This new Pillar volume offers exceptional commentary on Mark that clearly shows the second Gospel — though it was a product of the earliest Christian community — to be both relevant and sorely needed in today's church. Written by a biblical scholar who has devoted thirty years to the study of the second Gospel, this commentary aims primarily to interpret the Gosepl of Mark according to its theological intentions and purposes, especially as they relate to the life and ministry of Jesus and the call to faith and discipleship. Unique features of James Edwards's approach include clear descriptions of key terms used by Mark and revealing discussion of the Gospel's literary features, including Mark's use of the "sandwich" technique and of imagistic motifs and irony. Edwards also proposes a new paradigm for interpreting the difficult "Little Apocalypse" of chapter 13, and he argues for a new understanding of Mark's controversial ending.

This book offers a new explanation of the development of the first three Gospels based on a careful examination of both patristic testimony to the Hebrew Gospel and internal evidence in the canonical Gospels themselves. James Edwards breaks new ground and challenges assumptions that have long been held in the New Testament guild but actually lack solid evidence.

In keeping with the Pillar New Testament Commentary’s distinctive character, this volume by James R. Edwards on Luke gives special attention to the Third Gospel’s vocabulary and historical setting, its narrative purpose and unique themes, and its theological significance for the church and believers today. Though Luke is often thought to have a primarily Gentile focus, Edwards counterbalances that perspective by citing numerous evidences of Luke’s overarching interest in depicting Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s providential work in the history of Israel, and he even considers the possibility that Luke himself was a Jew. In several excursuses Edwards discusses particular topics, including Luke’s infancy narratives, the mission of Jesus as the way of salvation, and Luke’s depiction of the universal scope of the gospel. While fully conversant with all the latest scholarship, Edwards writes in a lively, fluent style that will commend this commentary to ministers, students, scholars, and many other serious Bible readers.

James Edwards believes God is in the business of interrupting lives and changing them forever. He shows how the stories of eight biblical characters are paradigms for the ways God intrudes in our lives today, leading us to do His will and become the people He wants us to be. Through creatively told Bible stories and intriguing anecdotes of personal experiences, Edwards creates an interplay between the historical and the contemporary that allows you to discover God afresh. You'll observe how God interrupts people's lives in times of disillusionment, inadequacy, grief, and even opposition. As you join these conversations, you'll understand God's character in a new, intimate way. And, you may see clues to God's interruptions in your own life.

Christians generally know that God created “ the heavens and the earth” and made human beings in his image. They know that “ the earth is the Lord' s and the fullness thereof” — he owns his creations. They know that skilled people create and own marvelous works. But a disconnect often occurs when it comes to God' s communicable attributes of creativity and ownership and that combination' s role in human innovation, technological progress, and practical benefits from human creativity and ownership. To Invent Is Divine connects the dots between creativity and ownership, as well as the dots between that combination and the fruits of human flourishing.

In a culture suspicious of orthodox Christianity, Edwards sets forth the evidence for the historic claim that Jesus is the only savior of the world.

Martin Luther called Romans the clearest gospel of all. But centuries of interpretive tradition and dogma have muddied the waters. Edwards's careful exposition pays attention to literary detail and historical context to clarify the Epistle's significance for its original readers and for the church today. The NIBC format (section-by-section exposition of the NIV, all Greek transliterated, and separate textual and technical notes) make this commentary ideal for laypeople and pastors.

How did the movement founded by Jesus transform more in the first seventy-five years after his death than it has in the two thousand years since? This book tells the story of how the Christian movement, which began as relatively informal, rural, Hebrew and Aramaic speaking, and closely anchored to the Jewish synagogue, became primarily urban, Greek speaking, and gentile by the early second century, spreading through the Greco-Roman world with a mission agenda and church organization distinct from its roots in Jewish Galilee. It also shows how the early church's witness can encourage the church today.

Comprehensive, accessible, and fully illustrated--this commentary on Mark is a must-have resource. You want a deeper understanding of the Scriptures, but the notes in your study Bible don't give you enough depth or insight. This commentary was created with you in mind. Each volume of The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary is a nontechnical, section-by-section commentary on one book or section of the Bible that provides reliable and readable interpretations of the Scriptures from leading evangelical scholars. This information-packed commentary will help you gain a deeper understanding of the Bible in your own personal study or in preparation for teaching. It tackles problematic questions, calls attention to the spiritual and personal aspects of the biblical message, and brings out important points of biblical theology, making it invaluable to anyone seeking to get the most out of their Bible study.

At-a-glance survey of every book of the Bible addressing the 'who, what, where, when and why' questions. Includes Outlines, Charts, and Timelines and summarizes every book of the Bible.