Study Commentaries

What does Oprah Winfrey have to do with the Book of Ruth? Why are Catholic priests (meant to be) celibate? Which king - other than Elvis - died on the toilet? The Bible: A Student's Guide answers these questions and more. Aimed at humanities students, it's a quick tour of the Bible: telling its most famous tales, quoting its most famous lines. Along the way it points to a few landmarks: everyday phrases we owe to the Bible, great literature and art it's inspired. So if your knowledge of the Good Book isn't so good, this is just the place to begin. Jon David has also published Be Happy! (...

A study of the Prison Epistles of Paul. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon together form one narrative of the joy that comes with a Christ-centered life. Each book is studied verse-by-verse with special emphasis given to the theme of each letter. Galatians: The Doctrine of Christ / Ephesians: The Body of Christ / Philippians: The Joy of Christ / Colossians: The Headship of Christ / Philemon: The Family of Christ

This second volume on the Gospel of John shows how Jesus dealt with the hostility that began to arise among the religious leaders in regard to various practices of faith and how he didn’t allow their hostility to deter him from his path. In so doing, Christ provided the ultimate example for living in the Father’s name.

The fourth edition of this book has been written to clean up some of the poorly worded text in the first three editions and to show important Bible verses rather than just refer to them. An effort has also been made to convert previously used first person speech with more formal third person speech. In looking at the second chapter of the epistle of James, this standalone book considers authorship, the date that the whole epistle was written, and the basis for its acceptance into the biblical canon. With a strong focus on the Greek language, the goal has also been to perform good exegesis ...

A comprehensive study guide. The Bible verses are given in bold with commentary in a lighter font to assist with an in-depth study of all chapters of these Bible books. The pictures, timelines, maps, tables, and other visuals make the information easy to grasp. Features: Information on Rightly Dividing, and summaries of each book. Articles: Fallen from Grace?; Women in the Ministry; What are “profane and old wives’ fables”?; Apostasy in the Church; The Three Mysteries that Sum Up the Entire Bible; A Brief History of the Body of Christ (Successes and Failures); copy ready Tracts and ...

Marilynne Robinson has built a sterling reputation as a writer of sharp, subtly moving prose, not only as a major American novelist, but also as a rigorous thinker and incisive essayist. In When I Was a Child I Read Books she returns to and expands upon the themes which have preoccupied her work with renewed vigor.

Descriptive study of the book of Acts and its lessons.

This two-volume expositional commentary on one of the Bible’s most powerful books integrates rigorous scholarship and clear communication. Boice not only explains the meaning of the text verse by verse and section by section, he relates the text’s concerns to the world in which we live, the life of the church, and the realities of the Christian life. Based on messages preached at Philadelphia’s world-renowned Tenth Presbyterian Church, The Gospel of Matthew displays Dr. Boice’s hallmark blend of thoughtful interpretation and contemporary insight for daily living.

Best-selling author Peter Kreeft presents a series of brilliant essays about many of the issues that increasingly divide our Western civilization and culture. He states that "these essays are not new proposals or solutions to today's problems. They are old. They have been tried, and have worked. They have made people happy and good. That is what makes them so radical and so unusual today. The most uncommon thing today is common sense".

“Open your ears,” says James Montgomery Boice. “Hear the voice of Christ. Believe him. Turn to him. Throw yourself upon him. Receive him as your Savior.” Even in the midst of pain and persecution, we are to live as Christ would live. Volume 3 of the Gospel of John shows Jesus turning to all who had received him in the midst of, and in spite of, growing hostility from the authorities of Judaism.

A few years ago, Mark Adams made a strange discovery: Everything we know about the lost city of Atlantis comes from the work of one man, the Greek philosopher Plato. Then he made a second, stranger discovery: Amateur explorers are still actively searching for this sunken city all around the world, based entirely on the clues Plato left behind.

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.

As the world’s most popular annual Bible commentary for more than three decades, Standard Lesson Commentary (SLC) provides 52 weeks of study in a single volume.

Why do three Gospels tell the same story—yet speak with such distinct voices? For centuries, scholars, pastors, and Bible readers alike have wrestled with the mystery of the Synoptic Gospels. How can Matthew, Mark, and Luke echo each other so closely and yet diverge so profoundly in theology, style, and emphasis? This book confronts that enigma with academic rigor and spiritual depth—offering a guide not just to understanding the Gospels, but to seeing the life of Jesus through three inspired lenses. Behind the familiar verses lies a complex literary and theological tapestry. In The ...

This classic work of spirituality from the author of A Wrinkle in Time offers life-transforming insights on the rich heritage of the Bible and shows how the characters of this ancient text are relevant for living the good life now. In the first book of her Genesis Trilogy, beloved author Madeleine L'Engle casts long, loving, and perceptive glances not only at the created universe but also at its Creator.

Life Lessons covers topics of the heart and mind, often with related stories from the Scriptures. Ninety concise and to-the-point chapters speak to everyday topics we all may experience on any given day from dawn to bedtime.

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...

So, who are you really? In a world of endless social media and technology--where the noise drowns your spirit, soul, and body--you can feel lost, like a driver stranded in traffic. Your spirit yearns for life, your soul longs for peace, and your body craves rest under the constant buzz. In this book, H.K. Holland offers clear direction to lead you back to your true self, with every lesson drawn from the Bible. From deep insights to brief, clear points, the wisdom he offers cuts through the chaos, speaking to your heart. Step away from the noise, and rediscover yourself now!

A multitude of Biblical stories have been censored, mistranslated, ignored, and even banned by religious authorities due to their erotic, violent, or mysterious content. Here, Jonathan Kirsch recounts some of the most startling and explicit writings from the Old Testament.

Also: The Old Testament: An Introduction, Part 1 and Part 2

This devotional commentary on the book of Ruth is the fourth in Dr. Parker's series "Expository Thoughts." Other books in this series are Expository Thoughts on Joshua, Expository Thoughts on 1 Samuel, and Expository Thoughts on James. Dr. Parker has always believed that Bible study that does not get down to the level of affecting the heart is very limited at best, and sometimes even dangerous. Intellectual Bible study generally puffs one up. Bible study is not primarily intended to inform, although it does inform. Bible study is primarily for the purpose of bringing us to the place of ...