The 'Ephesians: For Everyone Bible Study Guide' by renowned Christian author and professor, Tom Wright, is an excellent starting point for new Christians, those studying or Bible study groups to explore and understand more on the book of Ephesians. As part of the 'For Everyone Bible Study Guides' series, this title by Tom Wright offers a range of thought-provoking study questions and accessible introductory material. The guides in this series can be used on their own or alongside Tom Wright's engaging New Testament for Everyone commentaries. 'For Everyone Bible Study Guides' are designed to help you understand the Bible in fresh ways under the guidance of one of the world's leading New Testament scholars, Tom Wright. Thoughtful questions, prayer suggestions, and useful background and cultural information all guide you into a deeper understanding of the Christian story and the Christian life. When you have a story at the back of your mind, have you noticed how it sometimes keeps coming up, even if you are talking about something else? Throughout his exhortation, prayers and instructions for living in the letter to the Ephesians, Paul cannot contain his joy and amazement at God's plan to save us in Jesus the Messiah. These eleven studies from Tom Wright within 'Ephesians: For Everyone Bible Study Guide' help us to see the significance of our role in God's grand narrative, and encourage us to live fully as people who are lavishly loved by God. This book on Ephesians is the perfect introduction to the topic, designed to not only teach but also question the reader and give thoughtful insight.

"Over the years, Thomas Moore has taught us how to discover the holiness concealed in the ordinary." - Harold Kushner In his latest book, Thomas Moore finds striking new meaning in the rich stories and imagery of the Gospels, recasting Jesus not as a teacher of morals and beliefs but as a spiritual visionary with a radical vision for humanity. This highly original take on the Gospels offers a fresh, new way of imagining human life and society. It presents Jesus not as the founder of a religion but as a world reformer offering a spiritual path to everyone, from every background. It offers a personal spirituality fit for the 21st century, where the individual bears responsibility for meaning and for a creative, convivial way of life. "The sincerity, intelligence and style - so beautifully clean - of Tom Moore's 'Care of the Soul' truly moved me. The book's got strength and class and soul, and I suspect may last longer than psychology itself." - James Hillman

Not too many other texts in biblical studies received more attention than the parables of Jesus, in fact raising the question whether or not we need yet another book on this subject. The answer to this question will always remain an emphatic yes. For Jesus and the church, the parables are mysteries, i.e. not beyond understanding, but open to an infinite possibility of meaning. This perhaps explains why more than a century after Adolf Julicher convincingly argued for a non-allegorical reading of the parables this quest is far from over. Notwithstanding their significant metaphorical force, this book will attempt to shed new light on the parables in understanding and reading these short stories as speech-events (J.G. Hamann) and language-games (L. Wittgenstein). Parables do not primarily signify abstract truths, but illustrate a world reminiscent of God's kingdom. Engaging in the parables, therefore, does not simply evoke thought processes, but actively calls readers into participating in the unfolding events pictured by the text, hereby joining in actions that seek to establish the kingdom of God as envisioned through the words of Jesus. Reading and interpreting the parables as language-games renders these stories accessible to questions of faith that could not be asked previously: Why does a man without wedding garment face expulsion from the banquet? Why are wise virgins rewarded by not sharing their oil? Why is anxiety and caution severely punished and financial risk taking awarded? Understanding Jesus' parables as pictures of a world reigned by God, yet in need of redemption and our collaboration will remove these texts from the pedestal of enigma and obscurity, placing them into the hands of the faithful reader.

Winner of Christianity Today's 2011 award for best book in spiritualityThough bringing people to new birth in Christ through evangelism is essential, says Eugene Peterson, isn't growth in Christ equally essential? Yet the American church by and large does not treat Christian maturity and character formation with much urgency.In Practice Resurrection Peterson brings the voice of Scripture -- especially Paul's letter to the Ephesians -- and the voice of the contemporary Christian congregation together to unpack the crucial truth of what it means to fully grow up to the "stature of Christ."

This book anchors its account of the beauty of Jesus Christ to a scheme found in St Augustine of Hippo's Expositions of the Psalms. There Augustine recognized the beauty of Christ at every stage-from his pre-existence ('beautiful in heaven'), through his incarnation, the public ministry ('beautiful in his miracles, beautiful in calling to life'), passion, crucifixion, burial, resurrection ('beautiful in taking up his life again'), and glorious life 'in heaven'. Augustine never filled out this laconic summary by writing a work on Christ and his beauty. The Beauty of Jesus Christ seems to be the first attempt in Christian history to write a comprehensive account of the beauty of Christ in the light of Augustine's list. The work begins by offering a working description of what it understands by beauty as being perfect, harmonious, and radiant. Beauty, above all the divine beauty, enjoys inexhaustible meaning and overlaps with 'the holy' or the awesome and fascinating mystery of God. Loving beauty opens the way to truth and helps us grasp and practise virtue. The books needs to add some items to Augustine's list by recognizing Christ's beauty in his baptism, transfiguration, and post-resurrection sending of the Holy Spirit. It also goes beyond Augustine by showing how the imagery and language Jesus prepared in his hidden life and then used in his ministry witness to the beautiful sensibility that developed during his years at home in Nazareth. Throughout, this book draws on the Scriptures to illustrate and justify Augustine's brief claims about the beauty revealed in the whole story of Christ, from his pre-existence to his risen 'post-existence'. Where appropriate, it also cites the witness to Christ's beauty that has come from artists, composers of sacred music, the creators of icons, and writers.

A study of the medieval idea that defined the "world" as recorded in I John 2:16-the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Conflict in Troilus and Criseyde, Piers Plowman, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is explored. Originally published in 1966. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

A study of the medieval idea that defined the "world" as recorded in I John 2:16-the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Conflict in Troilus and Criseyde, Piers Plowman, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is explored. Originally published in 1966. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

"Journeying through Acts" explores the literary and cultural aspects of Acts and offers a fresh reading of this dramatic volume.
Acts is unique in the New Testament canon in part because it is not a gospel or a Pauline letter. It presents a dynamic story of the spread of the Christian gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. The gospel was propelled by the earliest followers of the risen and ascended Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, who is arguably the chief protagonist in the narrative.
Spencer's reading offers a traveler's guide through the book of Acts. He charts narrative features--plot development, character building, and shifting points of view--and explores cultural scenarios that affect the events in Acts--honor/shame contests, patron-client relations, and purity-pollution boundaries. Within this literary-cultural framework, Spencer undertakes to map the temporal, spatial, and social settings of each segment of the Acts journey.
"Journeying through Acts" offers students, pastors, scholars, and lay readers a satisfying--although by no means exhaustive--understanding of the overall narrative of Acts in light of recent academic scholarship.

THE NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY is for the minister or Bible student who wants to understand and expound the Scriptures. Notable features include: * commentary based on THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION; * the NIV text printed in the body of the commentary; * sound scholarly methodology that reflects capable research in the original languages; * interpretation that emphasizes the theological unity of each book and of Scripture as a whole; * readable and applicable exposition.

Updated text and new maps bring this standard introduction up to date.
Throughout Christian history, the works of Josephus have been mined for the light they shed on the world of the New Testament. Josephus tells us about the Herodian family, the temple, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes. He mentions James the brother of Jesus, John the Baptist, and even Jesus himself. In "Josephus and the New Testament," an internationally acknowledged authority on Josephus introduces this first-century Jewish historian to readers who want to begin to explore his witness to environment in which early Judaism and Christianity took shape.

This is the latest release in Enduring Word Media's commentary series by David Guzik.David Guzik's commentaries are noted for their clear, complete, and concise explanation of the Bible. Pastors, teachers, class leaders, homestudy groups, and everyday Christians all over the world have found this commentary series remarkably helpful.

In his epistle to the Philippians, Paul addresses internal struggles and external pressures that the church faced. In the letter he presents the sacrificial life of Christ as the ultimate example, "the ethical foundation for all of life," and then calls believers to imitate Christ in their own lives. In this volume, Mark J. Keown scrupulously examines Philippians with a clear eye on the original text and a fine-tuned ear to first-century culture while also interacting with the full history of scholarship on Philippians. Keown also carefully considers the letter's theological and devotional importance for present-day believers. The result is the most comprehensive commentary on Philippians yet published.

This series is designed for those who know biblical languages. It is written primarily for the pastor and Bible teacher, not for the scholar. That is, the aim is not to review and offer a critique of every possible interpretation that has ever been given to a passage, but to exegete each passage of Scripture succinctly in its grammatical and historical context. Each passage is interpreted in the light of its biblical setting, with a view to grammatical detail, literary context, flow of biblical argument, and historical setting. While the focus will not be on application, it is expected that the authors will offer suggestions as to the direction in which application can flow.

Christianity Today 2013 Book Award Winner Winner of The Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship's 2012 Award of Excellence 2011 Book of the Year, Christianbook.com's Academic Blog Most modern prejudice against biblical miracle reports depends on David Hume's argument that uniform human experience precluded miracles. Yet current research shows that human experience is far from uniform. In fact, hundreds of millions of people today claim to have experienced miracles. New Testament scholar Craig Keener argues that it is time to rethink Hume's argument in light of the contemporary evidence available to us. This wide-ranging and meticulously researched two-volume study presents the most thorough current defense of the credibility of the miracle reports in the Gospels and Acts. Drawing on claims from a range of global cultures and taking a multidisciplinary approach to the topic, Keener suggests that many miracle accounts throughout history and from contemporary times are best explained as genuine divine acts, lending credence to the biblical miracle reports.

Reading Genesis presents a panoramic view of the most vital ways that Genesis is approached in modern scholarship. Essays by ten eminent scholars cover the perspectives of literature, gender, memory, sources, theology, and the reception of Genesis in Judaism and Christianity. Each contribution addresses the history and rationale of the method, insightfully explores particular texts of Genesis, and deepens the interpretive gain of the method in question. These ways of reading Genesis, which include its classic past readings, map out a pluralistic model for understanding Genesis in - and for - the modern age.

A practical and powerful reminder that new life in Christ gives us a whole new purpose - and a new goal for every aspect of life...we have been designed to be like Him.

Christopher Armitage considers previous theological perception of 1 John as a text advocating that God abhors violence, contrasted with biblical scholarship analysis that focuses upon the text's birth from hostile theological conflict between 'insiders' and 'outsiders', with immensely hostile rhetoric directed towards 'antichrists' and those who have left the community. Armitage argues that a peace-oriented reading of 1 John is still viable, but questions if the commandment that the community loves each other is intended to include their opponents, and whether the text can be of hermeneutic use to advocate non-violence and love of one's neighbour. This book examines five key words from 1 John, hilasmos, sfazo, anthropoktonos, agape and adelphos, looking at their background and use in the Old Testament in both Hebrew and the LXX, arguing that these central themes presuppose a God whose engagement with the world is not assuaging divine anger, nor ferocious defence of truth at the expense of love, but rather peace and avoidance of hatred that inevitably leads to violence and death. Armitage concludes that a peacemaking hermeneutic is not only viable, but integral to reading the epistle.

The Life Application Bible Commentary: Revelation provides personal help, teaching notes, and sermon ideas that will address needs, answer questions, and provide help for daily living. This Bible commentary provides explanation, background, and application for every verse in the book of Revelation.

Much scholarship has focused on Paul's insistence on Gentile membership of the people of God equally with Jews. Dr Yee's study of Ephesians 2 reveals how the distinctively Jewish world view of the author of Ephesians underlies this key text. He explores how the Ephesians' author provides a resolution to one of the thorniest issues regarding two ethnic groups in the earliest period of Christianity: can Jew and Gentile, the two estranged human groups, be one (people of God) and if so, how? Setting Ephesians 2 as fully as possible into its historical context, he describes some of the relevant Jewish features and demonstrates them, revealing many explosive but hidden issues. This book provides an important contribution to the continuing reassessment of Christian and Jewish self-understanding in regard to each other during the critical period of the latter decades of the first century CE.

24-point Gospel-The Big News for Today - The classical Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke & John (KJV) in 24-point type. Type is about 1/3 inch high. Now, people with visual disabilities like macular degeneration can still use this important reference. "Giant print" books are usually 18-point or less.

Sin was an extremely important and serious concern for the earliest Christians and the authors of the New Testament writings. Early Christians came to see the life and ministry of Jesus as challenging presumptions about the meanings of sin and faithfulness. This book provides a comprehensive treatment of different understandings of sin in early Christianity. Jeffrey S. Siker describes how the earliest Christian voices represented in the New Testament writings understood "sin" not only as a theological abstraction, but also as a real reflection upon human thought and behavior that violated right relationships with both other human beings and with God. Siker explores language about sin in relation to the Jewish and Greco-Roman contextual worlds of the New Testament writings, and examines the development and change of these worlds in relation to the modern concept of sin.

"True and absolute freedom is only found in the presence of God."--A.W. Tozer Deep in the soul of every person on earth is a longing for the presence of God. But how do we get there? Experiencing the Presence of God is a never-before-published collection of teachings from A.W. Tozer on the book of Hebrews that shows us the way. Tozer, the renowned pastor and theologian, challenges our status quo, invites us to explore a fresh understanding of what it means to dwell in God's presence, and leads us to experience the divine fulfillment for which we were created! As Tozer says, "We should come to church not anticipating entertainment but expecting the high and holy manifestation of God's presence. . . . Worship is not some performance we do, but a presence we experience." Come alongside Tozer and enter into God's presence right now.