A common blind spot for evangelical Christians is to overlook the central importance of the church, emphasizing individual salvation more than the saved community. Yet no one can come away from a careful reading of Ephesians with a privatized gospel. Paul's letter to the Ephesians clearly sets forth God's eternal purpose to create the church--God's new society. In this revised Bible Speaks Today volume, John Stott expounds Paul's theme of uniting all things in Christ by uniting his church. Guiding readers passage by passage through Ephesians, he provides helpful background, highlights key themes, and offers applications for Christians today. Drawing from his many years of studying and teaching Ephesians, Stott lays out the book's compelling vision of what the church should be and its ongoing need for renewal. Christians are called to new life, new standards, and new relationships within the new society, where God breaks down all the barriers that have divided us from God and each other. This revised edition of a classic volume features a new interior design, updated Scripture quotations, and light updates throughout.

The Book of Revelation holds a special fascination for both scholars and the general public. The book has generated widely differing interpretations, yet Revelation has surprisingly not been the focus of many single-volume reference works. The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Revelation fills a need in the study of this controversial book. Thirty essays by leading scholars from around the world orient readers to the major currents in the study of Revelation. Divided into five sections-Literary Features, Social Setting, Theology and Ethics, History of Reception and Influence, and Currents in Interpretation-the essays identify the major lines of interpretation that have shaped discussion of these topics, and then work through the aspects of those topics that are most significant and hold greatest promise for future research.

To enclaves of young converts in the mountains of Asia Minor, Paul wrote what is perhaps the oldest document in the New Testament--the letter to the Galatians. Paul's readers were struggling with numerous issues: How were men and women to be put right with God? Among a variety of religious authorities espousing different teachings, how were they to know who was right? How could Christians in the midst of a pagan culture live lives truly pleasing to God? Only one way, answered Paul: through Jesus Christ. In this volume, John Stott helps us understand the message of Galatians and how it holds true in the face of current challenges to our faith. Guiding readers passage by passage through Galatians, he provides helpful background, highlights key themes, and offers applications for Christians today. This revised edition of a classic Bible Speaks Today volume features a new interior design, updated Scripture quotations, and light updates throughout.

When Paul first penned his letter to the house churches of Rome, his purpose was to gain prayerful support for his coming mission to the western Mediterranean. Little did he know that for two millennia this finely tuned exposition of the gospel would echo through church and academy, market and home, around the world. In this revised Bible Speaks Today volume, John Stott clearly expounds Paul's words, themes, and arguments in Romans and offers applications for today's readers. He explores the epistle's rich harmonies and broad vision, highlighting the power of the gospel. Deeply acquainted with the text and context of Romans and Pauline scholarship, Stott also views Romans from his own pastoral and missionary perspective. This revised edition of a classic Bible Speaks Today volume features lightly updated language, current NIV Scripture quotations and a new interior design. A study guide at the end of the book will help you more deeply ponder the message of Romans and how it speaks to your life.

Even healthy churches are never completely immune to the intellectual and spiritual pressures of their time. The church in Colossae was no exception. False teaching shaped by the spirit of the age was rising within the community, suggesting that a fuller knowledge and freedom was available beyond what ordinary Christians had experienced. Paul's response was adamant: all God's fullness is in Christ alone, and everyone who is in Christ shares in his triumph. The epistle to the Colossians is filled with teachings and warnings that are relevant to the church in every era. In this revised Bible Speaks Today volume, Dick Lucas identifies key themes of Paul's letter and considers applications for today. Guiding readers through each passage, Lucas explores the great truths of the faith packed into Colossians: freedom, victory over evil, knowledge of God, unity, and other aspects of the riches available in Christ. This new edition of a classic BST volume includes a new interior design, lightly updated language, and updated Scripture quotations throughout.

Romans is Paul's most thorough presentation of the good news he preached. Writing to a church he had not yet met, Paul lets them know that both Jews and Gentiles need to be rescued from death, and the crucified and risen Jesus is the Savior they need. In Romans Verse by Verse, Grant R. Osborne shows readers what Romans meant to its original audience and what it means today. Throughout, he keeps scholarly discussions in the background so he can shine a light on the text itself in a way that non-scholars can understand. The Osborne New Testament Commentary Series is a set of commentaries on every New Testament book for people who are looking for a straightforward explanation of the text. In them, today's readers gain fuller access to the riches of each book from a master teacher who loves God's Word.