Michael Morales examines the key elements of three major redemption movements in Scripture: the exodus out of Egypt, the second exodus foretold by the prophets, and the new exodus accomplished by Jesus Christ. We discover how the blood of a Passover lamb helps us grasp the significance of Jesus' death on the cross, how the Lord's defeat of Pharaoh foreshadowed Jesus' victory over Satan, how Israel's exodus out of Egypt unfolds the meaning of the resurrection, and much more.The second volume in the ESBT series, Exodus Old and New reveals how Old Testament stories of salvation provide insight into the accomplishments of Jesus and the unity of God's purposes across history.Essential Studies in Biblical Theology (ESBT), edited by Benjamin L. Gladd, explore the central or essential themes of the Bible's grand storyline. Taking cues from Genesis 1-3, authors trace the presence of these themes throughout the entire sweep of redemption history. Written for students, church leaders, and laypeople, the ESBT offers an introduction to biblical theology.

    We profess it in our creed. We're taught that to bury and pray for the dead are corporal and spiritual works of mercy. We honor the dead in our Liturgy through the Rite of Christian burial. We do all of this, and more, because when Jesus Christ took on flesh for the salvation of our souls he also bestowed great dignity on our bodies. In Hope to Die: The Christian Meaning of Death and the Resurrection of the Body, Scott Hahn explores the significance of death and burial from a Catholic perspective. The promise of the bodily resurrection brings into focus the need for the dignified care of our bodies at the hour of death. Unpacking both Scripture and Catholic teaching, Hope to Die reminds us that we are destined for glorification on the last day.Our bodies have been made by a God who loves us. Even in death, those bodies point to the mystery of our salvation.

    . ." So begins the first book in the Book of Mormon, as the prophet Nephi brings us through the wilderness to a promised land where his family fractures rather than flourishes. But in spite of that tragedy, Nephi points us to the hope he found in his father's inspired dream for the future. Driven by his father's fears and faith, he sought and received his own revelations about how his people might someday find redemption and might ultimately help bring about the redemption of Israel and the entire human family.In this brief theological introduction, philosopher and theologian Joseph M. Spencer investigates the central themes and purposes of a book he calls a "theological masterpiece." What was Nephi trying to accomplish with his writings? How can readers today make better sense of Nephi's words? What can an ancient seer offer readers in the twenty-first century?

    

    

    From medieval pontiffs who acted like princes to a modern pope whose every casual statement sets off a social-media firestorm, there has been plenty for non-Catholics to criticize and for the faithful to feel anxious about.We profess that Jesus made St. Peter the visible head of his Church on earth and that his successors throughout the ages are guided by the Holy Spirit to govern, teach, and sanctify it. How can we strengthen this belief in the papacy in the face of challenges (both outside the Church and within it) and so strengthen our faith in the One who instituted it?In Pope Peter, Joe Heschmeyer says that papal flaws are an opportunity to understand what the papacy really means, not to abandon it (or the Church). Drawing deeply on the scriptural and historical witness, he offers a thorough but accessible defense of the papal office and an edifying picture of the extent—and limits—of its authority.Jesus made Peter the Rock of the Church and promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Pope Peter will confirm your faith in that promise and help you proclaim its truth to others.

    And if we are honest, we don’t usually think of fear as a good thing. So why does the Bible call us to fear the Lord? In this book, Michael Reeves explains that the fear of God is not a gloomy fear marked by anxiety but a heartfelt and happy enjoyment of God as Creator and Redeemer. As we learn more about the surprising good news of the fear of the Lord, we will discover the vital role we play in displaying to the world the awesomeness of our God.

    Extra helps—including reading plans and prayers, book introductions, a timeline of Catholic and world history, a glossary of important terms, a concordance, full-color maps, and more—make this ideal for anyone who wants to learn more about Scripture and Catholic practice.About the NRSV: Renowned for its balance of scholarship and readability, the NRSV is a trustworthy translation appropriate for personal spiritual formation and in the academy. This Catholic Edition of the NRSV bears the imprimatur of the Roman Catholic Church and is approved for private use and study by the Catholic faithful. Features include:Complete Catholic Bible, including the Deuterocanonical books, with the official imprimatur of the Roman Catholic ChurchPresentation pages for dedications and recording eventsArticles explaining fundamental Catholic beliefs and practicesIntroductions to every book of the BibleDurable Smyth-sewn binding lays flat in your hand or on your deskFull-color mapsExceptionally readable 8½-point print size in the exclusive NRSV Comfort Print® typefaceAnglicized text * Angelus, St. Peter’s Square, April 6, 2014 © Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used by permission.

    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.

    Matthew Thiessen corrects this popular misconception by placing Jesus within the Judaism of his day. Thiessen demonstrates that the Gospel writers depict Jesus opposing ritual impurity itself, not the Jewish ritual purity system or the Jewish law. This fresh interpretation of significant passages from the Gospels shows that throughout his life, Jesus destroys forces of death and impurity while upholding the Jewish law.

    The Book of Mormon For the Least of These offers an unflinching examination of some of the difficult and troubling sections of the Book of Mormon, while also advocating for a compassionate reading of holy text. As a verse-by-verse close reading, this book examines new layers of interpretation and meaning, giving even those deeply familiar with scripture innovative tools for engaging powerfully with the Book of Mormon. PRAISE FOR THE BOOK OF MORMON FOR THE LEAST OF THESE Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Olsen Hemming have given us a beautifully written commentary on hundreds of verses in the first third of the Book of Mormon. Although they avowedly write from the perspective of contemporary social justice advocates, their perspective is broader than that. They see in the Book of Mormon a picture of life as a hard journey--harsh, discouraging, contradictory--but one where God is always present to succor suffering travelers.--Richard Bushman, author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling Across our differences--black, white, brown, indigenous, bond, free, male, female, gay, straight, living the principle, attending and tithing, or seeking another way altogether--what bonds LDS/Mormon people together is our relationship to the Book of Mormon. We have held it on our laps in cold early morning classrooms, stuffed it into our backpacks, purses, and suitcases, peered into our small bright screens searching out its verses, rested it on our nightstands, wept over it at our kitchen tables, argued over it on the internet, and wrestled with what it should mean to us individually and collectively. In this powerful new contribution to LDS scriptural study, Dr. Fatimah S. Salleh and Margaret Olsen Hemming have wrestled with the Book of Mormon in a whole new way: as a text that addresses inequality, trauma, dysfunction, and catastrophe and offers insights essential to achieving that dimension of Zion we call social justice. An essential companion for 21st century LDS/Mormon life. This book lifts my heart. --Joanna Brooks, co-editor of Mormon Feminism: Essential Writings and author of Book of Mormon Girl The Book of Mormon For the Least of These will change the way you read the Book of Mormon, providing a profound and more reflective view of the events, teachings, and characters in the book than is traditional, and also offering a perspective on the book's principles of social justice that is missing in most Book of Mormon commentaries. A must read for those who take seriously their study of the Book of Mormon."--Ignacio Garcia, professor of Western American History at Brigham Young University and author of Chicano While Mormon: Activism, War, and Keeping the Faith

    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.

    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.

    

    In this collaboration between Alabaster Co. and IVP, the full text of the Gospel of John is presented alongside beautiful full-color photographs and fourteen guided meditations by Bible teacher, author, and spiritual director Jan Johnson. Carefully designed as a practical, study-focused version of Alabaster's other bible books, the Alabaster Guided Meditations invite readers into deeper reflection by incorporating the church's ancient lectio divina and visio divina traditions. Though the intersection of New Living Translation Bible passages, photography, thoughtfully designed layouts, and meditations, readers are invited to experience the Gospel of John anew.

    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 dikaiosynē 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.

    Joshua Jipp shows that the New Testament is in fact built upon this foundational messianic claim, and each of its primary compositions is a unique creative expansion of this common thread. Having made the same argument about the Pauline epistles in his previous book Christ Is King: Paul’s Royal Ideology, Jipp works methodically through the New Testament to show how the authors proclaim Jesus as the incarnate, crucified, and enthroned messiah of God. In the second section of this book, Jipp moves beyond exegesis toward larger theological questions, such as those of Christology, soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology, revealing the practical value of reading the Bible with an eye to its messianic vision. The Messianic Theology of the New Testament functions as an excellent introductory text, honoring the vigorous pluralism of the New Testament books while still addressing the obvious question: what makes these twenty-seven different compositions one unified testament?

    In this collaboration between Alabaster Co. and IVP, the full text of Psalms 1-72 is presented alongside beautiful full-color photographs and guided meditations by author and Bible teacher Kathy Khang. Carefully designed as a practical, study-focused version of Alabaster's other bible books, the Alabaster Guided Meditations invite readers into deeper reflection by incorporating the church's ancient lectio divina and visio divina traditions. Though the intersection of New Living Translation Bible passages, photography, thoughtfully designed layouts, and meditations, readers are invited to experience Psalms 1-72 anew.

    Stinissen says that all Christian literature and preaching are nothing more than an attempt to explain and interpret what God himself has spoken to us in the Bible. God is active in his holy Word, and he is also active in man’s research and seeking, in his stage of study and knowledge. In Jewish tradition, study of the Scriptures has always had a prominent place, and from her beginning, the Church has continued in that same path, above all through the Fathers of the Church. Today, with the growing development of scholarly methods, exegetes have made immense progress in both Catholic and Protestant circles.Fr. Stinissen shows how the Bible reveals to us our true life with God - a life of joy, beauty and love. The Word is Very Near You is a book for all who wish to experience the living Word of God. He says that Bible reading and prayer belong inseparably together, and both are indispensable for anyone who wishes to live in close communion with God.This book will give us a deeper understanding of all the treasures that are hidden in the field of God's Word. But without prayer, one's understanding will only be a superficial glitter that will soon disappear."My wish is to give some simple advice on how we can draw nearer to God's Word and let it penetrate us in order that it will bear fruit in our lives."- Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen, from the Foreword

    Traditional Latin prayers such as the Ave Maria, Sancte Michael, and Tantum Ergo are presented side-by-side with their literal English translations in this extraordinary collection.Pope Francis’s Twitter account in Latin has grown from 100,000 followers in 2013 to more than almost a million in 2020; and there is a growing interest by Catholics to learn traditional prayers in Latin.Oremus is a collection of cherished prayers in Latin—the exact words prayed by many of the saints over the centuries—including:The prayers of the Rosary—Pater Noster, Gloria Patri, and Salve Regina;Prayers for Eucharistic Adoration—O Salutaris, Laudes Divinae, and Anima Christi;Prayers for morning, evening, and night—Benedictus, Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis;Favorite psalms and Gospel Sequences;Prayers used by St. Louis de Montfort in his preparation for Total Consecration to Mary—Veni Creator and Ave Maris Stella; andPrayers of and to saints—Te Deum and Suscipe.Oremus includes an introduction, ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation guide, index, and accent markings throughout the text. It can be used as a prayer book for individuals, classrooms, families, and small groups.