Study Commentaries

The two books of Samuel form a basic foundational study in the Old Testament. An understanding of this basic history is essential, not only to understanding the Old and New Testaments, but in gaining a valid perspective of eschatological issues as well.

The world is filled with counterfeits. And the church is not immune, as false ideas and doctrines can infect believers and congregations. So when it comes to spiritual teachers, messages, and movements, how can we tell fact from fiction? The answers are found in 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John, and Jude, where the apostles provide practical insights for discerning truth.

In Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart, Russ Ramsey digs into these artists' stories for readers who may be new to art, as well as for lifelong students of art history, to mine the transcendent beauty and hard lessons we can take from their masterpieces and their lives. Each story from some of the history's most celebrated artists applies the beauty of the gospel in a way that speaks to the suffering and hope we all face.

In this unabridged audiobook of Walking in Wonder, John O’Donohue’s friend and frequent collaborator John Quinn collects a series of talks and essays from the poet-philosopher on humanity’s relationship with the land, the ache of absence, our place in an often mysterious universe, and the great adventure of death itself.

Throughout much of human history, our most important stories were passed down orally - including the stories about Jesus before they became written down in the Gospels. In this fascinating and deeply researched work, leading Bible scholar Bart D. Erhman investigates the role oral history has played in the New Testament - how the telling of these stories not only spread Jesus' message but helped shape it.

The Book of Acts, as recorded in the Bible, records the events surrounding the birth of the Church and its growth in the first century. This book is written in a format which speaks to the events of Acts and how it relates to us today. This is not a commentary but does have some commentary type writing in it. The purpose of this book is to encourage readers to look at this book of New Testament history and understand how it applies to our Christian lives in the 21st Century. The reader can learn how the Church was started and its purpose in this world. It moves chapter by chapter through ...

Elinor Cleghorn became an unwell woman 10 years ago. She was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease after a long period of being told her symptoms were anything from psychosomatic to a possible pregnancy. As Elinor learned to live with her unpredictable disease, she turned to history for answers, and found an enraging legacy of suffering, mystification, and misdiagnosis. In Unwell Women, Elinor Cleghorn traces the almost unbelievable history of how medicine has failed women by treating their bodies as alien and other, often to perilous effect.

For both Ruth and Esther, God used stressful circumstances to bring about his eternal purposes. Ruth's commitment to the God of Naomi affected every generation to come, as she became an ancestor of King David and more importantly, Jesus Christ. Esther's obedience led to the preservation of her people at a moment in history when all seemed lost.

"Finishing Well" is the name of the game. Here was a rich, young ruler - a first century "yuppie" if you will - who, although getting off to a rather problematic beginning, finished well, indeed. A rich young ruler questioned Christ about what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Mark's Gospel includes a detail that Matthew and Luke failed to mention: "And Jesus looking upon him loved him..." This hints at the possibility that young John Mark himself may have been that rich young man.

The book of Revelation stands out as one of the most intriguing, yet least understood books of the Bible. From the sobering letters to the seven churches to the amazing visions and epic battles, millions of Christians have toiled to understand the meaning of this mysterious book. Trust Dr. Warren Wiersbe, pastor and Bible teacher for over forty years, to take you chapter-by-chapter through the various topics in this important book, all the while, keeping a steady eye on the main message of the book: Christ is the victor, and in Christ, we are also victorious.

Billy Graham once wrote "I used to read five psalms every day — that teaches me how to get along with God. Then I read a chapter of Proverbs every day and that teaches me how to get along with my fellow man." This daily reading enabled him to read all of the Psalms and all of the Proverbs in one month. The purpose of this book is to summarize five psalms and one proverb each day for 31 days. I have placed Psalm 119 on the 31st day because of its length. For Proverbs, I selected a few verses since each chapter is so long. Each chapter is written in common language that anyone should be ...

Discover the mystery and ancient wisdom contained in the Three Books of Enoch: the First Book of Enoch (Ethiopian Enoch, 1912), the Second Book of Enoch (Slavonic Enoch, 1896), and the Third Book of Enoch (Hebrew of Enoch, 1928). This complete edition gathers all versions into a single volume, giving you total access to one of the most enigmatic works of antiquity. Perfect for those who wish to explore the boundaries between the earthly and the divine.

In 1932, the US Public Health Service recruited 623 African American men from Macon County, Alabama, for a study of "the effects of untreated syphilis in the Negro male". For the next 40 years - even after the development of penicillin, the cure for syphilis - these men were denied medical care for this potentially fatal disease.

With definitions and insights like this, the "pastor of pastors" and phenomenal author Warren Wiersbe continues to enliven the Scriptures as he weaves the words of Isaiah with historical explanations and thought-provoking questions for every chapter, creating a study guide that can be used in personal Bible study or with a group.

This book offers updated explanations of the sins of interpretation to teach sound grammatical, lexical, cultural, theological, and historical Bible study practices.

#1 bestselling author J.R. Heimbigner brings a bible study devotional to help you grow in your understanding and knowledge of experiencing Jesus. The Gospel of Mark is filled with timeless truth, and you can enter into a 30-day journey that will help you experience Jesus, connecting you with him in your daily life, and understand how you can know Jesus in your life. This devotional will walk you through understanding, applying, and building your life on the truths found in the Gospel of Mark. Whether reading the Gospel of Mark for the first or the hundredth time, you will learn new traits ...

"Have you considered My servant Job?" Those are the words spoken by the Lord to the Accuser. They were spoken with Divine confidence. God knew the character of Job, and knew that he would not forsake his Maker, even in the midst of unimaginable persecution. From a study of Job's inspired book, the Bible student can learn about evil and suffering, about the character of godly people, about the futility of human reasoning, and about the blessed assurance we can have in the midst of trials. God is not dead, nor does He sleep: Wrong shall fail. Right shall prevail. The Lord is in control. Trust...

A comprehensive study guide with verse-by-verse commentary on all of Ephesians. Special features also included is a summary of the letter, Timeline, an article on the Calvinism Error, “Which Mystery?”, Parenting Tips, and The Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost and the Body of Christ. Then for enjoyment A Poem: What the Church is Not; Hymns: I Know I’m Seated in Heavenly Places, Onward Christian Soldier, In all Thy Work, O Lord, Thou didst.

Until the 1970s, if you suffered a medical crisis, your chances of survival were minimal. A 9-1-1 call might bring police or even the local funeral home. But that all changed with Freedom House EMS in Pittsburgh, a group of Black men who became America’s first paramedics and set the gold standard for emergency medicine around the world, only to have their story and their legacy erased—until now.

Elijah ministered during a terrible time in Israel’s history. Apostasy was at an all-time high because Ahab, Israel’s worst king, was on the throne (1 Kgs 16:30). His ungodly influence was augmented by his wife, Jezebel, who introduced Baal worship to Israel. In order to restore Israel to God, the Lord called one of his greatest prophets, Elijah, to confront Ahab (1 Kings 17:1). Elijah’s ministry was unique. He prayed that it would not rain as a judgment for Israel’s sins, and it did not rain for three and a half years. He challenged Baal’s prophets to a contest to prove that ...