This letter by Peter is full of encouragement and exhortation to live in right relationship both with God and with each other. The letter contains practical advice on what exactly putting others first looks like, even if it means accepting suffering for a time. This volume of the NIV Application Commentary series by Scot McKnight helps us to understand how P… Read more…
Peter and Jude, the apostles who wrote these letters, speak against the deceptive messages that other so-called Christians—false prophets—were spreading. They encourage believers to hold fast to the Gospel they were originally given instead of listening to the ungodly, who “by stealth” enter the church and distort God’s grace. These messages, roote… Read more…
The epistles of John betray the continuing challenges the early church faced. In this volume of the NIV Application Commentary series, Gary M. Burge (Ph.D., King’s College, Aberdeen University) leads us through John’s letters, connecting them to John’s Gospel as he goes, and illuminates their original messages and how we can apply them here and now.
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Dealing with Revelation in all its complexity is a difficult task. Through the years it has been the center of much debate—debate that has caused many to ignore Revelation altogether. However, leading evangelical scholar Craig S. Keener, in this in-depth volume of the NIV Application Commentary, analyzes and explains Revelation in its genre as apocalyptic … Read more…
We all come across moments in our lives where we are forced to let go of any semblance of control and place our trust in God. The book of Daniel traces the lives of four dedicated followers of God who continually choose to follow Him despite the culture they’re surrounded by. Their perseverance eventually results in great blessing, both for them and everyo… Read more…
Ezekiel is one of the stranger books of the Bible. This book contains content ranging from a litany of prophetic judgments to a vision of a valley floor of old bones being raised to life by God. It can be difficult to look at this variety and see how the book can be relevant. But Ezekiel also emphasizes personal responsibility in one’s walk with God. God … Read more…
These books are set after the Jews’ return from the Babylonian exile. Once again, the people of Israel have gone their own way and have neglected God’s will. These prophetic works explore the tensions that surround YHWH’s second temple and the trials that Israel faced in returning to God in order to be a blessing for the whole world.
These books, wh… Read more…
Despite the obvious differences between our modern culture and that of ancient Israel, there are some central, essentially human characteristics about us that have not changed. We have made advances in almost every imaginable field, but we still struggle with the brokenness that sin brings into our lives. We must rely as heavily as ever upon God’s promise… Read more…
Like the other prophets, Isaiah’s writings are full of judgment, hope, and encouragement. Israel is a nation that knows God’s truth but, rather than living it, is hardened to it. Though God’s interactions with His people seem beyond understanding, or even altogether missing, His identity as redeemer is emphasized above all else. Isaiah is sharply aware… Read more…
It books is impossible to arrive at a correct understanding of Jeremiah and Lamentations without an awareness of the historical context and political climate of Judah in the times these books were written. They reveal the close tie between a people’s spiritual and political conditions. Following God ends in blessing, while forsaking Him leads to disaster, … Read more…
While these books are largely characterized by God’s judgment on a sinful, rebellious people, they are by no means without hope of redemption. Though Israel will encounter God’s judgment time and again through history, God promises to pour out His Spirit on all nations. The coming of the Messiah is strongly foreshadowed, offering readers hope for redempt… Read more…
Despite the brevity of Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, these books contain forceful messages. Whether we’re in need of comfort when our lives are spinning out of control, stronger faith in the face of adversity, or clarity when it comes to understanding our relationship with God, these Minor Prophets speak to our fundamental human needs with a surpr… Read more…
