Bibles Bible Studies Books

I had a very skeptical feelings twords this piece of literature since it was a requirement for my freshman literature class. I was extremely supprised it captured my intrest only a few pages into the poem, it's just one of those storys you can live by.

To meaningfully ask the question "why?" in a religious context, one must first be familiar with Job--there is simply nothing in scripture that approaches the question of human suffering with such detail. Sadly, Mr. Mitchell correctly notes that the original book is long gone--victimized by the mistakes of translators. Yet the story remains universal; any reader can sympathize with Job's dilemma.

Obviously any translator has choices to make and such choices will always present controversy. However, this translation is worthy of the work. The give and take of the conversation among Job and his friends is much more accessible in this format and the language rather more powerful. This work stands with other recent translations of familiar classics--his "Gilgamesh", Heaney's Beowulf, Fagles' versions of Homer, Pevear & Volokhonsky's Dostoevsky--it is Job in our language and with our cultural approach to language.

Sure, it isn't the original, but the power of Job lies in its story--the words are the icing on the cake, but such icing... Modern Christianity seems to have lost the fact that we did not spring forth as new creation at birth but that we were with God from the beginning. Mitchell demonstrates in this translation that God is quite clear; states God to Job, "Where is the road to light? Where does darkness live? . . . You know, since you have been there and are older than all creation." This context answers so many questions not the least of which is to explain that our sojourn on this earth is only a short test before we return to our Father. (And, yes, I'm reading the text literally.)

Mitchell's translation also demonstrates that the God of Job is neither vengeful nor cruel. Though Job is permitted to suffer at the hands of the accuser, this book is the story of Job's triumph. God knows Job perfectly and knew that Job's faith and understanding was sufficient to allow him to survive the experience. But why? Because Job can now forever state that he knows things that were formerly had on faith. Nothing comes without a price--if so, wouldn't God be unfair? Such are heavenly lessons, they teach us our own power and reveal the true desires of our hearts. For the day will come when, as did Job, we shall say "I had heard of you with my ears; but now my eyes have seen you."

This book intelligently discusses the myths that surround the Book of Job. Stephen Mitchell does a credible job dispelling these. Surprisingly many have entered the mainstream of Christian belief. This has distorted the original intent of the author(s) of the Book.
(My first attempt at a review -J)

I finally found a version that encouraged me to spend enough time with the work to get to know it and also to appreciate the poetry. The introduction and notes were also helpful.

I needed this.

From a Jewish perspective, this is an ultimately flawed but wonderfully easy-to-read adaptation (rather than a straight translation) of Job (Iyov).

Be aware that some verses are moved from their places, Elihu's monolog is deleted entirely (understandable from an academic perspective but unthinkable from a Jewish one) and a key (perhaps "the" key) part of Job's epilogue is left out, deleting what is arguably the main point of the book:

Job was restored only when he prayed for his friends.

In the beginning, Job is essentially self-centered. At the end, Job prays for his friends and as a result, all is restored. In Mr. Mitchell's book this lesson doesn't exist.

For an elaboration on this theme, see Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's essay "Out of the Whirlwind" in his book by the same name (KTAV, 2003).

As of 9-5-08, I have not had time to do any reading in this book. This book is actually one of the text books I will be using for a Masters level course that I am currently enrolled in.

Hermeneutical Spiral is a fresh approach to hermeneutics with detailed research and scholarship.

This is the book for pastor, layman, student, college student or any Christian want to know the biblical truth, the often words "bible speak". I have many "how to" books on intepretation but overall to me this is most practical how-to that when I put it in practice; simply "It work". When I go to theology SWC school, so often my professor use it's methods for our assignments; eventhough he not use that book, the reason it: "too many pages for a semester". I highly recommended for anyone love God and His Living Word - Word of Life...I John 1

I am enrolled at Moody Graduate Seminary in introductory Hermeneutics (Principals of Biblical Research and Interpretation). This book was listed as "recommended" not mandatory. When I realized that the study guide for the course and the main text book (Duvall & Hays: Grasping God's Word)regularly cited this text, I realized that this book was essential reading for the serious hermeneutics student.

This book is aptly subtitled, for comprehensive it is! Osborne goes the length in this book from explaining how to study the Biblical text in its original language to advice on delivery of sermons.

A basic thesis he mentions a number of times throughout the book is that the goal of hermeneutics is not the commentary but the sermon. This textbook is very detailed and yet practical: almost everything he writes is aimed at how to write a relevant sermon for a congregation today.

Part one deals with General Hermeneutics. Here he addresses matters of context, grammar, semantics, syntax, and historical and cultural backgrounds.

In part two Osborne discusses extensively the different genre of the Bible which he divides as narrative, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, apocalyptic, parable, and epistle. A preacher will do well to consult the different chapters when preaching on a text of a particular genre.

In Part 3, the author deals with Applied Hermeneutics. He writes about the place of Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology in the interpretation of Scripture. The second to last chapter is about contextualization-showing a congregation today how the text is relevant for them. The book comes together in the last chapter, "The Sermon," in which Osborne gives both theoretical and practical instruction in preparing the sermon and preaching.

Osborne promotes what is often called the textual-thematic (also known as textual- reconstructive or expository) sermon. He does not, however, totally reject the topical sermon.

This is a very good book. It would serve well as a textbook for a seminary course on hermeneutics. Considering its size (500 pages of dense type), a minister in a busy pastorate might be a bit intimidated to take it on. But then, that's what sabbaticals are for!

This 500+ page textbook on Jesus and the gospels is superb! Deals with the four written gospel accounts of Jesus in the new testament; their literary genre, date of composition, themes, historical context, development and more! Also covers historical Jesus studies; the various "quests" for the historical Jesus, methods for studying Jesus, results, etc. The main themes of Jesus' meaning and teachings are covered as well; his teaching on the law for instance, the miracles of Jesus, the purpose of Jesus in bringing about the Kingdom of God and salvation from sin, the resurrection of Jesus and more. This book is loaded with information, up to date, it is very clearly written, and very useful in it's format. The table of contents are laid out quite well. Comes from a conservative perspective, but not a fundamentalist one by any means, this work interacts with many perspectives and embraces a cautious but open use of historical criticism. Also, this book does a fine job of understanding Jesus in his historical and cultural context!Just a superb new textbook on the subject for educating oneself in Jesus and the gospels studies! Comes with recommendations by some top New Test. scholars; Dr.'s R.T. France, Craig Keener and Frank Thielman. Thanks Dr. Strauss for this useful and fine work!

Having personally taught the Gospels at the Christian college level, I obviously have had to look over a number of appropriate texts before choosing only one to assign my students. Well, starting with the next time I teach the Gospels, I now have a new book to assign. Mark Strauss does an excellent job in Four Portraits, covering the important issues related to the Gospels. His writing style is smooth, lacking an "Ivory Tower" feel that could easily alienate potential learners, yet it is obvious throughout that Dr. Strauss is no academic slouch. Definitions are readily provided to new terms that are bold-faced, as he assumes nothing when it comes to the language of the New Testament. Even lay-learners outside the classroom setting would benefit greatly from this book--of course, an educational institution is not a requirement for reading and learning!

One thing that will be enjoyable for the reader is that this is a user-friendly book; it has plenty of fascinating pictures, charts, and short blurbs that will help keep the interest of even the most disinterested person. His charts (labeled "figures" in the book) are outstanding; he and the publisher worked very well together to produce some visual-learner tools that will be meaningful, even when the text hasn't been fully read or comprehended.

While Strauss obviously comes from an Evangelical position and shares his opinions throughout, there is not a feel that he is being overly dogmatic. He presents all sides of the issues in a very objective way. Several times I would have liked him to have been more opinionated. (For instance, he declines to give his final opinion for the dating of the individual gospels.) But perhaps this aspect should be considered a strength. Too often writers of overview books share too much of their opinions and end up creating straw men fallacies and biased information when they explain the viewpoints contrary to their own.

In addition, it is apparent that Dr. Strauss is a good educator, as he uses educational tools to make sure the reader understands each chapter. There are overviews and objectives at the beginning of each chapter, and he concludes with summary bullet points, key terms (maybe definitions for these terms could be included in future editions?--though I can see value in assigning students to write out the definitions themselves), and discussion and study questions. (The questions would make for an easy-to-assign task, especially if the professor is assigning two chapters a week for a quarter, as there are 20 total chapters--very convenient!) Each chapter also includes a bibliography of layperson's sources as well as more scholarly sources.

Whether a reader is liberal or conservative, there would be great benefit in using this book to overview the gospels. I encourage college and seminary professors to consider using this text for their classrooms, as I believe the students will learn to love this text. And, finally, I conclude by saying that Dr. Strauss should continue his good work and produce a similar book on the rest of the New Testament, because what he has done here will be useful for many years to come!

This is a book that is easy to read and puts forth information in a clear manner. The pictures and charts help to make the process of gaining knowledge easier and more colorful. I especially enjoy the facts that are pointed out about certain passages. If you want to take a closer look at Christ's life I would recommend this book to you. If you are wanting to take a scholarly look at Christ's life this would be a great starting point for you as well.
Salt and Light
Silver

The Serendipity Bible has been an excellent resource for our small group leaders for ChristCare at our church. As we train new leaders this has been a gift that we have given to each of them. Time and time again they say what a wonderful resource it is.

If you are weary of looking for Bible study material for groups - this is your solution. This Bible has many study topics already indexed. Study questions are thought provoking though geared just a litte to youth. If I were to purchase again I would get the hard copy for such a large book.

It's a very user-friendly approach to group study of the Bible and how to apply it to daily life.

We use this bible in our Weekly Bible Study and to prepare for our weekly Sunday School. It provides good concepts and thoughtful questions that we use to facilitate our classes. I like how it presents a mini learning series by several different categories and topics.

I am enjoying this Bible as it has questions that are thought provoking. I have read others that give you information and where to find more information but this is the only one that I have come across that asks you questions and makes you think of what is written.

This resource is proving to be very valuable in my Study of the Bible. I often struggle with pulling out the subtle but significant differences between the synoptic gospels. Flipping back and forth in my Bible leaves me feeling frustrated. After using the "NIV Harmony of the Gospels" in my personal study, rather than feeling frustrated, I am excited and am able to appreciate those subtle differences. I would HIGHLY recommend this resource for any student of God's Word!

I am currently reading through this book, which is really a combination of each of the gospel accounts in chronological order. So far the book has been very enlightening and has taught me more about Christ than I would have learned by reading one gospel at a time. There is something about reading each account side by side that really brings the stories to life, and making Jesus more tangible (at least in my mind). If you want to know more about Jesus, His disciples, and you want to grow closer to the Lord this is a great book to help with all of these things.

The commentary is excellent. For example, did you realize that Jesus began to teach in parables late in His ministry, and only after many people had turned against Him?

One other thing that I really like about this book is that every time an old testament prophecy is fulfilled in the new testament it gives the old testament reference right there in the text. I know that many Bibles note this, but they use superscript marks and it's easy to read over them, so I like the references in the reading, that way I don't miss anything.

I enjoyed this book and find it full of information that is useful. It is a good reference to use along with your bible.

This helpful book arranges the four gospels in parallel columns, following the life of Jesus. It is a very helpful resource for anyone desiring to know what Jesus said and did in chronological order. Also, the book provides excellent essays and notes about various interesting and controversial issues involved in studying Jesus' life. It uses the New International Version in the text, making it available to all English readers. I use this book as an important part of the course I teach to ministerial students on the life of Jesus.

This is not a new harmony of the Gospels. It is a "revision" of the time honored standard work by A T Robertson and John Broadus. What Thomas and Gundry have done (which they readily admit in the preface) is to "revise" the translation to the NIV, and the original notes and essays to their own Dispensational theology. I quote from page 6 & 7 "The second comparison lies in eschatological perspective. Occasionally Broadus and Robertson reflected the amillennial or postmillennial temperament of their times. The twentieth century has witnessed a surge of interest in the premillennial interpretation of Scripture. It is the persuasion of the revisers that a consistent grammatical-historical interpretation of the Bible inevitably leads to this latter view. For this reason several of the explanatory footnotes reflect a corresponding difference in perspective from the earlier editions."

Robertson and Broadus were both considered "consistent grammatical-historical" interpreters of scripture and they, just like many today, were not Dispensationalist. I think it sad to see their material misused in this way. If you are a serious student of the Bible and wish to form your own opinions of Eschatology stay away from this harmony. Or at least realize what you are getting before you spend your money on this book. I bought a copy of the original and find it much more enlightening and accurate.

This is a great way to get a handle on the events of the bible. There are easy references from the outlines that help you go to scripture to look up further information as needed. The overview of each book help to put it into perspective with the relevant historical culture and relationship of old to new testament. Very interesting and handy tool.

I looked a long time for a book like this! I find the information for each book of the bible in very helpful, tells history of the book, date written, author and then a summary of what happens in the book.

I was very pleased with my product. I got it in a timely manner & it was in excellant brand new condition, just as described!

This Bible is an excellent resource for those who want a biblical additio to their 12-Step recovery

The Life Recovery Bible is a very inspirational book that goes along with the 12 Steps. The original 12 Steps were based on Biblical principals, so what better way than to read THE WORD as it relates to the Steps. It takes on new meaning for all who are in recovery.

My husband and I have been using the recovery Bible for quite some time and have given many away to people in recovery. The meditations on the steps and principles of the program and also the Serenity Prayer are just a wonderful help to us in our recovery.

As a hospital chaplain working largely with Dual Diagnosis patients I find the Recovery very helpful. Very important is that the book gives Bible references for each of the 12 steps in the "12 Step Program". Then, there are many very helpful articles throughout the book helping the patients apply Scriptural principles to their problems.

Cardinal Martini has provided a special meditation on St. Paul especially useful for the Holy Year dedicated to St. Paul. I have enjoyed many of Cardinal Martini's books over the years.

The Life Application Study Bible is a very good study Bible. It has numerous meaningful notes, illustrations, maps, & book introductions. The large print is easier to read, but is not really large, only in comparison with the usual sized print of regular Bibles.

I would give this Bible by Tydale 5 Stars if the the cover and binding were better. "Leather Bound", to me, implied that it was. It is not, just bonded leather which does not tend to wear well with use. I tried to check out what the cover was from the picture, but was not able to enlarge it enough to read that on the bottom of the box it says "Bonded". The binding does not appear very strong, and question if it is able to support a Bible of this size and weight for frequent use.

There seem to be few choices available at this time of nice editions of the bible, with both genuine leather covers and in large print. Indexing would be nice too.

The Life Application Study Bible is fantastic! Easy to read and understand. The passage explanations at the bottom of each page explain the passages in detail and will help you to understand what was just read. I recommend this Bible to anyone who wants to learn and understand the Words of God. Excellent choice!

I purchased this Bible as a gift for a relative. As a result of this Bible she has told me that things are much clearer and she cannot put it down. The Bonus CD is an extra blessing and she said the graphic are undescribable. This is an excellent gift for a new believer and since I see how happy this Bible has made my relative, I have decided to purchase one for myself as an additional study resource.

I actually purchased 3 of these Bibles, one for my husband, one for my mother, and one for myself. I love the Bible, it's so easy to read and understand. My mother loves her's also, especially the large print. She says it's easier for her to read and understand.

I liken this Bible translation to that old, reliable in-line Slant6 motor with the power of a modern Hemi V8. Footnotes and commentary is spot on for those that take the time to read such things. If one wants to raise their degree of reading past the junior high school level, then this Bible is for you. The eloquent manner and prose used in this timeless standard is unparalleled. I got this after I learned that the reading level of this work is equivalent to the 12th grade/ freshman college level. I wanted to raise my understanding of the English language and this helped a lot. However, the main factor in my getting this was I found out that many verses were removed in other "New Age" translations, most notably the NIV. The clincher was seeing Jesus' word removed in that 'book'. To me that was UNACCEPTABLE. He said those words for a reason i.e. "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost."- Matthew 18:11. THE WHOLE REASON WHY HE CAME! Keep in mind that we don't live forever and there is a God because this planet and it's perfection to support life is not an accident. Research at the odds of that fact...

This Bible will be a very good reference and eventual replacement for those newer bibles, if one has those: It replaced my NIV. Research what was said above concerning missing passages and ask for guidance to get this wonderful book because you need it. GOD Bless!

I love this book and always give it as a baby gift to new parents. But I sorely miss the older version with the beautiful mural style paintings as illustrations. The newer "cartoony" pictures don't do justice to the text.

My son and I read this as a part of homeschooling. The thing I like most about it, is that it has questions throughout the story. This is most helpful in making sure my son understands the story we are talking about. The stories are not even 5 minutes long, so his attention is never lost.

If I had a dime for every time words like "die" "kill" "dead", etc. appear in this, I'd have a hefty chunk of change. Little toddlers don't understand death, and to hear about it repeatedly here is shameful. For instance, when David brought the ark into Jersulaem, rather than focusing on David's love for God, the "brilliant" author informs us that if anyone looks in the ark, they'd die. Does a toddler need to know that detail?

Also, some of the grammar is just embarrassing: Pharoah "has very much money" etc. Oh, and the word "bad"? It's in there about a million times, too.

After reading this Bible to my two small children daily for a couple of years, I couldn't take it any more, and we bought a new one. Talk about "bad." Skip This version!!!

This isn't our kids only Bible story book, and the stories pale compared to other books. The stories lack detail, context, and are plain boring. Simply put, you can't tell every story in six or eight sentences.

For example, the story of "David and Goliath":
"A giant has come to fight against God's people. The giant's name is Goliath. All the men of Israel have run away from him. They are afraid to fight him because he is so big but David is not afraid. David knows that God will help him. David does not have a gun but he has a slingshot. Do you see it in his hand? He takes some stones and uses his slingshot to throw a stone at the giant. The stone hits the giant in the head and the great Goliath falls over dead.

- What is the giant's name?
- What did David hit him with?
- Why were all the other people afraid of Goliath?"

That's all to that story. For ages four and up, look somewhere else.

I like this Bible - each Bible story is a two page spread - left side is the story, right side is a picture. After each story are a couple questions for reading comprehension, as well as to make your child think about what they've just heard.

Unfortunately, the book isn't really set up for much handling by little ones. After a few times of being picked up by the cover (like just the back cover for example), the whole insides tore off the hardback cover and there's no way to put it back together again.