Craig S. Keener presents fascinating, wonderfully useful information on the historical and cultural backgrounds of nearly every verse in the New Testament.

This unique commentary provides historical, social and cultural background for each passage of the Old Testament. From Genesis through Malachi, this single volume gathers and condenses an abundance of specialized knowledge, and includes a glossary, maps and charts, and expanded explanations of significant background issues.

John H. Walton and Victor H. Matthews provide an accessible passage-by-passage commentary on the archaeological and cultural background of the first five books of the Bible.

This commentary uses extreme detail to take the reader right into New Testament settings, not through theology or word study, but through the sights and sounds of the world where Christ and His disciples walked!

Craig S. Keener presents fascinating, wonderfully useful information on the historical and cultural backgrounds of nearly every verse in the New Testament.

We are far removed from the time and culture of the biblical world, and this distance easily leads to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Our understanding and appreciation for God's Word increase exponentially when we know about the context in which the biblical books were written. So while many Bible commentaries explain the theological meaning of the text, The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary provides fascinating cultural and historical insights into God's Word. Richly illustrated with full-color photos throughout, this one-volume background commentary includes articles by leading Old and New Testament scholars on subjects such as - countries, cities, and cultures of the Holy Land and the Greco-Roman world - warfare and execution - religious groups and customs - fashion, athletics, feasts, and celebrations - honor, shame, and hospitality - and much more This colorful, informative volume is an essential companion for pastors, teachers, and laypeople who want to enhance their personal Bible study and help others do the same.

Presents strategies for studying the Bible. Offers advice for selecting the right Bible, methods of interpretation, and the use of commentaries. Includes exercises and review questions.

This unique reference tool provides enrichment information for the lay Bible teacher and preacher, covering the New Testament.

The pastor’s life never goes as one would imagine it. The highs are much greater and heartfelt than you anticipate; the anxiety and stress are deeper and last longer than you expect. Add to this mix the possibility of working a full time job in addition to pastoring, and you can see why a pastor's time is in such great demand. What if you could hold in your hand a resource that would jump start your sermon writing process, allowing you to save time and still deliver a trustworthy sermon? Dr. Paul Cannings, once a young pastor himself, remembers the days of struggling to balance it all. Now he has written a helpful guidebook that provides everything a pastor or lay teacher needs to write an effective, moving, and biblically sound sermon for each of the fifty-two weeks in the year. In Big Idea Sermons, Dr. Cannings clearly lays out the key components of a good sermon by including sermon outlines, series, background information, illustrations, holiday messages for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother's and Father's Day, and more. He also includes references to the Hebrew and Greek texts for further validation. By working with the original languages, Dr. Cannings proclaims the gospel in a clear, engaging, and trustworthy manner. Pastors, preachers, lay teachers, and anyone in position to preach a sermon or teach a lesson: Big Idea Sermons is here to help. All that you need to write a good sermon is included. Be sure to read, meditate, and pray so you may use this resource wisely and effectively.

A Proven Approach to Help You Interpret and Understand the Bible Grasping God's Word has proven itself in classrooms across the country as an invaluable help to students who want to learn how to read, interpret, and apply the Bible for themselves. This book will equip you with a five-step Interpretive Journey that will help you make sense of any passage in the Bible. It will also guide you through all the different genres found in the Bible to help you learn the specifics of how to best approach each one. Filling the gap between approaches that are too simple and others that are too technical, this book starts by equipping readers with general principles of interpretation, then moves on to apply those principles to specific genres and contexts. Features include: Proven in classrooms across the country Hands-on exercises to guide students through the interpretation process Emphasis on real-life application Supplemented by a website for professors providing extensive teaching materials Accompanying workbook, video lectures, laminated study guide (sold separately) This fourth edition includes revised chapters on word studies and Bible translations, updated illustrations, cultural references, bibliography, and assignments. This book is the ideal resource for anyone looking for a step-by-step guide that will teach them how to accurately and faithfully interpret the Bible.