The Bible has profoundly influenced the western world. Many of its characters and stories are well known and yet, oddly enough, wide swaths of the Bible are unknown and misunderstood. The laws and teaching contained within it have shaped contemporary thinking and jurisprudence in ways many do not realise. Equally important, two of the world's largest religions-Judaism and Christianity-consider the Hebrew Bible to be sacred and to contain enduring truths about beginnings and creation, life and death, the world, and what it means to be human. This introduction will introduce beginners to the Bible with simplicity and precision, in an engaging manner. It will provide a quick overview of the issues related to reading and studying the Bible as an academic discipline while simultaneously illustrating the importance of the Bible for religion, western jurisprudence, ethics, and contemporary conceptions of the family, morality, and even politics.

This 1999 book situates Romans 14.1-15.13 in the context of first-century Roman thought, using the lenses of asceticism (especially vegetarianism), superstition and obligation. It also seeks to situate this section of Romans within the letter as a whole, and concludes by arguing that the section illustrates the theme, or primary topos, of the letter: that Paul, his gospel, and those who follow it are not shameful. Contributions to Romans research surface where this book examines the terms 'strong' and 'weak' in light of their use within Roman social discourse; identifies the Roman social value of obligation throughout the letter as a key element both within Paul's self-understanding and in his ethical teaching; raises previously unrecognized implications of the letter's occasional nature for how we read and use Romans; and traces the topos of not being ashamed through the letter and back to its roots in the LXX.

This book situates Romans 14.1-15.13 in the context of first-century Roman thought, from the perspective of asceticism (especially vegetarianism), superstition, and obligation. It seeks to situate this section of Romans within the letter as a whole, and concludes that the section illustrates the theme of the letter: that Paul, his gospel, and those who follow it are not shameful. New contributions to Romans research surface through a fresh examination of the terms "strong" and "weak" in light of their use within Roman social discourse.

From our hearts to yours - no matter where you might be - we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year In 2012, we introduced Snowbird Christmas Vol 1, a collection of short holiday stories to warm your heart Well, we've done it again, because you asked us to We know that Christmas is all about love and we wish you the kind of Christmas that will make wonderful memories for you and yours. Rated G

In recent years the New Testament writings have increasingly been read in the cultural and political context of the early Roman Empire. In Roman Imperial Texts, students and scholars now have a ready handbook of the most important sources for this context. A selection of the most important sources for the cultural and political context of the early Roman Empire and the New Testament writings, Roman Imperial Texts includes freshly translated public speeches, official inscriptions, annals, essays, poems, and documents of veiled protest from the Empire's subject peoples.