The Books of Habakkuk and Zephaniah
Overview
A full understanding of God’s plan of the ages must include a study of the Old Testament prophets and their writings. Habakkuk and Zephaniah give interesting insights into God’s past dealings with his people and His plans for their future.
Habakkuk, ministering during the last days of Judah’s kingdom, finds the answers to some important questions that most believers wrestle with at some time in their Christian experience. Does God wink at the sins of his people? How can a righteous God use wicked people to chasten a less wicked people? God answers these two questions of Habakkuk. His answer to the first question is this: God does not overlook the sins of His people. He is even then preparing to judge their sin at the hands of the Chaldeans. God’s answer to the second question is as follows: God does use wicked agents to chasten His people, but these wicked agents will eventually be punished if they selfishly or excessively chastise God’s people. Habakkuk, having found the answers to his questions, then rests at peace and says in his heart, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation,” Hab. 3:18.
Zephaniah, a contemporary of Habakkuk, also sees the soon-coming downfall of Judah. He becomes a preacher of woe, warning the nation concerning their sins and calling them to repentance. Knowing that they will not positively respond, he warns of the coming captivity but does not leave them without hope for he prophesies to them a glorious future for the remnant of Judah. Mr. Roy Gingrich, the author of this outline commentary, has done a very commendable piece of work in analyzing and outlining the books of Habakkuk and Zephaniah. Bible students will find Mr. Gingrich’s commentary to be of great help in the understanding of these two prophetical books. They will be profitably exercised in the reading of this book.
These commentaries, written in outline form, are concise yet comprehensive, doctrinally sound and practically useful.
—Rev. John Edward HAO, President Faith Bible Seminary, Queens, NY
These commentaries are brief but thorough. They simplify the difficult passages. These books are factual, not fanciful, in their interpretation of the Bible.
—George A Hern, Pastor, Dellwood Baptist Church, Memphis, TN
Dr. Gingrich's commentaries have been used by thousands. Read and be blessed.
—Dr. Roger R. Clapp, Professor of Bible and Theology, Mid South Bible College
- Title: The Books of Habakkuk and Zephaniah
- Author: Roy Edward Gingrich
- Publisher: Riverside Press
- Publication Date: 2000
- Pages: 22
Roy Gingrich was an American pastor and author best known for his comprehensive commentary series. He was born to Arthur and Arista Gingrich on February 3, 1920 in Ozark, Illinois, the youngest of four children. Roy received God’s call to enter the Christian ministry in 1941. After intensive preparation and pastoral stints in Illinois and Indiana, he became pastor of Faith Bible Church in Memphis, Tennessee, where he remained for over 40 years.
In 1963, Gingrich graduated cum laude from Victory University (formally Mid-South Bible College) and soon thereafter joined the teaching staff. Gingrich began writing conservative Bible commentaries in 1964. Roy Gingrich’s Commentaries in Outline Form (100 vols.) includes 60 different commentaries on the books of the Bible, and 40 additional commentaries on major Bible themes.
In 2001, Dr. Gingrich retired from a long and fruitful ministry, but continued to revise his commentaries and lecture at colleges and churches in the US. In 2003, he was inducted into the Crichton College Hall of Fame.
