and begin your day with guidance from A. W. Tozer. Many of these 365 devotional readings come from sermons Tozer preached close to his death in 1963, marking them with a deep concern for spiritual intimacy and true worship. He urges you to pursue God, confess sin, pray fervently, and seek the Spirit. Let this book be a garnish in your feast of God's Word.As you welcome the morning light and all the sights and sounds of the new day, let Mornings with Tozer awaken your heart.

    Paul tells us in 2 Corinthian 10:3-5 that the answer to tearing down a stronghold isn't self-control - it's truth. Freedom from Emotional Eating will help you take off the lies that make you overeat and put on the truth that will set you free from the control of food. First edition - July 2008 Second edition - April 2014

    experiences an abiding frustration: what she wants remains just out of reach, always. No matter how good she has it, no matter how good the good times may get, there's always something missing. And ultimately, she misses out on happiness too.But God desires something far better and more lasting for his daughters. And he's delivered the secret in his Word, assuring women that real satisfaction is found in living for and longing for the right things. Those truths and promises are at the heart of this On-the-Go Devotional for women. Each lesson in Contentment is conveniently self-contained and comes complete with Scripture and a paragraph or two of teaching to direct women away from fleeting distractions and toward a true, enduring satisfaction.On-the-Go Devotionals Skillful devotionals for those who face the challenge to 'fit it all in.' Biblically rigorous and deeply perceptive. Godly insights from a godly sister.Elyse Fitzpatrick, author of Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily LifeA ready resource for keeping our thinking focused on God himself. The devotionals helped me understand my fear or discontent and our Heavenly Father's provision.Barbara Hughes, author of Disciplines of a Godly Woman and, with her husband, Disciplines of a Godly FamilyLydia Brownback calls Christian women to lift their eyes upward and find security, rest, and peace in a sovereign God whose promises never fail!Nancy Leigh DeMoss, author and Revive Our Hearts radio host

    These expressions of praise, faith, sorrow, and frustration cover the full range of human emotions. Whether we are excited about the majesty of God or weighed down by the pain of grief, the psalms give us words to express ourselves to the Lord. This compact format of the Psalms is perfect for carrying around for those times when we need these God-inspired verses at our fingertips. As an "essentially literal" translation, the ESV is unsurpassed in both accuracy and readability. Written in language that is beautiful, clear, and trustworthy, the ESV sets a new standard--and is truly a Bible for all of life.

    For many, the 'gospel' is that God loves everybody unconditionally. Yet neither Jesus nor his apostles ever preached like that. They seem to have thought that the world needed to know about his righteousness and his willingness, even his eagerness, to share that with us. That is because he is determined to have a universe in which there is no unrighteousness whatever. Why don't we think that is good news?

    Based on specific Bible readings from the Old and the New Testament, Fr. Barron shares enthusiastically from the riches of Christian belief and tradition. His lively presentation of Catholicism uses art, music, painting, poety, philosophy and the saints' lives to illustrate the Biblical message. With sections on God, Jesus, the church, the liturgy, living the spiritual life, and the saints—each one featuring a beautiful illustration by Michael O'Neill McGrath—this book offers passionate evangelism for discerning readers interested in Catholicism, whether in private reflection or in group discussion.

    These are the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter — and each is the source of a particular grace, each has its own special gift for us.     Christ in His Mysteries is Blessed Columba Marmion’s great meditation on the treasure-house of grace Christ offers to us in the Church’s liturgical year. Writing in the lively, compelling style that made him a favorite of Popes and lay faithful alike, Marmion explains:          •  How the Mysteries of Jesus are now our mysteries — springs of living              water we are meant to drink from.          •  How Christ’s wisdom, His holiness, His strength, are now our wisdom,              our holiness, our strength.          •  How to acquire special graces during each liturgical season.     This new edition of Christ in His Mysteries features a Foreword by Fr. Benedict Groeschel (a long-time admirer of Blessed Columba Marmion), and an Introduction by Aidan Nichols, OP.     It also features a vibrant new translation that captures all of Marmion’s depth and spiritual power while remaining meticulously faithful to the French-language original. Aidan Nichols praises translator Alan Bancroft’s work as “felicitous... a supremely natural and fluent translation.”Praise for Christ in His Mysteries“Splendid... Powerful... This classic of Christian spirituality can easily serve as an excellent introduction to the monumental library of Abbot Columba Marmion.”– Fr. Benedict Groeschel, writing in the Foreword“Brilliant... Readers of Christ in His Mysteries have opened to them the theological and spiritual treasures of Catholicism at its best.”– Aidan Nichols, OP, writing in the Introduction“Writings of deep insight and great value... I owe more to Columba Marmion for initiating me into things spiritual than to any other spiritual writer.”– Pope John Paul II“An outstanding master of the spiritual life.”– Pope Paul VIThe works of Marmion are “outstanding in the accuracy of their doctrine, the clarity of their style, and the depth and richness of their thought.”– Pope Pius XII“He revealed the soul of the liturgy to us, by which I mean all those elements of doctrine and of life which it holds in reserve within the visible envelope of its rites and symbols: he is the theologian of the liturgy.”– Dom Lambert Beauduin“Always, at each of his pages, one is bathed in a spiritual atmosphere — an atmosphere of prayer. Hence also light, security and peace.”– Dom Raymond Thibaut“Luminous, profound and elevating doctrine... The very breath of life seems to come from his pages because all the truths he expounds have first been lived in his own soul.”– Abp. Guerry of Cambrai“Dom Marmion makes you touch God.”– Cardinal Mercier

    Grace Chapel Inn Series, 2008 Guideposts trade PB, 1st printing,

    

    As a basic introduction, this not only explains what Dispensationalism is in the twenty-first century, it cuts through many misrepresentations so the reader can know what this theology is about. New Chapters include: (1) “Continuity and Discontinuity in Dispensationalism”; (2) “Key Differences between Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology”; and (3) “Recommended Sources on Dispensationalism.”

    In recent years, however, that picture of Jesus has come under widely publicized attack from sources ranging from critical scholars to Internet pundits to popular historians and others. The new portraits of Jesus seem persuasive. You can’t help but wonder … Did Christianity merely copy its beliefs from earlier mythology? Did the church suppress alternate gospels? Did Jesus never die on the cross or rise from the dead for sinners? Is the New Testament hopelessly riddled with errors? New York Times bestselling author Lee Strobel helps you separate truth from media hype, sound scholarship from bias, and fact from speculation. Digging below the surface, this book provides credible, informed answers to today’s most pressing questions about Jesus.

    The divine voice does not peal from Sinai, there are no narratives carried along by prophetic interpretation nor are oracles declaimed by a prophet. Here Scripture often speaks in the words of human response to God and God's world. The hymns, laments and thanksgivings of Israel, the dirge of Lamentations, the questionings of Qohelet, the love poetry of the Song of Songs, the bold drama of Job and the proverbial wisdom of Israel all offer their textures to this great body of biblical literature. Then too there are the finely crafted stories of Ruth and Esther that narrate the silent providence of God in the course of Israelite and Jewish lives. This third Old Testament volume in InterVarsity Press's celebrated "Black Dictionary" series offers nearly 150 articles covering all the important aspects of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ruth and Esther. Over ninety contributors, many of them experts in this literature, have contributed to the Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. This volume maintains the quality of scholarship that students, scholars and pastors have come to expect from this series. Coverage of each biblical book includes an introduction to the book itself as well as separate articles on its ancient Near Eastern background and its history of interpretation. Additional articles amply explore the literary dimensions of Hebrew poetry and prose, including acrostic, ellipsis, inclusio, intertextuality, parallelism and rhyme. And there are well-rounded treatments of Israelite wisdom and wisdom literature, including wisdom poems, sources and theology. In addition, a wide range of interpretive approaches is canvassed in articles on hermeneutics, feminist interpretation, form criticism, historical criticism, rhetorical criticism and social-scientific approaches. The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings is sure to command shelf space within arm's reach of any student, teacher or preacher working in this portion of biblical literature. Tremper Longman III and Peter E. Enns edit this collection of 148 articles by 90 contributors on Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ruth and Esther.

    By identifying its root causes and exposing the foolishness behind it, the author helps you recognize and identify any manipulative behavior you encounter. He invokes the example of Christ in dealing with such behavior and provides a four-step method of replacing your attitude with a godly attitude so that you will be ready to face manipulation wherever you find it.The Resources for Biblical Living booklet series addresses a wide range of practical life issues in a straightforward, down-to-earth, and, most of all, biblical manner.

    Now in Paul the Missionary Schnabel condenses volume two of the set, drawing on his research to provide a manageable study for students of Paul as well as students and practitioners of Christian mission today. Schnabel first focuses the spotlight on Paul's missionary work--the realities he faced, and the strategies and methods he employed. Applying his grasp of the wide range of ancient sources and of contemporary scholarship, he clarifies our understanding, expands our knowledge and corrects our misconceptions of Paul the missionary. In a final chapter Schnabel shines the recovered light of Paul's missionary methods and practices on Christian mission today. Much like Roland Allen's classic Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours? of nearly a century ago, Schnabel offers both praise and criticism. For those who take the time to immerse themselves in the world of Paul's missionary endeavor, this final chapter will be both rewarding and searching.

    —Psalm 119:105 Scripture is your guide to what matters most in life. If you're not familiar with it, Patrick Madrid's choice of 150 key verses can ease you in. If you regularly read and pray with Scripture, these verses will provide you rich food for thought. No matter what your situation, the Bible will help you evaluate the choices and make the decisions that confront you every day. Either explicitly or implicitly, Scripture addresses all of life's problems, worries, dangers, questions and uncertainties. 150 Bible Verses Every Catholic Should Know offers you a window into Scripture revealing how God's eternal wisdom relates to your life.

    This selection of more than one hundred artifacts -- many of them relatively unknown -- illuminates the history, culture, and practices of the biblical world as a whole. Each entry also outlines that particular object's relevance for understanding the Bible. To assemble this amazing collection, Clyde Fant and Mitchell Reddish themselves traveled to each of these museums throughout the world. Their photographs, descriptions, and histories of the various artifacts enable readers to appreciate these significant objects to an extent not usually enjoyed by even the most experienced museum visitors. For travelers visiting such famous museums as the Louvre in Paris, the British Museum, or the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, this volume will be an indispensable companion. Each artifact is located not only as to its museum site but also by its specific identification number, which is particularly valuable for smaller and lesser-known objects -- true “lost treasures.” Fant and Reddish's Lost Treasures of the Bible will serve as an informative, accessible guide to globe-trotters and armchair travelers alike.

    The EBC uses the New International Version of the Bible, but the contributors work from the original Hebrew and Greek languages and refer to other translations when useful.Each section of the commentary includes:An introduction: background information, a short bibliography, and an outlineAn overview of Scripture to illuminate the big pictureThe complete NIV textExtensive commentaryNotes on textual questions, key words, and conceptsReflections to give expanded thoughts on important issuesThe series features 56 contributors, who:Believe in the divine inspiration, complete trustworthiness, and full authority of the BibleHave demonstrated proficiency in the biblical book that is their specialtyAre committed to the church and the pastoral dimension of biblical interpretationRepresent geographical and denominational diversityUse a balanced and respectful approach toward marked differences of opinionWrite from an evangelical viewpointFor insightful exposition, thoughtful discussion, and ease of use—look no further than The Expositor's Bible Commentary.

    The new Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture promises to directly serve that purpose. Drawing on sound biblical scholarship, the commentaries present the reader with the rich harvest of that study, reflecting on the message of the biblical text and engaging the life of faith from a Catholic perspective."—Donald Senior, CP, president, Catholic Theological Union"When the Scripture is read in the liturgy, it is heard as a living voice. But when expounded in a commentary, it is too often read as a document from the past. This fine new series unites the ancient and the contemporary by offering insight into the biblical text—verse by verse—as well as spiritual application to the lives of Christians today."—Robert Louis Wilken, University of Virginia"By bringing together historical background, exegetical interpretation, church tradition, theological reflection, and pastoral application, this series promises to enkindle thoughtful discussion about the implications of the New Testament for lived Christian faith in the Church today. Its accessible format and multi-angled approach offer a model for teaching and ministry."—Katherine Hayes, Seminary of the Immaculate Conception"This series is a landmark achievement in theological interpretation of Scripture in and for the Church. Everything about it is inviting and edifying. It is a wonderful gift to the Catholic Church and a model for the rest of us. Highly recommended for all!"—Michael J. Gorman, St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore"The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture is an ideal tool for living our faith more deeply. This extraordinary resource combines superior scholarship and a vivid, accessible style that will serve the interested layperson and the serious scholar equally well. It feeds both the mind and the heart and should be on the shelf of every committed Catholic believer. I highly recommend it."—Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap, Archbishop of Denver

    The perfect how-to for easy and fast Scripture reference and comprehension.Using straightforward, accessible language, Scripture expert Scott Hahn explains the nuts and bolts of the Bible how it came to be, the types of literature found within it, and the thrust of each book in a handy, yet thorough way that demystifies the Bible and simplifies understanding.

    Where do Babies Come From? helps girls ages 7 to 9 better understand how a new baby develops using simple and accurate language.

    In this practical and inspirational book, Stephen Binz shows how we can read and reflect on Scripture in ways that enable us to hear God speaking to us in our thoughts and hearts. He explains how to converse with God in prayer, which will lead to contemplation and life-changing action. With a clarity that all will welcome, Binz explains the elements, characteristics, and benefits of lectio divina. This book is suitable both for beginners and those seasoned in prayer as well as for those in faith-sharing and Bible study groups.Seven examples from biblical passages show readers how to use lectio divina.Questions for reflection and discussion follow each chapter.Valuable for all, from beginners to those experienced at prayer.Stephen J. Binz is a Catholic biblical scholar, a popular speaker, and the author of more than twenty books on the Bible, including the new series, Threshold Bible Study. An enthusiastic proponent of Scripture study in the church for over two decades, Binz has studied at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and Hebrew University in Jerusalem and has led numerous pilgrimages to biblical lands. He lives in Little Rock, Arkansas.

    The goal is not to replace Benedicts book but to make it more accessible, more fruitful for the average readerwhether lay, religious, priest or deacon. Designed for individual study or for group/parish discussion, this guide has the following features for each section and chapter of Jesus of Nazareth: a reader-friendly summary an outline a list of key terms questions for understanding, reflection, application and discussion a section for readers to include their personal reflections on the reading The guide also includes an ample introduction explaining the background for understanding Pope Benedicts approach and how to use this guide as an easy-to-use glossary that defines important terms and identifies key people discussed in Jesus of Nazareth. Publisher: Ignatius Press Format: 90 pages, paperback ISBN: 9781586173180

    He proposes that the Pentateuch can be read as the earliest prescription on record for the establishment of an egalitarian polity. What emerges is the blueprint for a society that would stand in stark contrast to the surrounding cultures of the ancient Near East -- Egypt, Mesopotamia, Ugarit, and the Hittite Empire - in which the hierarchical structure of the polity was centered on the figure of the king and his retinue. Berman shows that an egalitarian ideal is articulated in comprehensive fashion in the Pentateuch and is expressed in its theology, politics, economics, use of technologies of communication, and in its narrative literature. Throughout, he invokes parallels from the modern period as heuristic devices to illuminate ancient developments. Thus, for example, the constitutional principles in the Book of Deuteronomy are examined in the light of those espoused by Montesquieu, and the rise of the novel in 18th-century England serves to illuminate the advent of new modes of storytelling in biblical narrative.

    Brown, SS, he continues to inspire and inform scholars and preachers, students and pastoral ministers, lay and ordained. It was only days after Father Brown's death that his final book was published by Liturgical Press. That book, Christ in the Gospels of the Ordinary Sundays, completed his six-volume series on preaching the Scriptures, a series that had begun in the mid-1970s with the publication of his popular An Adult Christ at Christmas. Those six volumes are collected here in one convenient commemorative edition to mark the tenth anniversary of Brown's death. Brown's work is left largely untouched, and readers will find that his wisdom is lasting. Yet Brown, being a scholar's scholar, would recognize the need for some enhancement in a work being republished some thirty years after the first volume appeared. Appropriately, then, this edition contains introductory essays by Brown's colleagues and friends John R. Donahue, SJ, and Ronald D. Witherup, SS, as well as useful indexes and a bibliography of resources for preaching the word of God in the context of the lectionary.As Witherup notes in his preface, Brown had the rare capacity to simplify complex biblical studies in a manner that did not 'dumb down ' the material but allowed it to be understood by a wide audience. . . . He did this in a fashion that was both inspiring and educational. That very broad audience 'those who grew up with Brown, so to speak, as well as a whole new generation of readers and preachers of the word 'will find this book to be a source of inspiration and knowledge that they will turn to again and again.Raymond E.Brown, S.S., (1928 -1998) was the Auburn Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He was author of some forty books on the Bible and past president of three of the most important biblical societies in the world. By appointment of two popes (Pal VI in 1972, John Paul II in 1996) Brown was a member of the Roman Pontifical Biblical Commission. Time magazine called him probably the premier Catholic Scripture scholar of the U.S.