Delve Deeper into God's Word In this verse-by-verse commentary, Robert Gundry offers a fresh, literal translation and a reliable exposition of Scripture for today's readers. In these three short letters, the apostle John seeks to strengthen the Christian's knowledge, joy, and assurance in true Christian faith over against Gnostic falsehoods. Second and Third John warn against housing false teachers and encourage showing hospitality to messengers of truth. Pastors, Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and laypeople will welcome Gundry's nontechnical explanations and clarifications. And Bible students at all levels will appreciate his sparkling interpretations. This selection is from Gundry's Commentary on the New Testament.

Here John advises us that loving one another is not an option or a suggestion, it is a commandment. John doesn’t want any believer to become like Adam and Eve’s firstborn, Cain. That happened because Cain was under the influence of Satan. This is, therefore, a warning not to mess with the world. So, what if they hate us? We are bound for everlasting life in the presence of God. That’s why death has no power over us. And that’s why, if our thoughts do not tell us that we are guilty, we will not be afraid to come to God. We can pray to God and we can ask Him to help us. He will give us what we ask Him for. That is because we obey His commands and we do the things that please Him. Furthermore, we should all love each other because God makes us able to love other people. Everyone who loves other people confirms our claim to be a child of God. If anyone says clearly that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in that person. And that person lives together with God. We know the kind of love that God has for us. That’s why if we love God, we will not be afraid of Him. So, how do we know that we love God’s children? We know it when we love God and we do what He tells us to do.

Accessible, comprehensive, and up-to-date, Interpreting the Gospel and Letters of John is an ideal text for students new to the discipline of biblical studies. Sherri Brown and Francis J. Moloney present a broad overview of the story of Christianity arising out of its Jewish foundations and proceed to guide readers expertly through the contents of the Gospel and Letters of John. Maintaining that Johannine literature is best understood against the background of the Old Testament covenant metaphor, Brown and Moloney focus on the central role of covenant in the narrative of John's Gospel and highlight the Evangelist's use of fulfillment language. Helpful sidebars, maps, questions for review, and further-reading lists are placed throughout the text, making this volume well suited for classroom use.

Earl S. Johnson, Jr., explores eight biblical texts that have been instrumental in forming the basis of Presbyterian belief and mission. Using Reformed and Presbyterian principles of biblical interpretation--and the standards of modern biblical criticism, he examines Presbyterian theological statements and their influence on the development of the church's positions on social issues throughout history. With this important work, Johnson aims to help his readers avoid interpretative mistakes of the past and find insights into the way the Bible can be used correctly to lead the church in the future.

In this addition to the well-received Paideia series, a respected New Testament scholar examines cultural context and theological meaning in First, Second, and Third John. Paideia commentaries explore how New Testament texts form Christian readers by attending to the ancient narrative and rhetorical strategies the text employs, showing how the text shapes theological convictions and moral habits, and making judicious use of maps, photos, and sidebars in a reader-friendly format.

This extract from the Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible provides Tomes’ introduction to and concise commentary on First and Second Kings. The Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible presents, in nontechnical language, the best of modern scholarship on each book of the Bible, including the Apocrypha. Reader-friendly commentary complements succinct summaries of each section of the text and will be valuable to scholars, students, and general readers. Rather than attempt a verse-by-verse analysis, these volumes work from larger sense units, highlighting the place of each passage within the overarching biblical story. Commentators focus on the genre of each text—parable, prophetic oracle, legal code, and so on—interpreting within the historical and literary context. The volumes also address major issues within each biblical book—including the range of possible interpretations—and refer readers to the best resources for further discussions.

Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a major contribution to scholarship and ministry.