What would you give up to spend just one hour with Jesus as He walked along the Judean countryside? What would you ask Him as you walked along the Sea of Galilee? Believed by some to be the first Gospel account of Jesus' life, the Gospel of Mark captures all of the emotion and marvel of the Son of God! Written from the memoirs of the Apostle Peter by his self-proclaimed "spiritual son" John Mark, the Gospel of Mark tells the miraculous story of God's plan to redeem all people who will call on His name. With authority and power, Mark leads us through the life-changing encounters of everyday people as they were touched and made whole by Jesus; emotionally, physically, and most importantly, spiritually. Your life will be changed and your soul revived as you study the Gospel of Mark through the NIV Commentary Series.
Author: Black, Mark C.
What should Christians do about the poor? Are Christians saved by being good disciples, or is salvation an absolutely free gift? When can Christians expect Jesus to return? Does prayer really change God's plans? How can we be sure of the historical facts of the story of Jesus? Although they could be topics from last night's Bible study, these questions were of great importance to Luke and his first readers. In other words, Luke's questions are our questions. Luke and his first readers were very much like us. They were not among the first generation of believers. Yet these readers of the Gospel of Luke were educated people, having been raised on the best human thinking. Being bright and inquisitive, yet knowing the basics about Jesus and his followers, they had many questions. And Luke gave them answers. The single goal of the present commentary is to place modern readers into the shoes of the first readers of Luke's Gospel. The assumption behind this commentary is that we can only know what Luke means if we know what Luke meant. We are especially fortunate in this regard to be examining the Gospel of Luke, since Luke, more than any other Gospel writer, tells us what the message of Jesus meant in a later day. To give his readers this information, Luke provides a sequel—the book of Acts. The present commentary therefore looks at the Gospel of Luke from the perspective of Acts, the best commentary on Luke's Gospel, and with a view toward the modern church.
The College Press NIV Commentary: John
Author: Bryant, Beauford H.; Krause, Mark S.
The Gospel of John is an easy read for first-time seekers and new Christians. At the same time life-long scholars marvel at its content. Late in the Gospel, John revealed his purpose for writing, "These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name" (20:31). The authors of this commentary have focused on Johns intended message for Christians in his day, and by extension, Christians today.
The College Press NIV Commentary: Acts
Author: Gaertner, Dennis
The book of Acts is pivotal not only in our understanding of the events which established the Church of Jesus Christ, but also for providing a connecting link between the four Gospels and the Epistles of the New Testament. Without this record our knowledge of how the message of Jesus Christ came to be a missionary plea to the whole world would be severely weakened. Acts opens with a statement from Jesus which seems to set the tone for the entire work. Jesus promises the Apostles that they will receive power in the form of the Holy Spirit. He then tells them that they will be his "witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (NIV). This theme of being a witness for the Gospel is carried throughout the book of Acts. As the witnesses for Christ carried the Gospel toward the far reaches of the world, the church advanced everywhere. This theme is also important in Acts. The expansion of the church is presented in a historical context. While Acts emphasizes the power of the Spirit (1:8), it also emphasizes how they used this power. They faithfully bore witness for Christ. In this commentary our approach is to appreciate the theological motivations of Luke's work while not rejecting this record as the most valuable source we have regarding the developing church. Our confidence does not rest entirely on the fact that Luke's abilities as a historian have the promise of the Lord to direct his servant into all truth.
The College Press NIV Commentary: Romans, Volume 1
Author: Cottrell, Jack
God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105), and no part of it shines more brilliantly than the book of Romans. The truth of God's Word sets us free (John 8:32) and Romans teaches us the most liberating of all truth. God's Word is sharp and piercing like a sword (Hebrews 4:12), and no blade penetrates more deeply into our hearts than Romans. Martin Luther called the Epistle to the Romans "the greatest book within the greatest book." He undoubtedly was referring to the awesome power of God revealed in Romans. This power, contained within Paul's Epistle, has saved lives, changed hearts and altered the very course of human history. American churches have tended to concentrate on the book of Acts. Acts is a tremendous book, especially when it comes to building New Testament churches. However, Romans is to Acts what meat is to milk. As a group we need to mature; we need to move from Acts to Romans. The Apostle Paul understood the power of the Gospel of Christ. His Epistle reveals salvation on an intellectual and spiritual level not attainable by any other work or religion. It is this challenge to the intellect of men and women that produces historic change. The Epistle to the Romans is, therefore, an intellectual guide to Christianity.
The College Press NIV Commentary: Romans Volume 2
Author: Cottrell, Jack
This volume on the second half of Romans addresses some of the most difficult passages within the book. The power in the Epistle to the Romans is as important today as it was in years past. If Christians today are going to evangelize the world and reverse the losses of the past century we must rediscover the power of Gods salvation exposed and explained in Romans.
The College Press NIV Commentary: 1 Corinthians
Author: Oster, Richard
1 Corinthians was written to a church rocked by division, with great cracks developing over worldly issues. The church at Corinth is a warning of what our churches today are fast becoming. The beloved church of the Corinthians had become world based, glory motivated, and grounded in immorality. But there was hope, found in a detailed plan by Paul intended to bring the Corinthian church back to repentance, unity, and most importantly back to God. We call this plan 1 Corinthians, a letter written for the sake of restoration. This makes 1 Corinthians one of the most important books we can turn for leadership, as we bring our churches back to God. It is in this letter that we find many of the basic truths that we hold today. Paul covers the sanctity of marriage, the spiritual destruction that comes with sexual immorality, issues of civil law, and the discipline of Christian brothers and sisters who refuse to put off their evil ways. Of special interest today are the sections on spiritual gifts and the chapter on the resurrection. 1 Corinthians deals with most of the issues in our churches today. It will bring to you a greater understanding of how God expects his church to be—fully devoted to Him in love and unity.
The College Press NIV commentary: 2 Corinthians
Author: Baker, William R.
Second Corinthians plunges the modern reader back to the real, tumultuous of early Christianity. The simple ideals of sharing and goodwill described in Acts 2:42-47 seem to have little place among the diverse converts from this boomtown of Corinth where Paul chooses to anchor his Greek mission. Second Corinthians is in part a letter of joy, for a report came to Paul that the Corinthians had rejected the troublemakers and wished to rejoin themselves to him. Heart and passion rise to the surface in this letter. Not wanting to boast about himself, Paul indicates that the Corinthians themselves were his letter of recommendation. He appealed to their firsthand knowledge and experience. Paul also recounted the tribulations he endured to keep spreading the gospel.
The College Press NIV Commentary: Galatians & Ephesians
Author: Boles, Kenneth L.
Galatians: Throughout the history of the church the message of Galatians has been needed to free men from chains of false doctrine. Repeatedly men have turned away from grace to bow at the altar of law. Desperate to claim at least part of the credit for their own salvation, they have chosen to believe that they are saved by keeping enough rules, enduring enough pain, or siding with the orthodox on enough of the "issues." Then someone will read Galatians again and the liberating message of the gospel of grace catches fire once more, and the bonds of legalism are burned away. Ephesians: We are saved by grace through faith! We do not earn our salvation—it is the gift of God! Even though we were dead in sin and fully deserved God's wrath, He saved us and brought us into the body of Christ. It is a glorious privilege to be a part of his body, and it carries with it a glorious responsibility. We are saved by grace, for good works. God saves us so that He could live in us and work through us. We are filled with his fullness and re-created in his likeness. We are imitators of God. His power works in us, making possible more than we could ever ask or think. We are strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. The message of Ephesians is a message of salvation: God gives it; man lives it!
The College Press NIV Commentary: Philippians Colossians & Philemon
Author: Ash, Anthony Lee
There are a number of reasons why Paul wrote this letter. First, there was the matter of Epaphroditus and the gift sent to Paul by his hand. Paul wished to respond to their generosity. Second, he took the opportunity to share certain news about himself and his situation. Third, he wished to address a serious problem of division within the church. Fourth, Paul wished to warn about those he calls "dogs," "men who do evil," and "mutilators of the flesh" in 3:2. In addition to these central purposes there are certain themes sounded throughout the book which can be an enriching pursuit by the serious student.
The College Press NIV Commentary: 1&2 Thessalonians
Author: Weatherly, Jon A.
Paul met furious and violent opposition from the Jewish community at Thessalonica in his attempts to spread the Good News. With disregard for their own safety a small group from the Jewish community pledged their faith to Jesus. They were joined by Gentile converts and formed the Thessalonian Church. These bold converts found a special place in Paul's heart. The letters to the Thessalonian church are among the most personal of all of Paul's letters for this very reason. The main points revolve around personal reminiscences, commendations, counseling, exhortations and the Second Coming of Christ. Paul strongly emphasizes the hope we have in the return of the risen Christ. Following quickly on the heels of this exhortation to be ready, are instructions on the duties involved in the Christian life. These two letters merit close examination for their application to our lives today. Upon study we learn that the Thessalonian church made several errors in their understanding of what Paul meant about the imminent return of our Lord. Even today many have claimed an exact date and time when Jesus did not return! Secondly, we must diligently look at 1 & 2 Thessalonians for the hope of the resurrection found in Jesus' Second Coming that Paul preaches. It is this hope that will comfort us when our loved ones "go home" to be with the Lord. Thessalonians, written long ago, is for us today!
The College Press NIV Commentary: 1,2 Timothy & Titus
Author: Moss, C. Michael
While several passages in 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus have provided the fodder for tomes of theological discussion (e.g., 1 Tim 2:9-15 and the role of women; 1 Tim 3:11 and deacons; 1 Tim 3:1-8 and Titus 1:6-9 and the characteristics of those to serve as elders), the real value of these epistles lies in their message to two young ministers, to second generation believers in Ephesus and to a young church facing a pagan world in Crete. These epistles provide teaching which the church in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries needs to hear. The two letters to Timothy and the letter to Titus stand in a very close relationship to one another. They are written to fellow workers of the Apostle Paul; they are bound together by similar content; the false teachers who bear similar characteristics, a discussion of church leaders, similar situations for the churches addressed, and the same basic time-frame. Although the term "the Pastoral Epistles" has become a convenient designation for these three epistles which have much in common, it can be misleading. These epistles are not really a manual of pastoral theology. Only a fraction of these books contain what could be termed ecclesiastical teaching (1 Tim 3:1-13; 5:3-22; Titus 1:5-9). The three epistles are very different. Viewed as a whole, the epistles provide insight into ministry, enduring hardship, and understanding the essentiality of good works.
The College Press NIV Commentary: Hebrews
Author: Girdwood, James.; Verkruyse, Peter
The exalted character of the Son of God is the theme and dynamic of this pivotal book of the New Testament. Jesus is the heir of all things; He is the Creator and also Reflector of God's glory. He has the stamp of God's nature, He upholds the universe with his power, and He is seated at the right hand of God. Do you want to understand the work of our Lord? Do you want to see how His qualities shine as the noonday sun? Do you desire to know what He is really like and the magnitude of what He has done, is doing, and what He will bring to pass? Here in the book of Hebrews, these things are clearly viewed. Jesus is both the fulfillment of the old covenant and the inaugurator of the new covenant. What the covenants mean and how they operate is fundamental to theological clarity. Hebrews is where the old and new covenants are fully discussed. Two very capable navigators will lead you through the text, pausing to point out the highlights, explaining some of the difficulties and leading you to a deeper appreciation and understanding of who Jesus is as revealed in the book of Hebrews.
The College Press NIV Commentary: James & Jude
Author: Holloway, Gary
The epistles of James & Jude hold a very unique position in the New Testament Canon. The writers of these epistles are brothers of our Lord Jesus Christ! It would be difficult for us to imagine the profound effect this relationship would have on these two men. However, what it brings to their inspired writings is a direct, personal, and intimate look at the Living word. James and Jude hold one other unique credential that undergirds their epistles. It is likely neither brother believed in Jesus' deity until after the Resurrection. The Apostle Paul writes that it took a special and personal appearance to James to finally convince him of Jesus' Lordship. Combined with their testimony, this translates out to very powerful proof of the Resurrection of Christ. The epistle of James stands alone in a single call: Faith without works is dead! The connection between works and living faith cannot and will not be separated. Salvation does not come from works, but spiritual works come from a saved and faithful heart. The value of James lies in its linking together faith and righteousness. This is a wisdom that can only come from God. This message—this call to believers to receive "wisdom from above"—is very relevant to the Christian today. The epistle of Jude also has a powerful message for Christians today. In a culture that is growing in its apathy and antagonism toward Christianity, in a world that is more accepting of everything non-Christian, and less tolerant of the faith, Jude has one message: There are times when the faith must be defended! That defense embodies opposing false teaching, and living the upright and godly lives spoken of through the Bible. An added feature to this commentary is a section containing special studies on the book of James. This feature is useful for application and instruction in daily living.
The College Press NIV Commentary: 1, 2 Peter
Author: Black, Allen; Black, Mark C.
These two letters of Peter were written to first century Christians needing clear instruction about their faith in Christ. By the leading of the Holy Spirit, these letters have remained timeless. No matter which period of church history one might want to discuss, these letters fit well. Christian character, holiness, the Day of Judgment, and the Second Coming are always important to the proper development of a Christian's faith.
The College Press NIV Commentary: 1, 2, 3 John
Author: Womack, Morris M.
John's presentation of the physical aspects of the resurrection are unparalleled! This study examines John's answer to these "new" brands of Gnosticism sweeping our churches. Dr. Womack has succeeded in building a bridge from the first century to the twenty-first century, providing the tools needed to guard our hearts against these dangerous beliefs.
The College Press NIV commentary: Revelation
Author: Davis, Christopher A.
Dr. Davis places Revelation in its historical, cultural, and literary setting, showing how the book would have been understood by the Christians for whom it was written. He draws on Jewish, Christian, Greek, and Roman writers from biblical times in seeking to discern the meaning of the book's vivid symbols. He thus bases his interpretation of Revelation on objective evidence, rather than on subjective speculation. By calling his work "The Revelation of Jesus Christ," John shows that his purpose is not to conceal but to reveal. The commentary was written for the general reader of the Bible who desires to understand Revelation as John intended it to be understood. In providing a clear, nontechnical exposition of Revelation, Dr Davis draws on his years of experience in teaching the book to teens and adults in college and church settings.