Criticism & Interpretation in The Books Store

In our thirst for significance we, like the Teacher in Ecclesiastes, give our lives our time, talents, strength, heart to anything we think will give us worth and purpose: Power. Relationships. Money. Pleasure. Work. But worshiping these idols has a high cost and still doesn't bring the fulfillment we long for.

In Breaking the Idols of Your Heart Dan Allender and Tremper Longman illuminate for us the Teacher's warnings and, after all his activities, his final radiant conclusion: Meaning and purpose come only when God is truly the center of our life and the object of our hope. Using a compelling fictional narrative at the start of each chapter to encourage reflection on our own life and the lives of family and friends, the authors lead us through Ecclesiastes to help us recognize and exchange cheap pursuits for the only One worth pursuing.

Ecclesiastes is not an easy book to read, because transferring our worship from money, power and fame to God is not an easy road to travel. But as the Teacher discovered and wrote down for us, it leads to one conclusion: life lived abundantly, in freedom, hope, purpose, meaning.

• Laypeople
• Accountability groups

"Dan and Tremper and ancient wisdom are a winning team! This book dethrones idols, and points us toward what is worth giving our life to." JOHN ORTBERG, author and pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church

"This book uses the category of 'idols' as a creative way to understand not only a difficult biblical book (Ecclesiastes) but also the very way our hearts work. It brings a great deal of clarity where there has been confusion. Recommended." TIM KELLER, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City

• Authors bring experience as a psychologist and a Bible scholar to bear
• Fictional narrative follows a Bible study group, and group discussion questions are included

* presents an introduction to the science of Bible interpretation

* equips readers to become more skilled at interpreting the scriptures

* examines the role culture plays in forming our interpretation of the Bible

The trials of Job are legendary. One righteous man suffering so many calamities, so much heartache. But despite the fact that many have heard about Job and his trials, not many people truly understand what those trials were all about and what God was trying to accomplish through them. Job himself was confused about it all. What did I do to deserve such suffering? he cried out.

Eventually, though, through tough questions and unexpected answers from God, Job gained new insights on suffering, patience, and endurance. And, more importantly, he learned how deeply he was loved by God.

Sooner or later, we all go through our times of suffering and heartache, and the ancient story of Job offers timeless truth for us if we'll only listen. Now, in this illuminating study of Job's life, Charles Swindoll, in his trademark warm and insightful style, helps readers understand the key to developing heroic endurance.

Additional titles in the Great Lives Series include:

• Great Lives: David (0-8499-1382-9) $19.99
• Great Lives: Elijah (0-8499-1386-1) $21.99
• Great Lives: Esther (0-8499-1383-7) $19.99
• Great Lives: Joseph (0-8499-1342-X) $21.99
• Great Lives: Moses (0-8499-1385-3) $21.99
• Great Lives: Paul (0-8499-1749-2) $21.99

* nearly 200 in-depth articles

* the first work of its kind since James Hastings' Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels (1909)

* will be used as the comprehensive text for seminary classes

* all articles are written exclusively for the DJG

* does not duplicate the material presented in even multi-volume Bible dictionaries

* includes hundreds of cross-references, extensive bibliographies, subject and Gospel Scripture indexes

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.