Alex Varughese

The 150 songs and poems that make up the book we call Psalms have offered comfort and guidance to Christians across the ages. Christians repeatedly call the Psalms a favorite biblical book and return to it time and time again when looking for hope, wisdom, or gentle correction. This volume will introduce readers to the variety of genres found in the psalms. Study in depth seven specific psalms that have been intentionally chosen to be representative of the diversity and complexity of the book as a whole. Psalm types explored include praise hymns, psalms of thanksgiving, psalms expressing trust in God, royal psalms, wisdom psalms, and laments.A faithful reading of God's Word leads to a faithful response from God's people. The Shaped by Scripture series teaches a simple, engaging method of studying the Bible that will lead to honest interpretation and a changed relationship with God.

Genesis, as the first book of the Bible, is the foundational book for the entire biblical canon. In Genesis we find the themes of creation, relationship, covenant, hope, and redemption that will come to characterize God's grand story throughout the rest of the Bible, all the way to Revelation. The end of Genesis focuses largely on the family of Jacob as they work out what it means to be God's covenant people in the world around them. Journey through seven weeks of study that will cover Jacob's encounters with God and his son Joseph's journey from slavery to the center of power. A faithful reading of God's Word leads to a faithful response from God's people. The Shaped by Scripture series teaches a simple, engaging method of studying the Bible that will lead to honest interpretation and a changed relationship with God.

Here in NBBC Numbers, the commentary completing the Old Testament portion of the New Beacon Bible Commentary series, we find the story of two generations of Israelites. The first, departing from Sinai, begins a wilderness journey that is marked by fickle faithfulness and failures; the second finds itself waiting on the plains of Moab on the verge of entering a land of promise. Themes such as God's covenantal faithfulness to a rebellious people, his holiness, and the intercession of their servant leader, Moses, are carefully explored in this outstanding volume. Written by an incomparable team of scholars, this commentary delves into the literary forms, structural issues, and theological details found in this significant Old Testament book. This is truly another well-crafted addition to this pivotal commentary series. The New Beacon Bible Commentary is an engaging, indispensable reference tool to aid individuals in every walk of life in the study and meditation of God's Word. Written from the Wesleyan theological perspective, it offers insight and perceptive scholarship to help you unlock the deeper truths of Scripture and garner an awareness of the history, culture, and context attributed to each book of study. Readable, relevant, and academically thorough, it offers scholars, pastors, and laity a new standard for understanding and interpreting the Bible in the 21st century. Each Volume Features: CONTEMPORARY NEW SCHOLARSHIP from notable experts in the Wesleyan theological tradition CONVENIENT INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL, for each book of the Bible including information on authorship, date, history, audience, sociological/cultural issues, purpose, literary features, theological themes, hermeneutical issues, and more CLEAR VERSE-BY-VERSE EXPLANATIONS, which offer a contemporary, Wesleyan-based understanding derived from the biblical text in its original language COMPREHENSIVE ANNOTATION divided into three sections, which cover background elements behind the text; verse-by-verse details and meanings found in the text; and significance, relevance, intertextuality, and application from the text HELPFUL SIDEBARS, which provide deeper insight into theological issues, word meanings, archeological connections, historical relevance, and cultural customs AN EXPANDED BIBLIOGRAPHY for further study of historical elements, additional interpretations, and theological themes

Continuing where the first New Beacon Bible Commentary on Psalms left off, NBBC Psalms 73-150 expertly explores relevant details of these prayers and hymns such as their poetic features, theological emphases, and types (thanksgiving psalms, praise psalms, laments, etc.). Attention is given to Old Testament thematic elements found in the Psalms, as well as the important influence of the Psalms on Jesus and the New Testament writers. A helpful glossary and an extensive bibliography are included. Written by a formidable team of scholars, this volume is another welcome addition to the NBBC series. The New Beacon Bible Commentary is an engaging, indispensable reference tool to aid individuals in every walk of life in the study and meditation of God's Word. Written from the Wesleyan theological perspective, it offers insight and perceptive scholarship to help you unlock the deeper truths of Scripture and garner an awareness of the history, culture, and context attributed to each book of study. Readable, relevant, and academically thorough, it offers scholars, pastors, and laity a new standard for understanding and interpreting the Bible in the 21st century. Each Volume Features: CONTEMPORARY NEW SCHOLARSHIP from notable experts in the Wesleyan theological tradition CONVENIENT INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL, for each book of the Bible including information on authorship, date, history, audience, sociological/cultural issues, purpose, literary features, theological themes, hermeneutical issues, and more CLEAR VERSE-BY-VERSE EXPLANATIONS, which offer a contemporary, Wesleyan-based understanding derived from the biblical text in its original language COMPREHENSIVE ANNOTATION divided into three sections, which cover background elements behind the text; verse-by-verse details and meanings found in the text; and significance, relevance, intertextuality, and application from the text HELPFUL SIDEBARS, which provide deeper insight into theological issues, word meanings, archeological connections, historical relevance, and cultural customs AN EXPANDED BIBLIOGRAPHY for further study of historical elements, additional interpretations, and theological themes

Continuing where NBBC Genesis 1-11 left off, this NBBC volume explores the stories of Israel's ancestors, from Abraham to Joseph. As with the first volume, emphasis is given to God's life-giving relationship with the world. Focusing on Abraham, his family, and God's covenant promises--promises of blessings, this volume identifies Abraham and his family as God's chosen mediators of blessings to the world. Important attention is given to these patriarchs as models of listening, obedience, and trust in response to God's promises. The writers of this NBBC--Alex Varughese and Christina Bohn--expertly engage the text and interpret its meaning to contemporary readers. Using literary, grammatical, and other scholarly tools, these writers locate this portion of Genesis soundly in the flow of salvation history, teasing out the key theological themes and nuances. The New Beacon Bible Commentary is an engaging, indispensable reference tool to aid individuals in every walk of life in the study and meditation of God's Word. Written from the Wesleyan theological perspective, it offers insight and perceptive scholarship to help you unlock the deeper truths of Scripture and garner an awareness of the history, culture, and context attributed to each book of study. Readable, relevant, and academically thorough, it offers scholars, pastors, and laity a new standard for understanding and interpreting the Bible in the 21st century.EACH VOLUME FEATURES: Completely New Scholarship from notable experts in the Wesleyan tradition Convenient Introductory Material for each book of the Bible including information on authorship, date, history, audience, sociological/cultural issues, purpose, literary features, theological themes, hermeneutical issues, and more Clear Verse-by-Verse Explanations, which offer a contemporary, Wesleyan-based understanding derived from the passage's original language

Genesis, as the first book of the Bible, is the foundational book for the entire biblical canon. In Genesis we find the themes of creation, relationship, covenant, hope, and redemption that will come to characterize God's grand story throughout the rest of the Bible, all the way to Revelation. Grab a Bible and a pen and explore what our response should be to these first few stories of the Bible. Journey through seven weeks of study that will cover both accounts of creation, the fall, the first murder, the flood, the first covenant, and the tower of Babel.A faithful reading of God's Word leads to a faithful response from God's people. The Shaped by Scripture series teaches a simple, engaging method of studying the Bible that will lead to honest interpretation and a changed relationship with God.

The New Beacon Bible Commentary is an engaging, indispensable reference tool to aid individuals in every walk of life in the study and meditation of God's Word. Written from the Wesleyan theological perspective, it offers insight and perceptive scholarship to help you unlock the deeper truths of Scripture and garner an awareness of the history, culture, and context attributed to each book of study. Readable, relevant, and academically thorough, it offers scholars, pastors, and laity a new standard for understanding and interpreting the Bible in the 21st century.EACH VOLUME FEATURES: Completely New Scholarship from notable experts in the Wesleyan tradition Convenient Introductory Material for each book of the Bible including information on authorship, date, history, audience, sociological/cultural issues, purpose, literary features, theological themes, hermeneutical issues, and more Clear Verse-by-Verse Explanations, which offer a contemporary, Wesleyan-based understanding derived from the passage's original language Comprehensive Annotation divided into three sections, which cover background elements behind the text; verse-by-verse details and meanings found in the text; and significance, relevance, intertextuality, and application from the text Helpful Sidebars, which provide deeper insight into theological issues, word meanings, archeological connections, historical relevance, cultural customs, and more Expanded Bibliography for further study of historical elements, additional interpretations, and theological themes The book of Jeremiah occupies a prominent place in the Old Testament canon at least on three counts: 1) its massive size, 2) the complexity of its content and message, and 3) the towering prophetic figure behind the book that stands shoulder to shoulder with other great prophets such as Isaiah and Ezekiel.

The New Beacon Bible Commentary is an engaging, indispensable reference tool to aid individuals in every walk of life in the study and meditation of God's Word. Written from the Wesleyan theological perspective, it offers insight and perceptive scholarship to help you unlock the deeper truths of Scripture and garner an awareness of the history, culture, and context attributed to each book of study. Readable, relevant, and academically thorough, it offers scholars, pastors, and laity a new standard for understanding and interpreting the Bible in the 21st century.Each volume features: Completely New Scholarship from notable experts in the Wesleyan traditionConvenient Introductory Material for each book of the Bible including information on authorship, date, history, audience, sociological/cultural issues, purpose, literary features, theological themes, hermeneutical issues, and moreClear Verse-by-verse Explanations, which offer a contemporary, Wesleyan-based understanding derived from the passage's original languageComprehensive Annotation divided into three sections, which cover background elements behind the text; verse-by-verse details and meanings found in the text; and significance, relevance, intertextuality, and application from the textHelpful Sidebars, which provide deeper insight into theological issues, word meanings, archeological connections, historical relevance, cultural customs, and moreExpanded Bibliography for further study of historical elements, additional interpretations, and theological themesThe book of Jeremiah occupies a prominent place in the Old Testament canon at least on three counts: 1) its massive size, 2) the complexity of its content and message, and 3) the towering prophetic figure behind the book that stands shoulder to shoulder with other great prophets such as Isaiah and Ezekiel.

Discovering the New Testament combines all the elements you're looking for in a survey of the New Testament - thorough, sound biblical scholarship, combined with an eye-catching format and a writing style that's easy to understand.IN DISCOVERING THE NEW TESTAMENT, YOU'LL FIND: Objectives defined for each lessonPersonal questions to help you relate the Bible to your lifeSidebars to explain theological pointsKeywords identified and defined on each pageStudy questions for review of the materialSummary statements at the end of each chapterListing of resources for further study at the end of each chapterAn eye-catching format that's attractive to the eye; EVERY page is in full colorShort, readable chapters