Discovering the New Testament is a new and comprehensive introduction to the New Testament in three volumes, reflecting current research and scholarship in New Testament studies. Written by Mark Keown, each volume provides a thorough discussion of background issues as well as treating theological themes and practical application. “The Discovering the New Testament series is an
Read more
Who Wrote the Psalms?
In this excerpt from Psalms: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, James M. Hamilton Jr. examines the biblical evidence for the authorship of the psalms and presents his own hypothesis about how the whole book of Psalms came to be. Within the Old Testament itself we find evidence that the superscriptions were interpreted as indicating authorship. The Chronicler
Read more
God’s Mission Is on Every Page of Scripture
In this excerpt from Theology of Mission: A Concise Biblical Theology, J. D. Payne introduces a missional hermenutic to interpret the overarching story of mission in the Bible. Whenever I ask a class for biblical support of God’s mission in the world, the Matthean account of the Great Commission (Matt 28:18–20) is usually the first
Read more
Who Chose the Books of the New Testament?
In this excerpt from Who Chose the Books of the New Testament?, Charles Hill examines the historical political pressures surrounding the canonization of the New Testament. In the ongoing interaction of Christianity with its surrounding culture, the issue of how we got the Bible has become one of the flashpoints of our day. The popular
Read more
Faithfulness and the Fear of God in the Psalms
In this excerpt from Psalms: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, James M. Hamilton Jr. examines the connected themes of faithfulness and a fear of God that run through the Psalms. Life will triumph over death. Good will overcome evil. The defiled will be cleansed, the broken mended, the wicked judged, the faithful rewarded, and God’s creation
Read more
Paul’s Use of the Old Testament in Galatians
In this excerpt from Galatians: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Matthew S. Harmon examines the influence the Old Testament Scriptures had on the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians. The influence of the Old Testament Scriptures on Paul’s argument, theology, and even structure in Galatians is pervasive. This influence happens at both the conscious/explicit
Read more
Five Principles to Help You Read Revelation Rightly
In this excerpt from Reading the Book of Revelation, Alexander Stewart lays out five foundational interpretive principles to help readers properly understand the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation is often treated as an outcast among the books of the Bible—the family member that everyone else is embarrassed about and wishes would just not
Read more
Galatians: An Interview with Matthew Harmon
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
Read more
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.
Read more
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
Read more