The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament - IVP Bible Background Commentary Set 2nd Edition by Craig S Keener Hardcover

About the Book

In this award-winning commentary, Craig Keener presents in verse-by-verse format the cultural background you need for responsible--and richer--Bible study. This revised edition of the standard reference work in its field has been expanded throughout to now provide even more up-to-date information by one of the leading New Testament scholars on Jewish, Greek and Roman culture.

Book Synopsis

Christianity Today's Books of the Year and Preaching's Preacher's Guide to the Best Bible Reference

A Revised Edition of the Bestselling Reference Work from IVP

This revised edition of the standard reference work in its field has been expanded throughout to now provide even more up-to-date information by Craig Keener, one of the leading New Testament scholars on Jewish, Greek and Roman culture.

To understand and apply the Bible well, you need two crucial sources of information. One is the Bible itself. The other is an understanding of the cultural background of the passage you're reading.

Only with the background can you grasp the author's original concerns and purposes. This unique commentary provides, in verse-by-verse format, the crucial cultural background you need for responsible--and richer--Bible study. It includes:

• a glossary of cultural terms and important historical figures,
• maps and charts
• up-to-date bibliographies, and
• introductory essays about cultural background information for each book of the New Testament.

Based on decades of in-depth study, this accessible and bestselling commentary is valuable for pastors in sermon preparation, for small group leaders and other church teachers as they build lessons, for missionaries concerned not to import their own cultural biases into the Bible, for college and seminary students in classroom assignments, and for everyday Bible readers seeking to deepen and enhance their study of Scripture.

Review Quotes

"A few hours with this volume will rapidly convince one that Craig Keener . . . is a rising star among evangelical New Testament scholars. . . . Written simply and clearly, though meticulously researched, this book will be a valuable acquisition for every thoughtful student, pastor, and teacher who tries to understand the original setting for any passage in the New Testament. . . . Carefully researched and judiciously written from an orthodox Christian perspective to provide dependable information without overt theological bias. I heartily recommend it."

"A fine tool for personal Bible study. It analyzes the historical-cultural background of every passage of the New Testament in clear, non-technical language, making it especially useful for those without expertise in Greek or ancient history. Unlike a typical commentary, which interprets the meaning of each text, Keener's book offers insights which enable readers to study individual texts with greater personal involvement and practical gain. The author, an evangelical Protestant, is remarkably balanced and unbiased in his analysis, making this quite suitable for Catholic use--a valuable supplement to a good concordance, commentary, and Bible dictionary."

"An excellent resource for pastors and teachers. The impressive volume contains a verse-by-verse look at cultural, religious, and social issues that come into play in the New Testament context. This is background information that most pastors' libraries will not contain, which makes it a vital tool for serious Bible study and preaching."

"So far as this reviewer can discern, Keener knows his ancient sources and knows the best recent ideas on how to interpret them. . . . Teachers, pastors and students of the Bible will find it immensely helpful; I will probably include it in my next revised list of eight to twelve books recommended for a 'Basic Home Christian Library.'"

"This is a splendid book to have next to your Bible. . . . A fascinating Bible study resource."

"Whether you preach sermons, teach Sunday school, lead a small group, or read the Bible for personal study, your understanding of God's word can be deepened and enriched by learning more about the context of each passage from this valuable book."

"In recent years scholars have provided Bible translations and study helps of various kinds, but one major resource has been lacking. Where could busy ministers and laypersons go to find the background for 'what was going on in Bible days'? . . . A resource tool is finally available, providing the background for every passage in the New Testament. . . . The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament condenses over ten years of careful research into a resource tool that is at its readers' fingertips. . . . [Keener's] earlier books, which tackle issues like New Testament teachings on divorce, women's roles, and slavery, are heavily documented; but The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament is readable and should be accessible to all students of the Bible. . . . Otherwise unavailable information brings various texts alive."

"Keener succeeds in being informative and, this reviewer thinks, more than fair in trying not to impose his views on the texts. . . . Keener, as he promised, wrote a 'popular' rather than a scholarly book. Keener's scholarly credentials are strong and his book is a God-send to busy pastors. As already indicated, it is of great help to Bible students who do not have access to a theological library."

"This in-depth study is based on ten years of research by Keener. . . . It provides at least some cultural background for nearly every verse in the New Testament. . . . You need to have it in your theological library."

"Uncovers cultural backgrounds and provides historical perspective for nearly every verse in the New Testament."

About the Author

Craig S. Keener (PhD, Duke University) is professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary. Some of his seventeen books include Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts, The Historical Jesus of the Gospels and commentaries on Matthew (The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary), John (2 vols.), Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Revelation, and a currently-being-published four-volume commentary on Acts. Four of his books, including The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament have won Christianity Today book awards.