Paul’s letter to the Galatians reveals how Christ changes everything. Matthew S. Harmon traces the argument of Paul’s most polemic letter. In Galatians, Paul defends his authority and attacks his opponents’ arguments—and in both cases, the decisive factor is the Gospel. History and Scripture must be interpreted in light of Christ’s arrival. The new creation
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Using Strack-Billerbeck to Study the NT Use of the OT
Hermann Strack and Paul Billerbeck’s Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Midrash (often abbreviated as “Strack-Billerbeck”) is a reference work for illustrating the concepts, theological background, and cultural assumptions of the New Testament. According to G.K. Beale, the resource is also especially helpful in studying the New Testament’s use of the Old.
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The Richness and Potential Pitfalls of Using Strack-Billerbeck
Hermann Strack and Paul Billerbeck’s Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Midrash (often abbreviated as “Strack-Billerbeck”) is a reference work for illustrating the concepts, theological background, and cultural assumptions of the New Testament. In this excerpt from his introduction to Volume 3, David Instone-Brewer illustrates the riches that can be found within
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A Groundbreaking Work in English for the First Time
Hermann L. Strack and Paul Billerbeck’s Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud and Midrash is an important reference work for illustrating the concepts, theological background, and cultural assumptions of the New Testament. Originally published between 1922 and 1928 as Kommentar zum Neuen Testament aus Talmud und Midrasch, Strack and Billerbeck’s commentary has been
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Jonah’s Theology Problem
Jonah is a popular book, but it is so much more than flannel-graphs and cartoons of vegetables slapping each other with fish. There is deep and profound theology in Jonah that is lost when it is viewed as only a children’s story. While there are many things I learned from Jonah, I want to share
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Narrated History and the Problem of Violence in the Book of Joshua
In this excerpt from Joshua: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, David Firth explains how the purpose and genre help explain the issues of violence in the book of Joshua. The book of Joshua stands at an important point of transition both in the life of Israel and within the canon that reflects on that life. Appreciation
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Need a Reminder of God’s True Story? Read 2 Peter.
In this excerpt from Living in God’s True Story, Donald L. Morcom shows how 2 Peter acts as an important reminder for Christians as they face challenges to their faith. All of us live our lives according to a particular story that helps us make sense of the world and our experiences in it, and
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The Essential Ingredients of Wisdom
In this excerpt from Walking in God’s Wisdom, Benjamin T. Quinn lays out five essential ingredients of biblical wisdom. One of my favorite questions to ask people is, “How would you define wisdom?” It is an interesting question as I’ve never met anyone—Christian or not—who was uninterested in wisdom. In fact, many cultures and world religions
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A Guided Tour of Corinth
In this excerpt from Transformed in Christ, Ron Elsdon and William Olhausen provide some insight into the history and culture of Corinth. Many cities, past and present, have reputations, including the Greek city of Corinth. But was its reputation deserved? Two of Paul’s letters usually command more attention than the others. In the case of
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Context is King: Get a Focused View of the Biblical Text in this New Commentary
When studying a given passage in the Bible, it can sometimes be difficult to get your bearings. Taking a verse out of context is a major no-no, so understanding how that piece fits into the larger picture is an important interpretive step. The Lexham Context Commentary helps you do exactly that — see the “forest”
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