Bibles Bible Studies Books

I liked this book; although I would not compare the boring ex-football coach Tom Landry to Elijah the Prophet. What is more like Elijah is when you send a fan letter to a female newscaster at a local TV station, get threatened by their corporate lawyer for it and God replies by sending an angel and causing a small earthquake in their studio during the 6pm news that very day! Some people know about God and some people actually know God! But another odd experience was listening to Radio Athens on shortwave to a seductive sounding woman announcer, have a mental vision of a metal band wrapping itself around some dark haired woman's throat and then the announcer starts choking uncotrollably over the air over 3000 miles away! This was in the early 90's!
But I did like the part that prophets like Elijah and Moses go through a time of testing with God. And in the case of Elijah, God sends ravens with pieces of food in their mouths to feed Elihah when he was on the run from the king. And I have seen God provide for my needs in ways I would not expect at times!

This book is a wonderful walk through the life and times of Elijah. Chales Swindoll has many insightful thoughts that stimulate deep discussion. If your looking for light reading then this is not it, but if it is spiritual challange and insight your looking for then your in for a good time.

I received the book in good condition and in a fairly timely manner, but the book didn't come with the cover sleeve. I have the whole series, but this one is now the oddball without that cover. I don't know what happened there.

When I ordered this book, I assumed it would have been written by a Jewish author and Published by a Jewish company. I am sadly mistaken. It comes from a Christian publishing company and the author is Christian. I havn't read the book yet and will be leary of details.
I would like to see better representation of books about Biblical characters.

Elijah is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. One minute he's a great warrior beating out hundreds of other fake prophets, the next minute he's running from a woman, Jezebel,!! Chuck Swindoll makes his characters come to life, you live inside their skins with them and feel their pain and their triumph. This is a great book

This is a very hande little book, with all words in the greek NT. It has even unusual entries for aorist verbs.
The delivery was quite fast, from the US to the Netherlands within one week, probably the fastest delivery ever for me (standard shipping).

This dictionary is found in the back of the United Bible Societies "Greek New Testament: With English Introduction including Greek/English dictionary/flexible." But it can also be purchased separately. It is also found in the BibleWorks 7.

I own the "Greek NT" and BibleWorks. I used the version in the Greek NT quite a bit when I was first learning Greek. The value of this dictionary is that it is very basic. In most cases, you are given a one word or short phrase English equivalent for the Greek word. Some entries are more detailed, with different possible equivalent words given, and occasionally a verse reference. But that is it, simple and to the point.

But sometimes, that is all you want, to know the basic meaning of a word. And this dictionary lets you see it at a glance. In fact, on my BibleWorks program, I have this dictionary set as the lexicon that appears in the auto-info window under the actual verses. So I put my pointer over a Greek word, and the short definition form this dictionary immediately appears. And again, sometimes, that is all I need to be reminded of what a word means.

Once I started working on my Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament: Third Edition (ALT) I would often need more info that this. So I would then check other lexicons and theological dictionaries. But this little dictionary still provided a good starting point. So I would recommend it for that purpose.

If you're using the NA "Novum Testamentum Graece et Latine" then this is the Greek dictionary for you (along with the Bantam paperback Latin dictionary, that is).

For those who want to use UBS Greek New Testaments, be careful when ordering. Some newer versions DON'T have a dictionary included. In that case you'll need this very slender, little wonder. The readability is great and many words have additional irregular forms included.

Personally, I've got an older UBS Greek NT with dictionary but recently I've switched to the Latin and Greek NT version mentioned above and this little book is much easier to handle than having two thick books on my lap as I read. Since I use it every day, what could be easier?

Only one thing could improve this book and that's having a principal parts section for verbs. Oh well...

It's a NEW TESTAMENT Greek dictionary -- you'll need a general Greek lexicon for anything else. It's a small, very portable dictionary you can take with you with your pocket NT. It's enough to get you by when you're stuck trying to read a passage. It does this very well. Not intended for exegesis -- for that you should start with _A Greek-English Lexicon of the NT & Other Early Christian Literature_, Bauer & Danker.

Other reviewers point out that this is a nice supplement to the similarly bound 'The Greek New Testament' by Aland, Aland, Karavidopoulos, Martini, and Metzger, published with a rich matching red leather cover by the Institute for New Testament Textual Research and 'Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft'. One thing you want to be aware of is that this entire dictionary appears at the end of this Greek edition of the New Testament. So, if you have this complete New Testament edition, you don't need the dictionary!

Otherwise, everything the other reviewers say about the book is true, especially the fact that it is a convenient and attractive resource.

This Bible study is life changing. There are many books offering marriage advice, but to know what the Word has to say is the BEST advice. I have changed my views about what marriage means and by having God's view, my marriage has improved radically. I now understand what it means to be "one flesh" with my husband and just to think of my marriage and others in that way changes the way I act towards my husband and other wives and husbands. Just like Kay gave the example of how the word cleave is the Hebrew noun form of glue and if you glue two sheets of construction paper together that you can't have a clean break. This visual image has stayed with me and when I think negatively about my man, I just remember that even though I may be upset in the moment, I do not what to be ripped apart from him. I choose to cleave to him. Kay addresses such important topics and I recommend this study for a marriage that is just starting out to the one that someone is thinking of walking out.

Ray Comfort covers, in a nutshell, subjects from medicine and biology to astronomy and archaeology - all in his easy-to-read and entertaining style. For its quick overview of the highlights of the Bible's scientific accuracy, this little book is in my top ten. But then, in my humble opinion, Ray Comfort is one of the best writers ever.

It is a good book but a little dull...I was surprised it was such a small book though...but buy it anyway

I am summarizing, paraphrasing and using this information in my science classes. Excellent for pointing out science in the Bible and how the Bible's truths have been revealed through time/science. I am using this as part of a creation science presentation.

This is the silliest, goofiest book I have read in a long time. There is no gentle way to say this: the author is a man of exceedingly modest intellectual capacity. He does not understand evolution. He does not understand science. He has an idiosyncratic understanding of the Bible that one can only marvel at - or else heartily laugh at!

If his intended audience was kindergarten classes, then he has been successful.

Here are some examples of the Bible's science:

Evidence of atoms: "things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Hebrews 11:3

Radio waves: "Can you send lightnings, that they may go, and say to you, Here we are?" Job 38:35

Job 38:19 "Where is the way where light dwells?" This implies electromagnetic radiation and light travelling at 186,000 mpsecond.

By talking of heavens & "highest heavens", the Bible was explaining galaxies and clusters of galaxies.

"...neither shall you eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field..." Exodus 22:31 He hails this as insight into bacterial contamination!

He quotes a lot of notable people on their biblical faith - but most are centuries dead and not a few are taken out of context (e.g. Einstein who clearly stated his "God" was not the Christian God). His section on archeology is a farce - or state of the art for the 17th century if you prefer. His discussion of evolution is so warped as to make one wonder if he has EVER bothered reading even a high school biology textbook.

I don't think any reasonable, rational, semi-conscious Christian can take much "comfort" in this embarrassing book. I went to Comfort's web site to get further insight and I came away thinking this is a man with a GIANT ego and he has absolutely no basis for his self-congratulatory egotism.

This book is useless, except for chuckles.

I am a Christian, and I certainly don't think you have to be an idiot to believe in the Bible and I think there are some wonderful sources in the world if you feel pressed to justify your beliefs on an intellectual level, BUT...this is not one of those sources. It is full of mistakes and misinformation. I hope it is accidental rather than deliberate, but I do have to warn you that using these arguments to justify the Christian faith will only feed the secular view that there is nothing intelligent about Christianity.
He tells outright lies about Columbus that even a grade-schooler could catch (as another reviewer mentioned)...buy something by Chuck Missler instead...he's a little more esoteric, but a far better scientist and scholar (as well as a Bible believer).

This may be the best book presenting the Context approach to the origins and original meaning of the New Testament. Its wording is more straightforward, to-the-point, and sophisticated than the more average Context books such as Horsley and Silberman's The Message and the Kingdom, and Crossan's In Search of Paul.

The first few chapters get to the point by defining Imperial Theology, Pax Romana, and Ruler Cult. Subsequent chapters then readily demonstrate how the New Testament draws upon Old Testament political themes to principally stand as a rebuttal to the Roman Empire system, and only secondarily as an intertwined expression of religious, mystical, and religious-morality content. Thus this book provides the ideal framework, on the canonical side, to identify the difference between New Testament Christianity and Gnostic-mystical Christianity, a comparison project which is today's main challenge as both the cultural context is being reconstructed and as Gnostic mysticism is being reconstructed.

Books presenting the Context-oriented approach are generally a must-have in any library of Christian origins, but to get started the fastest in understanding the original intended audience of New Testament Christianity, start by reading the first few chapters of this book.

You want to be scholarly and sexy all at once? Looking for the perfect book for an important anniversary or a gift for that intellectual you have your eye on? Look no further.
The very first verse sets the tone:
"Kiss me, make me drunk with your kisses!
Your sweet loving
Is better than wine."
In their introduction, the Blochs note that the woman's viewpoint predominates in this amazing collection of love poems. Most of the lines are hers and she is more forceful than her lover. the two of them live in an earthly paradise, thriving in nature, exulting in their youthful sexuality.
Later of course, the rabbis justified this book's inclusion in the biblical canon by pretending it was an allegory of love between God and the Jewish people or the Jewish people and the Torah. Christianity saw it as an allegory of the love between Jesus and the church or somesuch nonesense.
This translation casts aside these perversions and reclaims this wonderful celebration of human sexuality for what it is. I can't recommend it too highly.
For more on me and my book, The Nazi Hunter: A Novelgo to www.alanelsner.com.

How wonderful you are, O Love,
how much sweeter
than all other pleasures!

But to try to quote from the Song is like hunting for a rabbit's foot. Or trying to cook only a spoonful of soup. The lovers are stoked with the such desperate passion, that no matter the circumstance, the politic, or the law, they bestow on themselves and, now, thanks to the translation, on us, a profound innocence. In that split moment before tears begin to well. Before pain is translated into reaction. Or desire hits the brain. No wonder the Song flaunts such a pure animal presence. The lovers living between the heartbeats. I can see the Shulamite stealthing around the city at night. Silent, almost rolling, footsteps. The lovers collision always in the softlight of dawn. The air cold.

Hurry, my love! Run away,
my gazelle, my wild stag
on the hills of cinnamon.

I enjoyed the evocative language. I thought the authors did a good job of organizing the speech and assigning words to the most probable speakers...only in one or two places did I prefer the KJV arrangements. The commentary was very informative, although I respectfully disagree on a few points, as I tend to a more conservative Christian approach to the text. My view is that, while obviously singing the praises of human sexuality, you cannot avoid some sort of allegorical/symbolic approach to this book. While the Bible is not anti-sexuality, nor would it ideologically be against healthy portraits of sexuality in righteous contexts, the book's presence in the canon of Scripture demands us to look for a prophetical meaning in the text. The Jews have seen it as an allegory of God's love for Israel. The Church has seen it as an allegory of Christ's love for the Church. Understood rightly, it is BOTH! The Shulamite is Israel, yes, but Israel was divided between the northern kingdom and the south. The norther kingdom of Ephraim eventually was lost and assimilated to the gentile world. I can't help but see the way in which the Shulamite is described as being a portrait of Ephraim. It is as if Solomon represents the greater son of David, the Messiah, who goes out among the nations and falls in love with Ephraim of old and brings her back. It is my view that Ephraim today is represented in the gentiles who have become Christians. Consider that most of the spices used to describe her are foreign imports, and many of the geographical places used to describe her are in the north. She is dark and lovely, like the tents of Kedar. She is foreign and exotic, like a mare in Pharoahs chariots. She is contrasted with the daughters of Jerusalem, who would be the southern kingdom who stayed faithful to the house of David.

In all honesty i had high hopes for this book,i was mildly disapointerd at the lack of real vision.Though true to its calling (NEW TRANSLATION)it doesnt go beyond updating the song into the language of the day.I did however like the fact that they used hebrew lettering on the opposite page of the english trans, verse by verse.I would recomend this book to one who wants to speculate,disect,and tinker with the greatest love poem ever.Could have had more pictures/illustrations for readers to visualize this visualy intensive poem.

The Blochs' translation is concise, elegant, and strikes the right balance between contemporary explicitness and classical reserve. Some of the textual choices are debatable, and the translation often departs from literalness, sometimes omitting entire lines -- but the overall result is fresh and exciting; this nuanced rendition really brings the Song to life.

One thing to be aware of is that, other than the poem itself, a brief introduction, and some brief remarks by Robert Alter, the text consists mostly of very detailed translators' notes analyzing the verses line by line, even word by word. This material will be of interest to scholars of ancient Hebrew but perhaps not to the general reader. I read the book (sans notes) in about forty minutes -- and I have to wonder if I should have paid [amt] for the privelege. Nothing against the Blochs or their fine work, but I would have preferred more supporting material of more general interest.

The NIGTC series positions itself as intending to be somewhat conservative, to deal in detail with the Greek text as well as to focus on the theology of the book. France is in that mold. He considers Mark as a storyteller, even as a "raconteur." Thus he is doing very much a literary critical approach to the text. There isn't much here on history of interpretation, form criticism, etc. He focuses on Mark as Mark, not as a defective first draft of a gospel.

A couple of examples. He take the two-stage healing in 8:22-26 as a bridge passage, linking both what came before and what followed and sees this unique story as referencing the disciples inability to clearly "see" who Jesus is. In discussing the ending he takes the view that 16:8 isn't likely to be the real end of the text. While ending at 16:8 excites us moderns due to its existential, open, daring character, he thinks it very unlikely that Mark or his culture would see it that way. He thinks the real ending has likely been lost and 16:9-20 was written later to replace what was lost. While he defends what is a minority view, his discussion of the topic is sober, presents other points of view fairly and he definitely has reasons for his view.

That is typical of the entire commentary. Albert Lukaszewki in a review for SBL called the book a "model of tempered scholarship." I agree. Even if you disagree with a specific conclusion, you will find much to appreciate in his careful, reasonable, and intellectually honest presentation.

This is an excellent commentary, one of the best, in fact, I've ever seen, and definitely THE best on the Gospel of Mark (out of the eighteen or twenty that I'm regularly dipping into). It is a commentary on the Greek text, and the Greek is not transliterated or translated, but it is still amazingly readable, lucid, and engaging. France's introduction to the Gospel of Mark is the best intro I've read, and alone worth the price of the book. He views Mark's gospel as a narrative - a drama in three acts; yet he resists imposing superficial structures on the book. He writes with a desire to hear Mark's text afresh, and tends to focus in his comments on the unfolding theological narrative itself. Yet he is obviously well-read and conversant with both the primary ancient documents themselves and the relevant literature on Mark (commentaries, monographs, essays in journals, etc.) and engages them frequently when helpful. His theology is generally conservative, with a high Christology. He is cautious with overly novel interpretations. He articulates a partial-preterist position on Mark 13. France would probably be a bit too technical for the purposes of a lay-person, but preachers can hardly afford to be without him. I would recommend reading him along side the commentaries by James Edwards (Pillar), William Lane (NICNT), and David Garland (NIVAC). Excellent!

I work slowly through the Greek text in preparation for sermons or classes. France's commentary is a great aid for me in this process because of his discussion of key Greek words and terms. But, you do not have to know Greek to profit immensely from this commentary! I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get deeply in the context of Mark. There is material here for the theological student writing his paper, but also for the minister working up a lesson for this Sunday! His engagement of the text helps to move you right into the stories he is discussing, and then right into your own presentation. You won't be disappointed with this purchase.

I liked this commentary a lot. I have not focused much effort on Mark over the years, but wanted to look at it while I did a complete rereview of my Greek. It was better than I expected. The interesting comments on the Northern - Southern Kingdom's impacts on the cultures of Jerusalem and Galillee were helpful, as were the comments on the book's unlikely chronological layout. It is all good and balanced and worth reading. I for one would have liked more Greek, but it is not a real problem and makes the book for useful for a wider audience.

I find it truly amazing that there is still so much lively discussion about a Gospel of the New Testament which has been a cornerstone of Christian faith for almost 2000 years; however, the more I study New Testament exegesis, the less I'm surprised. The thing that makes the dialogue over The Gospel of Mark special is not Romans' deep theological arguments. Martin Luther, for example, in his 55 volumes of works translated into English barely mentions the Gospel, while doing an entire commentary on the Gospel of John.

The primary interest lies in the fact that less than 200 years ago, the basic opinions on dating Mark changed from its being considered a copy of Matthew to being an earlier source of both Matthew and Luke. This lively discussion was enriched even further by exegesis in the last 50 years, with the founding of `redactive' analysis by Marxson in Germany.

I've surveyed five different exegeses of Mark and have found much common ground, but also many differences, lying primarily in the translations and in the extent to which they address the history of commentary on Mark. Even though some of the volumes deal much more deeply with previous scholarship than others, all limit themselves to work done in the 20th century, and even to work done in the last 50 years. One thing I must say that although there are important differences, all of these volumes represent sound work at the deepest levels of scholarship. Some are more suitable for pastoral use than others, but none are `lightweights'.

The six volumes I surveyed follow:

`The Gospel According to Mark', William L. Lane, 1974, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., `The New International Commentary on the New Testament' Series.

`Mark 1-8:26', Robert A. Guelich, 1989, Nelson Reference & Electronic, `Word Bible Commentary' Series based on the author's own translation.

`Mark 8:27-16:20', Craig A. Evans, 2001, Nelson Reference & Electronic, `Word Bible Commentary' Series based on the author's own translation.

`The Gospel of Mark', Pheme Perkins, 1995, in Volume VIII of The New Interpreter's Bible with side by side NIV and NSRV translations.

`The Gospel of Mark', R. T. France, 2002, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., The New International Greek Testament Commentary Series.

`The Gospel According to Mark', James R. Edwards, 2002, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., `The Pillar New Testament Commentary Series'.

After having read commentary volumes from most of these series on both The Epistle to the Romans and The Epistle of James, I find a lot of consistency across volumes in the same series, so if you become comfortable with the way that `The New Interpreter's Bible ` approaches things, then you are probably on solid ground if you continue with that source, especially if you invested some big bucks in the complete 12 volume set (or there is a set available in your library's reference section, as it has appeared in every library I have visited).

`The New International Commentary on the New Testament' may be the weakest of the five series, as all it's volumes use the `American Standard Version' translation of 1901, considered to be a very literal rendering of the Greek text. While I like this over the NRSV's `politically correct' translations here and there, I suspect the newer NIV may be more up to date on the latest scholarship, especially, as I said, there has been so much done over the last 50 years. William Lane's volume in particular is nicely done, especially since it relegates a lot of the details to footnotes, so you can skip a lot of the lexical stuff.

The two volumes from the `Word Bible Commentary' series by Guelich and Evans should be your first choice if you are especially interested in the literature from the last 50 years, as their bibliographies are superb. While they are also quite deep, they nicely separate the material one wants for pastoral work from the linguistic analyses. It also represents by far the largest and most detailed work of the five. Professor Evans took over work on the second volume after Professor Guelich's death, and much of the material is based on notes from Guelich. I also like these authors' outline, as it simply deals with all the individual pericopes, and does not incorporate any speculative hypotheses about what author John Mark had in mind as he wrote.

`The Gospel of Mark' by Pheme Perkins in Volume VIII of The New Interpreter's Bible may be my least favorite; however, it may be the best option for pastoral users. It raises the fewest questions and presents two of the very best modern translations (NIV and NSRV) side by side. It also offers excellent reflections on the theological use of the paragraphs.

`The Gospel of Mark', R. T. France in `The New International Greek Testament Commentary Series' is also near the bottom of my list, as the volume offers no translation of the text on which it is commenting. While this is actually a plus for many readers, it also makes a point of not offering a lot of commentary on other interpreters' writings, even though it does have a lot to say on other writers' opinions on the structure of `Mark'.

`The Gospel According to Mark' by James R. Edwards in `The Pillar New Testament Commentary Series' is a step down from the quality of Douglas Moo's commentary on James in the same series. And, unlike Moo, Edwards offers no translation. He also seems to have the most speculations about the intentions of author Mark in pointing out irony and structural details. Edwards and France may be the two most enjoyable to read; however I suggest you buffer your reading of these authors with copies of Guelich and Evans at your elbow.

Guelich and Evans together is my favorite for serious study. France and Edwards may be the best modern introductions, if you don't mind having a copy of the Gospel open to follow their commentary.

I cannot believe I paid for this crummy book. I thought it was going to give solid info regarding angels etc Perhaps explain some confusing parts of the Bible. The author continually puts scholars down and pats himself on the back. Way off the wall theories. Do not waste your money.

Using science, technology and a little bit of logic, historical myths and religious parables are called into question. This book will make readers rethink everything they've ever known. Everything from angels, demons and the paranormal will be addressed. Nothing is safe, and everything will be cast in a new light.

First-time author Craig Hines challenges readers to look beyond what they have been taught and accept a new reality. His interest in using scientific methods to investigate history sheds interesting light on everything we thought we knew.

Hines's apparent fascination with questioning history through science will appeal to readers who yearn for the truth. Readers will become entranced in the "new" history that Hines is telling. - 3 Stars - Reviewed by Leigh O'Donovan, Authors on the Rise Book Reviews.

Craig Hines book `Gateway of the Gods' is and insightful and in-depth exploration on three of my favorite topics (Watchers, Fallen Angels and the Nephilim) and the role these beings play in the ultimate destiny of mankind. The 62 pages that comprise Part 2 of this 432 page volume make this book worth the purchase price. His suggestion and subsequent discussion that the terms `Son's of God' and `Nephilim' might refer to not different gradations of angelic beings but actually the same creatures undergoing a title change after their "fall" is masterful and something I had never considered. Mr. Hines makes it so obvious I'm stunned that I could have overlooked that possibility all these years.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the brief 20 pages of Part 1 outlining exactly how the author became involved in the research of such esoteric matters. Dreams have always held a great fascination and significance for me and reading how it was through the vehicle of dreams and the necessary follow up confirmation in the waking state started it all made it personal and exciting for me.

Part 4 is where it gets a little difficult to follow but that comes from my own lack of expertise in matters of hyperspace, gravity, string and M theory and quantum physics in general. Dispite my inadequate level of knowledge in these areas I must say Hines did an admirable and cohesive job at bringing the material together and presenting a comprehensive and understandable analysis that should satisfy both the adept and the novice in these scientific disciplines.

If there is anything to find fault with Hines' book it would be trying to cover too much material from such a broad area of subject matter; Theology, mythology, archeology, alchemy, Kabbalah, quantum physics, conspiracy theories, environmental issues and more. However I would prefer to commend the attempt rather than fault him for it.

`Gateway of the Gods' is definitely a challenging read and not for someone looking to wile away a couple of hours before falling asleep. It's extremely dense, at times ponderous, someplaces overly immersed in detail and a little too abrupt and evasive at the end, but overall satisfying and thought provoking.

Like I said, not for everyone, but if you're one of those individuals who love exploring alternative ways of looking at our past and postulating where we might be heading this is definitely something you have to read!

This book touches upon a broad spectrum of topics including climate change, the Nephilim, alchemy, quantum physics, and the parallels of these topics in mythology. Craig Hines creatively weaves these matters into an intriguing mélange, but ultimately Hines' writing is mediocre; his credibility and expertise is lacking. This book reads largely like a regurgitation of hypotheses from several (and some questionable) sources that are then connected by Hines under the guise of needing to build an inter-dimensional gateway so that we can evolve more highly and become like gods ourselves. While I did find the section about fallen angels and their gigantic offspring to be especially frightening and believable (evidence is given from the Bible, ancient myths, and archaeology) and Hines has convinced me to research further the subject of alchemy, these parts of the book are not enough to redeem it.
If you are looking for a book with solid research and great writing, look somewhere else.

I feel that these types of books are nothing but dangerous for the believing Christian. This author has no credentials in theology but publishes his own interpretation on scripture. Craig Hines states that his experience in Multimedia and the Paranormal are his credentials to write a book on this subject which deals heavily in theologic interpretation. You have got to be kidding me! NO THANKS! The title of this book is in itself a dead giveaway. "Gateway of the Gods" there is only one true God not gods, and his return is very near.

You will be glad you spent the time to work your way through Kenneth Bailey's works. You will learn the structure of Jesus's parables and the genius of the New Testament writers. You will learn what was on the heart of Jesus, and your heart will be moved as you read the parables through new lenses. Your faith will also be strengthened as you realize that these were not made up stories put in the mouth of Jesus by the church decades later, but these were true-to-life stories for the time of Jesus Himself by Jesus Himself.
Jonathan Williams

Dr. Kenneth Bailey spent most of his life in the Middle East and as result has a great appreciation and understanding for its culture and its spiritual history. This book is actually two previously released books combined that examine in extensive detail the parables of Jesus in the book of Luke in their first century Palestinian context.

The first fifty or so pages in the first book goes into exhaustive analysis of the structure of parables showing that they have four basic types of patterns and there is sometimes a predictable symmetry to them. This segment is highly technical and can be overwhelming for the layman. But once you get through that part of the book and begin the chapters dedicated to each parable, it becomes a literary treasure, revealing the hidden cultural nuances in the setting of first century Palestine and unlocks many spiritual truths for 21st century Westerners.

Overall I strongly recommend this book - especially for someone who gives sermons or leads a Bible study on these parables. I only have a few minor criticisms. One is that I strongly disagree with Bailey's exegesis on the Parable of the Unrighteous Steward in Luke 16 and also but to a much lesser degree, his exegesis on the Parable of the Fig Tree in Luke 13. My other criticism is that Bailey does not cover every parable in the book of Luke. Fortunately he covers most including the Prodigal Son. In spite of these two issues, I still enthusiastically recommend this book.

An interesting view of the parables found in the Gospel of Luke from a literary and cultural perspective. It helped me understand some of the more obscure parables and gave a fresh perspective on the familiar ones.
Although some of the language studies lost me, the literary form and cultural perspective can be very enlightening.

Bailey's unique contribution is that he sat down with a number of trusted Palestinian nomads and listened carefully to their take on the cultural issues behind various parables. He contends, with some justice, that this group of people have something in contact with the original culture that these parables arose in, and thus can help us understand the unstated assumptions and cultural implications of the texts. He invested many years in this and did it with care and precision. On top of that, he has explored the early translations of the New Testament into Syrac and related languages. The result is nothing short of stunning. His analysis of the puzzling parable of the unjust steward (Luke 16:1-13) is worth the price of admission alone, and even on the well-trod parable of the Good Samaritan, he has much valuable insight to share.

Bailey has also written other works including "Finding the Lost: Cultural Keys to Luke 15" that focus on the lost sheep, lost coin, lost son, parables of that chapter. All of his works I especially recommended.

Having grown up with his missionary parents in the Near East, among the very cultures that spawned the Judaeo-Christian Scriptures, Dr. Kenneth Bailey is uniquely qualified to translate their cultural nuances into such idioms as modern Western minds can grasp. Note that I did not say "readily grasp": as is the case with his other books, 'Poet and Peasant' and 'Through Peasant Eyes' (actually two books in one volume) is a VERY heavy and scholarly treatment of the subject matter. As the titles suggest, the author takes the positions that both Jesus and His first-century audience were peasants and that the Biblical writers were both poets and peasants. Hence, the key to understanding the Christian Parables--a form of poetry themselves--is to be found in the cultures and bodies of literature of the region.

As is the case with 'Jacob and the Prodigal' (which I have also reviewed here), 'Poet and Peasant' and 'Through Peasant Eyes' will be best appreciated by serious Bible scholars interested in exegetical study. If this category excludes you, pass on this one; there are lots of other decent commentaries out there that won't confuse or bore you to death.

Having read a few books on Lectio Divina I looked at my book case where "Sacred Reading" by Michael Casey waited to be read and almost decided against taking it up at the time. I knew that the author was a noteworthy man, and I considered maybe there was something offered here that I needed to know. Afterall, despite my thought that I knew it all, I really had a greater suspicion that I did not.

Fortunately, I did read with diligence the paperback whose full title is "Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina," published by Liguori/Triumph. One thing the book explained was the value of using Lectio as a means of reading texts other than the Bible. It said the Fathers were a good source for this. I had not thought such all right to do, but had in my mind that only the Bible could be read. The title of the book, and its content, in meaning, broadens the approach to sacred reading, including other texts. I found this helpful, and personally broadening. In fact, I had some relief since I did want to do this kind of reading with other texts--but thought it inappropriate to the Godly.

Another thing about this book, it is on my reading list for Oblates, which was changed just after I spent ten years reading the old list. Now I am almost at the end, and this book comes at the end of reading the books on the list. I am pleased to see that it did refresh me.

I liked how it is helpful with The Rule of St. Benedict. In the Preface, it says, "You will find in this book many references to Saint Benedict's Rule for monasteries and to other classical works of the monastic tradition." This is a reliable book for those inclined to The Rule, and to "The Spirit of Monastic Lectio."

Beyond such ambitions, the book is useful to anyone wanting to develop an advanced spiritual reading practice, which can be just 30 minutes a day. The benefits for a lifetime of such reading is worth the daily effort, that provides much prayer like reward and relationship with God. The author offers such as part of his teachings. For this is a book of teachings.

The book reads well, and I liked the instruction to stay with a "...single book..." which the writer says "...is not only an exercise in personal discipline; it is a condition for approaching lectio divina with an appropriate attitude." This is a useful thing to learn, and I thought this is a good way to read Jeremiah. I have wanted to delve further into that book of The Old Testament.

Because I am over 55 years old, this statement from the book was useful to me, even though the kind of maturity it refers to is not necessarily that of age. For me, it introduced the idea of growing in maturity at this time in my life: The author Michael Casey writes, "I consider that lectio divina is an important component of the mature and active years of the spiritual life; its absence diminishes the vitality of these years and may eventually lead to shipwreck."

I believe these promises, for in a way of reading the book my consideration of the contexts and attitudes of the author were ones providing a promise. I believed that what he said was of value, and that if one followed or even began the process of lectio as I knew it from previous books, and as I say certainly from this one, that there is the reward. Here is another quote, a quote from the author's of another writer named Abbot Chapman of Downside, that continues this element of promise:

"The only way to pray is to pray; and the way to pray well is to pray much. If one has no time for this, then one must at least pray regularly. But the less one prays the worse it goes." Again, the ring of truth.

Author and monk Michael Casey says that there is a theology to lectio divina. Here is a valuable statement about the relationship such reading means for ones relationship with the Church. (Though I am not Catholic as in Roman Catholic, I found this a telling matter that touched on my desire to have a more full relationship in my own Church.) "This is why an important part of our review of the theology that grounds the practice of lectio must ... recall the intrinsic relationship that exists between the Bible and the Church." Put with pith: "Mutuality exists between the Church and sacred Scripture."

Michael Casey covers the bases, as you see.

If you as a reader of this review have an interest in the Holy, for your life and in a means of understanding, this book leads to living that understanding and way of living a Holy life. For me, this means being in relationship with God, having a prayer practice, being in touch with and better finding the richness of Church, and certainly knowing that we find a Christian life in community. The writer's response on motivation for lectio: "I hope to find God in my reading."

In a literal way, and I want to again quote from the book to give the reader of this review a sense of the book's language...in a literal way, "Lectio divina leads to a conscious endeavor to live in accordances with the Gospels." Could it be any better for those with this desire.

A reader interested in knowing what to bring to this kind of reading is led with the thoughts that we bring our personal salvation history, recent experience, overt faith and obedience. These are good practices, and from previous reading I know that they are good things to work with in ones life when bringing one into better understanding of and relationship with God. For me, this was a major thought in the book and I think an important goal for the purposes of the book.

Suffice it to say, I have not covered all that is important in this useful, illuminating, and enjoyable "Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina." I notice that the publisher is in Missouri, and from the back cover that the author is an Australian monk (Cistercian) and an Abbot. Though I haven't read the book that is recommended by the publisher of this title, I have read the work by Thelma Hall and it is recommended by the bookseller Amazon.com as a companion. I can say the Thelma Hall book is excellent and inspirational. It was the first book I read on Lectio Divina. You as a reader who seeks God and wishes to know prayer through relationship with sacred texts will find this book useful and enjoyable. You won't be sorry to read it, there is much that the book tells.
By the way, the publisher of the book recommends as its companion, "Toward God: The Ancient Wisdom of Western Prayer." A book by Michael Casey.

Peter Menkin--Pentecost

Michael Casey is a great resource for any of us who are feeling the need to regroup spiritually. He takes the common dicipline of spiritual reading and breathes new understanding in it through the reintroduction of the Western Fathers and their thoughts. As a protestant evangelical with a mystical bent, I was very pleased with ecumenism that is prevalent throughout, and yet never at the cost of a true spirituality that is centered on the person of Jesus Christ and the scriptures that reveal Him. As a neo-pentecostal, I was also pleased with the openess Casey's approach has towards a contemporary moving of the Spirit in an individuals life or relationship with God.

michael casey is among the best to talk about the subject of lectio divina or sacred reading. he brings out the best of the ancients but also imparts new understanding from his own wisdom.

I read this book during the first two weeks of Lent, and it has born fruit in helping me read Scripture more reverently.

Fr. Casey starts by contrasting modern literacy with the monastic experience: we are surrounded by words (e.g., wander around the immensity of Amazon's website!) and much of the content is in soundbites. We get quick news summaries, advertisements, and so forth, which can be often read in a few minutes or less. Medieval monasteries would often only have a relative handful of books, which were often hand-copied over a period of years. If the monastery were to get a new book, it had to be for the ages, of great importance.

Fr. Casey is quite balanced in that he does not suggest that the Medieval times were necessarily balanced--he is just as happy for modern ages as anyone--but says that we can learn from this older, slower way of reading. Following this perspective, he takes us through the discipline of lectio divina, "sacred reading", and the pattern of slow, reflective reading.

The book challenges, as Casey is supportive of St. Benedict's maxim that once you select a book for lectio divina, that you follow through till the end, and not switch books in the middle. This is to respect that Biblical texts are often structured in unfamiliar ways, and the full meaning does not come out till you finish the book. It is also to stay humble: we are not going to cut off God's word when it is convenient, but let it take us where it wants while we journey with a particular book of Scripture.

That said, there is an entire chapter on various distractions and barriers that people may encounter while prayerfully reading Scripture--Fr. Casey is clear that this book is not Gospel itself, and that different people will need to adapt his ideas to their own lives. Like a good athletic training, he wants us to push ourselves and grow, but does take into account individual circumstances and limitations.

Casey gives a number of references for good study Bible editions and other English-language books and commentaries, giving one some concrete starting positions as well as good general advice.

On the whole, I found him a very balanced, friendly guide, and recommend this to people who want to read the Bible more deeply and prayerfully.

This is simply the most helpful and the most theologically deep book I have read on the topic of Lectio or Contemplative Bible Reading. An incredibly high view of scripture and very helpful discussion of the process and techniques for those who are serious about going deeper.