Hebrews to Revelation, Volume 4 (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary | ZIBBC)

by Clinton E. Arnold

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2002

Overview

This volume helps readers understand the historical and cultural background of the New Testament. Brimming with lavish, full color photos and graphics, each book walks you verse-by-verse through the New Testament.

Reading this volume is like slipping on a set of glasses that lets you read the Bible through the eyes of a first-century reader! Discoveries await you that will snap the world of the New Testament into gripping immediacy. Things that seem mystifying, puzzling, or obscure will take on tremendous meaning when you view them in their ancient context. You’ll deepen your understanding of the teachings of Jesus. You’ll discover the close, sometimes startling interplay between God’s kingdom and the practical affairs of the church. Best of all, you’ll gain a deepened awareness of the Bible’s relevance for your life.

Key Features

• Commentary based on relevant papyri, inscriptions, archaeological discoveries
• Studies of Judaism, Roman culture, Hellenism, and other features of the world of the New Testament
• Numerous full-color photographs, color illustrations, and line drawings
• Copious maps, charts, and timelines
• Sidebar articles and insights
• Reflections on the Bible’s relevance for twenty-first century living

Contents

Top Highlights

“This is the situation that has come to the attention of our writer. He apparently does not know these Christians personally (the letter lacks the personal greetings found in many of Paul’s letters), but he is concerned about their situation. He will write to them, citing the general Christian teachings he is sure they know. He follows a threefold strategy in his letter: (1) to exhort them to stand firm in the light of the return of Christ, (2) to advise them on how to minimize persecution through wise behavior, and (3) to encourage them to consider where they do belong and what property they do own because they belong to Christ. These strategies should be kept in mind as one reads the letter.” (Pages 123–124)

“In Christian belief God’s throne is a seat of authority and power, but, as Hebrews points out, it too is a seat of grace.” (Page 31)

“These twenty-four elders are probably to be understood as the heavenly representatives of the Old Testament and New Testament saints.” (Page 280)

“Second, the person who wrote Hebrews is obviously highly educated, which means that he has advanced training in rhetoric” (Page 5)

“Revelation is the only New Testament book where Jesus speaks to churches from heaven as the ascended Lord.” (Page 248)

Endorsements

Overall, this is a very fine set that will help a reader to gain a foundation of understanding the historical environment of the first century AD, the context in which the New Testament was inspired, written, and disseminated throughout the early Church. It would of course make an excellent addition to a church library.

—Kevin P. Edgecomb, biblicalia

This is one of the most helpful resources to me when preparing Bible studies and messages. Each New Testament book is written by a reputable, evangelical scholar who has expertise in that particular book. For each New Testament book, there is a very helpful capsule in the beginning that tells you the important facts of each book (author, date, occasion, and key themes). Next, there is a helpful brief commentary for the whole book. There are excellent, color in-text maps as you read the commentary. Furthermore, there are great feature articles that give you insights into some of the pertinent beliefs, gods/goddesses, and key terms that are featured in the New Testament book. There is also a capsule on ‘reflections’ that help the reader ponder and meditate on key themes and concepts. Finally, there is a wonderful annotated bibliography at the end of each book for further, suggested reading. I give it my highest recommendation and believe that it will be an excellent resource for laypersons, seminary students, pastors, professors, and Sunday School teachers.

—Online Reviewer

Product Details

• Title: Hebrews to Revelation: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Volume 4
• Author: Clinton E. Arnold
• Series: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Print Publication Date: 2002
• Logos Release Date: 2010
• Pages: 384
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. N.T. Hebrews › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. James › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 1 John › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 John › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 3 John › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Jude › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 1 Peter › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 Peter › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Revelation › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9780310591689, 9780310218098, 0310591686, 0310218098
• Resource ID: LLS:ZIBBCNT04
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T04:33:09Z

About Clinton E. Arnold

Arnold, author of Powers of Darkness: Principalities and Powers in Paul's Letters, earned his Ph.D. at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, and has done post-doctoral work at Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen in Germany. He is currently associate professor of New Testament at the Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California.