A comprehensive biblical reference includes a wide range of articles about people, places, customs, events, religious concepts, and philosophical ideas mentioned in the Scriptures.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia combines the defining function of a dictionary with an encyclopedia's comprehensive presentation of accurate, dependable information. Summarizing the state of knowledge on more than 9,000 topics and including 3,500 cross-references, ISBE contains articles on every person and place mentioned in the Bible, every word in the Bible that has significant theological or ethical meaning, and all terminology that touches on the transmission and interpretation of the Bible.

This volume is a collection of scholarly studies honoring Prof.Dr. David. E. Aune on his 65th birthday. Its title, The New Testament and Early Christian Literature in Greco-Roman Context: Studies in Honor of David E. Aune, reflects Prof. Aune's academic training, interests, and extensive publications. The volume's studies investigate a range of topics within the Pauline correspondence, Gospels, Apocalypse of John, and other early Christian writings with insights drawn from Greco-Roman culture and Hellenistic Judaism. Thus, the studies make use of Greco-Roman literature, rhetoric, magic, medicine, moral philosophy, iconography, archaeology, religious cults, and social conventions while also utilizing social-historical, social-scientific, literary-critical, and rhetorical-critical methodologies, thereby adding an interdisciplinary dimension to the volume. These groundbreaking studies have been written by prominent international scholars and are published here for the first time.

This collection of 13 original essays addresses how properly to define the intersection between the sacred and profane in early modern English literature. These essays cover a variety of works published in 16th and 17th century England, as well as a variety of genres.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia combines the defining function of a dictionary with an encyclopedia's comprehensive presentation of accurate, dependable information. Summarizing the state of knowledge on more than 9,000 topics and including 3,500 cross-references. ISBE contains articles on every person and place mentioned in the Bible, every word in the Bible that has significant theological or ethical meaning and all terminology that touches on the transmission and interpretation of the Bible. ISBE is based on the Revised Standard Version, making it readily accessible to a wide range of readers. More than 1,485 photographs, including 138 color plates, enhance the text of this encyclopedia, and 342 maps give an accurate an attractive presentation of relevant geographical features. -- back cover.

NAGAD's life was perfect until it was torn apart by the ravages of war. Now, haunted by his past, this young conscript must meet the enemy in battle. With shaking rage the nations collide in a fierce conflict for dominance. Yet more is at stake than the survival of a people. The dispute contests the claim of immortal supremacy, the outcome to prove whose god reigns omnipotent. And so, Nagad of Benjamin pushes on through the raging tide of battle. But to no avail. Soon crushed by the mighty war machine of Philistia, thousands of Hebrew soldiers lay slaughtered upon the carrion infested field. Hope has abandoned them. Then it is remembered, that in the days of their fathers, any army that bore the Ark of the Covenant could not be defeated. They need the Ark, for only then can the Chosen of God prevail against the enemy. But they are wrong. "An amazing, vivid account of biblical events is historically accurate where God's judgments, treacherous journeys, blood battles and even romance come alive to the reader in this skillfully written epic story." -Rev. Judith Wiegman

Did Jesus speak Greek? An affirmative answer to the question will no doubt challenge traditional presuppositions. The question relates directly to the historical preservation of Jesus's words and theology. Traditionally, the authenticity of Jesus's teaching has been linked to the recovery of the original Aramaic that presumably underlies the Gospels. The Aramaic Hypothesis infers that the Gospels represent theological expansions, religious propaganda, or blatant distortions of Jesus's teachings. Consequently, uncovering the original Aramaic of Jesus's teachings will separate the historical Jesus from the mythical personality. G. Scott Gleaves, in Did Jesus Speak Greek?, contends that the Aramaic Hypothesis is inadequate as an exclusive criterion of historical Jesus studies and does not aptly take into consideration the multilingual culture of first-century Palestine. Evidence from archaeological, literary, and biblical data demonstrates Greek linguistic dominance in Roman Palestine during the first century CE. Such preponderance of evidence leads not only to the conclusion that Jesus and his disciples spoke Greek but also to the recognition that the Greek New Testament generally and the Gospel of Matthew in particular were original compositions and not translations of underlying Aramaic sources.