The five Old Testament books dealt with in this volume of the Commentary occupied a special place in Hebrew tradition as selected readings for major festivals and were accordingly brought together in Hebrew manuscripts to form a group of five scrolls. The books of The Five Scrolls vary greatly; debate about their holiness and authority is recorded from the second century AD onwards, and they pose many problems of interpretation today.
In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume, Barry Webb offers fresh and illuminating perspectives on the "festival garments" of love, kindness, suffering, vexation and deliverance through a study of The Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther.
You're probably missing some of the most interesting books of the Bible. In the Jewish tradition, the five books known as "The Five Scrolls" perform a central liturgical function as the texts associated with each of the major holidays. The Song of Songs is read during Passover, Ruth during Shavuot, Lamentations on Tisha B'av, Ecclesiastes during Sukkot, and Esther during the celebration of Purim. Together with the five books of the Torah, these texts orient Jewish life and provide the language of the faith. In the Christian tradition, by contrast, these books have largely been forgotten. Many churchgoers can't even find them in their pew Bibles. They are rarely preached, come up only occasionally in the lectionary, and are not the subject of Bible studies. Thus, their influence on the lives and theology of many Christians is entirely negligible. But they deserve much more attention. With scholarly wisdom and a quick wit, Williamson insists that these books speak urgently to the pressing issues of the contemporary world. Addressing themes of human sexuality, grief, immigration, suffering and protest, ethnic nationalism, and existential dread, he skillfully guides readers as they rediscover the relevance of the Five Scrolls for today.
The five Old Testament book dealt with in this volume of the Commentary occupied a special place in Hebrew tradition as selected readings for major festivals and were accordingly brought together in Hebrew manuscripts to form a group of five scrolls. The books of The Five Scrolls vary greatly; debate about their holiness and authority is recorded from the second century AD onwards, and they pose many problems of interpretation today.
"Are the books of the 'Megilloth' an anthology of unrelated writings? Timothy J. Stone explores the canonical shape of the third part of the Hebrew canon, the Writings, and concludes that the codification of the 'Megilloth' into a collection is integral to the canonical process."--Back cover.
The theme of repentance is evident in almost every Old and New Testament corpus. However, it has received little sustained attention over the past half-century of scholarship. In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume, Mark Boda offers a comprehensive overview of the theological witness of Scripture to the theme of repentance, a return to intimate fellowship with the triune God, our Creator and Redeemer.
The Strangest Books in the Bible presents For The general reader And The Christian pulpit the five biblical books: Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. These books are among the most neglected literature in the Bible for Christians. In the Hebrew Bible, they are gathered in a minor canonical collection known as the Megilloth ("scrolls") because each book figures liturgically in one of the annual Jewish festivals. Readers will find background information (date, occasion, theological message, etc.) necessary to preparing sermons based on each book. Brief sermon "starters" follow, suggesting approaches for preaching on each book as a whole, As well as individual passages within the book, including passages found in the Revised Common Lectionary, used by more than twenty denominations. The complete text of a sample sermon from the book rounds out the discussion. Chapters close with a brief annotated bibliography of additional resources the minister may wish to consult while preparing a sermon for that book. A general introduction To The Megilloth stands at the beginning of the monograph. The Strangest Books in the Bible is designed particularly for ordained and lay ministers, priests, seminarians, and others who preach in churches and religious gatherings, As well as for faculty who teach in seminary or in Christian educational programs. it is also especially informative For The general reader who is interested in this strange, biblical literature. The Strangest Books in the Bible assist those who desire to explore in homiletic mode this neglected side of biblical faith. Pastors, priests, seminarians, and lay ministers will find in the Strangest Books in the Bible a surefooted, contemporary guide to preaching the neglected books of the Megilloth: Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. No other guide to preaching the Megilloth is currently available.
There is a great gulf between the laws given by God to Moses and those in force in society today. So, how does a believer live in the twenty-first century? What rules do they apply? Christians may claim that many of God's laws were fulfilled with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But if a believer truly wants to know who God is, what makes him tick, and how we are supposed to live, then what better way than to study God's rules. At their heart, God's laws were about two things: how to have a healthy relationship with him and how to build up a healthy thriving community. As a consequence, any search for keys to a godly life, would be deficient if it did not include an examination of the rules that God gave Moses (together with the insights of Solomon).
The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today's context. To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today's world, each passage is treated in three sections: Original Meaning. Concise exegesis to help readers understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context. Bridging Contexts. A bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of today, built by discerning what is timeless in the timely pages of the Bible. Contemporary Significance. This section identifies comparable situations to those faced in the Bible and explores relevant application of the biblical messages. The author alerts the readers of problems they may encounter when seeking to apply the passage and helps them think through the issues involved. This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today's preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.
