This book attempts to find a hermeneutical framework which will help us understand the issues of thematic study, background thought, and literary analysis in a coherent way. It is argued that the theological symbolism of Sinai and Zion in Hebrews 12:18-24 provides not only the theological background of the author but also the rhetorical basis of the superiority motif, as well as the author's exegetical principle in Old Testament quotations.
“The best introduction I know to the Jewish faith presented in the Hebrew Scripture.” —Eugene B. Borowitz, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion A treasury of religious thought and faith—places the symbolic world of the Bible in its original context. “A challenging, exciting work in Jewish theology. Not to be missed.” —Ruth Segal Bernards, Sh’ma “A significant advance in Jewish-Christian understanding could be made if Christians would read Sinai & Zion.” —John Simpson, Provident Book Finder “Beautifully written, theologically sensitive, and ecumenical.” —Richard J. Clifford, S.J., Weston School of Theology “It is a book which has been longed for. It is also a very good book.” —T. R. Hobbs, Biblical Theology Bulletin “In this eminently readable work of biblical scholarship of the highest order, Levenson enables that Bible’s many voices to speak for themselves and yet communicate a coherent religious vision.” —Robert L. Cohn, Journal of Religion
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.
Many Bible believing Christians are convinced that God blesses those nations that stand with Israel and curses those that don’t. This belief has had a significant influence on attitudes towards the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. Claims made in books like the Scofield Reference Bible and Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth have fed into contemporary Christian Zionism, with radical implications for how we view our faith and the world in which we live. Stephen Sizer contends that this view is based on misinterpretation of the Bible. He provides an introduction to Christian Zionism and a clear response and positive alternative based on a careful study of relevant biblical texts. His intention is to encourage dialogue on the relationship between Israel and the Christian church and offer a more constructive view of the future and our role in it. This accessible volume includes numerous tables and diagrams, questions for Bible study and further reflection, and a glossary of terms. It concludes with a previously unpublished sermon by John Stott on ‘The Place of Israel.’
Why is cloning wrong? Does the Bible say a divorced person can remarry? Can angels sin? Is body piercing wrong? Can demons read our thoughts? Dr. Elmer Towns, author of over 80 books and Dean of Liberty University's School of Religion, answers these and many other questions you have wondered about.Written for the new Christian too embarrassed to ask, and for the long-time Christian who still has unanswered questions, this one-volume, indexed resource provides the kind of responses your own pastor would give as you're shaking hands after the Sunday morning sermon-short, knowledgeable, and to the point. Topics covered include: Politics The Bible,The Holy Spirit,and Angels Creation Demons and the Devil· God's Names Prayer, Salvation, and Sin If you have questions-and who doesn't-Bible Answers for Almost All Your Questions is an essential resource.
For three thousand years Jerusalem has held a special place in the hearts of Jews and Christians. More than any other site in the Bible, Jerusalem signifies God's judgment and hope. It is the focus of much of the Old Testament, and acquaintance with this background is essential for understanding the importance of the city in Jesus' time, in our own age, and in the prophecies of the world to come.
Believers know that when we die we enter heaven and will spend eternity there with God and the saints who have gone before us. But what actually happens in heaven? What are we going to be doing there? Won't it get boring at some point? According to Scripture, a large part of our experience of heaven will be a continual revealing of God's glory. Not just his glory in the moment, but during all of time. The mysteries of providence, the hidden movements of God throughout history, and the forgotten and unnoted works of even the most obscure of God's people will be unveiled so that we can see how wise, loving, gracious, and powerful our God is. And though we will experience perfection in heaven, we will never be omniscient, which means we will always be learning more about God's glory, inspiring us to return joyful praise and thanksgiving. If your vision of heaven has been limited to clouds and harps and angels, it's time to expand that view with the truth found in this biblically based look at the afterlife.
This is the third annual volume of the remarkably popular journal of biblical theology edited by Dr. Scott Hahn. This volume features important contributions by Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, and Cardinal Avery Dulles. Also included are original and thought-provoking contributions on such topics as: the biblical basis of indulgences; feminine and maternal images of the Holy Spirit in early Christianity; and the ?image of God? doctrine in St. Thomas Aquinas? writings. Hahn contributes a deep exploration of how the Gospel of Luke portrays Christ as the Davidic Messiah and the Church as the restoration of the Davidic kingdom.
