Bible History Commentary

A literary history of our most influential book of all time, by an Oxford scholar and Anglican priest In our culture, the Bible is monolithic: It is a collection of books that has been unchanged and unchallenged since the earliest days of the Christian church. The idea of the Bible as "Holy...

If you love the TV series, THE CHOSEN, you'll love THRONES IN THE DESERT. THRONES IN THE DESERT does what no Biblical novel has done before. It weaves the story of five fictional characters through twelve chapters, with each chapter corresponding to the first twelve chapters of the Book of Luke. The five main characters--a tax collector, a slave, a guard in Herod's Palace, a Pharisee, and the daughter of a Zealot--have all placed a false god on a throne in their life, only to see it overturned by the rabbi from Nazareth. "He has brought down rulers from their thrones. He has lifted up the ...

Beginning with Jesus' birth, Ken Bailey leads you on a kaleidoscopic study of Jesus throughout the four Gospels. Bailey examines the life and ministry of Jesus with attention to the Lord's Prayer, the Beatitudes, Jesus' relationship to women, and especially Jesus' parables. Through it all, Bailey employs his trademark expertise as a master of Middle Eastern culture to lead you into a deeper understanding of the person and significance of Jesus within his own cultural context.

For centuries, the story of Adam and Eve has resonated richly through the corridors of art, literature, and theology. But for most moderns, taking it at face value is incongruous. Author John Walton explores the ancient Near Eastern context of Genesis 2-3, creating space for a faithful reading of Scripture along with full engagement with science for a new way forward in the human origins debate.

As the first scribe among men, the Prophet Enoch wrote the first history of the world ever recorded by man’s hands. Prior to this seventh generation from Adam, an angel in Heaven kept an account on the Heavenly Tablets. Many have mischaracterized the Bible today misunderstanding this fact. The only writing that predates Enoch is that of the Heavenly Tablets which accounts were provided to Moses on Mt. Sinai affirmed by Jubilees, Luke, and Paul. Enoch was the first world traveler escorted by the angels. He visited Heaven and was given much knowledge of the workings thereof including that ...

This volume contains an overview of scholarly discussions on the historical reliability of the Old Testament, primarily the Pentateuch, the Bible's first five books, in light of evidence from Egypt. With more than 200 notes, this volume contains a wealth of sources for further reading, some of which contain links to free online material that is available but often difficult to find. Issues addressed include the Egyptian background to creation in Genesis, the historical background to the Joseph narratives, the date of the exodus, the historical background to the exodus event, etc.

Seventy five percent of the Bible is written in story format, which makes it easy to read and understand. So why do most people have a hard time understanding the Bible? Well, it would be easier if you could sit in an easy chair by the fire and listen to someone tell them to you; or possibly go out on the back deck during a warm summer evening and listen while sipping on a glass of ice tea. That is how this book is written. It uses a ‘telling format’ for ease of reading or listening. It puts all the stories in chronological order, eliminating duplicates. All of this is done in common ...

UPDATED: Apr 15, 2026 with BONUS CONTENT The Book of Revelation is one of the most fascinating—and most misunderstood—books in the Bible. Its vivid imagery, prophetic visions, and difficult symbols often leave readers confused or overwhelmed. In The Book of Revelation: Complete Verse-by-Verse Commentary, Dr. Bill Belew offers a clear, no-nonsense guide to this extraordinary book, helping you understand its message verse by verse in plain, accessible language. This commentary will help you: understand Revelation’s major symbols and visions grasp the message to the Seven Churches make ...

EXPERIENCE THE PASSION WEEK Having grown up in the impoverished lower city of Jerusalem, Shamira is no stranger to injustice at the hands of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Her family is shunned by many in the Jewish community who believe that their misfortune in life is the result of a secret sin. Rumors are spreading of a nearby healer with incredible abilities; if the stories are true, then the Messiah may be near, and Shamira will stop at nothing in the pursuit of a miracle. Asa spends every day at the temple under the tutelage of his strict father, an elite Levite priest who enforces the ...

Fans of The Chosen will love this unforgettable biblical novel “And a sword will pierce your own soul, too.” The meaning of those prophetic words to Mary are now painfully clear as Jesus’s journey to the cross begins. Told from the perspective of five individuals—a priest, former tax collector, two fugitives, and daughter of a Jewish rebel—Swords in the Desert follows Jesus through the Gospel of Luke’s harrowing final twelve chapters. As the shadow of the cross looms ever closer, these intertwined stories unfold with stunning vividness, revealing the human cost of divine ...

NEWLY REVISED AND EXPANDED: Now with 29 complete texts and updated scholarship. In 1945, a farmer in Upper Egypt cracked open a sealed clay jar and found thirteen codices buried since 367 CE. Inside were gospels, cosmologies, hymns, and visions from a rival Christianity so sophisticated it nearly won. For a thousand years, everything we knew about these texts came from the people who destroyed them. Now you can read them yourself. Twenty-nine texts in clear, modern English. No archaic phrasing. No dense scholarly apparatus. Just the words, made readable. The Gospels: The Gospel of Thomas (...

From USA Today Bestselling Author, Uvi Poznansky, comes an epic historical fiction trilogy with a modern twist: Volume I: Rise to Power Here is the story of David as you have never heard it before: from the king himself, telling the unofficial version, the one he never allowed his court scribes to recount. Rooted in ancient lore, his is a surprisingly modern memoir. Volume II: A Peek at Bathsheba The most torrid tale of passion ever told: David's forbidden love for Bathsheba, and his attempt to cover up the scandal. Will he muster the strength needed to protect her and save their son from ...

Imagine embarking on a captivating journey through the Bible, not as a religious text, but as a historical chronicle. This is the invitation extended by Werner Keller's renowned book, "The Bible as History." Published in 1955, it delves into the fascinating intersection of archaeological discoveries and biblical narratives, painting a vivid picture of the ancient world inhabited by prophets, kings, and everyday people.

Often called “Little Genesis,” The Book of Jubilees retells the story of Genesis with dramatic expansions, calendar reform, and heavenly insight. This modern edition presents the full text in clear, readable English—paired with in-depth essays and historical commentary to help modern readers understand its theological, political, and cultural impact. This is a brand new modern English Translation in Large Print. (16 pt font) This complete edition includes: A fully modernized translation of Jubilees in easy-to-read prose Detailed commentary on major themes: angelology, sacred calendars...

Can unsuccessful people be genuinely happy? Does being successful mean the same as being happy? What is the price you’re willing to pay for your success? Is what you’re doing now helping to create the life you want? Do you truly want to succeed? Do you relate to any of these questions? If yes, then this book is for you. Regardless of your specific objectives and whatever troubles you could be experiencing right now, this guide will empower you to move ahead and achieve your goals. Here are the key topics you'll explore when you go through this book: We can control our lives to make them...

Reverend Richard A. Morrisey (born 1858) was an African-American biblical scholar, a Doctor of Divinity, and the pastor of a number of churches in the South and in Pennsylvania. In 1915, he published Bible History of the Negro, with the hope of inspiring a greater desire to read the Bible which he describes as giving "the Negro a place among the foremost races of the world, in wealth, in education, in honor and in religion, a history to which every member of the race may point with great pride and profound gratitude to Almighty God today”.

Perhaps no figure in biblical scholarship has been the subject of more controversy and debate than Mary Magdalene. Although she is discussed in the gospels of Philip, Thomas, Peter, and Bartholomew in the collection of writings known as the Gnostic gospels that were rejected by the early Christian church, there is no better insight into this mysterious and influential woman than Mary's own gospel.

WINNER OF THE 2019 DUFF COOPER PRIZE Penguin presents the audiobook edition of A History of the Bible by John Barton, read by Ralph Lister. The Bible is the central book in Western culture, yet extraordinarily there is no proper history of it. This exceptional work, by one of the world's leading...

The Lost Gospels of Jesus What the Bible left silent, preserved in the stories early Christians told. Modern English. No academic jargon. Translated & explained for real readers. The Journey Through Four Parts The Childhood of Jesus What was God like as a toddler? The canonical gospels say very little about Jesus’ early years, these ancient texts tried to fill the silence. The Protoevangelium of James The Infancy Gospel of Thomas The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew The History of Joseph the Carpenter The Trial and Death of Jesus The governor’s reports to Rome. Alternative trial records, ...

Alfred Edersheim (1825-1889), a Jewish convert to Christianity, was a Biblical scholar and author. The Alfred Edersheim Box Set includes his three most popular works "The Temple - Its Ministry and Service", "Prophecy and History in Relation to the Messiah", and "Sketches of Jewish Social Life". In these books on the life and times of Jesus, the author discusses the temple, the priesthood and the Jewish festivals, and examines the customs and traditions of everyday Jewish life in first century Palestine.