Despite its rich history in the Latin tradition, Christian monasticism began in the east; the wellsprings of monastic culture and spirituality can be directly sourced from the third-century Egyptian wilderness. In this volume, John Binns creates a vivid, authoritative account that traces the four main branches of eastern Christianity, up to and beyond the Great Schism of 1054 and the break between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Binns begins by exploring asceticism in the early church and the establishment of monastic life in Egypt, led by St Anthony and Pachomius. He chronicles the expansion, influence and later separation of the various Orthodox branches, examining monastic traditions and histories ranging from Syria to Russia and Ethiopia to Asia Minor. Culminating with both the persecution and the revival of monastic life, Binns concludes with an argument for both the diversity and the shared set of practices and ideals between the Orthodox churches, creating a resource for both cross-disciplinary specialist and students of religion, history, and spirituality.

This volume examines the stories of Genesis in music, showing how musical settings can illuminate many of the Bible's most noted tales. Helen Leneman studies oratorios, operas and songs (as well as their librettos) to shed light on how Genesis has been understood and experienced over time. Examining an extensive range of musical settings of stories from the book of Genesis, Leneman offers an overview of chiefly 19th and 20th century musical engagements with this biblical text. Leneman first discusses how Eve's inner thoughts are explored by noted French composers Jules Massenet and Gabriel Faure. The text then enters the deep waters of Noah's flood in examination of several compositions, including two unusual settings by Igor Stravinsky and Benjamin Britten, as well as more conventional settings by Saint-Saens and Donizetti. Two major 19th century oratorio settings of Abraham's story by lesserknown German composers Martin Blumner and Karl Mangold provide fascinating illuminations of the Abraham narratives, whereas parts of Rebecca's story are found in works by Cesar Franck, Ferdinand Hiller, and most unusually, by a French woman composer, Celanie Carissan. Finally, Leneman shows how Joseph's story was set in numerous oratorios (including by Handel) but that one of the most important works based on his story is an opera by 18th century French composer Etienne Mehul. In addition to discussing these larger 19th century works, Leneman also examines several interesting atonal 20th century works based on the stories of Eve and the Flood, shedding new light on the history of the interpretation of the Book of Genesis.

Mayer I. Gruber provides a new commentary on and translation of Hosea. Building upon his work that debunked the myth of sacred prostitution, Gruber now goes on to show that the book of Hosea repeatedly advocates a single standard of marital fidelity for men and women and teaches cheated women to fight back. Gruber employs the latest and most precise findings of lexicography and poetics to solve the difficulties of the text and to determine both how Hosea can be read and what this means. The translation differs from classical and recent renderings in eliminating forms and expressions, which are neither modern English nor ancient Hebrew. Referring to places, events, and material reality of the 9th and 8th centuries BCE, Gruber uncovers the abiding messages of the heretofore obscure book of Hosea. As in previous studies, Gruber employs the insights of behavioral sciences to uncover forgotten meanings of numerous allusions, idioms, similes, and metaphors. Judicious use is made also of textual history, reception history, and personal voice criticism. One of the least biblical books now speaks more clearly to present and future audiences than it did to many previous audiences.

The world is full of smart decisions. Yet, there are wars; genocide and ethnic cleansing; people suffering from disease and hunger; human beings considered less than human because of their race, color of their skin, or their sex. The world needs men and women making and acting on wise decisions. In order to do that, they must seek and acquire wisdom.

In A Layman Considers Wisdom, Marshall Lenne sows, cultivates, and leaves for your harvesting life-sustaining wisdom. His considerations probe the motivation driving decisions and the resulting worldly and spiritual consequences.

Discover who really determines if a decision or action is wise or foolish, good or evil. Discover how you can make wise decisions and act wisely, even in the face of adversity. Discover who Wisdom is

Bibles make great gifts!

This leather-look NIV Gift and Award Bible is economically priced so you can share the life-changing Word of God with more people. Perfect for special events or acts of kindness, this gift Bible is arranged in two columns with words of Jesus in red, along with a presentation page for gift-giving, maps, and other Bible helps.

The NIV Gift and Award Bible features Zondervan's exclusive Comfort Print® typeface, making it easy for everyone to read. Expertly designed for the New International Version (NIV) text, Comfort Print delivers a smooth reading experience that complements the most widely read contemporary-English Bible translation.

Features:

• Full text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV)
• List of the miracles and parables of Jesus
• Full-color maps
• Words of Jesus in red
• Two-column format
• Exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print typeface
• 7.7-point print size

New Testament theology raises many questions, not only within its own boundaries, but also in relation to other fields such as history, literary criticism, sociology, psychology, history, politics, philosophy, and religious studies. But, the overarching question concerns the relevance of two thousand year old writings in today's world. How does one establish what is and is not relevant in the New Testament? How does one communicate the ancient ideas, presented in an alien language, alien time, and alien culture to a contemporary audience? This book is intended to serve as a methodological introduction to the field of New Testament theology, aimed at a range of readers-undergraduate and Seminary students, clergy, and laypersons interested in the relevance of scripture. It is a guide which aims to help readers understand how practitioners of New Testament theology have wrestled with the relationship between historical reconstruction of the New Testament, and its interpretation in the modern world.

The new Tyndale classic NLT Thinline Reference Bible, Filament-Enabled Edition has readable text, an attractive layout, and cross-references in a thin, easy-to-carry size. And while it has the same low price as basic text-only Bibles, the NLT Thinline Reference offers much more. It not only features a bold new design and the trusted and much-loved New Living Translation (NLT) but also includes the groundbreaking Filament Bible app. This app enables you to use your mobile phone or tablet to connect every page to a vast array of related content, including study notes, devotionals, interactive maps, informative videos, and worship music.

The Filament Bible app turns this Bible into a powerful study and devotional experience, offering more to expand your mind and touch your heart than you can possibly hold in your hand.

And there is no additional cost for the Filament Bible app. No additional purchase. No additional size or weight.

Of course, you can use this Bible without the app, but when you want to dig deeper, grab your phone or tablet and open the Filament Bible app. It’s so easy to use.

Features:

• New designs and Filament content for each page!
• Handy thin size
• Words of Jesus in red
• Thousands of cross-references
• Quality lay-flat Smyth-sewn binding
• Tyndale Verse Finder
• Presentation page
• Ribbon marker
• Gilded page edges
• 8.75-point type size

Filament Bible app with free access to:

• 25,000 study notes
• 350+ videos
• 40+ maps and infographics
• 400+ profiles and articles
• 1,500+ devotionals
• Library of worship music

This is a must-have collection for celebrating the season of Lent. Rita A. Simmonds offers unique, penetrating poetic reflections on the traditional Fourteen Stations of the Cross along with award-winning Lenten poems.

A creative journaling Bible especially for girls with more than 500 line-art illustrations, 366 devotions and 50 character profiles of women and girls from the Bible!

My Creative Bible for Girls is a uniquely designed edition of the English Standard Version Bible that provides more than 500 ready-to-color line-art illustrations. The extra-wide margins for girls aged 8-12 is perfect to personalize their Bible while they journal and color in creative ways. 366 short inspirational devotions specifically aimed at young girls will enable them to engage with God, while the 50 Bible character profiles teach girls more about the godly women in the Bible. No matter their artistic level, girls will love the coloring, journaling, scribbling and doodling experience. This is a Bible they will treasure forever.

Features:

• Complete ESV text in single-column format.
• Easily readable 9pt font.
• Two-inch-wide ruled margins are perfect for journaling, writing down own thoughts or doodling.
• 366 encouraging devotions by Amanda Cowles (adapted from Break Time)
• 66 full-page line-art Bible book openers to color.
• 66 memory verses, one for each book of the Bible, highlighted and marked with a fun icon in the Bible text.
• 300+ beautifully designed line-art illustrations in the margins to color.
• 12 full-page line-art Scripture prayers to color.
• 20 full-page line-art Scripture verses to color.
• 50 character profiles of women and girls from the Bible, including Ruth, Miriam, Sarah, Eve, and more.