Ernest C Lucas

To those of us who believe in the inspiration and authority of the Bible, it must surely be a concern to know what it says will happen to the millions around us, some of whom we love dearly, who die without repentance or faith. Does Scripture teach that at the last judgment those who remain unrepentant will be consigned to an unending existence of torment without hope? Is that truly what Jesus and his apostles believed and taught? This book presents basic evidence that what they really taught was that the final judgmental end for such people will be "destruction," taking its obvious meaning that they will cease to exist as conscious individuals. The arguments are not complex, because most of the New Testament writers make plain statements to this effect. The book also looks at those parables and Revelation passages sometimes taken to indicate unending torment. It links with academic works that in increasing numbers are making the same points, but the book is not a contribution to academic scholarship. Rather, it is a careful, readable, and accessible account to challenge pastors, church leaders, and Christians generally to consider what the Bible actually says rather than rely on tradition.

To those of us who believe in the inspiration and authority of the Bible, it must surely be a concern to know what it says will happen to the millions around us, some of whom we love dearly, who die without repentance or faith. Does Scripture teach that at the last judgment those who remain unrepentant will be consigned to an unending existence of torment without hope? Is that truly what Jesus and his apostles believed and taught? This book presents basic evidence that what they really taught was that the final judgmental end for such people will be "destruction," taking its obvious meaning that they will cease to exist as conscious individuals. The arguments are not complex, because most of the New Testament writers make plain statements to this effect. The book also looks at those parables and Revelation passages sometimes taken to indicate unending torment. It links with academic works that in increasing numbers are making the same points, but the book is not a contribution to academic scholarship. Rather, it is a careful, readable, and accessible account to challenge pastors, church leaders, and Christians generally to consider what the Bible actually says rather than rely on tradition.

Ernest C. Lucas provides an informed, illuminating and interactive introduction to the ancient background, the literary artistry, and the varied and timeless messages of the Psalms and Wisdom literature.

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.

An image rich, passage-by-passage commentary that integrates textual and artifactual context from the ancient Near East to inform our understanding and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible—while remaining respectful to the inerrancy of Scripture. Without a deep knowledge of the ancient cultures the Old Testament was born from, we can be tempted to impose our own culture on the text, potentially distorting it. This unique Bible backgrounds commentary examines:The history of the ancient Near East as a means of recovering knowledge of the events that shaped the lives of the people.The archaeology as a means of recovering the lifestyle reflected in the material cultures.The literature of the ancient Near East as a means of understanding the heart and soul of the people who inhabited the ancient world that Israel shared.Detailed exegetical notes are combined with comparative discussions of the cultural settings that help scholars interpret the writings of the major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel.This volume of the celebrated Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary series brings these five books of the Bible into sharper focus—enabling scholars, pastors, and laity to access rich data from over one hundred and seventy years of explorations and excavations in the Near East.THE ZONDERVAN ILLUSTRATED BIBLE BACKGROUNDS COMMENTARY SERIESInvites you to enter the world of the Old Testament with a company of seasoned guides, experts who will give new insights into these cherished writings. Features:Over 2000 photographs, drawings, maps, diagrams, and charts provide a visual feast that breathes fresh life into the text.Passage-by-passage commentary presents archaeological findings, historical explanations, geographic insights, notes on manners and customs, and more.Analysis into the literature of the ancient Near East will open your eyes to new depths of understanding both familiar and unfamiliar passages.Written by an international team of 30 specialists, all top scholars in background studies.

This book is about Genesis and how far scientific discoveries can help us to understand it. Many of us are confused about what Genesis tells us, and how (and why) to approach its ancient story of the origin of the world and mankind. We are usually equally confused about what Genesis is, and what it can and cannot tell us. If we are willing to look for truth and consider other ways of seeing the world, we can emerge from the fog. This book gives a fresh and important approach to some of the deep down questions which trouble us most about where we can from, and why we are here.