BibleWorks is closing…

Philonica et Neotestamentica

Shocking news from BibleWorks arrived today:

A special note to our friends…

BibleWorks has been serving the church for 26 years by providing a suite of professional tools aimed at enabling students of the Word to “rightly divide the word of truth”. But it has become increasingly apparent over the last few years that the need for our services has diminished to the point where we believe the Lord would have us use our gifts in other ways. Accordingly as of June 15, 2018 BibleWorks will cease operation as a provider of Bible software tools. We make this announcement with sadness, but also with gratitude to God and thankfulness to a multitude of faithful users who have stayed with us for a large part of their adult lives. We know that you will have many questions going forward and we will do our best to answer some of them here.

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The New Interpreter’s Study Bible

I am sure most of you are familiar with The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, a ten volume set that has been in the market for decades, having being updated few years ago. The Bible I am reviewing here is a complementary volume to the set mentioned previously. The New Interpreter’s Study Bible (Abingdon Press, 2003) is a very thorough study Bible that can become a solid addition to the libraries of pastors and serious Bible students. This Bible is based on the New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha and has many interesting features.

The volume I am reviewing here is the hardcover edition, which is the only format available. A leather cover might be appreciated for those who prefer goatskin covers, for example. The Scripture texts comes in a double-column format and 9-point text size. The dimensions of this study Bible are 9.50″ x 7.50″ x 1.75″, not that bad for a study Bible with apocrypha. The material of the cover feels smooth and resembles the touch of a velvet cover. It feels strong and I do not anticipate pages will tear apart after using this Bible every day.

Readers will know they have acquired a serious study Bible just by opening it and read the list of contributors. This list is followed by a note to the reader written by Bruce M. Metzger. Needleless to say he was a prominent scholar.

 

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Every book is preceded by a brief yet informative introduction with an outline of the book. Excursuses can be found on passages that may need further explanation. The footnotes are highly informative and written from a scholar perspective. These notes do not only overview passages. Instead notes are written with the purpose of helping readers to go a step forward regarding studying the Bible.

In addition to that, readers will find five tables addressing the topic of the canons of the Scriptures:

Table I: The Jewish Canon

Table II: The Protestant Old Testament Canon

Table III: The Roman Catholic Old Testament Canon

Table IV: The Orthodox Old Testament Canon

Table V: The Anglican Apocrypha

Other features reader will find inside the New Interpreters’ Study Bible are:

• Guides for Interpretation articles:
  • Reliability of Scripture
  • Authority of the Bible
  • Inspiration of Scripture
  • Guidelines for Reading and Interpretation
  • Varieties of Readings and Interpretations of the Biblical Text
  • Culture and Religion Among Ancient Israelites
• 19 color maps with index
• A generous glossary
• Old and New Testament Chronologies

Concluding, this Bible is a must have for pastors, preachers, Sunday school instructors, seminary students, and serious Bible students in general. You will not regret it buying it.

You can buy this Bible by clicking here 

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

 

 

A Letter to My Brothers

Dear Brothers in Christ, A few years ago I told an interviewer friend that, whenever he hears the news that I’m on my deathbed, he’s to elbow his way through my family members to interview me about what it’s been like to be a female leader in the conservative Evangelical world. He responded, “Why can’t …

Origen: A Letter to My Brothers

Publicación del libro PSICOTERAPIA INDIVIDUAL DESDE UNA PERSPECTIVA SISTEMICA INTEGRADORA

COOPERACION - Instituto de Formación Sistémica

Se ha publicado el libro PSICOTERAPIA INDIVIDUAL DESDE UNA PERSPECTIVA SISTÉMICA INTEGRADORA. Su autor Juan Miguel de Pablo Urban, codirector de COOPERACION IFS, realiza un recorrido por las diferentes aportaciones bibliográficas centradas en la psicoterapia individual sistémica para desarrollar una propuesta para el encuadre del tratamiento así como las indicaciones y contraindicaciones para este formato de intervención individual.

Se detallan, en la segunda parte del texto, los principales ejes de intervención que pueden ser considerados para implementarlos en la clínica y, en su tercera parte, se describen las principales técnicas y herramientas que pueden emplearse en este modelo de trabajo.

Para ello se integran aportaciones de diversos enfoques psicoterapéuticos, sobre un soporte sustémico, incorporando elementos psicodinámicos y de otras corrientes.

En breve se realizará la presentación del libro en Cádiz.

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Biblical Studies April Carnival

Happy Spring carnival to all the bloggers out there. I know you have been very busy this month.

Old Testament studies:

The blog Learning from God’s Word offers an article about the Message of Numbers. A study of Psalm 102:12 can also be found here.

An study of Exodus 32 has also been provided to us. Thanks Jim.

New Testament studies:

Larry Hurtado (not sure if you know him) published a thorough study about Women in the Jesus-Movement. 

Phil Long has provided us with a chapter by chapter study of the book of Revelation. I am linking here the latest study (Revelation 17:1-18) so you can go back to the previous chapters.

An overview of The Negation of Natural Law in the Apostle Paul’s Apocalyptic Literature is presented by Boby Grow. Right here.

A guest post from the bog The Domain for Truth deals with Mark 3:20-21.

Have you ever wonder if Paul uses sarcasm in his letters? Exegetical tools has the answer.

An article addressing Early Christian Non-NT Manuscripts can be found here. Thanks Rick Brannan.

Biblical languages: Phil Long reviewed the book Basic of Greek Accents

Book reviews:

Old Testament:

Phil Long has reviewed a very interesting commentary on Haggai and Malachi. Phil has also shared another in depth book review for an introductory book on to the Old Testament. We are waiting for the giveaways.

John Kight (Sojourner Theology) has also reviewed the book The Triune God. Lucky guy.

The guys from The Domain for Truth blog did a great contribution to the study of pneumatology and the Old Testament by reviewing an awesome book.

Pastor Jimmy Reagan has kindly provided us with a review of a book offering an archaeological perspective of the book of Jeremiah. Interesting.

Spencer, from spoil the milks blog, has reviewed the book Echoes of Exodus. Do not stop spoiling the milk.

A review of the book Interpreting the Wisdom Literature was written by me through my blog Resources for Ministry. Check it out here.

New Testament:

Phil Long complemented his series on the book of Revelation by writing a book review. You can read it here.

Mr. Reagan also wrote a review of the book The Making of the New Testament.

Jim West made a favor to us and read the book The Violence of the Lamb and then he wrote a review, so we do not have to read the book. Thanks.

Sojourner Theology blog introduces a book about Pauline Christology written by Gordon D. Fee.

Spoilthemilks (Spencer) has had time to review a commentary on John. Well done.

Miscellaneous:

Jose Maria de Rus, a young blogger from Spain from a very noble family, whose youngest brother is very acclaimed everywhere, has written a review of the book Biblical Leadership. Please, visit his blog so he can increase his audience. Do not let him to get discouraged.

Jim West has written a review of the book Early Sessions of the Synod of Dortd. He says he read the 950+ pages. Now everything makes more sense.

Death and After Life. If you want to know more, visit this book review from Pastor Jimmy Reagan before it is too late.

Another guest post from The Domain for Truth presents a book review addressing Christology.

J.W. Wartick offers a very interesting review of a book that addresses an always controversial topic: women and ordination.

Who’s next? Tim Buckley will be hosting the carnival next month (due June 1). Jim has some instructions for the carnival he will be hosting. Here are the instructions I got form him: Hi, I am doing the carnival after you, I am doing it on my podcast site so I wondered if you could put a mention in the carnival that anyone willing to to a short Skype recorded or video clip contribution about their blog/work should email me well in advance tim.bulkeley@gmail.com

Interpreting The Wisdom Books

Interpreting the Bible requires being familiar with the particularities of every literature genre the Bible contains. The principles for the interpretation of a historical book differ from the principles required to interpret wisdom books. For that reason, we need books that can help us to obtain or refine the necessary tools for an appropriate interpretation.

The volume Interpreting the Wisdom Books: An Exegetical Handbook (Edward M. Curtis, Kregel, 2017), is an introductory book addressing interpretation issues pertaining to the wisdom books. This book is part of the series The Handbooks for Old Testament Exegesis (HOTE), from Kregel.

The book contains six chapters:

1. Interpreting Old Testament Wisdom Literature.
2. Primary Themes in the Wisdom Literature.
3. Preparing for Interpretation.
4. Interpreting the Wisdom Books.
5. Proclaiming the Wisdom Books.
6. Putting it All Together: From Text to Sermon.

Every chapter has its own value and all of them contain key information for the interpretation of the wisdom books. However, if you are a preacher you will find chapter six to be an invaluable resource when it comes to peaching from a passage within the wisdom books. This chapter will guide readers through four steps to the preparation of a sermon. Step One: Focusing on the Topic; Step Two: Recognizing Genre and Exegetical Details; Step Three: Organizing the Material; Step Four: Applying the Text. The book of Proverbs and Job 4-6 are used as an illustration on how to apply the principles this book presents to preach on wisdom books.

An appendix presenting Computer and Internet Resources for Old Testament Exegesis can be found at the end of the book. This appendix contains topics such as using the Bible software for searchers; downloadable software, and online resources. Prices and features are included in this invaluable appendix.

This book is highly recommended for pastors and those performing an educational role in the Church, seminary students, and anyone desiring to gain more knowledge in order to interpret the Bible in an efficient way.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The ADHD Workbook for Kids

According to the DSM-5, “ADHD occurs in most cultures in about 5% of children and about 2.5% of adults.” That statistic reflects the prevalence of clients with ADHD that seek for treatment in mental health agencies. Doctors tend to prescribe medicines for clients with ADHD in order to reduce hyperactivity symptoms. While medicines can be helpful for clients with ADHD, education about symptoms and skills is crucial not only for clients but also for their families.

That is why therapist are always in need of fresh and outstanding resources that can assist them in the process of helping clients with ADHD.  Fortunately, Lawrence E. Shapiro has provided us with a great resource to work with children with ADHD: The ADHD Workbook for Kids (New Harbinger Publications, 2010). This is a workbook therapist and families can use to help children with ADHD to improve their attention skills, manage their emotions and gain social skills.

The activities this workbook contains are easy yet effective so children can obtain new skills without feeling overwhelmed by tough activities. This workbook contains forty-four activities divided into four sections. Section one deals with learning self-control. Section two is devoted to overcoming school problems. Section three has to do with making and keeping friends. Finally, section four covers the idea of feeling good about yourself. Every section contains eleven activities.

Every activity is preceded by a For You to Know section that introduces the topic the activity covers. The For You to Know section contains information about ADHD and how this diagnosis may impact children with ADHD and their families. This section is very informative and instructive for both clients and their relatives. The For You to Do section contains the different actives.

Who can use this workbook? This book is highly recommended for families with children with ADHD. You do not need to be a professional to help you child use this workbook as the instructions are very clear. Professionals should use this book as well. I spend 15-20 minutes working with my client on at least two activities, and then we spend the rest of the session discussing how to apply what the client has learned to his life. Kids has not reported feeling bored or overwhelmed while working with this book. On the contrary they have a lot of fun reading the stories this workbook contains. I am surprised about the many instances client have reported feeling identify with the stories Dr. Shapiro has included in this workbook.

Summarizing, I highly recommend this workbook to parents or legal guardians of children dealing with ADHD. Professionals will benefit from this workbook as it contains many different ideas and activities to do with your young clients.

Buying options: New Harbinger                      Amazon

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Spurgeon Study Bible

Charles Spurgeon was a very well known preacher whose sermons and teachings impacted his contemporaries back in 19th century. Though he passed away in 1892, his work is still alive and helping people to change their lives. Spurgeon is also the author of many books that are still in print and many other works have been written based on his literary contribution.

One of the most recent publications that is based on Spurgeon’s notes and sermons is the Spurgeon Study Bible (Broadman and Holman). After having used this Bible for few months, my initial impression is that this volume can also be considered and used as a devotional Bible.

The notes on this Bible are notes extracted from Spurgeon’s study notes and sermons, though textual criticism notes and alternative translation from the editorial team are also included. The version this Bible offers is the CSB. One of the first things readers will find is a biography of Charles Spurgeon. Every Bible book is preceded by an introduction, that include notes from Spurgeon on every book. The lost sermons of Spurgeon and Spurgeon quotes are the more remarkable resources this Bible offers. Images of the lost sermons of Spurgeon are available alongside a modern version of them. Pastor and leaders will also find very helpful for their sermon and Bible study, the inclusion of illustrations from the “prince of preachers.” Seven full color maps are also included, preceded by a concordance.

The page design is a double column for both the Bible text and the footnotes. The font is acceptable. However, the two aforementioned features penalize the margin, which is not  wide enough to write extensive notes.

The cover of the Bible I received is the black/brown leather touch version. The images under this lines show the flexibility this cover offers and how easily the leather touch cover returns to its original state. That means this Bible guarantees durability and ease of use without fearing any potential damage on the cover.  The spine offers a beautiful design that includes the signature of Charles Spurgeon as well as the title of the Bible and the version it uses. The brown belt with thine sewing provides an elegant look to this Bible.

As it has been mentioned before, this Bible can be used as both  study Bible and/or devotional Bible. For that reason, lay leaders and Christians in general should not feel intimidated by the title “Study Bible.” This Bible is recommendable for everyone interested in learning more about the work of Charles Spurgeon at the same time they study the Bible. Devotional and study time will never be the same with this Bible. If you want to improve both disciplines, do not look any further and obtain this highly recommend study Bible.

For more information click here. For pricing and cover options click here

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

How to Review Published Books, by Wiley

https://authorservices.wiley.com/Reviewers/book-reviewers/reviewing-published-books.html

Marriage and Family Therapy, by Linda Metcalf PhD

Marriage and family therapy is a discipline that is pertinent to both ministry and clinical disciplines. If you are a pastor, you need to some type of preparation and skills to work with marriages and families. Same thing applies to mental health professionals. In fact, marriage and family therapy is a required class for graduate students in pursuing their master in clinical therapy or even in pursuing their postgraduate studies such as Ph.D or PsyD.

Textbooks are one of the most important tools for professionals who work with couples and families. The book Marriage and Family Therapy (Springer, 2011) has become a reference in the field. Edited by Linda Metcalf PhD, this volume includes the work and contribution of many professionals and educators, all of them experts in the field of marriage and family therapy.

The book is divided in three main sections. Section I is the introductory section of the book. It includes chapters one and two. Section II deals with theories in marriage and family therapy. This section goes from chapter three to chapter sixteen. Section three covers other issues in marriage and family therapy, and goes from chapter seventeen to chapter twenty.

Every chapter is written from a professional perspective and all of them include relevant information to the subject under discussion. Some of the topics this book includes are: Bowen Family Systems Theory; Contextual Family Therapy; Cognitive Behavioral Models of Family Therapy; Milan Systemic Family Therapy, just to mention few.

This book goes beyond theory and information. Readers will find other valuable resources such as study cases, interviews with professionals and experts in the field of marriage and family therapy, charts, and key terms at the end of each chapter.

There is just one complaint with this book I would like to highlight, but it is not related to its content. I have not had used this book before writing this review and I fear it is going to fall into pieces. It seems that the pages are glued to the spine of the book. Perhaps, sewing would have been a better idea considering this is a hard cover volume.

Summarizing, this is an indispensable book for pastors, church leaders, and of course for professionals working at mental health facilities. The topics this book covers will provide readers with a better understanding and a deeper perspective of themes pertaining to marriage and family therapy. A highly recommendable book.

Where to buy: Amazon or Springer

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Book Review: John Barclay, Pauline Churches and Diaspora Jews

Reading Acts

Barclay, John M. G. Pauline Churches and Diaspora Jews. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2016. 454 pp. Pb; $48.   Link to Eerdmans

This collection of essays published between 1992 and 2011 was originally published by Mohr Siebeck. Chapter 1 was written as an introduction to that volume and chapters 18 and 19 appeared for the first time. The remaining sixteen essays appeared in various journals and Festschrifts. The Eerdmans edition is essentially the same, only a few typographical errors have been corrected. The volume concludes with a bibliography, Indices of Sources, Authors and Selected Topics.

In his introductory essay “Pauline Churches, Jewish Communities and the Roman Empire. Introducing the Issues” Barclay begins with a survey of contemporary social-historical research into the early Christ-movement. Beginning in the 1970s with the work of Malherbe, Thiessen and Meeks, biblical scholarship has benefited greatly from new research into the social world of the…

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Diccionario Enciclopédico Bíblico Ilustrado, de Editorial Clie (Eds. Alfonso Ropero, Alfonso Triviño y Silvia Martínez, 2016)

Los diccionarios bíblicos son una herramienta indispensable y fundamental para cualquier estudiante de la Biblia, aún más si uno se dedica a los ministerios de enseñanza y predicación. Podríamos decir que no estamos faltos de diccionarios bíblicos en español, pero tampoco es que abunden sobremanera. Así que, cualquier adición de calidad que se haga, siempre será bienvenida. Por ello, hoy quiero presentar el Diccionario Enciclopédico Bíblico Ilustrado, de Editorial Clie (Eds. Alfonso Ropero, Alfonso Triviño y Silvia Martínez, 2016)

Lo primero que hay que resaltar es el tamaño que el diccionario presenta a primera vista. Esto ya le hace imaginarse a uno la cantidad de artículos, definiciones y gráficas que el lector podrá encontrar. Pero lo mejor es comprobarlo por uno mismo.

Como no podía (ni debería) ser de otra forma, la tapa es dura y se anticipa que duradera. El tiempo y el uso que uno le dé a este diccionario lo dirá.

Al abrir este diccionario se aprecia la calidad del papel estucado, ideal para este tipo de obras debido a las imágenes a todo color que se ofrecen de manera generosa en este volumen, para no dejar nada a la imaginación del lector. Ya se sabe, una imagen vale más que mil palabras. Este tipo de papel estucado es grueso y fuerte, ofreciendo así una garantía de durabilidad. Hay una tabla de abreviaturas generales convenientemente ofrecida para provecho del lector.

Las imágenes se componente de mapas, tablas, cuadros, y fotografías de carácter arqueológico, todas con sus correspondientes leyendas al pie de la imagen.

Lo siguiente que se debe de destacar de este diccionario es la calidad y erudición de los artículos. Cada palabra que representa a un artículo está etiquetada en color azul, en contraste con el color negro del texto del artículo. Eso facilita la búsqueda y localización dentro de la página.

La mayoría de los artículos comienzan proveyendo información acerca del origen etimológico de la palabra (hebreo, griego, arameo o latín) seguido de la ya conocida pero útil numeración Strong. Esto es un acierto total, ya que el lector que disponga de la concordancia y/o diccionario Strong, podrá sacar aún más rendimiento a este diccionario enciclopédico combinando ambas herramientas. A esto le sigue una transliteración a nuestro idioma de la palabra en cuestión. Y por supuesto, citas bíblicas donde se encuentra dicha palabra.

Al final de este diccionario encontramos el índice general de artículos, un índice general de gráficos y la lista de créditos y reconocimientos.

En resumen, si estás buscando un diccionario bíblico que sea útil, efectivo, de calidad, y a un precio competente, no busques más. Cuando alguien me pregunta qué diccionario bíblico le recomiendo, no lo dudo: el Diccionario Enciclopédico Bíblico Ilustrado de Editorial Clie. Un diccionario y una editorial confiables.

Para comprarlo accede a este link y si estás en Estados Unidos a este 

Spurgeon Can Help Your Depression

https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/blog-entries/spurgeon-can-help-your-depression

CSB Pastor’s Bible

The Christian Standard Bible translation (CSB) is the most recent version published by B&H. They have extended this new version to the study Bible market. The result is outstanding addition for pastors and Bible students. One example is the Pastor’s Bible (this review is based on the genuine leather edition).

Outside:

The first thing we should notice is the cover. The material used is a brown goatskin leather (printed on the back) and it feels so smooth though it has texture. Flexibility and durability guaranteed.  The spine gives a solid and elegant view this Bible. There are three spine ribs that divide three inscriptions printed in gold: Holy Bible, Christian Standard Bible, and Holman. The ribs are prominent enough to be noticed. The perimeter of this cover comes with stitches, contributing to an elegant and fine cover. Then points out of ten on the cover.  Edges are also gold.

Inside:

The vinyl liner is the first thing you will find inside this Bible. It helps the cover to feel strong and to get to its original position when manipulated. The next feature is a presentation page, in case you want to give this Bible to someone as a present. Then, a list with the books of the Bible and a table of content can be found. An introduction to the CSB precedes the table of abbreviations, followed by the Bible text.

Readers will find a single column format with a generous size font (Bible Serif 10 points) and bold enough to make reading so comfortable. The single column design offers a generous margin for personal notes. Footnotes are separated from the main text by a horizontal line and notes can be distinguished by the chapter and verse in bold. The paper selected for this Bible is thin, resulting in show-trough thought it is not disturbing as in other Bibles. Appropriate highlighting pens or markers are recommended. Distribution, font, and bolding invite readers to read this text without getting tired.

Footnotes are textual explanations and alternative translations for some words. One thing potential buyers must be aware of is that this Bible is not a study Bible (and it does not intend to be so), and for that reason there are no commentaries on the text. So, if you are looking for a study Bible based on the CSB, you may want to consider the CSB Spurgeon Study Bible.

Three ribbons (5mm black, brown and red) help readers mark the texts they are studying, or to mark the texts readers will be using for their sermons or study Bible.

Additional features:

As a Bible addressed to pastors, this volume includes articles covering different topics:

• Wedding Ceremonies
• Funeral Preparation
• Funeral Sermons
• Where to Turn
• A Brief Biblical Theology of Leadership
• Eight Traits of Effective Church Leaders
• Pastor, Find Your Identity in Christ
• Glorifying God in Your Ministry
• What is Biblical Preaching?
• Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures
• What is Doctrinal Preaching?
• Four Keys for Giving an Effective Invitation
• Five Ways to Improve Congregational Singing
• Soul Care: Walking with Others in Wisdom and Love
• Letter to the Church
• Five Steps to Start and Keep an Evangelistic Culture
• How Do You Disciple Others?
• The One Thing You Must Do as a Student Pastor
• Sharing the Gospel with Children

I am still wondering why the first three additional resources (Wedding Ceremonies, Funeral Preparation, and Funeral Sermons) have been placed between Psalms and Proverbs instead of at the end of the Bible text where the rest of the articles can be found. I also miss a resource addressing baptism services preparation.

A concordance and eight full color maps can be found at the end of this Bible.

Summarizing, this Bible is a great addition to the pastor’s Bible market. The CSB translation along with the material and text format make this Bible a highly recommended Bible for pastors and church leaders.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

 

Biblia Germanica 1545

Now that the Protestant world has celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, it is a wonderful occasion to review the Biblia Germanica 1545 (Hendrickson, 2017). This volume is a replica of the 1545 Luther Bible, and of course, it is written in German.

Luther wrote many volumes, but none of them has the value and relevance of the translation of the Latin Bible to German language. That allowed people from German Speaking countries to read the Bible in their own langue. We have to consider the risk Luther faced at that time by translating the Bible from Latin to German. Thanks to his braveness and determination the door for other translation to different common languages opened. Now we can say the Bible is the most translated book in the world. Even minorities can read the Bible in their native language.

The Biblia Germanica 1545 comes in a box that helps to preserve the Bible from damage, as this is a volume that is not designed for regular use. The cover is a cloth over board with the title Biblia Germanica 1545 in gold color over a black square on the spine. The ribbon is a 5 mm, gold color and large enough to make it easy to manipulate it without any issues. The paper is not white but bond color. The font is the same size as Luther’s original Bible. In fact, this whole volume is an exact replica of the Bible Luther wrote. Even the notes Luther wrote on the margin are included in this beautiful and commemorative Biblia Germanica 1545.

This is a heavy volume due to the number of pages (1552) and the hard cover, but of course potential buyers would not carry this Bible with them. Who’s this Bible for? Well, even if you can read German, this is not the type of Bible you would use in your daily reading or study. This Bible is more designed for collectors, expositions, exhibit, or just display in an office. Why would someone buy the Biblia Germanica 1545? For commemorative reasons.

Size: 10 1/4 x 7 inches
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 1552

To buy this Biblia click here 

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

 

The Handy Guide to Difficult and Irregular Verbs: Aids for Readers of the Greek New Testament, by Jon C. Laansma and Randall X. Gauthier.

Verbs are one of the most important aspect in any language, including New Testament Greek. There are many resources available addressing the study of verbs specifically. I would like to present a new addition to the study of difficult and irregular Greek verbs. The Handy Guide to Difficult and Irregular Verbs: Aids for Readers of the Greek New Testament, by Jon C. Laansma and Randall X. Gauthier.

The quality of a book should not be only assessed by its content but also by its efficacy in accomplishing its purpose. Some people may find this handy guide to be too condensed (80 pages, including indexes), but as indicate by its title, it is a handy guide and an aid for readers. This volume does not pretend to present a deep study of the Greek verbs, but to help readers to navigate thought the reading of the New Testament in its original language, and this book accomplishes its purpose so well.

The authors have divided this guide into two parts. Part one presents a frequency list of difficult and irregular principal parts. Part two provides an alphabetical list of verbs with their compounds. Then the book is complemented with two appendixes. Appendix I offers the conjugation of the verb εἰμί. Appendix II includes an explanation of the perfect and pluperfect indicative and the optative mood.

Tables and colors in page design will help readers to have a pleasant experience while reading this guide. The authors have arranged the verbs in a logical and compressible manner, so readers can find and identify the verb under study without any problem.

This handy guide is extremely recommendable for students and experienced readers of the Greek New Testament, as this volume will assist readers in dealing with difficult and regular verbs.

You can buy this book here 

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

 

Book Review: Ben Witherington III, New Testament Theology and Ethics, Volumes 1 and 2

Reading Acts

Witherington III, Ben. New Testament Theology and Ethics, Volumes 1 & 2. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 2016. 856 pgs.; Pb.; $40.00  Link to InterVarsity

When InterVarsity Press sent me a copy of this massive book my initial thought was that Witherington had simply written another massive book on New Testament Theology. But this is not the case, these two new paperback volumes were previously published as The Indelible Image: The Theological and Ethical World of the New Testament. Volume one was subtitled “The Individual Witnesses” and volume two was subtitled “The Collective Witness.”

As Witherington wrote in the preface to the original publication of this work, there is a need to write yet another New Testament theology for several reasons. First, Witherington observes that the connection between theology and ethics is seldom explored. There are few New Testament theologies with attempt to write on the ethics of the New Testament…

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Book Review: Paul N. Jackson, Devotions on the Greek New Testament, Volume Two

Reading Acts

Jackson, Paul N. Devotions on the Greek New Testament, Volume Two. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2017. 189 pp. Pb; $18.99.  Link to Zondervan

This new volume of devotionals from the Greek New Testament follows the first volume edited by J. Scott Duvall and Verlyn Verbrugge (Zondervan, 2012). The idea of Greek devotionals rose out of the Exegetical Insights in Bill Mounce’s popular Basics of Biblical Greek. Each chapter of this introductory grammar began with a short illustration of why the grammatical lesson of the chapter plays out in Greek exegesis.

The fifty-two devotionals in this small book are drawn from every New Testament book and focus on the details of a particular Greek text. After the title of the devotion and reference, the Greek text is provided. Occasionally the author provides a syntactical display (Paul Jackson on Mark 9:42-50; Dean Pinter on 1 Timothy 1:15-16). The author then…

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Paul’s Mission to Spain

Reading Acts

From the book of Acts we know Paul wrote Romans after a long and bitter controversies in both Galatia and Corinth. As a result of these conflicts, Romans “constitutes a ‘manifesto’ setting forth his deepest convictions on central issues” (Kruse, Romans, 9). This manifesto was written and published to gain the widest publicity. It is possible the core of the letter was sent to other Pauline churches, although there is no manuscript evidence for this.

Paul also wrote Romans just prior to his trip to Jerusalem to deliver the collection to the poor saints in Jerusalem. The book of Romans may have been intended to gain the favor of the Roman church as he approached the contentious Jerusalem church. Romans 15:30-33 specifically asks the Roman church to pray for Paul because he is not sure what reception he will receive when he arrives in Jerusalem.

That he calls his…

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Logos Free (and almost free) Books of the Month – Three Anchor Bible Commentaries (Romans, Galatians and Habakkuk)

Reading Acts

The Logos Bible Software “Free book of the Month” for October is their best offer ever. During the month of October, you can add The Anchor Yale Bible commentary on Romans by Joseph A. Fitzmyer for free, and Francis I. Andersen’s Anchor Bible Commentary on Habakkuk for only $1.99, and J. Louis Martyn’s Galatians commentary for only $2.99. All three of these are excellent contributions to scholarship. Any work on Romans engages with Fitzmyer, and Martyn commentary on Galatians is one of the best available. The three books are about $150.00 retail, and you can get Logos 7 Basic Edition for free. So no excuses!

The Anchor Bible format begins with a fresh translation followed by a comment on the text and then a “notes” section for exegetical detail. All Greek is transliterated and all citations are in-text. All three commentaries interact with both ancient and modern scholarship and seek to explain the…

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