Discouraged believers needed a reminder of God's grace and love of the blessings they had in Jesus Christ, and of their commitment to holiness.  Written by the apostle Paul as a letter of encouragement and admonition.  Ephesians gives a refresher course in New Testament doctrine and provides a practical blueprint for Christian behavior.  Through this letter, Paul shows us our continual need for God's help and demonstrates that everything good we enjoy is an expression of His great love.   The Mac Arthur Study Guide Series provides a twelve week, verse-by-verse examination of the books of the New Testament.  This revised and updated series continues to be one of the best-selling study guides currently available for individuals or small groups.   Features Include: Twelve week study Thought-provoking questions Verse-by-verse commentary Space provided for note-taking

    And yet his remarkable life remains shrouded in mystery. In this probing new book, John B. Polhill scrapes away the myths about this great man and uncovers the truth of his life and thought.Using Acts, the Pauline epistles, and reliable traditions from non-canonical sources, Polhill weaves together the remarkable story of Paul's transformation from persecutor to persecuted, producing a dynamic account of his entire ministry. By placing each of Paul's letters in its proper historical context, Polhill brings new light to these foundation stones of the Christian faith. He follows Paul from his early years in Tarsus and Jerusalem to his imprisonment and eventual martyrdom, painting a detailed, comprehensive portrait of Paul that will serve as an indispensable resource for students, teachers, and pastors alike.

    We cage them or clip their wings to keep them where we want them. Scot McKnight contends that many, conservatives and liberals alike, attempt the same thing with the Bible. We all try to tame it. McKnight’s The Blue Parakeet has emerged at the perfect time to cool the flames of a world on fire with contention and controversy. It calls Christians to a way to read the Bible that leads beyond old debates and denominational battles. It calls Christians to stop taming the Bible and to let it speak anew for a new generation.In his books The Jesus Creed and Embracing Grace, Scot McKnight established himself as one of America’s finest Christian thinkers, an author to be reckoned with. In The Blue Parakeet, McKnight again touches the hearts and minds of today’s Christians, this time challenging them to rethink how to read the Bible, not just to puzzle it together into some systematic theology but to see it as a Story that we’re summoned to enter and to carry forward in our day. In his own inimitable style, McKnight sets traditional and liberal Christianity on its ear, leaving readers equipped, encouraged, and emboldened to be the people of faith they long to be.

    Throughout the book he develops his thesis that the kingdom of God involves two great movements--fulfillment within history and consummation at the end of history.

    Introduces college students to the Book of Romans: its structure, theological message, and significance for the early Christian church.

    Because of the cultural distance between the biblical world and our contemporary setting, we often bring modern Western biases to the text. For example:When Western readers hear Paul exhorting women to "dress modestly," we automatically think in terms of sexual modesty. But most women in that culture would never wear racy clothing. The context suggests that Paul is likely more concerned about economic modesty--that Christian women not flaunt their wealth through expensive clothes, braided hair and gold jewelry.Some readers might assume that Moses married "below himself" because his wife was a dark-skinned Cushite. Actually, Hebrews were the slave race, not the Cushites, who were highly respected. Aaron and Miriam probably thought Moses was being presumptuous by marrying "above himselfWestern individualism leads us to assume that Mary and Joseph traveled alone to Bethlehem. What went without saying was that they were likely accompanied by a large entourage of extended family.Biblical scholars Brandon O'Brien and Randy Richards shed light on the ways that Western readers often misunderstand the cultural dynamics of the Bible. They identify nine key areas where modern Westerners have significantly different assumptions about what might be going on in a text. Drawing on their own crosscultural experience in global mission, O'Brien and Richards show how better self-awareness and understanding of cultural differences in language, time and social mores allow us to see the Bible in fresh and unexpected ways. Getting beyond our own cultural assumptions is increasingly important for being Christians in our interconnected and globalized world. Learn to read Scripture as a member of the global body of Christ.

    Greidanus develops hermeneutical and homiletical principles and then applies them to four specific genres: Hebrew narratives, prophetic literature, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

    Where its teachings are believed, understood, and embodied in the life, ritualism and legalism (the two chief enemies of Christianity) receive their death blow. In no other book of Scripture are the sophistries and deceptions of Romanism so clearly and systematically exposed. So fully and pointedly are the errors of Popery refuted, it might well have been written since that satanic system became established. Well did one of the Puritans say, "God foreseeing what poisonous heresies would be hatched by the Papacy, prepared this antidote against them."▶ CONTENTS1. Introduction2. The Superiority of Christ over the Prophet3. Christ Superior to Angels4. Christ Superior to Moses5. Christ Superior to Joshua6. Christ Superior to Aaron7. Infancy and Maturity8. Apostasy9. The Twofold Working of the Spirit10. The Two Classes of Professors11. Two Christians Described12. Christian Perseverance13. The Anchor of the Soul14. Melchizedek15. The Priesthood Changed16. Judaism Set Aside17. The Perfect Priest18. The Two Covenants19. The Typical Tabernacle20. The Contrasted Priests21. Eternal Redemption22. The Mediator23. The New Testament24. The Great Sacrifice25. The Typical Sacrifice26. The Divine Incarnation27. Christ's Dedication28. The Perfecting of the Church29. Sanctification30. Access to God31. Christian Perseverance32. Apostasy33. The Apostates' Doom34. The Path of Tribulation35. The Saving of the Soul36. The Excellency of Faith37. The Faith of Abel38. The Faith of Enoch39. The Faith of Noah40. The Call of Abraham41. The Life of Abraham42. The Faith of Sarah43. The Perseverance of Faith44. The Reward of Faith45. The Faith of Abraham46. The Faith of Isaac47. The Faith of Jacob48. The Faith of Joseph49. The Faith of Moses’ Parents50. The Faith of Moses51. The Faith of Israel52. The Faith of Rahab53. The Faith of the Judges54. The Achievements of Faith55. The Pinnacle of Faith56. The Family of Faith57. The Demands of Faith58. The Object of Faith59. A Call to Steadfastness60. Divine Chastisement61. A Call to Steadfastness62. A Call to Diligence63. A Call to Examination64. A Warning against Apostasy65. The Inferiority of Judaism66. The Superiority of Christianity67. The Call to Hear68. The Passing of Judaism69. The Establishing of Christianity70. The Kingdom of Christ71. The Final Warning72. Brotherly Love73. Marriage74. Covetousness75. Contentment76. Motives to Fidelity77. The Heart Established78. The Christian's Altar79. Christ Our Sin Offering80. Outside the Camp81. The Christian's Sacrifices82. Christian Rulers83. A Good Conscience84. Praying for Ministers85. The Apostle's Prayer86. Divine Exhortations87. Spiritual Freedom88. Conclusion89. Other Books▶ AUTHORArthur W. Pink was born in Nottingham England in 1886, and born again of the Spirit of God in 1908 at the age of 22.

    C. Sproul helps us dig out the meaning of Scripture for ourselves. He lays the groundwork by discussing why we should study the Bible and how our own personal study relates to interpretation. Then he presents in simple, basic terms the science of interpretation and gives practical guidelines for applying this science. Here is a basic book for both beginning Bible readers and those who have been at it for a long time.

    Not only has its authorship been disputed, but also its claims about the imminent return of Christ. In this study, Peter Leithart offers a preterist reading of the epistle, arguing that it describes first-century events and not the end of the world. At the same time, he maintains orthodoxy, avoiding hyper-preterism and affirming the epistle's authenticity. Leithart's accessible style and convincing arguments make a valuable addition to the study of the Bible's apocalyptic prophecies.

    He now brings that experience to bear on this important work.He begins with a helpful introduction to the letter of Ephesians in which he addresses issues of authorship, structure and genre, historical setting, purpose, and theology. At the end of the introduction, the author includes a detailed bibliography for further reading. Hoehner then delves into the text of Ephesians verse by verse, offering the Greek text, English translation, and detailed commentary. He interacts extensively with the latest scholarship and provides a fair and thorough discussion of every disputed point in the book.Pastors, students, and scholars looking for a comprehensive treatment on Ephesians will be interested in this commentary. Hoehner's interaction with the latest scholarship combined with his detailed exegesis will make this new commentary the only resource they will need to consult.

    Close attention is paid both to the literary form in which the theology is expressed and to the original context to which the book was addressed. Contrary to many misunderstandings of Revelation, it is shown to be one of the masterpieces of early Christian literature, with much to say to the Church today. This study offers a unique account of the theology and message of Revelation.

    Capitol Hill Baptist Church associate pastor Michael Lawrence contributes to the IXMarks series as he centers on the practical importance of biblical theology to ministry. He begins with an examination of a pastor's tools of the trade: exegesis and biblical and systematic theology. The book distinguishes between the power of narrative in biblical theology and the power of application in systematic theology, but also emphasizes the importance of their collaboration in ministry. Having laid the foundation for pastoral ministry, Lawrence uses the three tools to build a biblical theology, telling the entire story of the Bible from five different angles. He puts biblical theology to work in four areas: counseling, missions, caring for the poor, and church/state relations. Rich in application and practical insight, this book will equip pastors and church leaders to think, preach, and do ministry through the framework of biblical theology.

    As also indicated by the subtitle, our biblical-theological commentary on Genesis is designed to uncover the foundations of God's covenantally administered kingdom with its major historical developments and its institutional structures and functions. In this way Kingdom Prologue seeks to provide an introductory sketch of the over-all shape of the biblical worldview and the character of biblical religion.

    Poythress focuses on Revelation's core message and ensures that its details do not cloud the big picture. He shows Revelation to be a picture book, not a puzzle book, relevant and applicable to the daily lives of Christians.