NIV Application Commentary Resources – serie

Discover profound insights with ease: The Essential Bible Companion is your indispensable guide to unlocking and truly understanding the core teachings of the Bible. Developed by world-renowned biblical scholars, this compact reference tool presents the key information about every book in the Bible in an easy-to-digest format.The Essential Bible Companion is a visual guide to Scripture's key concepts and teachings that empowers you with:Background information that uncovers the purpose, key terms, concepts, and teachings about God in each Bible book.A user-friendly timeline featuring key events for each book.A who's-who of essential Biblical figures to know.Must-read verses, illustrative maps, and enlightening historical introductions.Ideal for those seeking greater understanding of the Bible without getting lost in overbearing detail, The Essential Bible Companion strikes the perfect balance of informative yet manageable content that enhances, not detracts from, the biblical text.Embark on a journey towards a well-grounded and deeply enriched biblical faith with The Essential Bible Companion. Whether you are a new believer stepping into the vast landscape of biblical teachings for the first time, or a seasoned student of the word seeking to deepen your knowledge, The Essential Bible Companion serves as your roadmap.Grab your copy today and simplify your path to deeper biblical understanding.

Embrace a deeper understanding of the Holy Scriptures with The Essential Bible Dictionary. This indispensable reference tool goes beyond an ordinary dictionary to offer in-depth insights into important people, places, and biblical concepts including those that often perplex readers.Our unique Bible companion is specially crafted to enhance and streamline your Scripture reading experience, emphasizing on proper nouns and specific biblical terms that warrant further explanation.The Essential Bible Dictionary is a visual guide to Scripture's people, places and themes that will aid your study with:Comprehensive definitions shedding light on key Bible themes, places, people, and much more.Vibrant full-color images, maps, illustrations, and diagrams throughout - bringing the biblical world vibrantly to life.Thorough book overviews, arranged alphabetically for your convenience, complete with information on authorship, content, historical background, and purpose of each Bible book.Phonetic pronunciation for each entry - never stumble on a biblical name or term again.Crucial cross-references for a more in-depth study.Ideal for personal devotions or Bible studies, this compact Bible dictionary serves as a treasure chest of knowledge, helping to illuminate every page of Scripture you turn.This guide pairs perfectly with any Bible translation you prefer. Don't just read the Bible, understand it - with The Essential Bible Dictionary.

Knowing Our Faith in Jesus Is TrueMark wrote his account of the life and ministry of Jesus during the time that first-century Christians were facing intense persecution because of their faith. The timing is important. Mark, in penning his Gospel, was proclaiming without apology that Jesus was indeed the Messiah and the Son of God—the fulfillment of Israel's hopes who had indeed ushered in God's reign. Although things looked bleak for Christ followers, they could be sure the foundation of their faith was secure. They would receive an eternal reward if they remained faithful to their Lord.Just like Mark's readers, you need to know that your faith is built on a solid foundation. In this twelve-lesson study, you will explore the context of Mark's Gospel and examine what you can glean from what he wrote and—just as importantly—what he didn't write. This is an invitation for you to learn more about Jesus and life in his kingdom as you examine this unique Gospel from the perspectives of a first-century Christian and a twenty-first century Christian.Each study in the NIV Application Commentary series employs a three-step process to help you understand both the historical meaning of a biblical text and its relevance in modern times. The original meaning section reveals the questions and concerns the author was addressing. The past to present section then explains what significance the original audience would have found in the passage and what significance you can find in it today. Finally, the questions that accompany each section will help you apply the author's words and teachings to your own life and find meaning in them for what you are facing.

Christians in the first century lived in a world ruled by Rome. The vast size of the Roman Empire meant that it incorporated many different people groups who followed many different religions. Christians were thus often confronted with practices mandated by the local authorities where they lived that went against their faith in Jesus. But even more problematic, they were also often confronted with worldviews and systems of belief that went against their faith.This was especially true of the believers who lived in the capital city of Rome. So it was that when Paul decided to visit the city, he first sent them a letter outlining the key principles and "doctrines" of the Christian faith. Paul explained what humans are really like (sinful), what God has done to provide an escape from the consequences of humanity's sin, and what a lifestyle that goes out of a Christian worldview looks like. Today, we need to know the same! We need to have a deep understanding of what we believe so we know how to respond when faced with other beliefs that go against Christ.Each study in the NIV Application Commentary Resources series employs a three-step process to help you understand both the historical meaning of a biblical text and its relevance in modern times. The original meaning section reveals the questions and concerns the author was addressing. The past to present section then explains what significance the original audience would have found in the passage and what significance you can find in it today. Finally, the questions that accompany each section will help you specifically apply the author's words and teachings and find meaning in them for what you are facing in your life.Lessons:The Gospel of Righteousness by Faith (Romans 1–32; 3:21–26)Addicted to Sin (Romans 2:1–3:20)The Righteousness of God (Romans 3:21–4:25)Peace and Hope (Romans 5:1–21)Freedom from Sin (Romans 6:1–23)Freedom from the Law (Romans 7:1–25)Life in the Spirit (Romans 8:1–39)The Problem of Israel (Romans 9:1–10:21)Israel's Future (Romans 11:1–36)The Transformed Life (Romans 12:1–21)Love and Law (Romans 13:1–14)Life Together (Romans 14:1–16:27)

No book in the Bible has been interpreted as widely as Revelation. Many have found the visions that John depicts to be especially fertile ground for speculation and spiritualization. However, if we want to truly understand this fascinating book, we have to focus on what it meant to its original readers. In doing this, we do not deny its genre (apocalyptic), its purpose (prophecy), its methods (use of symbols), or its message for readers today. Rather, we seek the timeless truths the book relates to believers in Christ both past and present.Although many details in Revelation are debatable, the basic thrust is not. God summons us from our preoccupation with the world to recognize, in light of his ultimate plan for history, what really matters and what really does not. God first gave Revelation to a culture where people would hear the words of the book and imagine the stark and terrifying images; to be struck by the full force of the book, we must likewise use our imaginations to grasp the images of terror. Revelation is not meant for casual or "lite" reading; to genuinely hear it summons us to grapple with God's judgment on a world in rebellion against him.Each study in the NIV Application Commentary Resources series employs a three-step process to help you understand both the historical meaning of a biblical text and its relevance in modern times. The original meaning section reveals the questions and concerns the author was addressing. The past to present section then explains what significance the original audience would have found in the passage and what significance you can find in it today. Finally, the questions that accompany each section will help you specifically apply the author's words and teachings and find meaning in them for what you are facing in your life.Lessons:From God with Love (Revelation 1:1–20)Whoever Has Ears, Let Them Hear (Revelation 2:1–3:22)Catching the Vision (Revelation 4:1–5:14)Who Can Stand? (Revelation 6:1–17)Saints on Earth and in Heaven (Revelation 7:1–1:17)Last Call—Repent! (Revelation 8:2–11:19)A Battle for Souls (Revelation 12:1–14:20)Come Down, Angels (Revelation 15:1–16:21)A Need for Wisdom (Revelation 17:1–18:20)The Last Battle (Revelation 19:1–20:15)The Hope of the Saints (Revelation 21:1–27)God with Us (Revelation 22:1–21)

In many ways, John's Gospel functions as both a Gospel and a letter. As a Gospel, it tells the story of Jesus and his role as revealer of God the Father and provider of redemption to all humanity. As a letter, it encouraged first-century Christians in the life they had chosen, revealed how life in Christ was different from Judaism, and corrected false teachings (like those of the Gnostics). But fundamentally, John's Gospel narrates the life of Jesus and reveals that he was truly the Son of God.Jesus had lived in the flesh among the people. John, being one of Jesus' closest disciples, had witnessed Jesus teaching those who followed him, seen the miracles that he had performed, and was there when he was crucified and then raised from the dead. Yet in spite of all the miraculous signs, pointed teachings, and resurrection, there were still questions about Jesus' divinity. So John sought, through his own personal testimony, to reveal why Jesus was fully divine while also being fully human. John made it clear that Jesus would be filled with power from the Holy Spirit and that when Christ left the earth, he made that same power available to all his followers—both in the first century and for followers today.Each study in the NIV Application Bible Study series employs a three-step process to help you understand both the historical meaning of a biblical text and its relevance in modern times. The original meaning section reveals the questions and concerns the author was addressing. The past to present section then explains what significance the original audience would have found in the passage and what significance you can find in it today. Finally, the questions that accompany each section will help you specifically apply the author's words and teachings and find meaning in them for what you are facing in your life.Lessons:The Word Becomes Flesh (John 1:1–18)A Rabbi Meets the Teacher (John 3:1–21)A Thirsty Woman Finds Water (John 4:1–42)The Hungry Struggle with the Bread of Life (John 6:1–71)The Crowd Debates the Source of Living Water (John 7:1–52)The Blind Confront the Light of the World (John 8:12–9:41)A Family Experiences Resurrection (John 11:1–57)The Master Serves (John 13:1–38)The Son Promises the Spirit (John 14:1–31)The Vine Prepares the Branches for Fruitfulness (John 15:1–16:4)The Light Plunges into Darkness (John 18:1–19:42)The Lord of Life Returns (John 20:1–29)

The Mark Bible Study in the NIV Application Commentary series will reveal what was the author's original intent in writing his Gospel, what his message meant to the early followers of Jesus, and what application it has for our lives today.

In Genesis, the starting point is revelation. Especially after the Tower of Babel, it becomes evident people had forgotten who God was. The moves God made were essentially concerned with putting himself in front of the world's peoples. He covenanted with Abram and his family for them to represent him by the way they lived according to the law they embraced. This covenant is about revelation (what God wants for us), not salvation (what we get from God). Of course, in the end, revelation leads to redemption and salvation, but the order is important. Get the order wrong and religion falls prey to all kinds of temptations—self-centeredness, individualism, and false gods. Forgetfulness of God is still a problem. Today it takes a different form; instead of asking who God is, we are more likely to ask whether God is. But we are still fixed in a sometimes unhealthy way on salvation—what we can get—instead of first opening ourselves to revelation. A proper reading of Genesis reminds us of who God is and what God did. Only when we get those two things straight can we faithfully embrace what God does for us.Each Bible study in the NIV Application Commentary series is designed to help readers with the difficult but vital task of bringing an ancient message into a modern context. This is accomplished through a three-step process: (1) an original meaning section, which reveals the questions and concerns the author was addressing; (2) a past to present section, which explains what significance the original audience would have found in the passage and what significance readers can find in it today; and (3) application and reflection questions, which help readers apply the author's words and teachings to their own lives and find meaning in those words for what they are currently facing.

Featuring thousands of study notes drawn from the bestselling NIV Application Commentary series, the full-color NIV Application Bible helps you understand Scripture and connect it to your world in a whole new way. Relate ancient truths to modern life through insight from trusted evangelical scholars, paired with biblical application principles.

Encouragement for extraordinary faith in an ordinary worldFaithful Then, Faithful Now explores timeless stories of faith from the Bible and their relevance for your life today. With forty profiles, from grieving mothers to bold leaders, this devotional reveals the wide array of people who placed their faith in God and found confidence, purpose, and grace.Each reading offers inspiration for your own journey of faith, demonstrating how these ancient accounts and principles apply in today's world. Find encouragement to navigate life's highs and lows and discover hope in the stories of forty individuals—including Eve, Moses, Daniel, Ruth, Paul, Lydia, and Mary Magdalene—whose God still meets you here today.Based on the bestselling NIV Application Commentary series, NIV Application Commentary Resources devotionals offer encouragement for today from the timeless truth of the Bible.

THE AWARD-WINNING COMMENTARY SERIES THAT BRINGS THE ANCIENT MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE INTO YOUR WORLDOver 2 million copies sold!The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible is a masterful blend of content written by today's top academics in a way that is compelling and easy to understand for anyone--no formal training or seminary degree required. This one-volume commentary is intended both for personal study and for teaching preparation.Concise commentary and background help the reader understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context. Clear explanations make it easy to understand matters related to grammar and the meaning of biblical words.While most commentaries stop there, the unique format of The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible provides a bridge from the world of the Bible to our lives today, guiding the reader to powerfully apply the biblical message to contemporary situations, problems, and questions.