Reviews (3)

Thorough and thoughtful - highly recommended
An excellent study guide on the topics covered.This is however a WORK-book; if you like to be spoon fed your theology, this book may not be to your liking.To use it, you will need your bible, a notepad, and some time, but it's well worth the effort.In the end, I not only learned about the material explicitly covered, but I think I also improved my bible study habits. Thorough and thoughtful - highly recommended
An excellent study guide on the topics covered.This is however a WORK-book; if you like to be spoon fed your theology, this book may not be to your liking.To use it, you will need your bible, a notepad, and some time, but it's well worth the effort.In the end, I not only learned about the material explicitly covered, but I think I also improved my bible study habits. Scripture Study Review
Workbook is great for getting good understanding of differenttopics found in the Bible. Most of the basic doctrines covered in detail. The studies on the Trinity and baptism were extremely good. Book is well worth the money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - General    2. Religion    3. Religion - Biblical Studies    4. Biblical studies, criticism & exegesis    5. Bible Study Guide    6. Christianity    7. Study & Teaching    8. Doctrines    9. Baptists    10. Reformed (Reformed Church)   

Reviews (6)

A MUST FOR BIBLE SCHOLARS & CHURCH HISTORIANS
NOTE: See my other review on vol. 1 of New Testament Apocrypha What the first volume did for the Apocryphal Gospels. . .
. . .this volume does for the Acts and Apocalypses of the Apostles. A good effort marred by archaism
Volume II of New Testament Apocrypha represents a comprehensive collection of the pseudo-apostolic writings of early Christianity. The introductions are quite good. The translations, however, are marred by frequent use of achaic,pseudo-biblical language which has thankfully been done away with in most modern translations of ancient texts. Do we really need to read words like "haply", "whilst", and "such-like", or a phrase like "do ye repent you" in the late 20th century? For those just interested in sampling a variety of these works, and more, a good portion of the translations of this book are available at a lower price in "The Other Bible". For the hard core, however, this book does contain material unavailable elsewhere. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Apocrypha    2. Bible - Study - General    3. Religion    4. Religion - Biblical Studies   

Reviews (3)

great resource!
This series of books is ideal for those wishing to study the bible on a book-by-book basis.The books themselves are reasonably priced and self-contained (meaning you get both the scripture and the commentary).The questions in the back are great for not only checking up on your grasp of the details of each chapter, but to apply the contents of the chapter to one's everyday life.It can also be used for individual bible study, small groups, or (as I've done it) a group of about 40 people.Also, there are great maps and word-studies of key concepts in the scripture.

Perhaps the best commentary on Acts available
Hahn & Mitch have done another fantastic job. They take the data of the biblical book, break down for the modern reader what's happening, how it relates to what's going on before and after, and gives us the theological significance besides. Catholic Bible Study Tool for Individuals or Groups
The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible is a great tool for small groups seeking to understand the Bible from a Catholic perspective. Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - General    2. Christianity - Catholicism    3. Religion    4. Religion - Biblical Studies    5. Biblical concordances & commentaries    6. Books of the New Testament   

Reviews (14)

Poor effort at best
Half of this book is simply the words of the Gospel of Mark, and half of the remaining half is a re-phrasing of Mark. The remaining quarter consists of Borg and Crossan offering their comments on the preceding portions. Anyone familiar with the Gospel of Mark will find nothing new here, and careful readers will find lots of errors of commission and omission. For example:
st. mark in context
This book is a breath of fresh air. My own spiritual journey has moved me from a set of doctrines to seeking to love god and my neighbour as myself, to seeking to take up my cross and follow however inconsistently after Christ.
Excellent, informative, enlightening, worth the read!
Very enjoyable walk with Jesus during his last week. It describes all of the forces, political, social, financial, and religious, at work during his last week in Jeruselum. Worth taking slowly and savoring the experience. I especially like the referral back to scripture. After reading a day, I would then turn back to the appropriate chapter in the Gospel and re-read it with a fresh perspective. Wonderful book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - New Testament    2. Bible.    3. Biography    4. Christianity - History - General    5. Christianity - Theology - Christology    6. Christology    7. Criticism, interpretation, etc    8. Crucifixion    9. Jesus Christ    10. Mark    11. N.T.    12. Passion Week    13. Religion    14. Religion - Biblical Studies    15. Religion - Church History    16. Religion / General   

Subjects:  1. Bible - CriticismInterpretation - Old Testament    2. Bible - Reference - Dictionaries & Encyclopedias    3. Bible - Study - Old Testament    4. Dictionaries - General    5. Old Testament    6. Reference    7. Religion    8. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    9. Reference works    10. Theology   

Editorial Review

Read more

Reviews (77)

A Delightful Journey
The reader will travel with the author throughout the Middle East, following the steps of the patriarchs through the beginnings of the conquest by Joshua, in source of a connection with history and ultimately a divine spark. This author is very easy to read and provides colorful descriptions of his surroundings that allow the reader to be there. Throughout the book is an undercurrent of "Why can't we just all get along!"
A Wonderful Guide to the Lands of the Bible for People of all Faiths
I've been a fan of Bruce Feiler's writing after watching him on C-Span's Book TV talk about his first book about Abraham. This must have been about four or five years ago now. I went out to purchase ABRAHAM and discovered a treasure. Feiler brings many gifts and talents to writing, particularly religious writing. First of all he writes about issues regarding faith from the point of view of one who practices his faith. Like many of his readers, his journey to faith has not been a straight path which seems to give him a good perspective on the questions people are asking. He also has a fluid writing style and is able to weave personal memoir, always interesting and at times moving stories, geography, history, and theology together to create a great read.
Succeeds despite itself...
Walking the Bible is not among the better travel writing I've read primarily because it focuses more on the author than the locations he visited.Feiler did get around:from Turkey to Egypt, from the Negev to the Sinai, from Jerusalem to Jordan, but he minimizes the narrative elements one typically associates with good travel writing for a seemingly endless array of personal epiphanies. Despite it's subtitle, Walking the Bible is more a journey by catharsis through Bruce Feiler's mind than a journey by land through the five books of Moses.Thus, beyond his ubiquitous food metaphors, a descriptive presence is often found wanting.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiquities & Archaeology    2. Bible    3. Bible - Study - Old Testament    4. Bible.    5. Description and travel    6. Feiler, Bruce S    7. Feiler, Bruce S.    8. Geography    9. Middle East    10. Middle East - General    11. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    12. O.T.    13. Pentateuch    14. Religion    15. Travel    16. Travel - General    17. Journeys    18. Religion / Antiquities & Archaeology    19. Essays & Travelogues    20. Judaism - History   

Reviews (11)

The Word Blooms Purple
As an author and ministry speaker, I now reach for two main resources--the Bible and this dictionary. I've found, to my delight, that the Word blooms purple on its pages. And, this translates to striking insights in my writing and speaking.
Embarrassing First Impression
I became intersted in this book through reading another book by one of the contributors, D. Brent Sandy--Plowshares and Pruning Hooks. The book certainly has a wealth of information from an impressive array of scholars, and I have already gained insight from its entries. But its first impression left me embarrassed for the publisher and author of the Intoduction. On page xxi, the author states that "Gideon's mother" received an "annunciation of birth."It was, of course, Samson's mother (Judges 13).Readers expect that a scholarly work of this sort would at least be accurate in basic biblical facts.

Excellent Source Book
In my Biblical and psychology studies I have found this book to be the best of its kind anywhere for the purpose of understanding dream imagery according to biblical understanding. This resource book will help anybody better understand the parables of Jesus, cultural contexts, and even the symbols in your own dreams.It is a must for everyone! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible    2. Bible - Reference - Dictionaries & Encyclopedias    3. Bible - Reference - General    4. Bible - Study - General    5. Bible Study Guide    6. Dictionaries    7. Language, style    8. Religion    9. Religion - Biblical Studies    10. Symbolism in the Bible   

Reviews (13)

Good dictionary
This dictionary contains terms that one would need to know for reading Church documents. Unfortunately, I give it three stars because it only goes from Latin-English. If you're trying to write in Latin, you'll be quite frustrated and need to find another dictionary. But if you're simply reading, this book will do the job admirably.

Good if you know Latin and want a specialized dictionary
This is not a general Latin dictionary.If you are learning Latin, you are better served by the Collins Gem Latin Dictionary.However, if you already know Latin and want a reference specifically for Latin as used in Ecclesiastical documents, this is a good reference.Remember that it is a specialized subset.Think of it like a "Dictionary of Medical Terms".You would not use that dictionary to learn English, and you would not use this dictionary to learn Latin.You need a general Latin dictionary to compliment this one.

A handy , useful book
I agree with Ryan R. Grant's review below. It will be easier to use by someone with some familiarity with Latin. On the positive side, it is sturdily bound and neatly formatted with clear print on eye-ease paper--very convenient to use. But one thing that no one has mentioned so far is the accents. Following the practice of ecclesiastical latin, this dictionary uses acute accents to indicate the stressed syllable of each Latin word. This will be a minor annoyance for the user who tries to determine the stress on some verb forms. For example, the present tense of the verb "invenio" appears with the stress on the "e"; But there is no indication of how to determine where the stress falls on the second-person and third-person forms of that verb. On the other hand, in a classical dictionary where long vowels are marked by macrons; the lack of a macron written over the "e" in the verb "invenio" conveniently indicates that the "e" is short and that the stress must recede to the first syllable on those forms. Ultimately, the user of this dictionary will need to refer to a classical dictionary for this information. Another minor inconvenience is that I-stem nouns are not marked. There are about fifty of them in use; and although they can now be found on line with a little digging;it would have been convenient to have I-stem nouns indicated in this dictionary. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - General    2. Bibles - Other    3. Church Latin    4. Dictionaries    5. Latin    6. Latin Language    7. Latin language, Medieval and m    8. Latin language, Medieval and modern    9. Latin language, Postclassical    10. Reference    11. Religion - Biblical Studies    12. Christianity   

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - General    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Religion    4. Religion - Christian Life    5. Spirituality - General    6. Christian Interest    7. Religion / General    8. The Bible   

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - General    2. Bible - Study - Old Testament    3. Bible Study Guide    4. Christian Life    5. Christianity - Christian Life - Character & Values    6. Christianity - Christian Life - General    7. Devotional    8. Religion    9. Religion - Christian Life    10. Religion - Inspirational/Spirituality    11. Spiritual   

Reviews (18)

Life Impacting for the Desperate and Needy
I was 16 the first time I read this book and it greatly impacted my life then.It was the first stepping stone to walking in freedom in Christ, showing me that the fears, insecurities and shyness that I never thought of (and even blamed others for, "If only they'd do this...") were from my own sins, and Jesus could free me from them.
Powerful little book!!
In this little book published by Christian Literature Crusade (CLC), Roy Hession focuses on the road a Christian must take in order for him/her to be useful to God.Brokenness, humility of heart and mind, purity, and other virtues are necessary, and at the end of the book, he speaks about his own "Calvary Road" so many years ago which prompted him to write this book.
The blood of Christ
Pastors and mature Christians have strongly recommended this book to me. They told me it has changed their lives. The principles about living in the light are really good and should be stressed in this day and age where sin is considered an outdated concept even in Christian circles. I knocked one star because even though it is only around a hundred pages, it seemed repetitious to me. The phrase "the blood of Christ" was used so much it almost became a mantra. Yes, it is the central concept of Christianity, but there is more to the Christian walk. The Church and the fellowship of believers is important as well.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - General    2. Devotional    3. Religion    4. Religion - Inspirational/Spirituality   

Reviews (11)

Breathtaking/Spine-tingling
Never will I forget the morning when I was packing for a pilgrimage to British cathedrals and abbeys and had the TODAY show on the bedroom tv as I worked. There was Donald Jackson, and there was his extraordinary rendering of the convoluted genealogy which opens Matthew's Gospel. Yes, it's a gorgeous, amazing piece of art in its own right, and this from a priest who once held a Gutenberg Bible in her bare hands in Germany. What struck me far more deeply was the intelligence, the heart, the soul, and the depth of the insights which had come together to empower the kind of prophetic, spiritual rendering he produced. I was stunned!
Astounding work
I saw the exhibit for the Saint John's Bible when it was on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It was literally breath-taking seeing the intricate detail and craftsmanship that went into this amazing and inspired project.
St. John's Bible
Outstanding illuminations - very spiritual.A must for anyone who wants to read the Bible with a renewed spirit!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible    2. Bible - General    3. Bible - Study - New Testament    4. Bibles    5. Collegeville    6. Facsimiles    7. Illumination of books and manuscripts    8. Manuscripts, English    9. Minnesota    10. Religion    11. Religion - Biblical Studies    12. Saint John's Bible    13. Wales   

Reviews (12)

One of my favorite books to give to a friend!
Ever since I was a child, I'd heard about Watchman Nee and his wonderful writings.It wasn't until my adult years that I finally ordered three of his books - and I haven't been disappointed.Sit, Walk, Stand is a very simple, yet deeply profound explanation of the Book of Ephesians.The book is an easy read and short - only 78 pages long - but don't let that fool you - Sit, Walk, Stand has more packed into these 78 pages than most books over 300 pages (and it takes 1/10 the time to read!).
Short and Sweet
This book is very small, but it packs a heck of a message for the limited amount of space it uses. All that this book does is pick apart the book of Ephesians from the Bible. It divies it into three sections; hence "Sit, Walk, Stand." If you don't have time to read a long book, actually, scratch that, you need to read this book! Nee does an excellent job of explaining Ephesians in a clear, simple, and powerful way. I promise you, you will need to read this book a few times to really digest what Nee is saying; and you will want to!

Essentials of the Faith
This book is a must read for every Christian. It deals with the fundamentals that we so often miss or skip over. Application of these principlas will be dramatically life changing!!!
Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - General    2. Religion - Biblical Studies   

Reviews (2)

Review the Book of James by Max Lucado
We are using this as a study book for our small group and loving it.It is easy to read, thoughtfully written and perfect for our small group.

How Faith Works
This is a great bible study series for a small group.I led it for a group ranging from 10-15 people.Each Sunday we took a lesson a discovered the "life lesson" that the book of James holds for us.Afterreading it and going over the questions in each session, you can't help butmake changes in your life, or see the possiblity for change and growth. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - New Testament    2. Bible - Study - Old Testament    3. Religion    4. Religion - Biblical Studies    5. Religion / Bible / Study / New Testament    6. Study Guides   

Reviews (4)

Story of Ruth
Jam packed with wisdom and insight for all people. A must read for all women and one that you will read many times. Sure wish I had this guide when I was a young woman. Plan to use as a discussion book for a spirituality group. A fabulous book to give as a gift.

Motivation for coping with the daily grind of life
I read "The Story of Ruth" about a year after I read "Scarred by Struggle," which is also by Dr.Chittister. Both books offer inspriation for dealing with difficulties based on a biblical story. The difference between the type of advice they offer, is that "The Story of Ruth," contends more with the daily struggles that confront us in our lives, whereas "Scarred by Struggle" offers advice more suitable to a particular setback, such as an end of a relationship, or loss of job.
The Story of Ruth-----A Beautiful Gift
Every mother should gift her daughter with this beautiful book! Joan Chittister unfolds beautifully and clearly what every mother wishes her daughters to know in order to become the full persons they were created to be.Each example from the Story of Ruth powerfully illustrates "delineating moments in every human life...... points after which we are never the same again".In The Story of Ruth, Joan Chittister shows us the qualities of Naomi and Ruth as they face life and make choices.... but more than that, Chittister confirms, refreshes and energizes the "stuff" that all women hold within themselves. This is an en-courgaging book for all women...mothers daughters, grandmothers.....women....single or married..... and it is also a book for MEN!For within these pages there is the depth of thought and experience lived by "the other half of humanity." Men will find the richness of this insight invaluable....an enhancement to their own perspective and attitude toward creation.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Applied Christian Ethics    2. Bible    3. Bible - Study - General    4. Bible.    5. Christian women    6. Christianity - Christian Life - General    7. Inspirational - General    8. O.T    9. O.T.    10. Religion    11. Religion - Inspirational/Spirituality    12. Religious life    13. Ruth    14. Sociology    15. Spirituality - Women's    16. Textbooks    17. Women And The Church    18. Books of the Old Testament    19. Personal Christian testimony & popular inspirational works    20. Women's studies   

Reviews (27)

Great As A Teaching Manual!
This is a well written, thought provoking book. I am currently using it as a manual for a Bible study class. It's not one of those "deep theological" biographies, but it speaks to the layman, in a very easy-to-understand style. Recommended for study groups, or anyone, who wants to know more about the "man after God's own heart".

best of the Swindoll series?
All the books are good ... this one was great. It hit home for me.

For the most part Swindoll misses the point
We used this book for an adult Sunday School class that I taught.I was extremely disappointed by the superficial treatment of the text.I found myself using the Biblical text and other sources.For the most part Dr. Swindoll's book was a distraction rather than a help.For example, 2 Samuel 7 descibes
Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible    2. Bible - Biography - Old Testament    3. Bible - Study - Old Testament    4. Bible.    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. David,    9. King of Israel    10. O.T    11. O.T.    12. Old Testament    13. Religion - Biblical Studies    14. Religious    15. David    16. Personal Christian testimony & popular inspirational works    17. Reference    18. Religion / Bible / Biography / Old Testament    19. Inspirational    20. Religion   

Reviews (1)

Wonderful and Truely Inspirational
Even though Max is always great in the way he rights about God and God'slove, I was amazed by this series.It really is helpful to new christiansand really deals with our day to day issues.He includes segments ofinspiration from his other books which pertain to the perticular lesson. Irecommend this book to everyone, even to you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - New Testament    2. Religion    3. Religion - Biblical Studies    4. Christianity    5. Religion / Bible / Study / New Testament    6. Study Guides   

Reviews (12)

Great tool for teens
My wife and I work with high school aged kids. This is the best Bible I have found when looking for bible studies that could be good discussion points for teens. It has been a great tool in helping these kids to gain a better understanding of the Bible.

Good product and timely arrival
I appreciated the good condition this book arrived in and how quickly I received it....Thank you...

A Must Have for EVERY Bible Teacher!
I've been training Christian college students for 13 years now in Christian education and if there was only ONE resource for effective Bible teaching I could issue as a textbook, it would be "The Serendipity Bible."
Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - General    2. Bibles    3. Bibles - New International    4. Religion    5. Biblical studies, criticism & exegesis    6. Religion / Bibles / New International    7. The Bible   

Reviews (1)

Good resource and guide
This book is a good tool to use for small groups, fellowship studies, or sunday school class.I used it for my college sunday school class to place emphasis on embracing our Christian community.While John Ortberg does a good job at painting the picture for us, it is basically his "The Life You've Always Wanted" book re-done for small groups in a practical way.I enjoyed using this guide but had to restructure the questions and format to cater to a sunday school environment.I would recommend making sure you know your group, and understand their needs, and perhaps come up with additional questions to meet the needs of your group. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - General    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Religion    4. Religion - Christian Life    5. Spirituality - General    6. Christian Interest    7. Religion / General    8. The Bible   

Reviews (10)

Just the Basics
For those who are new or trying to make some sense of the structure of the Bible, I highly recommend this book.Reading the whole Bible can be daunting and Max Ander's book provides some context to show the basic structure and themes of the Bible through simple narrative and repetitive exercises, which aids in your retention.No commentary, just the facts to help one get started, build perspective and context for reading the Bible.

Great overview
The Bible is far too complex to read cold -- and 2000 years later, few of us have even a basic grasp of the structure. Real understanding of the book is possible only if you grew up with it.
An excellent resource!
Whether you are a seeker, a new believer, or a seasoned Christian, this book will be a great resource for learning and teaching the basics of the Christian faith.Sections 1 and 2 lay a solid foundation on which to study and build your knowlege of God's Word, the Bible, from which all Christian beliefs are drawn.Section 3 in the 2005 version summarizes the 10 great doctrines of the Christian faith -- the beliefs that define what the Christian faith is all about.This book is a must-have for all Christians and all who are interested in Christianity -- I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Reference - General    2. Bible - Study - General    3. Religion    4. Religion - Biblical Studies    5. Biblical studies, criticism & exegesis    6. Religion / Bible / Reference