Criticism Interpretation category: 2013 books

One of the most challenging questions facing New Testament scholars—how did Christianity emerge from Judaism?—is often addressed in general and indirect terms. The question becomes acute, however, when we turn to the Fourth Gospel, which, like the Judaism from which it presumably sprang, affirms...

In this comprehensive and systematic volume, renowned literary expert Leland Ryken introduces readers to the specific themes, patterns, and techniques used by the biblical authors. A companion to Ryken’s A Complete Handbook of Literary Forms in the Bible, this practical guidebook will equip you...

This booklet has been compiled at the request oi several influential and representative Canadian Churchmen who wish to have in brief form a statement of the main teaching of the New Testament and Prayer Book on the Lord's Supper with special reference to certain present-day controversies. The booklet...

"The anti-Semitic Gospel"--this is how the book of John is frequently described and perceived, thanks to the pervasive presence of "the Jews" as Jesus' enemies who harass the Son of God to his death. But how accurate is this assessment? This book presents John as Jewish to its...

Slaves, Women and Homosexuals,

This guide considers the historical contexts, the literary forms, the social and rhetorical backgrounds, the politics, the theologies, and the reception of 2 Corinthians. Each chapter surveys recent scholarly approaches to the text, focussing especially on critical perspectives that mesh with our...

A central figure in the reconception of early Christian history over the last three decades, Wayne A. Meeks offers here a selection of his most influential writings on the New Testament and early Christianity. His essays illustrate recent changes in our thinking about the early Christian movement and...

Many pastors in the provincial towns and rural villages of Malawi struggle to find practical relevance in the letter to the Romans. While the majority of church leaders have received little or no formal Bible and ministry training, they often face formidable challenges from African traditional practices,...

Is the Bible Intolerant?

During the 1st century, the Christian community went through a time of rapid expansion, collection of first person accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and, before the apostles themselves passed from the scene, committing those accounts to what was called "gospels" (the "good...

Real questions, real responses. Examine questions and answers about Jesus that many of us were afraid to ask. Some of the questions discussed in this book include: Why did Jesus have to suffer so much before he died? Or did he have to? What happened during the "missing years" of Jesus' life...

This book deals with the theology of the Church of Smyrna from its foundation up to the Council of Nicaea in 325. The author provides a critical historical evaluation of the documentary sources and certain aspects particularly deserving of discussion. He makes a meticulous study of the history of...

Discover clues to the most sacred mysteries of all time! You're no idiot, of course. You're familiar enough with the Ten Commandments to know if you've broken one or two. But when it comes to solving some of the Bible's deepest mysteries, you have to confess-you're clueless. Don't start...

In the subsistence agricultural social context of the Hebrew Bible, children were necessary for communal survival. In such an economy, children’s labor contributes to the family’s livelihood from a young age, rather than simply preparing the child for future adult work. Ethnographic research shows...