Inter-Varsity Press – förlag

With this acclaimed volume in the Pillar New Testament Commentary series, Carson explains the text of John's Gospel to help you minister the Word of God to others, either by preaching or by leading Bible studies. The commentary will also deepen your understanding of the Gospel in your own life and worship. Throughout his commentary Carson does the following:* makes clear the flow of the text, focusing on the movement of thought rather than on word studies and Greek syntax* engages a small but representative part of the massive secondary literature on John, providing a kind of map of contemporary studies on this Gospel* draws a few lines toward establishing how John's Gospel contributes to biblical and systematic theology* offers a consistent exposition of John as an evangelistic GospelPreceded by a comprehensive introduction treating such matters as the authenticity, authorship, purpose and structure of the Gospel, this commentary on John exhibits the solid evangelical Scripture exposition for which Carson is well known and respected.

The question that Paul set before the ancient church in Corinth - Do you not recognize that Jesus Christ is in and among you? (2 Cor. 13:5) - remains a critical question for the church today. This commentary by Mark Seifrid seeks to hear Paul's message afresh and communicate it to our time.Seifrid offers a unified reading of 2 Corinthians, which has often been regarded as a composite of excerpts and fragments. He argues that Paul's message is directed at the 'practical atheism' of the Corinthian church - the hidden heresy that assumes God's saving work in the world may be measured by outward standards of success and achievement.Like all of the Pillar volumes, Seifrid's commentary on 2 Corinthians offers careful grammatical analysis and exegesis with clear pastoral application.

Dig Deeper into the Gospels by Andrew Sach brings you face to face with Jesus in the gospel of Mark.Sometimes we think of the Gospels as the 'easy' bits of the Bible. Anyone who has been through Sunday school can tell you that Jesus walked on water, fed the 5,000 and told a parable about a sower. Is there really much more it than that?The conviction of the Dig Deeper books is that God wants us to work hard at reading the Bible in order to discover its true meaning, hence the use of 'tools' to dig and dig again. It's an interactive process. Indeed, the authors want to make finding Bible treasure a possibility for everyone. And we do this with receptive hearts, listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying.'What a splendid book! A great resource for Bible study leaders and preachers.' - Peter Adam'This book is a gold mine, not just because of the many rich ideas it contains, but especially because it enables us to discover the treasures of the Gospels... The resulting engagement with the gospel - with Jesus himself - is compelling and life-changing.' - Jonathan Lamb

A straightforward, user-friendly guide to how to read the Bible - dig deep into God's word for yourself.'It's all a matter of interpretation.'Most conversations I've had with non-Christians about the Bible end up there sooner or later. It's all a matter of interpretation. Sure, you say it means that Jesus is God and that sex outside marriage is wrong and that heaven is only for Christians, but maybe for me it means that Jesus was just a good teacher and sex with anyone is OK as long as you both want it and heaven is for everybody. It's all just a matter of interpretation.Actually, we've all been conditioned to think like that. It's part of the whole philosophical movement called postmodernism, and over the last few decades it has infiltrated the TV shows that we watch and the classrooms that we sit in. Postmodernism teaches that when I come to a piece of literature such as the Bible, what matters is not what it means, but what it means for me. And that might be different from what it means for you. And that's OK.I wonder if you've ever been in a Bible study like this:Leader: Does anyone have any thoughts about verse 1?Person A: I think it's talking about X, and . . . (blah, blah) . . .Person B: Yes, I see what you're saying Person A and I totally respect you. For me though it means Y, the opposite of X.Leader: Mmmm. Thank you both. Let s move on to verse 2.That's postmodernism in action. The text means one thing for one person and the complete opposite for another, but both interpretations are to be respected and treated as equally valid. But the apostle Paul doesn't see it like that. He thinks that there is a right and a wrong way to understand the Bible.The book is based on the idea of a toolkit. Each chapter introduces you to a separate tool and explains how it works. Although there are illustrations from the Bible throughout, we'll sometimes spend a bit longer on a Worked example to show you how that particular tool really can help us discover something exciting and relevant that the Bible is saying. Finally, the Dig deeper! boxes give you a chance to practise using the tools for yourself. At the end we've included a brief appendix with a suggestion of how you might use the toolkit concept in your small group.

What does an Old Testament book have to say to us in the twenty-first century?Discover the message of a Bible book for yourself by using tools which help you 'dig deeper'. In the authors' own words, 'We want to share with you why we think it means what it does, how we came to our understanding of the verses, what discoveries we made. Rather than a Hollywood movie, this is going to be more like the how-they-made-the-movie footage.''I have never seen a burning bush, have never suffered a plague of boils (even as a seventeen-year-old the acne wasn't that bad), have never parted my bathwater and walked through the middle, have never been to Mount Sinai, let alone heard God speaking from thunder on the top of it,' says Andrew Sach. 'What possible relevance does the book of Exodus have to me?'We set about discovering the message of a Bible book for us today using various tools (first introduced in Dig Deeper). The Repetition tool helps us to see that God's name is a big deal. The Context tool shows us why it was important to beat the Amalekites. The Quotation/Allusion tool uncovers a miniature garden of Eden where we least expect one. And so on.Rather than a Hollywood movie, this is more the how-they-made-the-movie footage that you get in the DVD extras. As well as showing you the treasure, we want you to grow in your ability to unearth such treasure for yourself in other Bible books.

If God is in control of everything, can Christians sit back and not bother to evangelize? Or does active evangelism imply that God is not really sovereign at all?In this classic study, J. I. Packer shows how false both these attitudes are. In a careful review of the biblical evidence, he demonstrates how a right understanding of God's sovereignty is not so much a barrier to evangelism as an incentive and powerful support for it.

Wayne Grudem believes that 'theology is meant to be lived and prayed and sung' - but before this can happen, it must be understood.The most widely-used text of the last 25 years in its discipline, Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem has been thoroughly revised and expanded (all 57 chapters) for the first time, while retaining the features that have made it the standard in its field: clear explanations, an emphasis on each doctrine’s scriptural basis, and practical applications to daily life.Part of the brilliance of Systematic Theology over the years has been its simplicity and ease of use. Each chapter follows the same structure. First, there is discussion of the doctrine being considered, such as justification or the Trinity or the deity of Christ. An explanation of where that doctrine is supported in the Bible and possible objections follow. Personal application and key terms to know for personal growth are then provided. Chapters also include a scripture memory passage, references to other literature on the topic, and suggested hymns and worship songs.With several hundred pages of new content, this new edition now includes the following distinctive features, including:Updated, fuller analysis of several recent controversies within evangelicalism, including the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son in the Trinity, the question of God's atemporal eternity, the role of women in the church, "seeker-sensitive" churches, miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, and contemporary worship music.New, thoughtful critiques of open theism, the "new perspective on Paul," Molinism (or "middle knowledge"), "Free Grace" theology, and the preterist view of Christ’s second comingCompletely revised, stronger chapter on the clarity of ScriptureCompletely revised, stronger chapter on creation and evolution (including a longer critique of theistic evolution)Completely updated bibliographiesAll Scripture quotations updated from RSV to ESVA contemporary worship song added at the end of each chapter (while retaining the traditional hymns as well)Wayne Grudem's warm, pastoral and practical approach to systematic theology has been widely appreciated. He demonstrates on page after page how important biblical doctrine is both for the spiritual health of the individual and for the well-being of the church at large.

The book of Revelation is the most developed example of a scriptural writer wrestling with the ideological implications of the gospel, and engaging with an opposing system in the light of what God has done in Jesus. It is an apocalypse, a letter and a prophecy. Ian Paul gives disciplined attention to the text, examines how John draws on the Old Testament, indicates how his message would have communicated and been understood in its first-century context, and makes connections with our contemporary world.

Are Islam and Christianity essentially the same? Should we seek to overcome divisions by seeing Muslims and Christians as part of one family of Abrahamic faith?Andy Bannister shares his journey from the multicultural streets of inner-city London to being a Christian with a PhD in Qur'anic Studies. Along the way, he came to understand that far from being the same, Islam and Christianity are profoundly different.Get to the heart of what the world's two largest religions say about life's biggest questions-and discover the uniqueness of Christianity’s answer to the question of who God really is.

Rich Johnson, National Leader of New Wine, invites readers to reimagine Christian leadership for today's changing world. He paints a fresh vision of leadership that is rooted in holiness, shaped by health and marked by humility, at a crucial time when many are searching for deeper spiritual renewal.We are living in a significant cultural moment, moving into what many describe as a post-Christian and post-secular age. While this brings real challenges, it also opens up new possibilities for the people of God. Rich believes this moment calls for a return to an older, deeper way of leading: one that follows the example of Christ and puts character before platform.Through the stories of three biblical leaders Ruth, Peter and Daniel, Rich draws out practical wisdom for today's leaders. He offers clear principles and helpful practices that encourage Christian leaders to serve others with integrity, kindness and grace.Rich Johnson is the Vicar of All Saints Worcester and the National Leader of New Wine England. He is married to Kath and they have three children. Rich is passionate about investing in leaders, developing networks and equipping all the people of God to play their part in the redemptive work of God's kingdom. He is still saving up for an original Land Rover Defender 110, and loves big ideas, good books and wild places.

'You don't honestly believe all that stuff in the Bible!'Challenged by her friends, and later as a student by theological teachers, Amy Orr-Ewing was determined to leave no stone unturned in her eagerness to prove that the Bible was unique and wholly reliable. Her passion drove her to complete an in-depth study of the answers to ten of the most frequently raised objections she encountered, including:* Isn't it all a matter of interpretation?* Can we know anything about history?* Are the original manuscripts reliable?* What about the canon?* What about other holy books?* Isn't the Bible sexist?* What about all the wars?* Isn't the Bible out of date on sex?* How can I know?Sensitively yet convincingly, the author addresses the issues and the arguments, showing that we have every reason to trust the Bible today.

In many ways, the Old Testament book of Daniel is an enigma. It consists of two different kinds of material: stories about Judean exiles working in the court of pagan kings (chapters 1-6) and accounts of visions experienced by one of these exiles (chapters 7-12). It is written in two languages, Hebrew and Aramaic, and the language division does not match the subject division. Whether the book's affinities lie more with the Hebrew prophets or with later Jewish apocalypses is debated, as are its affinities with the wisdom traditions of both Israel and Babylon.Refreshingly, Enest Lucas postpones much of the discussion of such issues to an Epilogue, and invites the reader to an investigation of the meaning of the text in the form in which we now have it. He identifies the central theme of the book as the sovereignty of the God of Israel. With even-handedness and clarity, Lucas demonstrates that, for preachers and teachers, there is much in Daniel that is fairly readily understandable and applicable, and that there are also theological depths that are rewarding for those willing to plumb them and wrestle with the issues they raise.The Apollos Old Testament Commentary aims to take with equal seriousness the divine and human aspects of Scripture. It expounds the books of the Old Testament in a scholarly manner, accessible to non-experts, and it shows the relevance of the Old Testament to modern readers. Written by an international team of scholars, these commentaries are intended to serve the needs of those who preach from the Old Testament, as well as scholars and all serious students of the Bible.

In Galatians, the apostle Paul makes his most passionate and direct appeal for a gospel free of ethnic or ritual exclusion. Paul's gospel is that of salvation through Christ alone - in him there is 'neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus'. By placing Paul's discussion firmly within its historical context, R. Alan Cole illuminates the potency and power of Paul's message to the Galatian church.This classic commentary has been completely retypeset and presented in a fresh, vibrant new large paperback format, with new global branding.

The book of Ecclesiastes is probably best known for its repeated refrain that "everything is meaningless," or "vanity." However, a thorough reading demonstrates that this is not its final conclusion.Knut Heim's Tyndale commentary shows that the book is intellectually sophisticated, theologically rich, emotionally deep - and full of humor. While it is realistic about life, it is life-affirming and immensely practical.The Tyndale Commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. The Introduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting, and purpose. Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties.In the new Old Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three headings: Context, Comment, and Meaning. The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.

Let’s be honest. We’re frequently disappointed. With family, friends, leaders, work, ourselves, church - sometimes, dare we say it, even with God.'You carry the tears inside,' is the author's description.Disappointment can be devastating. It can be sudden. And it's certainly universal.But what if we were to use disappointment as an opportunity to check whether our motivation and priorities were in line with God's will? Could it provide a chance to grow?

Why is it so difficult to talk to our closest friends about what's most important to us? Our true identity? Our hopes and dreams? Our true purpose and faith? Andy Bannister struggled with that question himself. As a twentysomething, he operated as an Undercover Christian at his job. He knew it didn't make sense, and he spent the following decades helping countless people find easy, natural ways to discuss the fundamental questions of life with the ones they love. How to Talk about Jesus without Looking like an Idiot explores:- why you don't need to be afraid or uncomfortable,- the four questions that help people open up,- the five steps to respond to tough questions,- and how to effortlessly bring faith into a conversation.It doesn't need to be awkward. Let Andy help you find easy ways to talk about the true meaning of life with your friends and family.

Shades of Sheol explores one of the Hebrew Bible's most haunting and least settled questions: what happens when life ends?Philip Johnston guides readers through the shadowed world of Sheol - the underworld of the dead - where biblical writers wrestle with grief, burial, ritual impurity, ancestral memory, necromancy, and the silence of the grave. Drawing on biblical poetry, law, prophecy, archaeology, and the literature of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Ugarit, this study reveals that ancient Israel's views of death were neither simple nor uniform.Why were the dead cut off from praise of God? Did Israelites honour their ancestors, consult spirits, or fear the power of the departed? How did a bleak vision of the underworld gradually give way to hopes of divine rescue, resurrection, and judgment?Rigorous yet richly engaging, Shades of Sheol uncovers a faith centered on the God of the living - even while it stared unflinchingly into death's deepest shadows.

This workbook accompanies Wayne Grudem's highly regarded Systematic Theology. Following the textbook's structure, it features review material and exercises for every chapter, and all major areas of Christian doctrine are covered, including:The Word of GodGodHumanityChrist and the Holy SpiritThe Application of RedemptionThe ChurchThe FutureThe workbook further maintains the clear writing, friendly tone, and frequent applications to life found in the textbook. Students will benefit from this hands-on engagement with the important teachings in Systematic Theology.

The Bible Speaks Today New Testament set covers every book of the New Testament across 22 volumes. These revised editions are redesigned inside and out and have been sensitively updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you follow, study and teach the Bible in today’s world.

When Andrew and Rachel found out that one, and then both, of their children had severe autism, their world was turned on its head.This is a book about surviving, and thriving, when something goes horribly wrong. It is a mixture of their story and God's story, and the way in which his has shaped theirs.With clarity and biblical insight, they share their experience of grief and worship, struggle and hope. As well as reflecting on the specific challenges of raising children with special needs, they speak to broader questions: the problem of suffering, building a marriage under pressure, fighting for joy, and trusting in God's goodness.This is not just for families and friends of special needs children, but for all who have been thrown a curve ball in life, and need to know how to lament, worship, pray and hope.[Award-winning title]

Nothing cripples a church's effectiveness like internal strife. In Philippi, Paul addressed a congregation whose private struggles were compounded by opposition and suffering from without. Paul's strategy was to write them a letter of friendship and moral exhortation, reminding them of their "partnership in the gospel," their mutual suffering for the cause of Christ, and their need to "stand firm in one spirit." His approach and counsel can serve us well today.In this warm study of Philippians by Gordon Fee, you will discover what this letter meant for its original hearers as well as what it means to us today.

Matthew was the most popular Gospel in the early church, widely read for its clear emphasis on Jesus' teaching. Drawing on its use as a teaching or discipleship manual, Craig Keener expounds Matthew as a discipleship manual for believers today. In his skilled hands, this first-century text becomes as relevant and contemporary as information downloaded from the Internet, while it challenges us with its divine perspective on how life ought to be lived.In this clear, incisive commentary, readers will find an introduction with background material concerning authorship, date and purpose, as well as a summary of important theological themes. A passage-by-passage exposition follows that focuses on understanding what significance the Gospel of Matthew had for its original readers in order to see its relevance for the church today.Students, pastors, Bible teachers and everyone who wants to understand the message of Matthew for the church will benefit from this excellent resource.

The Gospel of Mark is widely regarded today as the first Gospel to be written. Until recent decades, its fast-paced, seemingly straightforward presentation led most readers to overlook its subtle theological sophistication.Probing its depths, Ronald Kernaghan invites readers into a fascinating exploration of Mark's Gospel as a parable, an open-ended story that invites us on a lifelong journey of discipleship. Throughout, Kernaghan explains what the gospel meant to its original hearers and its application for us today.

Few individual books of the Bible have changed the course of church history the way Paul's letter to the Romans has.Whether one thinks of Augustine's conversion in the fourth century, Luther's recovery of justification by faith in the sixteenth or Barth's challenge to recover theological exegesis of the Bible in the twentieth, Romans has been the catalyst to personal spiritual renewal and the recapturing of gospel basics.Paul, in seeking to bring unity and understanding between Jews and Gentiles in Rome, sets forth in Romans his most profound explication of the gospel and its meaning for the church. The letter's relevance is as great today as it was in the first century.Throughout this commentary, Grant R. Osborne explains what the letter meant to its original hearers and its application for us today.

"Wherever ethnic rivalries are destroying societies, the book of Galatians calls Christians to express the truth of the gospel in communities where there are no ethnic or social or gender divisions." With this strong admonition, Walter Hansen introduces his IVP New Testament Commentary on Galatians.Unlike many other commentaries, Hansen's volume highlights not only the individual dimensions of justification by faith but also its social implications. His bold, careful interpretation challenges students and teachers of this important Pauline letter to move beyond merely the question "How can I, a sinner, be right before a just and holy God?" and to find in Galatians a healing word addressed to the ongoing tensions of race, class and gender--a word worked out in the life of the whole church.

To the Colossians, preoccupied with legal codes and intellectual disputes, Paul wrote a letter stressing not only the centrality of Christ but also the need for Christians to live out their faith in genuine community. Paul's antidote to a privatized and intellectualized faith will provide relief to many Christians today.To Philemon, a powerful church leader, Paul wrote a strong personal letter asking him to embark on a new relationship with his slave Onesimus. As a model for conflict resolution and mutual relations within the Christian community, Paul's letter has much to offer the church today.Throughout this commentary, Robert W. Wall explains what each letter meant to its original hearers and its application for us today.

Fascination with the end times is not just a recent phenomenon. The young church at Thessalonica, having taken root during Paul's brief stay there, pondered when the end might come as well. Paul, in order to instruct them more fully, wrote them two letters, which taken together expound the "already-and-not-yet" character of the end times. His instruction and counsel can serve us well today. Throughout this commentary, G. K. Beale explains what each letter meant to its original hearers and its application for us today.

Questions about the nature of Christian leadership and authority, attitudes toward wealth and materialism, proper responses to cults, the role of women in the church, and even the validity of the institution of marriage are not new. Paul addressed these issues in personal letters to Timothy and Titus as leaders of first-century congregations in Ephesus and Crete. What he had to say to them is as relevant to us as today's newspaper headlines.

For people beginning to doubt the uniqueness and supremacy of Christ, the author of the book of Hebrews provided one of the longest, most profound arguments in the New Testament. Christians today will find their understanding stretched and their loyalty confirmed by this rich presentation of our great High Priest, the Son of God, whose sacrifice of himself took away our sins and gave us continual access to God.Written in a fresh, succinct style, this commentary from influential evangelical pastor Ray C. Stedman supplies helpful background information that paves the way for our seeing what the text means for us today as well as what it meant for its original hearers.