This informative volume highlights the "four hundred silent years," the intertestamental period, about which the Bible gives no information. Here is a popularly written account of this period, an overview that explains the forces that shaped the world in the centuries immediately preceding the birth of Christ. Both the Persian and Hellenistic eras are covered in broad but informative strokes, and special attention is given to the status and problems of Jews during these periods. After reading this work, Bible students will have gained a deepened understanding of the world towhich Christ came "in the fullness of time."
David L. Baker outlines the problem of the relationship between the Testaments, surveys the relevant history of interpretation, critically examines four main approaches and considers four key themes. This new edition has been thoroughly revised, updated and expanded.
Do you want to understand Jesus of Nazareth, his apostles, and the rise of early Christianity? Reading the Old Testament is not enough, writes Matthias Henze in this slender volume aimed at the student of the Bible. To understand the Jews of the Second Temple period, it’s essential to read what they wrote—and what Jesus and his followers might have read—beyond the Hebrew scriptures. Henze introduces the four-century gap between the Old and New Testaments and some of the writings produced during this period (different Old Testaments, the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls); discusses how these texts have been read from the Reformation to the present, emphasizing the importance of the discovery of Qumran; guides the student’s encounter with select texts from each collection; and then introduces key ideas found in specific New Testament texts that simply can’t be understood without these early Jewish “intertestamental” writings—the Messiah, angels and demons, the law, and the resurrection of the dead. Finally, he discusses the role of these writings in the “parting of the ways” between Judaism and Christianity. Mind the Gap broadens curious students’ perspectives on early Judaism and early Christianity and welcomes them to deeper study.
"The authors discuss: the Dead Sea Scrolls' apocrypha and pseudepigrapha, the return of the Jewish exiles, the Hellenization of the ancient world, Essenes and Zealots, feasts and festivals, the hope for a Messiah, and much more that will help you understand the full sweep of the history of the house of Israel. They also include numerous maps and a helpful timeline of this pivotal period." -- Inside Cover
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE • A modern masterpiece that "reminds us of the power of truth in the face of evil” (People)—and can be read on its own or as a sequel to Margaret Atwood’s classic, The Handmaid’s Tale. “Atwood’s powers are on full display” (Los Angeles Times) in this deeply compelling Booker Prize-winning novel, now updated with additional content that explores the historical sources, ideas, and material that inspired Atwood. More than fifteen years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale, the theocratic regime of the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is beginning to rot from within. At this crucial moment, the lives of three radically different women converge, with potentially explosive results. Two have grown up as part of the first generation to come of age in the new order. The testimonies of these two young women are joined by a third: Aunt Lydia. Her complex past and uncertain future unfold in surprising and pivotal ways. With The Testaments, Margaret Atwood opens up the innermost workings of Gilead, as each woman is forced to come to terms with who she is, and how far she will go for what she believes.
Derived from Halley’s Bible Handbook, a world-renowned, accessible guide to the Bible now in its 25th edition, this digital short sketches the history of the time between the Old and New Testaments. The rise of the Greek and then Roman Empires, the Maccabees, Herod’s Temple, the Sanhedrin—this introduction to a fascinating era not covered in the Bible includes all of the above and more. Useful for Bible students wanting to better understand the cultural context of the New Testament and for readers interested in Middle Eastern and early European history, The Time Between the Old and New Testaments shines light on a key period in world and religious history.
Perspectives on the relationship between the Old and New Testaments as they concern theological systems, Mosaic law, salvation, hermeneutics, the people of God, and kingdom promises. From a respected group of modern theologians.
Make Bible study a part of your daily life with the thorough yet easy-to-read commentary that turns complicated theology into practical understanding. The second edition of Believer's Bible Commentary is a one-volume guide that helps the average reader develop basic knowledge of the Bible. This commentary, written by the late William MacDonald, explores the deeper meanings of every biblical book and tackles controversial issues from a theologically conservative standpoint while also presenting alternative views. Serving as a friendly introduction to Bible study, Believer's Bible Commentary gives clarity and context to scripture in easy-to-understand language. Features: Introductions, notes, and bibliographies for each book of the Bible A balanced approach to linguistic studies and useful application Comments on the text are augmented by practical applications of spiritual truths and by a study of typology, where appropriate Colorful maps of the Holy Land and other useful study helps Can be used with any Bible translation but is best used with the New King James version