Verhoef's study on the Books of Haggai and Malachi is part of The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, a series which devotes considerable care to achieving a balance between technical information and homiletic-devotional interpretation. The commentary itself is based on the author's own translation of the Hebrew text.
Three neglected but important prophets receive a fresh and penetrating analysis in this introduction and commentary. For each prophet's work, Joyce Baldwin first considers the general issues of author, text and message, then offers a passage-by-passage commentary. "Considerable attention has been given in the book to background material, and proper consideration is accorded to the views of those from whom the author differs," writes reviewer R. K. Harrison. "In expounding the text, Baldwin produces evidence of balanced scholarship and a high degree of spiritual insight."
The church fathers mined the Old Testament throughout for prophetic utterances regarding the Messiah, but few books yielded as much messianic ore as the Twelve Prophets, sometimes known as the Minor Prophets. In this rich and vital ACCS volume you will find excerpts, some translated here into English for the first time, from more than thirty church fathers.
A Respected Scholar Introduces Students to the Discipline of Old Testament Studies Richard Hess, a trusted scholar of the Old Testament and the ancient Near East, offers a substantial introduction to the Old Testament that is accessibly written and informed by the latest biblical scholarship. Hess summarizes the contents of the Old Testament, introduces the academic study of the discipline, and helps readers understand the complex world of critical and interpretive issues, addressing major concerns in the critical interpretation of each Old Testament book and key texts. This volume provides a fulsome treatment for students preparing for ministry and assumes no prior knowledge of the Old Testament. Readers will learn how each book of the Old Testament was understood by its first readers, how it advances the larger message of the whole Bible, and what its message contributes to Christian belief and the Christian community. Twenty maps, ninety photos, sidebars, and recommendations for further study add to the book's usefulness for students. Resources for professors are available through Baker Academic's Textbook eSources.
“A useful and up to date commentary . . . that not only discusses the lexical, syntactical and theological problems of the original text but also consistently attempts to bridge the historical gap by applying the message of the book to the contemporary reader. . . . [This] commentary is a valuable and needed addition to the literature available on [Malachi]” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society “A demonstration model for the application of the principles of exegesis described by the author in his Toward an Exegetical Theology. . . . Kaiser’s two volumes should prove helpful to seminarians.” Society for Old Testament Study Book List “Stands in dialogue with some recent scholarship and offers interesting structural observations. . . . The book will be of most value for use within ecclesiastical circles. Nonetheless, it will also be of interest to the scholar working on the minor prophets.” Religious Studies Review
These three short prophetic books of the Old Testament each contain a dual message. On one hand are messages of impending judgment---for all peoples on the Day of the Lord, for an enemy of Israel, and for Israel herself. On the other hand are messages of great hope---of the pouring out of God's Spirit, of restoration and renewal, and of a coming Messiah. Placing judgment and hope together in such a manner may seem paradoxical to a contemporary mindset. But the complete message of these prophets gives a fuller picture of God---who despises and rightly judges sin and rebellion, but who also lovingly invites people to return to him so that he might bestow his wonderful grace and blessings. It is a message no less timely today than when these books were first written, and David W. Baker skillfully bridges the centuries in helping believers today understand and apply it. Most Bible commentaries take us on a one-way trip from our world to the world of the Bible. But they leave us there, assuming that we can somehow make the return journey on our own. They focus on the original meaning of the passage but don't discuss its contemporary application. The information they offer is valuable---but the job is only half done! The NIV Application Commentary Series helps bring both halves of the interpretive task together. This unique, award-winning series shows readers how to bring an ancient message into our postmodern context. It explains not only what the Bible meant but also how it speaks powerfully today.
This keepsake edition of The Book of Malachi was taken from the King James translation of the Bible. The King James Translation is a masterwork of style, and the most important book in the English language, it has been the driving force in shaping the English-speaking world for hundreds of years. The Book of Malachi was written to correct the lax religious and social behaviour of the Israelites - particularly the priests - in post-exilic Jerusalem. Although the prophets urged the people of Judah and Israel to see their exile as punishment for failing to uphold their covenant with God, it was not long after they had been restored to the land and to Temple worship that the people's commitment to their God began, once again, to wane. The Book of Malachi is one of the shortest books in the bible and is sold at or near the publisher's cost and offered up for the collector who wished to have an unbroken set of this keepsake editions.
The Revelation Study Set provides the home study component of Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come. Its ten lessons draw participants into the Revelation to John verse by verse, drawing on pertinent passages from the Old Testament and Catechism of the Catholic Church to help people understand what they read and apply it to their lives. Group discussion of the questions reinforces the lesson, while the suggested responses provide additional insights and explanations. Each lesson should be concluded with the corresponding presentation from the DVD or CD series, which contains expert commentary presented by Jeff Cavins.
Many people assumed that in Malachi 3:8-9 the curse was an expression of God's anger towards us for our failure to give tithes and offerings. God does not curse his children. In this lesson we will learn that the curse of Malachi is about acquiring mindsets. A blessing or curse is the acquisition of a state of mind that comes through making choices. Choosing God opens our hearts and expands our ability to become more like God. We can see and think creatively as he does.
