Study Commentaries

For more than a decade, New York University president John Sexton has used baseball to illustrate the elements of a spiritual life in a wildly popular course at NYU. Using great works of baseball literature as well as the actual game’s fantastic moments, its legendary characters, and its routine rituals - from the long-sought triumph of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers to the heroic achievements of players like the saintly Christy Mathewson and the sinful Ty Cobb to the loving intimacy of a game of catch between a father and son - Sexton teaches that through the game we can touch the spiritual dimensions of life.

The African American Guide to the Bible makes the case for the relevance of the Bible from the perspective of people of color. It presents a comprehensive biblical view of topics of interest to African Americans and clarifies racial issues for White people.

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...

The Gospel according to John has always been recognized as different from the "synoptic" accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. But what explains the difference? In this new translation and verse-by-verse commentary, Michael Pakaluk suggests an answer and unlocks a 2,000-year-old mystery. Mary's Voice in the Gospel According to John reveals the subtle but powerful influence of the mother of Jesus on the fourth Gospel.

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.

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.

If you could spend a few minutes with the giants of faith in the Old Testament in person, what lessons would they share with you? In Learning from the Giants, John C. Maxwell draws on 50 years of studying the Bible to share the stories of Elijah, Elisha, Job, Jacob, Deborah, Isaiah, Jonah, Joshua and Daniel. These people fought and won epic battles, served kings, and endured great hardships for God to come out on the other side transformed through His grace.

Autobiographies from the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Talmud teaches that the ancient patriarchs were all prophets, and that each one of them left testaments for their descendants to read. These contain commands for their children, moral lessons, and prophecy. This legend is not only repeated among the Essene community, but fragments of 20 such records have been found in the Dead Sea Scrolls!

Refugia (reh-FU-jee-ah) is a term describing places of shelter where life endures in times of crisis, such as a volcanic eruption, fire, or stressed climate. Ideally, these refugia endure, expand, and connect so that new life emerges. Debra Rienstra applies this concept to human culture and faith, asking: In this era of ecological devastation, how can Christians become people of refugia? How can we find and nurture these refugia in our human cultural systems and in our spiritual lives? Refugia Faith speaks to people securely within the faith as well as to those on the edge.

I want to make it clear right away that this commentary series is not necessarily for Bible scholars, pastors, or anyone else who is well versed in the Hebrew and Greek of the Bible. Although, I do think they can benefit from it as well. Instead, this commentary series is for everyone else who does not fit into that group of scholars. I wrote this commentary series for those of you who would like to study the Bible with the knowledge of what the significant Hebrew and Greek words mean and how they fit into the context of each verse, chapter, and book that you may be studying. As a pastor ...

Marilynne Robinson has plumbed the human spirit in her renowned novels, including Lila and Gilead, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. In this new essay collection she trains her incisive mind on our modern political climate and the mysteries of faith. Whether she is investigating how the work of great thinkers about America, like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Alexis de Tocqueville, inform our political consciousness or discussing how beauty informs and disciplines daily life, Robinson's peerless prose and boundless humanity are on full display.

In this book for the curious, spiritual seeker, Madeleine L'Engle offers relevant lessons drawn from the life of Jacob from the Old Testament. Here, the son of Isaac becomes a spiritual companion to L'Engle, equipping her to deal with earthly and psychological struggles. Throughout her journey, L'Engle offers contemporary answers to questions that burden modern day listeners and believers. With her customary fearlessness and candor, she broaches such topics as the significance of angels, redemption, sexual identity, forgiveness, and the seemingly constant conflict between good and evil.

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!

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.

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 ...

This second volume in the Patristic Commentary on the Book of Isaiah continues the journey begun in Volume 1, delving deeply into the prophet’s earliest messages—warnings of judgment, calls to repentance, and glimpses of redemption. Drawing from the wisdom of the early Church Fathers and the Coptic Orthodox tradition, this work reveals the richness of Isaiah's voice as both fierce reformer and tender intercessor. Covering chapters 1–35, this volume illuminates: God’s righteous judgment against hypocrisy, injustice, and idolatry The spiritual decay of Judah and the prophetic call to ...

In a fast-paced, technology-based era when drive-thrus, cell phones, laptops, and Internet banking are the norm, it's sometimes hard to fathom that God doesn't appreciate our frail attempts at spiritual shortcuts. Through the pastoral epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, with insight from Paul's letter to Philemon as well, Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe illustrates that working for God's Kingdom requires tenacity, never-ceasing prayer, and protective battle gear that only God can provide.

Combined for great value! The multi-award-winning SmartPass study guide with and without commentary options. Full-cast, unabridged performance with comprehensive commentary and analysis for any student to fully understand and appreciate the play. The poetry of Shakespeare's star crossed lovers is poignantly performed and expertly explained in this unique production: "Passion lends them power."

A tool for grace pastors, teachers of Bible studies, and individual ambassadors in the organization of the local assembly, the teaching of sound doctrine, and edifying of the saints. God “will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). Features: Verse-by-verse commentary of Paul’s Pastoral Epistles; The Two Ministries of Christ; Why Paul?; The Three Circles (What happens at salvation?); The Four Faithful Sayings; A portrait of Timothy; A portrait of Titus; Do the bread and cup pertain to the body of Christ?; Easter; The Tanakh explained; The ...

An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of the Scriptures. Explore each verse of this narrative of the life of Jonah as He is called by God to preach salvation to the Ninevites. Organized as four individual Bible studies that are intended for about 30 minutes of personal study, or about one hour of small-group discussion. Table of Contents 1:1-16. Running from God. 1:17 - 2:10. Turning to God. 3:1-10. Obeying God. 4:1-11. Playing God. Bibliography.