Study Commentaries

The spirit of our times can appear to be one of joyless urgency. As a culture we have become less interested in the exploration of the glorious mind, and more interested in creating and mastering technologies that will yield material well-being. But while cultural pessimism is always fashionable, there is still much to give us hope.

God loves people, but the people do not love him. He devises a plan, sends his son on earth to redeem the people. To save their souls. The son is an edgy person who moves around Jerusalem like he owns the place. He chooses twelve disciples, gives them power to cast out demons and heal the sick. But one of them, Judas Iscariot, his close friend, connives with the enemies of Jesus to murder him. The plot starts in the garden of Gethsemane...

In the early 19th century, Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, conceived the idea of extracting a gospel purified of what he saw as extraneous philosophical, mythological, and theological elements. To do so, he took verses from the four canonical gospels and arranged them into a single narrative, focusing on the actual words of Jesus.

Unlock the mysteries of the Bible with "The Seven Dispensations: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical History and Prophecy." This groundbreaking book offers a panoramic view of God's divine plan, meticulously outlined through seven distinct ages of time. Whether you're a seasoned theologian or a curious seeker, this guide will illuminate the path of God's sovereign timeline from Genesis to Revelation. Dive deep into the rich tapestry of biblical history and prophecy, where every era unfolds with purpose and precision. Discover how each dispensation reveals God’s unchanging character, His ...

The Book of Enoch: A Complete Guide and Reference is the ultimate reference and guide to the book of 1 Enoch (The Ethiopic Book of Enoch). This guide and reference contains the author's notes and insights on the ancient text, as well as commentary, parallel Bible verses, references to 2 Enoch and 3 Enoch, history, prophecy, and the Calendar of Enoch. The author has included an amazing section on the application of the Calendar of Enoch to the prophecy of Daniel and "Daniel's Week of Years."

Oxford mathematician and author John Lennox takes a closer look at Hawking's logic regarding what brought the universe into being. In lively, layman's terms, Lennox guides us through the key points in Hawking's arguments - with clear explanations of the latest scientific and philosophical methods and theories - and demonstrates that far from disproving a creator God, they make his existence seem all the more probable.

Since Hamas's attack on Israel last October 7, the term "settler colonialism" has become central to public debate in the United States. A concept new to most Americans, but already established and influential in academic circles, settler colonialism is shaping the way many people think about the history of the United States, Israel and Palestine, and a host of political issues. This short book is the first to examine settler colonialism critically for a general audience.

In Hebrew, this book is called dibhere ha-yamim: ''the words concerning the days.'' The Jewish Bible regards the Old Testament as 22 books and Chronicles is counted as a single book. I and II Chronicles take the form of a history: David and Judah are the focal points. The emphasis of I and II Chronicles is on the Southern Kingdom and the preservation of the Davidic line.

Story captures our hearts and feeds our imaginations. It reminds us who we are and where we came from. Story gives meaning and direction to our lives as we learn to see it as an affirmation of God’s love. Drawing upon her own experiences, well-known tales in literature, and selected narratives from Scripture, Madeleine L’Engle gently leads the way into the glorious world of story in The Rock That Is Higher. Here she acknowledges universal human longings and considers how literature, Scripture, personal stories, and life experiences all point us toward our true home.

Reaching out to listeners of all religious backgrounds, Desmond Tutu shows us how to transform suffering into joy both in our lives and in our world. He tells us that God dreams of a world where laughter, love, and peace reign, and where we realize that we are all members of one family, God's family. In this extremely personal and liberating message, Father Tutu helps us "see with the eyes of the heart" and cultivate the qualities of forgiveness, humility, generosity, and courage.

Galatians is the clearest letter for distinguishing the difference between “prophecy” and “mystery.” The Lord Jesus Christ has two ministries: one on earth to Israel as recorded in the four gospels and early Acts, and the other from heaven to the Body of Christ as recorded in Romans to Philemon. The Galatians had “fallen from grace” and gone back under the law. This legalistic error is prevalent among Christians today. This error prevents believers from functioning as God intends them to and from rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Want to dive into the Bible’s mysterious and captivating book of Revelation? Revelation Bible Study offers a fresh perspective on this enigmatic prophecy, guiding you through its complex imagery and profound messages. Forget the typical attempts to predict the future or connect historical events to John's vision. Instead, Bible teacher Peter DeHaan challenges readers to embrace Revelation as relevant for today. Receive it as a glorious mystery, focusing on the ultimate triumph of God over evil. Through short readings, application questions, and bonus content, this book will help you ...

The book of Leviticus has not been a popular subject of study in the modern church. Much like the book of proverbs, any emphasis upon the practical applications of God's law is readily shunned in pursuit of more "spiritual" studies. Books like Leviticus are considered dull, overbearing, and irrelevant. To be spiritual, in the modern sense of the term, means to live on a "higher" level where today's Christian is governed more by the impressions of the heart than a carnal commandment.

Written between A.D. 413 and 426, The City of God is one of the great cornerstones in the history of Christian thought, a book which is vital to the understanding of modern Western society. Augustine originally intended it to be an apology for Christianity against the accusation that the Church was responsible for the decline of the Roman Empire, which had occurred just three years earlier. Indeed, Augustine produced a great amount of evidence to prove that paganism was responsible for this event. However, by the time the work was finished, the book had taken on a larger theme.

Genesis begins the Bible and is foundational to it. In recent years, it has become commonplace for both humanists and churchmen to sneer at anyone who takes Genesis 1-11 as historical. Yet, to believe in the myth of evolution is to accept trillions of miracles to account for our cosmos. Spontaneous generation, the development of something out of nothing, and the blind belief in the miraculous powers of chance require tremendous faith.

Reading the Bible doesn't need to be a difficult journey through strange and bewildering territory. How to Read the Bible Book by Book walks you through the Scriptures like an experienced tour guide, helping you understand each of its 66 books. For each book of the Bible, the authors start with a quick snapshot, then expand the view to help you better understand its message and how it fits into the grand narrative of the Bible. Written by two top evangelical scholars, this survey is designed to get you actually reading the Bible knowledgeably and understanding it accurately.

The gospel of Mark comes alive in N. T. Wright's updated, listener-friendly translation and insightful commentary. He guides the listener through the world of the New Testament, explaining the ideas and events that shaped the gospel writer's account of the life of Jesus. Breaking down the gospel of Mark into brief, easy-to-study segments, Wright shows how the message of this ancient book speaks powerfully to the spiritual longings of contemporary listeners. New Christians and longtime followers of Jesus alike will find inspiration and practical wisdom for their journey within this book.

The Book of Revelation is one of the most misunderstood and yet profoundly powerful books in the entire Bible. For centuries, believers have wrestled with its mysteries, drawn to its vivid imagery, prophetic declarations, and majestic portrayal of the risen Christ. But beyond its symbolism and prophecy lies a timeless message that speaks to believers of every age, offering guidance, hope, correction, and the promise of ultimate victory. Revelation Chapter 1 is the foundation upon which the entire book is built. It is here that the Apostle John receives a glorious, awe-inspiring vision of ...

This seasonal addition to the Reformed Expository Commentary series presents twelve biblically and theologically grounded Christmas messages, as the authors explore the canonical teaching on the birth of Jesus Christ in the gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John. As a sample of the exposition found in the series, this volume is accessible to both pastors and lay audiences. Each commentary gives careful attention to the biblical text, is doctrinally Reformed, focuses on Christ through the lens of redemptive history, and applies the Bible to our contemporary setting.

Few, if any, thinkers and writers today would have the imagination, the breadth of knowledge, and the literary skill to conceive of a powerful secular alternative to the Bible. But that is exactly what A. C. Grayling has done, creating a nonreligious bible drawn from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both Western and Eastern traditions, using the same techniques of editing, redaction, and adaptation that produced the holy books of the Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions.