Genesis serves as a foundation for the doctrine of redemption. From the beginning, God shows himself to be relatable, purposeful, and active. He truly cares about His creation and desires to be present, rather than watching events from a distance. To come to an understanding of our own history of salvation, we must place God first, just as Genesis demonstr… Read more…
Leviticus and Numbers continue to tell the story of Israel’s failures and God’s relentless love in spite of them. Though these books deal with genuinely hard issues and seem to paint a harsh picture of God, they also emphasize the absolute holiness of God compared to sinful humanity. God wanted His people to be set apart from the rest of humanity in the … Read more…
The book of Psalms one of the best examples of theology from below, or human words directed to God. This human origin, however, should not deny the Psalms their place in biblical canon for a reason. The words of the psalms give us a vehicle for our emotions, whether we are faced with joy or pain. In the midst of our humanity we are met with words that open o… 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.
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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…
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…
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…
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…
Paul wrote his letter to the church in Philippi during his imprisonment under Rome’s authority. He encourages its members not to worry and provides an inspiring example of finding joy in suffering for the sake of Christ. He exhorts them to make evangelization their first priority, and be unified in Christ. Frank Thielman (Ph.D., Duke University) uses this … Read more…
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…
The idea of absolute truth has largely disappeared from our culture. But God’s truth does not fade, and His claims on our lives must stand out in the midst of postmodernism. The church in Rome needed this message just as we do today—the message of who God is, and what He’s done for us through His sacrifice on the cross. By growing in our understanding … Read more…
Just as Protestants are now split into countless denominations, the Corinthian church was marred, albeit on a smaller scale, by factions and discord. It fell to Paul to reconcile the church to itself in the face of convictions alike only in the strength that their adherents clung to them with. Subjects like eating habits, doctrine, marriage, lawsuits, and wo… Read more…
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…
These letters to the church in Thessalonica are historically enlightening and comparatively unique when it comes to Paul’s writings as a whole. In them he addresses his eschatological views, or how people ought to live in light of Christ’s eventual second coming. Michael W. Holmes (Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary) gives us an excellent foundation o… Read more…
Just as today’s church deals with a myriad of issues, Christians in Paul’s time had issues of their own. Doctrinal matters are now dividing lines between thousands of denominations—Paul sensed that danger of division thousands of years ago as he wrote his letters to Timothy and Titus, two young church leaders. He writes about false teachers, the role o… Read more…
2 Corinthians follows in the footsteps of 1 Corinthians by providing a window into both Paul’s character and the character of God. You’ll get an intimate glimpse into Paul’s heart and his love for the church in this NIV Application Commentary volume by Scott J. Hafermann, who shows us both the original meaning of 2 Corinthians and how its message appli… 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 early church was incredibly active in its mission to bring God’s word to the world. What started as a small, Jewish cultic movement erupted into a dominant world religion—and all because of God’s absolute love for His people. Acts is a prime example of what active faith looks like, and guards against the incorrect tendency of relying on knowledge f… Read more…
The letters to the Colossians and Philemon come with unique historical and textual challenges. Of particular concern is the issue of authorship: did Paul really write these letters? If he didn’t write them, should they be included in Biblical cannon? Where do we draw the line for cultural admonishments vs. universal commands—especially concerning the rol… Read more…
Ephesians transcends the paradigm of works-based righteousness. Indeed, there is no ladder high enough that we can climb to heaven—only Christ can restore our relationship with God. And he does: we have so much more than forgiveness in Christ. Our lives are constantly being transformed to look more and more like the example set for us by Jesus. The NIV App… Read more…
This study of Galatians, a part of the NIV Application Commentary series, certainly does not stop at doctrine. The author examines the epistle to the church in Galatia through Paul’s eyes, using the so-called “new perspective” approach: the belief that Judaism, in that time, did not adhere to a “works based” way of being righteous. He remains utter… Read more…
The author of Hebrews writes about a variety of issues including repentance, faith, transformed living, and Jesus as Messiah and high priest. George H. Guthrie (Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) writes on the original, theological importance of Hebrews in this book of the NIV Application Commentary, as well as how we can apply that to our mo… Read more…
James’ epistle is considered by some to be the most difficult New Testament book to comprehend. Its focus is on doing good works, as opposed to the faith that is central to the majority of the other books in the New Testament. This is easy to misunderstand, especially when this seemingly contradictory focus is supported by extensive quotations from Jesus.… Read more…
The Gospel of John stands apart from Matthew, Mark, and Luke with a singularly unique perspective on the personality of Jesus. From his deliberate echo of Genesis at the beginning of his Gospel and on through the subsequent chapters, John provides an indispensable portrait of the messiah, without which our picture of Christ would be tragically lacking.
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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.… Read more…
Luke’s gospel has earned a reputation for being greatly concerned with social justice. Jesus’ attention to those downtrodden for reason of race, class, or gender is a stunning example of how we ought to treat our neighbors. His extensively detailed ministry to diverse groups of people for the sake of unity is a particularly important message in the face… Read more…
The Gospel according to Mark is widely known for its short but concise narrative-driven account of Jesus’ life—his ministry and subsequent death and resurrection. Get straight to the core of Jesus’ saving character by studying Mark, which many scholars think is a common source for the other Gospels. Let its message of new life—new life without end—… Read more…
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