A book focusing on the nexus between language and literature in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, with specific attention to how the former is used to create the latter; topics include wordplay, wordplay with proper names, alliteration, repetition with variation, dialect representation, intentionally confused language, marking closure, and more.
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The book of Jude includes numerous references to Jewish history (Balaam, Cain, and Korah's rebellion), references Jude believed made all the more powerful his warnings against internal enemies of the church. "The Value of Learning History," an article from pastor John Piper, illuminates, using Jude as a context, the importance for each person … Read more…
What is the purpose of studying history? How do we reflect on contemporary life from a historical perspective, and can such reflection help us better understand ourselves, the world around us, and the God we worship and serve?Written by an accomplished historian, award-winning author, public evangelical spokesman, and respected teacher, this introductory tex… Read more…
Long before the words of the Bible were written, God's communication through the spoken word rang out loud and clear. Jesus in particular commissioned representatives to speak on his behalf even during the time of his earthly ministry. And yet today we are a reading culture. It is easy for modern Christians to take for granted that the Bible was handed d… Read more…
Being responsive to God is at the heart of prophecy. But readers of ancient prophecies and apocalyptic literature—including those in the Old Testament—can come away thoroughly perplexed. Are the prophets speaking about their own times, about our present, or about some still-unrealized future?It's common to study prophecy with a focus on the sole ques… Read more…
"An excellent resource for those eager to learn more about the evolution of American Christianity."--Publishers WeeklyAmerican history has profoundly shaped, and been shaped by, Christianity. This engaging introduction provides a brisk and lively yet deeply researched survey of these intertwined forces from the colonial period to the present.Elesha Coffman t… Read more…
"We have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father."This line from the prologue of the Gospel of John declares the theme of Epiphany. Christmas celebrates Christ's birth; Epiphany manifests his glory.The feast of Epiphany and its following season are not as well observed as they should be. Many of us associate Epiphany with the visit of … Read more…
The Bible contains hundreds of genealogies that fulfill multiple purposes, yet the significance of these genealogies can admittedly be difficult to grasp. In All the Genealogies of the Bible, author Nancy presents every genealogy in the Bible in a simple, visual format. Esteemed biblical scholars Eugene Merrill and Andreas Kostenberger supplement Dawson'… Read more…
Read by the author.Jesus through Medieval Eyes will take you on an exploration of medieval representations of Jesus in theology and literature.Who is Jesus? What is he like? And who am I, encountering Jesus? These questions were just as important to Christians in the Middle Ages as they are today.And yet—as C.S. Lewis noted—the modern church… Read more…
Jesus through Medieval Eyes will take you on an exploration of medieval representations of Jesus in theology and literature.Who is Jesus? What is he like? And who am I, encountering Jesus? These questions were just as important to Christians in the Middle Ages as they are today.And yet—as C.S. Lewis noted—the modern church tends to forget th… Read more…
This brief introduction surveys Christian thinking on an array of topics related to security and peace from a just war perspective. Drawing primarily on Scripture and theology, Eric Patterson explores the moral dimensions of order, justice, and peace in light of key Christian doctrines such as love of neighbor, stewardship, vocation, and sphere sovereignty. … Read more…
Some Christians think Paul's reference to "saved through childbearing" in 1 Timothy 2:15 means that women are slated primarily for delivering and raising children. Alternate readings, however, sometimes fail to build on the best historical and textual evidence.Sandra Glahn thinks that we have misunderstood Paul by misunderstanding the context to which he… Read more…