Best of
Old-Testament

2018

The Ten Commandments: What They Mean, Why They Matter, and Why We Should Obey Them


Kevin DeYoung - 2018
    Are they still relevant? If so, which rules still apply? What do these commands mean in light of God's grace and mercy shown in Jesus? In this book, Kevin DeYoung delivers critical truth about God's Ten Commandments as he makes clear what they are, why we should know them, and how we should apply them. Revealing the timelessness and goodness of God's ancient commands, this accessible and important book helps readers know, obey, and delight in God's law--and everything it means for their lives today.

CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible (Day by Day)


George H. Guthrie - 2018
    God gave us the Bible to reveal great truth about himself and about our lives, and he wants to draw us into the ongoing story of what he is doing in the world. The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible features a clear narrative approach to the Bible, arranging the complete text into a fresh chronological reading plan with daily readings guided by Dr. George Guthrie.In this plan, the books, chapters, and verses of the Bible are thoughtfully arranged so readers can track the story of Scripture, day-by-day, from beginning to end, understanding the flow of events and how the grand narrative of Scripture applies to everyday life. Unlike other chronological Bibles, this arrangement is not date specific (e.g. "January 1"), so the reading plan can begin at any point in the calendar year. Features Include: 52 weeks of readings (six readings per week) in chronological order, Scripture presented in three main acts (God's Plan for All People; God's Covenant People; God's New Covenant People) and seventeen total scenes, an introduction for each act and scene to orient the reader to its importance in the grand story, single-column text with plenty of space for taking notes, concordance, smyth-sewn binding, presentation page, and full-color maps. The CSB Day-by-Day Chronological Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture's life-transforming message and to share it with others.

A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament


Brant Pitre - 2018
    Who wrote these forty-six books? When were they written? Why were they written? What are we to make of their laws, stories, histories, and prophecies? Should the Old Testament be read by itself or in light of the New Testament?John Bergsma and Brant Pitre offer readable in-depth answers to these questions as they introduce each book of the Old Testament. They not only examine the literature from a historical and cultural perspective but also interpret it theologically, drawing on the New Testament and the faith of the Catholic Church. Unique among introductions, this volume places the Old Testament in its liturgical context, showing how its passages are employed in the current Lectionary used at Mass.Accessible to nonexperts, this thorough and up-to-date introduction to the Old Testament can serve as an idea textbook for biblical studies. Its unique approach, along with its maps, illustrations, and other reference materials, makes it a valuable resource for seminarians, priests, Scripture scholars, theologians, and catechists, as well as anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Bible.

David The Great: Deconstructing the Man After God's Own Heart


Mark Rutland - 2018
    But too often he is viewed as an Americanized shepherd boy on a Sunday school felt board or a New Testament saint alongside the Virgin Mary. Not only does this neglect one of the Bible’s most complex stories of sin and redemption; it also bypasses the gritty life lessons inherent in the amazing true story of David.  Mark Rutland shreds the felt-board character, breaks down the sculpted marble statue, and unearths the real David of the Bible. Both noble and wretched, neither a saint nor a monster, at times victorious and other times a failure, David was through it all a man after God’s own heart.

A King to Rule


Dale Ellis - 2018
    They live in a world of vendettas, assassinations and endless war. Welcome to the Middle East during the Iron Age. The Philistines murdered Nathan's Father and God did nothing. His tribe was nearly exterminated and God did nothing. Invaders plunder his land and still God does nothing. So, when a kingdom is declared in Israel, a vengeful Nathan pledges himself to King Saul, the father of his boyhood friend Jonathan. Nathan is prepared to act…even if God is not. Achish is a prince, the son of one of the five Kings of Philistia who rule the Egyptian province of Canaan in Pharaoh’s name. Yet, Egypt grows weak and the time draws near for Philistia to forge an empire of its own. But Achish knows his allies will soon be his greatest rivals. So he casts his eyes on Israel with its rich lands, burgeoning population, and ineffectual leaders. If he can harness Israel’s resources, Achish would dominate first Philistia, and later all of Canaan. Achish believes a man makes his own miracles. However, it is dangerous to mistake God’s patience for apathy. God laughs at the schemes of men. He enjoys bending their plans to fit His own. "A King to Rule" is the first book in the "Empire of Israel" series. This exciting Biblical saga continues in the second book in the series, "A King to Fight".

The Life of Moses: God's First Deliverer of Israel


James Montgomery Boice - 2018
    The events of his life, spanning four books of the Bible, resound throughout Scripture. In this epic undertaking, James M. Boice delves into the narrative to uncover its rich meaning and gospel application to our lives today. We can learn a lot from Moses about faithfulness, prayerfulness, meekness, and good leadershipwe can even learn from his sins and failure! But Boice shows how we can also look beyond Moses and the Israelites to the awesome power of God and the promise of a much needed, much greater Deliverer.

Learning Biblical Hebrew: Reading for Comprehension: An Introductory Grammar


Karl Kutz - 2018
    

Proverbs: Daily Wisdom, ESV (Trutone, Olive, Branch Design)


Anonymous - 2018
    It is meant to be read slowly and meditatively, yet most reading plans require a whole chapter of reading at a time. The ESV Proverbs: Daily Wisdom presents the proverbs divided up into daily readings over the course of a year, allowing the reader space and time to absorb the truths of Scripture at a slower pace. Proverbs: Daily Wisdom enables readers to meditate on a few verses a day, all year long.Size: 4 X 5.75 10.5-point, Trinit� type 224 pages Single-column, versified format Introduction to the book of Proverbs Divides the book of Proverbs into daily readings over the course of a year Verse numbers appear as headings for each day's reading Cream-colored paper Reading plan Ribbon marker Smyth-sewn binding Packaging: Slipcase

The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity : Text and Analysis


Edmon L. Gallagher - 2018
    The differences among these groups typically involve the Old Testament, as they mostly accept the same 27-book New Testament. An essential avenue for understanding the development of the Bible are the many early lists of canonical books drawn up by Christians and, occasionally, Jews. Despite the importance of these early lists of books, they have remained relatively inaccessible. This comprehensive volume redresses this unfortunate situation by presenting the early Christian canon lists all together in a single volume. The canon lists, in most cases, unambiguously report what the compilers of the lists considered to belong to the biblical canon. For this reason they bear an undeniable importance in the history of the Bible.The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity provides an accessible presentation of these early canon lists. With a focus on the first four centuries, the volume supplies the full text of the canon lists in English translation alongside the original text, usually Greek or Latin, occasionally Hebrew or Syriac. Edmon L. Gallagher and John D. Meade orient readers to each list with brief introductions and helpful notes, and they point readers to the most significant scholarly discussions. The book begins with a substantial overview of the history of the biblical canon, and an entire chapter is devoted to the evidence of biblical manuscripts from the first millennium. This authoritative work is an indispensable guide for students and scholars of biblical studies and church history.

70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know


Matthew Richard Schlimm - 2018
    At the same time, many biblical texts are hard to understand because they don't quite make sense when translated into English. Something is missing. Quite frequently, what readers miss has been lost in translation. Maybe there is a pun or wordplay in the original. Sometimes names like Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, and Eden just seem like names to us but have meanings that are essential to the story. Many Hebrew words have multiple meanings, but the English translators have to just pick one (for example, the same Hebrew word can mean both hear and obey). Even more common are Hebrew words that have much wider meanings than their English translations. A few examples are the Hebrew words rendered as remember, covenant, walk, gates, love, cleanliness, holiness, glory, wisdom, and fear. The original language allows various parts to click together like well-constructed puzzle pieces. With Hebrew in mind, interpreters see new details they didn't realize were missing before. They make new connections. They immerse themselves in scripture more fully.That's where this book comes in. Learning a language is like learning a worldview. Those who learn biblical Hebrew can better understand not only what biblical authors wrote, but also how they thought. Unfortunately, those insights come only after years of study. This book is about getting right to the important, exciting insights. It's an opportunity to be transformed by the renewing of our minds as we better understand how biblical authors used their language to express their experience of God and the world.If you are just beginning to study Hebrew and want the insights and motivation to continue or if you have no intention of learning biblical Hebrew but want to better understand the Bible, this book is for you!

The Abrahamic Covenant: The Establishment, Development, and Consummation of the Promises Made by God to Abraham


Charles River Editors - 2018
    It is only when all the pieces are fitted that the significance and importance of each part can be appreciated. Even so the covenant that God established with Abraham has its prelude far in the past, and its development and consummation reach far into the future. The whole of the picture is essential to even just glimpse the incomprehensive nature of God’s love, longsuffering, patience, and His persistence in reaching the goal that He had predetermined. Then we can also appreciate His message through the profit Isaiah: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways, says Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa.55:8-9). It is because of this that we have the old saying “Scripture explains Scripture”. This means that, where there is uncertainty, we can look to the wider context in Scripture in order to understand what we are reading at present. A very good example of this is that we read in 1Cor.10:2 that all the Israelites were baptized into Moses in the events relating to the cloud and the sea. Now, if we read the story of the exodus from Egypt, it is clear that there was no physical ritual or ceremony relating to baptism, but what is seemingly a contradiction is clearly solved by the rest of Scripture. In the apostle Paul’s other letters he makes it clear that he wanted to convey the fact that the Israelites identified with Moses by following him through the sea and after the cloud, as described in Ex.13:21-22 and 14:15-31. The Abrahamic Covenant: The Establishment, Development, and Consummation of the Promises Made by God to Abraham examines the various stages of the Abrahamic covenant and how they are all related to man’s salvation. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Abrahamic Covenant like never before.

Hosea


Joshua N. Moon - 2018
    The Assyrian invasion culminated in the destruction of Samaria, the end of the Northern Kingdom, and the exile of many of its people. Hosea called the people to faith in God through warnings of judgment and promises of hope. He exposed the people's infidelity as they turned to other nations, to their own counsels or to other gods for their life and prosperity. Such turning to others for what God alone could give them was, using Hosea's most famous metaphor, "whoring." As God's people, they needed to reckon with "their" God, who had showered them with care and grace. For Hosea, it was their refusal to "return" to their Lord that brought God's judgment upon them in the form of the Assyrian invasion. In this Apollos Old Testament Commentary, Joshua Moon sets the prophecies of Hosea in the context of the eighth century BC. The concern of his commentary is the importance of reading Hosea as Christian scripture, in which we are meant to hear God's own voice as he calls his people to himself. Moon demonstrates the continuing importance of hearing God's words through Hosea, situating the reading of each section within larger biblical and theological concerns.

Since the Beginning: Interpreting Genesis 1 and 2 through the Ages


Kyle R. Greenwood - 2018
    In this volume, a diverse international team of experts guides readers through interpretations of the Genesis creation stories throughout history, inviting them to consider perspectives from the earliest times to the present. The book offers an accurate description of how these chapters have been read through the centuries, explaining each interpretive approach in its own terms. Each chapter includes sidebars and suggestions for further reading.

Torah Old and New: Exegesis, Intertextuality, and Hermeneutics


Ben Witherington III - 2018
    Here, he offers pastors, teachers, and students an accessible commentary on the Pentateuch, as well as a reasoned consideration of how these books were heard and read in early Christianity. By reading "forward and backward," Witherington advances the scholarly discussion of intertextuality and opens a new avenue for biblical theology.

Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther (Teach the Text Commentary Series)


Douglas J.E. Nykolaishen - 2018
    The carefully selected preaching units and focused commentary allow pastors to quickly grasp the big idea and key themes of each passage of Scripture. Each unit of the commentary includes the big idea and key themes of the passage and sections dedicated to understanding, teaching, and illustrating the text.

1-2 Samuel


Paul S. Evans - 2018
    The vision for this series is to provide for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and lay people a clear and compelling exposition of texts of the Bible in the context of the Bible's Story, and to provide discussion and instantiations of how the Bible's Story is lived today.The purpose of the Story of God Bible Commentary Series is to explain and illuminate Scripture as God's Story, with each Old Testament text examined as embedded in its canonical and historical setting, in order to foster discernment in living the Story faithfully and creatively with and for the Church in the 21st century.

Making Sense of Old Testament Genocide: Christian Interpretations of Herem Passages


Christian Hofreiter - 2018
    Making Sense of Old Testament Genocide: Christian Interpretations of Herem Passagesaddresses the challenges these texts pose. It presents the various ways in which interpreters from the first century to the twenty-first have attempted to make sense of them. The most troubling approach was no doubt to read them as divine sanction and inspiration for violence and war: the analysisof the use of herem texts in the crusades, the inquisition, and various colonial conquests illustrates this violent way of reading the texts, which has such alarming contemporary relevance. Three additional approaches can also be traced to antiquity, viz. pre-critical, non-literal, anddivine-command-theory readings. Finally, critics of Christianity from antiquity via the Enlightenment to today have referenced herem texts: their critical voices are included as well.Christian Hofreiter combines a presentation of a wide range of historical sources with careful analysis that scrutinizes the arguments made and locates the texts in their wider contexts. Influential contributions of such well-known figures as Augustine, Origen, Gregory the Great, Thomas Aquinas, andJohn Calvin are included, as well as those of critics such as Marcion, Celsus and Matthew Tindal, and less widely known texts such as crusading histories, songs and sermons, colonial conquest accounts, and inquisition manuals. The book thus sheds new light on the ways in which these texts haveshaped the thoughts and actions of their readers through the centuries, and offers pertinent insights into how readers might be able to make sense of them today.

The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From the Early Church to Modern Practice


Keith D. Stanglin - 2018
    In the modern period, the spiritual sense gradually became marginalized in favor of the literal sense. The Bible came to be read and interpreted like any other book. This brief, accessible introduction to the history of biblical interpretation examines key turning points and figures and argues for a retrieval of the premodern spiritual habits of reading Scripture.