Mere Christianity is a powerful and accessible exploration of Christian beliefs, adapted from a series of radio talks by C.S. Lewis during World War II. The book is aimed at presenting the core principles of Christianity — the “mere” or essential truths shared across all denominations — in a logical, thoughtful, and non-denominational way.Divided into four parts, Lewis begins by discussing the concept of right and wrong as a clue to the meaning of the universe. He then explains key Christian beliefs, such as the nature of God, Jesus’ divinity, sin, and redemption. The final sections focus on Christian behavior, morality, virtues, and faith in action.Lewis uses simple language, logical reasoning, and vivid analogies to make Christianity relatable and intellectually satisfying, whether for skeptics, seekers, or believers. Read more

A new and inviting introduction to the Acts of the Apostles from New Testament scholar and theologian N. T. Wright.Acts is a substantial book. It sits right in the middle of the New Testament, looking back to the four Gospels and ahead to the mission of the early church. It provides a framework for our understanding of the letters; but it does more than that. Acts offers a sophisticated and nuanced view of what it means to think of the gospel of Jesus, Israel's Messiah, going out into the world over which Israel's Messiah claims the status of Lord.This Christian movement and thinking, detailed in Acts, entailed confronting the wider culture of the Greek and Roman world, as well as the culture of the Jewish world, which provides us today with an important message as we ourselves face new questions about gospel and contemporary culture.From the renowned author of Into the Heart of Romans, N. T. Wright brings to the book of Acts his expert's eye on theological nuance and cultural context, distilling it down into an introductory commentary, perfect for anyone looking to take their own reading a little deeper and discover the profound (and often forgotten) potential of the church and the Way of Jesus Christ. Read more

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Southwestern Journal of Theology 2024 Book of The Year • Christianity Today 2024 Theology Book Award • The Gospel Coalition 2024 Biblical Studies Book AwardReading the Bible to the glory of God.In 1952, C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity eloquently defined the essential tenets of the Christian faith. With the rise of fractured individualism that continues to split the church, this approach is more important now than ever before for biblical hermeneutics.Many Christians wonder how to read the text of Scripture well, rightly, and faithfully. After all, developing a strong theory of interpretation has always been presented by two enormous challenges:A variety of actual interpretations of the Bible, even within the context of a single community of believers.The plurality of reading cultures—denominational, disciplinary, historical, and global interpretive communities—each with its own frame of reference. In response, influential theologian Kevin J. Vanhoozer puts forth a "mere" Christian hermeneutic—essential principles for reading the Bible as Scripture everywhere, at all times, and by all Christians.To center his thought, Vanhoozer turns to the accounts of Jesus' transfiguration—a key moment in the broader economy of God's revelation—to suggest that spiritual or "figural" interpretation is not a denial or distortion of the literal sense but, rather, its glorification.Irenic without resorting to bland ecumenical tolerance, Mere Christian Hermeneutics is a powerful and convincing call for both church and academy to develop reading cultures that enable and sustain the kind of unity and diversity that a "mere Christian hermeneutic" should call for and encourage Read more

This commentary on the Gospel of Mark focuses on the gospel's original readers -- What did Mark expect them to know? How did Mark expect them to use that knowledge to unpack the meaning of this gospel? What role did the sequence of the material play in shaping the book's impact on a First Century audience? What this commentary emphasizes is the way Mark structures his story to convince his readers that Jesus really is Lord, even when it looks like the world is falling apart. This information can both inform and shape our own interpretation of what the gospel means to us, today. Read more

“One of those rare volumes that . . . makes one wonder how we could possibly have lived without it. . . . [A] must-read for any student of the New Testament.” —Publishers WeeklyIn this groundbreaking and controversial book, Burton Mack brilliantly exposes how the Gospels are fictional mythologies created by different communities for various purposes and are only distantly related to the actual historical Jesus.Mack‘s innovative scholarship which boldly challenges traditional Christian understanding will change the way you approach the New Testament and think about how Christianity arose.“A powerful, compact, yet detailed introduction to the New Testament and the origins of Christianity. Mack has sketched the panorama of early Christian literature and social development in a lucid, convincing, and magisterial performance.”— Robert W. Funk, founder of the Jesus Seminar and author of The Five Gospels“Certainly Mack's book should take a place in the front ranks [of New Testament introductions].” —Booklist “Finally! Someone has penetrated the theological agenda that has informed a century of New Testament scholarship to provide a thoroughgoing historical overview of Christian origins.” Luther H. Martin, author of Hellenistic Religions Read more

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The rapture--or the belief that Jesus' living followers will, at some point, join him forever while others do not--is an important but contested doctrine among evangelicals. Scholars generally hold one of three perspectives on the timing and circumstances of the rapture, all of which are presented in this important volume of the Counterpoints series, Three Views on the Rapture:Alan D. Hultberg (PhD, Trinity International University and professor of New Testament at Talbot School of Theology) explains the Pre-Wrath view. Craig Blaising (PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary and president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) defends the Pre-Tribulation view.Douglas Moo (PhD, University of St. Andrews and professor of New Testament at Wheaton College) sets forth the Post-Tribulation view. Each author provides a substantive explanation of his position, which is critiqued by the other two authors. A thorough introduction gives a historical overview of the doctrine of the rapture and its effects on the church. The interactive and fair-minded format of the Counterpoints series allows readers to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each view and draw informed, personal conclusions. Read more

"John evidently loves the people committed to his care," says John Stott in the preface to this commentary on 1, 2 and 3 John. "They are his 'dear children,' his 'dear friends.' He longs to protect them from both error and evil and to see them firmly established in faith, love and holiness. He has no new doctrine for them. On the contrary, he appeals to them to remember what they already know, have and are. He warns them against deviating from this and urges them to remain loyal to it. Whenever innovators trouble the church, and ridicule whatever is old or traditional, we need to hear and heed John's exhortation, to continue in what we have learned and received, and to let it continue in us." The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries have long been a trusted resource for Bible study. Written by some of the world's most distinguished evangelical scholars, these twenty volumes offer clear, reliable, and relevant explanations of every book in the New Testament.These Tyndale volumes are designed to help readers understand what the Bible actually says and what it means. The introduction to each volume gives a concise but thorough description of the authorship, date, and historical background of the biblical book under consideration. The commentary itself examines the text section by section, drawing out its main themes. It also comments on individual verses and deals with problems of interpretation. The aim throughout is to get at the true meaning of the Bible and to make its message plain to readers today.The original, unrevised text of this volume has been completely retypeset and printed in a larger, more attractive format with the new cover design for the series Read more

Preaching's 2017 Survey of Bibles and Bible ReferenceThe genius of the letter of James lies in its powerfully simple call for repentance, for action, for a consistent Christian lifestyle. In this revised commentary Douglas Moo allows James's words to cut through our theological debates, our personal preconceptions, our spiritual malaise and return us to an invigorating, transforming Christianity. This second-edition volume in the storied Tyndale New Testament Commentary series includes a new extensive introduction, analysis and section-by-section commentary of the book of James."The Bible is being translated, commented on, read, studied, preached and analyzed as never before. But it is questionable whether it is being obeyed to a comparable degree," says Moo in the preface. "All this suggests that the message of James is one that we all need to hear—and obey."The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries have long been a trusted resource for Bible study. Written by some of the world's most distinguished evangelical scholars, these twenty volumes offer clear, reliable, and relevant explanations of every book in the New Testament.These Tyndale volumes are designed to help readers understand what the Bible actually says and what it means. The introduction to each volume gives a concise but thorough description of the authorship, date, and historical background of the biblical book under consideration. The commentary itself examines the text section by section, drawing out its main themes. It also comments on individual verses and deals with problems of interpretation. The aim throughout is to get at the true meaning of the Bible and to make its message plain to readers today. Read more

In Beyond Belief, renowned religion scholar Elaine Pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of the earliest Christian texts, arguing for an ongoing assessment of faith and a questioning of religious orthodoxy. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers, Pagels returns to her investigation of the “secret” Gospel of Thomas, and breathes new life into writings once thought heretical. As she arrives at an ever-deeper conviction in her own faith, Pagels reveals how faith allows for a diversity of interpretations, and that the “rogue” voices of Christianity encourage and sustain “the recognition of the light within us all.” Read more

Concentrate on the biblical author's message as it unfolds.Designed to assist the pastor and Bible teacher in conveying the significance of God's Word, the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series treats the literary context and structure of every passage of the New Testament book in the original Greek.With a unique layout designed to help you comprehend the form and flow of each passage, the ZECNT unpacks:The key message.The author's original translation.An exegetical outline.Verse-by-verse commentary.Theology in application.While primarily designed for those with a basic knowledge of biblical Greek, all who strive to understand and teach the New Testament will benefit from the depth, format, and scholarship of these volumes. Read more

New York Times bestselling author and Bible expert Bart Ehrman reveals how Jesus’s divinity became dogma in the first few centuries of the early church.The claim at the heart of the Christian faith is that Jesus of Nazareth was, and is, God. But this is not what the original disciples believed during Jesus’s lifetime—and it is not what Jesus claimed about himself. How Jesus Became God tells the story of an idea that shaped Christianity, and of the evolution of a belief that looked very different in the fourth century than it did in the first.A master explainer of Christian history, texts, and traditions, Ehrman reveals how an apocalyptic prophet from the backwaters of rural Galilee crucified for crimes against the state came to be thought of as equal with the one God Almighty, Creator of all things. But how did he move from being a Jewish prophet to being God? In a book that took eight years to research and write, Ehrman sketches Jesus’s transformation from a human prophet to the Son of God exalted to divine status at his resurrection. Only when some of Jesus’s followers had visions of him after his death—alive again—did anyone come to think that he, the prophet from Galilee, had become God. And what they meant by that was not at all what people mean today.Written for secular historians of religion and believers alike, How Jesus Became God will engage anyone interested in the historical developments that led to the affirmation at the heart of Christianity: Jesus was, and is, God. Read more

A psychoanalyst and episcopal priest presents a Jungian understanding of Christ’s teaching in this revised edition of a spiritual classic.By showing how Jesus’ teachings relate to our inner depths, The Kingdom Within guides us toward a more conscious and creative life. John A. Sanford explores the significance of Jesus’ teachings for our interior life—that inner reality that Jesus called “the kingdom of God.” It is Sanford’s conviction that contemporary Christianity has overlooked this inner dimension of Jesus’ teachings and so has lost touch with the human soul.Illustrated with case histories and dream material drawn from the author’s work as a psychotherapist, The Kingdom Within examines such characteristics as extroversion and introversion, masculinity and femininity, thinking and feeling, and sensation and intuition to show how Jesus met the criteria of wholeness or fullness of personhood. Step by step, Sanford helps us to shed the outer mask, to eschew sin, which “means living in enslavement to what we don’t know about ourselves,” and to follow the road of consciousness, which leads to “a great treasure waiting only to be discovered.” Read more

"The followers of Jesus are to be different," writes John Stott, "different from both the nominal church and the secular world, different from both the religious and the irreligious. The Sermon on the Mount is the most complete delineation anywhere in the New Testament of the Christian counter-culture." In the Sermon on the Mount, the "nearest thing to a manifesto" that Jesus ever uttered, we find Jesus' own description of what he wanted his followers to be and do.In this Bible Speaks Today volume, Stott guides readers through Jesus' well-known but often poorly understood teachings in Matthew 5 through 7. Leading us to listen carefully to the meaning of each verse in its context, Stott also confronts the challenges this text raises for today's Christians and draws out practical applications.This revised edition features lightly updated language, current NIV Scripture quotations and a new interior design. A seven-session study guide at the end of the book will help you more deeply ponder the message of the Sermon on the Mount and how it speaks to your life. Read more

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Have we robbed Peter to pay Paul? Look at most evangelicals’ bookshelves and plenty of pages feature Paul. Why not Peter? Why not the man who walked with Jesus and played a foundational part in the early church? This book invites the reader to take another look at the fisherman turned foundational leader. By looking at his early days walking with Jesus through the end of his life and letters, this book will present Peter as an encouraging example for pastoral ministry and Christian formation. Read more

Discover the Audiobook and 22 More Apocryphal Texts - Scan the QR code inside the book to download the Audiobook, 'The Apocrypha', 'Enoch 1,2,3', and 'The Book of Giants'.Explore the profound role of the divine feminine within early Christian thought.In this comprehensive exploration, you will find:Unveil the enigmas of the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, a captivating piece from early Christian writings that offers a unique perspective on spiritual doctrines.Delve into the full text, complemented by an insightful commentary that makes its ancient wisdom accessible to modern readers.Explore the distinct spiritual teachings ascribed to Mary Magdalene, focusing on the themes of inner knowledge and enlightenment that Jesus is said to have imparted to her.Benefit from a scholarly analysis that is both thorough and accessible, shedding light on the complex theological ideas of the text.And 22 More Apocrypha: Dive deeper into an additional 22 apocryphal works, including 'The Gospel of Tobit', 'The Gospel of Judith', and '1, 2, 3 Enoch', offering a broader view of early Christian thought and spirituality.12th October 2024 UPDATE:Based on various reviews, we have corrected and improved the contents of this book to ensure it remains one of the best products on the market.This book introduces a fresh translation of the Gospel of Mary, explores its depiction of Jesus' teachings, and examines its relation to other early Christian texts, reflecting a strand of thought that diverged from the teachings of the early Church.Click on the 'Buy Now' button to join Jeremy Payton in uncovering the profound connections between the sacred and historical. Read more

Pastor John MacArthur will take you through the book of Hebrews, passage by passage, so that you can better understand the author's message, the cultural context, and the perfect sufficiency of Christ.The early Jewish believers had come from a background of legalism and works. When God came to earth in human flesh as the New Covenant, these believers discovered the freedom they could have in Jesus and the relationship they could enjoy with Him. Yet in the midst of persecution and rejection, they were often tempted to hold on to the former symbols, rituals, and traditions grounded in the requirements of the Old Covenant.The unknown author of Hebrews sought to address this problem by contrasting the Old and New Covenants, brilliantly showing that Christ is higher than any Old Testament character, priest, ritual, or sacrifice. Because of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, He is the perfect sacrifice and our own High Priest. And He has given all believers unfettered access to God!—ABOUT THE SERIES—The MacArthur Bible Study series is designed to help you study the Word of God with guidance from widely respected pastor and author John MacArthur. Each guide provides intriguing examinations of the whole of Scripture by examining its parts and incorporates:Extensive, but straight-forward commentary on the text.Detailed observations on overriding themes, timelines, history, and context.Word and phrase studies to help you unlock the broader meaning and apply it to your life.Probing, interactive questions with plenty of space to write down your response and thoughts. Read more