Commentaries in The Books Store

The Oxford Companion to the Bible provides an authoritative one-volume reference to the people, places, events, books, institutions, religious belief, and secular influence of the Bible. Written by more than 250 scholars from some 20 nations and embracing a wide variety of perspectives, the Companion offers over seven hundred entries, ranging from brief identifications--who is Dives? where is Pisgah?--to extensive interpretive essays on topics such as the influence of the Bible on music or law.

Ranging far beyond the scope of a traditional Bible dictionary, the Companion features, in addition to its many informative, factual entries, an abundance of interpretive essays. Here are extended entries on religious concepts from immortality, sin, and grace, to baptism, ethics, and the Holy Spirit. The contributors also explore biblical views of modern issues such as homosexuality, marriage, and anti-Semitism, and the impact of the Bible on the secular world (including a four-part article on the Bible's influence on literature).

Of course, the Companion can also serve as a handy reference, the first place to turn to find factual information on the Bible. Readers will find fascinating, informative articles on all the books of the Bible--including the Apocrypha and many other ancient texts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, Pseudepigrapha, and the Mishrah. Virtually every figure who walked across the biblical stage is identified here, ranging from Rebekah, Rachel, and Mary, to Joseph, Barabbas, and Jesus. The Companion also offers entries that shed light on daily life in ancient Israel and the earliest Christian communities, with fascinating articles on feasts and festivals, clothing, medicine, units of time, houses, and furniture. Finally, there are twenty-eight pages of full-color maps, providing an accurate, detailed portrait of the biblical world.

World-renowned Bible translator and commentator George M. Lamsa explains nearly one thousand crucial idioms that will enrich reading of the Old and New Testaments for students and general reader alike.

Lamsa, who was raised speaking Aramaic in a community that followed customs largely unchanged since the times of Christ, offers fresh, accurate translations of important idioms, metaphors, and figures of speech found in the Scripture--and provides clear explanations of their meaning of biblical context.

Just as Shakespeare, Milton, and Browning wrote in the vernacular for English-speaking people, Moses the prophets, and the apostles wrote for their own people in the plain language of their times, so that even the unlearned might understand God's Word. Over the centuries, inaccurate translations and misunderstandings of customs and concepts have led to difficulties in bringing the biblical message to contemporary English-speaking readers.

For example, when a man says to Jesus, "let me bury my father," Lamsa points out that this expression means, "Let me first take care of my father until he dies." Traditionally, scholars assumed that this man's father was dead and that Jesus was not interested in his burial. Lamsa's scholarship offers a more accurate understanding of the intent and spirit of this passage.

Idioms in the Bible Explained and a Key to the Original Gospels goes far in correcting such errors that have crept into Biblical scholarship. Obscure and difficult passages from both Old and New Testaments are listed and compared with the King James version (though it will be helpful when used with any English version). These make clear the original meaning of such ancient idioms and assure that our grasp of the biblical message is more sound and rewarding.

• What does That verse mean?
• How should I interpret this passage?
• What is the significance of this word or phrase in Hebrew or Aramaic?
• How do Bible-time customs help me understand the meaning of this passage?
• How does the information on the author, historical background, and features of a Bible book help interpret that book?

The Bible Knowledge Commentary answers these and other questions about the Scriptures, discussing all the Bible verse by verse and often phrase by phrase. In addition, maps, charts, and diagrams help you grasp the meanings of the biblical text. Unlike most others this commentary is by authors from one school - Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary - popular in style and scholarly in content - will deepen your understanding of God's written Word.

John F. Walvoord is Chancellor and Professor systematic Theology, Emeritus, Dallas (Texas) Theological Seminary. He has served on the faculty since 1936 and was inaugurated as its second president in 1953. Known worldwide for his evangelical scholarship, Dr. Walvoord has written or edited 26 books and dozens of articles for magazines and scholarly journals. He holds two master's degrees (M.A. and Th.M.) and Dallas' Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) degree. In 1960 Wheaton College awarded him the honorary Doctor of divinity (D.D.) degree and in 1984 Liberty University awarded him the honorary Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.) degree.

Roy B. Zuck is Department Chairman and Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary. After holding editorial and administrative positions at Scripture Press for 14 years, he joined the Dallas faculty in 1973. He has written or edited 20 books in Christian education and biblical studies, and has authored numerous magazine and journal articles. Dr. Zuck also serves as Bibliotheca Sacra's editor. He has earned degrees from Biola University (A.B.) and Dallas Seminary (Th.M.) and Th.D) and has done post doctoral studies at two universities.

Both Dr. Walvoord and Dr. Zuck maintain an active Bible conference speaking ministry, both are experienced editors, and both serve well in the seminary classroom. These qualities make them an ideal team for co-editing a commentary on the entire Scriptures.Dallas Theological Seminary, one of the world's largest, is recognized for its commitment to the inerrancy of the Scriptures, premillennial theology, and biblical preaching and teaching. Founded in 1924 by Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, the Seminary has more than 7,000 alumni serving the Lord as Christian leaders and workers in all 50 states and in 70 foreign countries.