ANCIENT CHRISTIAN COMMENTARY ON SCRIPTURE - NEW TESTAMENT (In 27 Volumes), Thomas C. Oden, General Editor In collaboration with the Institute of Classical Christian Studies at Drew University, InterVarsity Press presents the "Ancient Christian Commentary of Scripture." Under the leadership of renowned theologian Thomas C. Oden, an international team of scholars presents the finest commentry from the early church. When completed, the ACCS will fill twenty-seven volumes encompassing the entire canon of Scripture plus the Aocrrypha. The ACCS seeks to do for the Christian community what the Talmud did for the Jewish memory of early interpreters of the Torah. It revives the early tradition known as glossa ordinaria, a text artfully elaborated with ancient and authoritative reflections and insights. It is an uncommon companion for theological and spiritual teaching, and wholesome reading and preaching. Scholars with a deep knowledge of the Fathers and a heart for the church have hand-selected material for each volume, translating where necessary, annotating and introducing it today's readers. Each portion of commentary has been chosen for its salient insight, its rhetorical power and its faithful representation of the consensual exegesis of the early church. Each Volume as Marked (InterVarsity Press)

OLD TESTAMENT

EXODUS, LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, DEUTERONOMY (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, Old Testament Volume 3), edited by Joseph T. Lienhard; Thomas C. Oden, General Editor From its inception the church has always had a Bible - the Jewish Scriptures. But Christians have not read these Scriptures in the same light of what God did in Jesus the Christ. Thus the Jewish Scriptures became for Christian readers the Old Testament. This Ancient Christian Commentary on Exodus through Deuteronomy bears ample witness to this new way of reading these ancient texts. 400pp

$40.00 Cloth w/dust jacket (InterVarsity Press)

NEW TESTAMENT

Volume 1a: MATTHEW 1-13, edited by Manlio Simonetti The Gospel of Matthew stands out as a favorite biblical text among patristic commentators. This abundance of patristic comment includes works from Hilary of Poitiers, Jerome, Theodore of Heraclea, Apolllinaris of Laodicea, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Cyril of Alexandria, Augustine, Gregory the Great and others, many of which are presented here in English translation for the first time, and provides a rich and varied feast of ancient interpretation of the First Gospel. 350pp

$40.00 Cloth w/dustjacket (InterVarsity Press) October 2001

Volume1b: MATTHEW 14-28, edited by Manlio Simonetti; Thomas C. Oden, General Editor The Gospel of Matthew stands out as a favorite biblical text among patristic commentators. This abundance of patristic comment includes works from Hilary of Poitiers, Jerome, Theodore of Heraclea, Apolllinaris of Laodicea, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Cyril of Alexandria, Augustine, Gregory the Great and others, many of which are presented here in English translation for the first time, and provides a rich and varied feast of ancient interpretation of the First Gospel. 350pp

$40.00 Cloth w/dustjacket (InterVarsity Press) December 2001

Volume 2: MARK, edited by Thomas C. Oden and Christopher A. Hall The early church valued the Gospel of Mark for its preservation of the apostolic voice and gospel narrative of Peter. Yet early church fathers rarely produced sustained commentary on Mark. This fast-paced and robust little Gospel, so much enjoyed by modern readers, was overshadowed in the minds of the Fathers by the magisterial Gospels of Matthew and John.
But now with the assistance of computer searches, an abundance of comment has been discovered to be embedded and interleaved amid the textual archives of patristic homilies, apologies, letters, commentaries, theological treatises and hymnic verses.
In this ACCS on Mark, the insights of Augustine of Hippo and Clement of Alexandria, Ephrem the Syrian and Cyril of Jerusalem join in a polyphony of interpretive voices of the Eastern and Western church from the second to the eighth century. Mark's Gospel displays the evocative power of its story, parables and passion as it ignites a brilliant exhibition of theological insight and pastoral wisdom. 281pp

$40.00 Cloth w/dustjacket (InterVarsity Press)

Volume 6: ROMANS, edited by Thomas C. Oden and Christopher A. Hall St. Paul's Letter to the Romans has long been considered the theological high-water mark of the New Testament. It was no less regarded by the ancient church, and patristic interpreters have left us an abundance of valuable comment on Romans. This Ancient Christian Commentary on Romans collects the best and most representative of patristic commentary and homily on Romans, and it brings to the public some valuable material that has hitherto been unavailable in English translations. Outstanding among these commentaries is "Ambrosiaster," the name given to the unknown Latin commentator of the late 4th century, whose enduring worth is evident to all who read him. And the extensive commentary by Origen, largely inaccessible to modern readers, is frequently and extensively presented here in English for the first time. These commentators are joined by great figures such as John Chrystostom, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Augustine of Hippo, Theodoret of Cyrus, and several lesser commentators such as Diodore of Tarsus and Didymus the Blind of Alexandria. This commentary on Romans provides a rare opportunity to enclunter the familiar Pauline exposition of the righteousness of God as it echoes in the great Christian minds and communities of the early church. 404pp $40.00 Cloth

Volume 7: 1-2 CORINTHIANS, edited by Gerald Bray Paul's two letters to the Corinthian church have left a mark on Christian Scripture in a way that could never have been predicted. Here the pastoral issues of a first century Christian community in what Chrysostom identified as "still the first city in Greece" stand out in bold relief. How was a community shaped by the cross to find its expression in a a city that Chrysostom knew to be "full of orators and philosophers" and that "prided itself...above all on its great wealth?" How as church unity to be maintained in a setting where prominent believers, bending truth and morality to their own advantage, divided the body of Christ? Here lay the challenge for the apostle Paul. As the apostle writes, the fathers lean over his shoulder, marveling and commenting on his pastoral wisdom. 300pp $40.00 Cloth

Volume 8: GALATIANS, EPHESIANS, PHILIPPIANS, edited by Mark J. Edwards Paul's Letters to the Galatians, Ephesians and Philippinas have struck an indelible impression on Christian tradition and piety. The doctrines of Christ, of salvation and of the church all owe their profiles to these letters. And for patristic interpreters, who read Scripture as a single book and were chraged with an insatiable curiosity regarding the mysteries of the Godhead, these letters offered profound visions seldom captured by modern eyes. Trinitarian truth was patterned in the apostle's praise of God who is "over all, through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:6).
Without a doubt the greatest text in this collection of letters is the "Christ hymn" of Philippians 2: 6-11. This commentary offers an unparalleled close-up view of the fathers weighing the words and phrases of this panoramic charting of the Savior's journey from preexistence, to incarnation, to crucifixion and triumphant exaltation as universal Lord. This volume opens a tresury of resources for biblical study today. The expository voices of Jerome, Origen, Augustine, Chrysostom, Ambrosiaster, Theodoret, Marius Victorinus and Theodore of Mopsuestia speak again with eloquence and intellectual acumen, some in English translation for the first time. 322pp $40.00 Cloth

Volume 9: COLOSSIANS, 1-2 THESSALONIANS, 1-2 TIMOTHY, TITUS, PHILEMON, edited by Peter Gorday Patristic commentary on St. Paul's shorter letters was pivotal in resolving church controversies. The most commented upon christological texts amid these letters was Collossians 1:15-20, but early Christian commentators also looked to the Pastorals for important ethical teaching and leadership qualifications. Chief among the Eastern commentators and widely excerpted throughout this volume is John Chrysostom, praised for his pastoral insight and shrewd, generous empathy with the apostle Paul.
This volume opens a treasure house of ancient wisdom that allows these faithful witnesses and others, some appearing here in English translation for the first time, to speak with eloquence and intellectual acumen to the church today. 350pp $40.00 Cloth

Volume 11: JAMES; 1-2 PETER; 1-3 JOHN; JUDE, edited by Gerald Bray The Fathers found in the catholic Epistles (James; 1-2 Peter; 1-3 John and Jude) a manual for spiritual warfare and counsel for the faithful in the cosmic struggle between good and evil. In them was sound instruction in the ways of self-sacrifice, generosity and humility, through which the cosmic forces could be defeated. This volume opens up a treasure house of ancient wisdom that allows these faithful witnesses, some appearing here in English translation for the first time, to speak with eloquence and intellectual acumen to the church today. 350pp $40.00 Cloth

DEUTERO-ISAIAH: A COMMENTARY - ISAIAH 40-55 IN DRAMATIC VOICE (Hermeneia Series), Klaus Baltzer; edited by Peter Machinist; translated by Margaret Kohl Deutero-Isaiah's work, which comprises Isaiah chapters 40-55, has exerted its influence on testimonies of faith in both Jewish and Christian tradition down to the present day. "Who is the Servant of God?" is not a question confined to the New Testament alone. Baltzer finds that the text belongs to the new context that followed the Exile. The experience of catastrophe, the need to grapple with the problems of the present, and hope for a peaceful future: these are all linked in Deutero-Isaiah's composition. The work aims to establish accord between adherents of the Jacob/Israel tradition on the one hand and those committed to the Zion/Jerusalem tradition on the other - the background being the tensions between the exiles, the diaspora, and the people who had remained in the land. The commentary also develops a thesis about the work's genre, identifying it as a "liturgical drama" in six acts, which makes it possible to understand the text's function in worship and its significance as a literary text of supreme artistry for a nonliterary audience. 634pp

$78.00 Hardcover w/Dustjacket (Fortress Press)

GENESIS, CREATION AND EARLY MAN: THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIN VISION, by Father Seraphim Rose This is Fr. Seraphim's life-long study of the book of Genesis and the modern theory of evolution in the light of the teaching of a host of Holy Fathers including St. Basil, the Great, St. John Chrysostom, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Symeon the New Theologian, St. Ambrose of Milan, St. Ephraim the Syrian, St. Athanasius the Great, St. Isaac the Syrian, Blessed Augustine and others. Nowhere else can the student of the beginnings of life on earth find such a synthesis of Orthodox thought in defense of Genesis "as it is written." Here a modern reader may be shocked to discover that human life before the Fall was completely different from anything we can scientifically observe in nature after the Fall. Both man and nature were drastically changed by the Fall. 712pp

$24.00 Paper (St. Herman of Alaska Press)

JOURNEY TO THE KINGDOM: REFLECTIONS ON THE SUNDAY GOSPELS, Father John Mack Reflection on selected Sunday Gospel readings by well known priest and author, Father John Mack. Father John's insights into familiar Bible passages that we have often heard, but may not truly have understood, are excellent. In 34 chapters, Father John takes us through the highlights of the church year and lovingly opens up the Gospel stories to us with patristic and biblical wisdom. Many of the reflections are filled with stories of the saints, as well as observations about living in the twenty-first century that lead us to ask deeper questions about our own lives. Journey to the Kingdom deals with sin and grace, repentance and confession, living by faith, and many other needful topics. Perfect as a gift, fro home use, or for group study. 210pp

$14.00 Paper (Conciliar Press)

THE PARABLES: BIBLICAL, PATRISTIC AND LITURGICAL INTERPRETATION, by Archbishop Dmitri Royster Each of the 27 sections of this book offers a brief but concise and thoughtful summery of a single parable, examining not only the Gospel texts, but the way in which these texts have been interpreted in commentaries by the Fathers and used in traditional liturgical texts. These simple but rich commentaries will profit any reader in search of guidance through the spiritual and moral ambiguities of the modern world. 144pp

$10.00 Paper (Saint Vladimir Seminary Press)

WISDOM, LET US ATTEND: JOB, THE FATHERS, AND THE OLD TESTAMENT, by Johanna Manley A huge volume that actually consists of three books. Book One (700 pages) covers the Book of Job as interpreted by the Church Fathers. Book Two is a partial reprint of The Lament of Eve, comprising the patristic prologue on the first five chapters of Genesis, and an Epilogue consisting of Bishop Veliminovich's Lessons in Divine and Christian Love.Book Three offers patristic guidance through much of the remainder of the Old Testament. With St. Ephraim the Syrian, we learn the Syrian tradition on Genesis, Origen provides interesting insights on Exodus, St. Gregory of Nyssa on Canticles, etc. 920pp

$34.00 Hardcover (Monastery Books)

Biblical Resources (TOP OF PAGE)

A BEGINNER'S READER-GRAMMAR FOR NEW TESTAMENT GREEK, Ernest Cadman Colwell and Ernest W. Tune This is a concise but through handbook of Greek grammar and syntax for the student who has an introductory knowledge of New Testament Greek. Designed for both deductive and inductive study and employing an easily accessible format, the Greek Enchiridion is a ready and practical reference tool. A "verb bank" of principal parts is provides a quick parsing guide for verbs, is useful for building vocabulary, and is a helpful aid for working with the Septuagint.

$13.00 Paper (Hendrickson Publishers)

THE BIBLE IN HISTORY TIMELINE (expanded from The Catholic Youth Bible Timeline), from The Catholic Youth Bible Modeled after the timeline featured in The Catholic Youth Bible, this expanded version includes twice as many entries in both human and biblical history. Special biblical timeline sections include the following: *Biblical Prehistory *Time of the Matriarchs and Patriarchs *Time in Egypt and the Exodus *Time of the Judges *Time of the Kings and Prophets *Time of Foreign Domination *Time of the New Testament. To supplement entries, we've included photographs and illustrations of important biblical and historical people and places. At eleven inches high and twelve feet long, the expanded edition timeline lends perspective to the vastness of biblical and human history. A highly informative and colorful teaching tool, The Bible in History Timeline answers the need for a high-quality biblical and human history timeline for the home or classroom.

$25.00 Paper (Saint Mary's Press) August 2001

BIBLICAL JOURNEYS MAP PACK, from The Catholic Youth Bible Set of four laminated 19 inch by 25 inch full color maps. Rolled and packaged in a tube. These outstanding full color laminated maps from The Catholic Youth Bible (St. Mary's Press) help students locate biblical stories within their geographical origins. Included are maps that show the Exodus from Egypt, the ministry of Jesus, Paul's first and second journeys, and Paul's third and fourth journeys. Each map indicates the location of some of the most famous Biblical stories, such as the healing of Bartimaeus, the raising of Lazarus, the miracle of manna and quail, the giving of the Ten Commandments, and the feeding of the five thousand. Ideal for use in the classroom, these study, colorful maps help students explore biblical history in light of contemporary geography.

$15.00 Paper (St. Mary's Press)

THE HEARTHSIDE BIBLE DICTIONARY: A QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE BIBLE (The Hearthside Reference Library, Volume 1), Martin Selman and Martin Manser The Hearthside Bible Dictionary is a highly readable, quick-reference guide to the Bible. Drawing on the most recent scholarship and including several innovative features, authors Martin Selman and Martin Manser have composed entries for the significant people, places, customs, religious and cultural aspects, events, and institutions found in Scripture. Selman and Manser address basic questions about the Bible, such as: Who was Cain? What is the book of Isiah about? What does the Bible mean when it uses the word "hope? What is the Tabernacle? When did Jonah live? Where can I find the miracles of Jesus? The Parables? Most entries include Bible references. Every book of the Old and New Testaments is outlined according to its structure, background, and most well known passages. Thirty-one charts cover historical, religious, and cultural topics, including animals, armor, and weapons, birds, diseases and illnesses, feasts and festivals, kings and queens of Israel, and the miracles, parables, and prayers of Jesus. Also included are four maps. The Hearthside Bible Dictionary is an excellent source on almost any topic of interest from the Bible, from Aaron to Zophar. This exciting new dictionary makes Bible study easier for students of all ages. 272pp

$17.00 Hardcover $10.00 Paper (Cumberland House Books)

THE OXFORD GUIDE TO PEOPLE AND PLACES OF THE BIBLE, edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan Offering a wealth of reliable information, The Oxford Guide to People and Places of the Bible provides more than 300 articles that cover everyone from Adam and Eve to Jesus Christ and everywhere form the Garden of Eden to Golgotha and Gethsemane. Readers will find fascinating, informative entries on virtually every major figure who walked across the biblical state. Here are Hebrew Bible figures such as Cain and Abel, Noah and Methuselah, Abraham and Isaac, David and Goliath, Solomon and Sheba, Moses and Aaron, Naomi and Ruth, and Samson and Delilah. The New Testament is likewise well covered, with pieces on Peter and Paul, John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene, the apostles (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), Pontius Pilate and Judas Iscariot, and of course Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Articles also define groups of people who figure in the Bible, such as Angels, Archangels, and Demons, the Magi, the Tribes of Israel, and Women. Entries on the significant places of the Bible, both ancient and modern, include kingdoms and countries (Egypt, Assyria, Mesopotamia) and cities (Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Sodom and Gomorrah), as well as geographical features such as the Sea of Galilee and Mount Hebron. The guide includes a detailed index for ease of use, and 14 pages of color maps, providing an accurate, detailed portrait of the biblical world. Here then is the first place to turn to find factual information on the people and places of Holy Scripture. Written by an international team of noted biblical experts, it is an essential addition to any family library as well as a useful, reliable resource for scholars and students. 14 color maps. 384pp

$30.00 Cloth (Oxford University Press)

POCKET DICTIONARY FOR THE STUDY OF NEW TESTAMENT GREEK, Matthew S. DeMoss If your are beginning your study of New Testament Greek or Greek exegesis, the Pocket Dictionary for the Study of New Testament Greek is for you. From ablative to zeugma, it defines the tangled terms that infest Greek textbooks, grammars and lexicons. This book will deliver students from late night ponderings of the predicate and fumings over the fricative. It is the most indispensable lexiconj to that third language that is neither Greek nor recognizable English: the technical vocabulary of grammarians, lexicographers, linguists and Greek instructors. And this pocket dictionary gives the inside edge on the terminology of exegesis, textual criticism and biblical criticism. 128pp

$8.00 Paper (InterVarsity Press) September 2001

THE TRINITY GUIDE TO THE BIBLE, Robert H. Hiers Full of strange tales, obscure symbols, and archarc language, the Bible can be difficult to understand and interpret without some guidance. In The Trinity Guide to the Bible, Richard Hiers provides readers with information on the historical contexts and literary forms of the various books that will make the Bible more accessible. For each book of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, as well as the books of the Old Testament Apocrypha, Hiers supplies a summary of the book's features, highlights significant passages, and provides information about each book's likely historical settings. Rather than emphasizing a modern interpretation of the texts, Hiers focuses primarily on the beliefs and concerns inherent in each of the books of the Bible, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions. Background essays, at the end of the book, explore the major events and periods of biblical history, the principal literary and editorial features of biblical writing, and the central themes of biblical religion and faith. This important reference book will be a useful tool for readers encountering the Bible for the first time, as well as for students and study groups searching for a deeper background and detail about the books of the Bible. 320pp

$24.00 Paper (Trinity Press International) October 2001

WHAT DID THE BIBLICAL WRITERS KNOW AND WHEN DID THEY KNOW IT? - WHAT ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE BIBLE CAN TELL US ABOUT ANCIENT ISRAEL, William G. Dever For centuries the Bible has been the fountainhead of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Yet the Hebrew scriptures and their historical background remain a mystery to most people. This fascinating book by William Dever looks behind the Bible, showing how modern archaeology brilliantly illuminates both life in ancient Palestine and the sacred scriptures as we have them today. Written for general readers but dealing with very real problems in biblical studies, this book brings together a wealth of archaeological evidence to give us the clearest picture yet of the "real Israel" that existed during the Iron Age of ancient Palestine (1200-600 B.C.). Dever's superb reconstruction of this key period recovers a reliable core history of ancient Israel that provides the best defense yet of the essential values of the biblical history and tradition under attack today. 100 black and white illustrations. 275pp

$25.00 Hardcover (William B. Eerdman's Publishing Company)

Biblical Studies (TOP OF PAGE)

THE BIBLE AT QUMRAN: TEXT, SHAPE, AND INTERPRETATION (Studies in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature), edited by Peter W. Flint (Peter W. Flint, Martin G. Abegg Jr. and Garcia Martinez, General Editors) The Bible at Qumran puts the Dead Sea Scrolls to use in exploring two principal themes: the text and shape of the "Bible" at Qumran and the interpretation of these scriptures in this fascinating Jewish community. Written by leading scholars in the field, these informed studies make an important contribution to our understanding of the biblical text at a pivotal period in history. Contributors: Martin G. Abegg, Jr., James E. Bowley, Craig A. Evans, Peter W. Flint, James A. Sanders, James M. Scott, Eugene Ulrich, James C. VanderKam, Robert W. Wall, and Bruce K. Waltke. 254pp

$22.00 Paper (William B. Eerdmans Publishing)

THE BIBLE IN GREEK CHRISTIAN ANTIQUITY (The Bible Through the Ages, Volume 1), edited and translated by P.M. Blowers This is an international project, the work of French, Swiss, Australian, Canadian and American scholars. It will be useful to students of early Christianity and the history of Biblical interpretation, and will also serve as a useful introduction to the many dimensions of the reception of the Bible in the early Church.

$40.00 Paper (University of Notre Dame Press)

THE BIBLE IN THE ARMENIAN TRADITION, Vrej Nersessian The Bible in the Armenian Tradition provides a concise historical account of the development of the Bible in Armenia and the illustrative traditions that are represented in surviving codices. The author focuses on the origins of the first translations of the Bible into Armenian in the fourth century, which inspired the Armenian alphabet itself. A range of beautiful Armenian Bible manuscripts from collections throughout the world are illustrated in full color and compared with western bible illuminations. Later printed Armenian Bibles are also examined in detail, revealing fascinating examples of religious differences between the Armenian and the Catholic Christian traditions. This survey of Armenian Bible history is an important reference for biblical scholars and anyone interested in the history of Christianity. 45 color illustrations. 96pp

$30.00 Paper (Getty Publications/J. Paul Getty Museum) September 2001

DAVID'S SECRET DEMONS: MESSIAH, MURDERER, TRAITOR, KING, Baruch Halpern Biblical tradition portrays King David as an exceptional man and a paragon of godly devotion. But was he? Some scholars deny that he existed at all. Did he? This challenging book examines the textual and archaeological evidence critically in an effort to paint an accurate picture of one of the Bible's central figures. A leading scholar of biblical history and the ancient Near East, Baruch Halpern traces the development of the David tradition, showing how the image of David grew over time. According to Halpern, David was the founder of a dynasty that progressively exaggerated his accomplishments. Halpern's clear portrait of the historical David reveals his true humanity and shows him to be above all a politician who operated in a rough and tumble environment in which competitors were ready literally to slit throats. David's Secret Demons explores a number of provocative questions: Did King David actually exist? Was David an Israelite or a Philistine? Was Solomon really David's son? Did David take the throne of Israel by the consent of the people? How many murders did David commit on his way to the throne? Are the biblical texts about David reliable? Challenging, well argued, and written in accessible, at times humorous prose, David's Secret Demons will provoke discussions by scholars and general readers alike. 472pp

$30.00 Hardcover (William B. Eerdman's Publishing Company)

THE DEATH OF JESUS IN EARLIEST CHRISTIANITY, by John T. Carroll and Joe B. Green, with Joel Marcus, Donald Senior, C.P. and Robert E. Van Voorst Taking a studied look at the death of Jesus, John Carroll and Joel Green put us in their debt for their comprehensive survey of the effects and implications of this central tenet of Christianity. 332pp

$25.00 Cloth

DIVINE RHETORIC: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT AS MESSAGAE AND AS MODEL IN AUGUSTINE, CHRYSOSTOM AND LUTHER, Jaroslav Pelikan Of the many themes that Classical Antiquity and Early Christianity had in common, for all their profound differences, none was more influential than their love of language. It was the Greek and Roman rhetorical theorists who called the attention of later generations to the importance of speech and language. Likewise, when the author of the Fourth Gospel needed a comprehensive metaphor to describe the eternal significance of Jesus Christ, he turned to speech, calling him the Logos - the Word and Reason of God, through whom the universe was made and by whom it was upheld. What would happen when these two systems of interpreting persuasive language collided - and yet in some sense converged? To answer that question, this book examines three interpretations of the most universally acknowledged piece of rhetoric in the history of the West, the Sermon on the Mount: from the Latin and Catholic tradition (St. Augustine), the Greek and Orthodox tradition (St. John Chrysostom), and the Reformation and Protestant tradition (Martin Luther). Each is acknowledged in his tradition as a "prince of the pulpit." Together and yet separately, they illuminate both the Sermon and the Speaker for anyone who still takes the challenge of faith - and of language - seriously. 182pp

$13.00 Paper (Saint Vladimir's Seminary Press)

EARLY CHRISTIANITY AND ITS SACRED LITERATURE, Lee Martin McDonald and Stanley Porter This comprehensive examination of the sacred literature of early Christianity introduces the literature and world of the early followers of Jesus. It explores the relationship between history and faith, the transmission of the NT writings, the historical context of early Christianity, the formation of the canon, as well as writings, personalities, and issues outside the NT. Includes first-class color photographs by noted photographer Richard Cleave, over fifty black and white images, maps and charts. 848pp

$40.00 Cloth (Hendrickson Publishers)

THE ISRAELITES (Introducing Israel's social, historical, geographical, and archaeological contexts), B.S.J. Isserlin Covering the period of the thirteenth century B.C.E. to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E., Isserlin, a senior scholar, synthesizes the social, historical, geographical, and archaeological materials relevant to studying ancient Israel in its ancient Near Eastern context. Isserlin has an accessible style and brings the latest in biblical research to students and general readers. The stunning array of 85 photographs - plus maps, line drawings, and charts - make this a rich source for scholars as well. 304pp

$23.00 Paper (Fortress Press)

JESUS OF NAZARETH - CHRIST OF FAITH, by Peter Stuhlmacher One of Germany's best known New Testament scholars offers here three outstanding essays on Jesus Christ, His death, and the Lord's Supper. Stuhlmacher recognized the New Testament emphasis on both the events and meaning of Jesus' ministry and person. 112pp

$10.00 Paper

JESUS THE EXORCIST: A CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF THE HISTORICAL JESUS, by Graham H. Twelftree Twelftree examines exorcists and exorcisms in 1st century Palestine, assesses the New Testament accounts of demons and their demise, and explores the implications and significance of the fact that Jesus was indeed an exorcist. 288pp

$20.00 Paper (Hendrickson Publishers)

JESUS THE JEWISH THEOLOGIAN, by Brad H. Young; Forewords by Marvin Ellson and Rabbi David Walpe "Through extensive use of Jewish sources Dr. Young has creatively shed light on Jesus, master Jewish teacher and theologian. Young gets behind the synoptic accounts and allows the Hebraic setting of the words of Jesus to shine through." - Marvin Ellson, from his Foreword 375pp

$20.00 (Hendrickson Publishers)

LITURGICAL WORKS (Eerdmans Commentaries on the Dead Sea Scrolls), James R. Davila Among the manuscripts of the Dead Sea Scrolls are numerous fragments of liturgical texts: daily and festival prayers, songs and praises, and other fascinating documents. This inaugural volume in the Eerdmans Commentaries on the Dead Sea Scrolls series explores these important ancient texts, throwing new light on the ritual life of Jews at the turn of the common era. Beginning with a general introduction to the Qumran library and Jewish liturgical traditions, James Davila situates the liturgical texts found at Qumran in their historical context in Second Temple Judaism. He then offers a reliable translation of these Hebrew texts and provides detailed line by line explanations of each document. Throughout his book Davila shows how the Qumran liturgical texts draw on and develop traditions from the Hebrew Bible, and he explores their significance as background to Jewish liturgy, Jewish mysticism, and Christian origins. This volume and the complete commentary will become the standard reference work on the Dead Sea Scrolls. 306pp

$25.00 Paper (William B. Eerdman's Publishing Company)

THE LOST BIBLE: FORGOTTEN SCRIPTURES REVEALED, J.R. Porter The Lost Bible provides a fascinating introduction to sacred writings of great profundity and aesthetic merit that did not become part of the canon of the Old and New Testaments. In the centuries around the beginning of the Common Era, the Jewish people drew faith and inspiration from hundreds of sacred writings, not just those that make up the Hebrew Bible we know today. Early Christianity itself produced a wealth of sacred writings which, though they did not become part of the New Testament, were popular among believers and important in spreading the faith. After the canons of the Jewish and Christian Bibles were established, many of these works disappeared into obscurity. Some were lost entirely; others survived in translations. J.R. Porter introduces the reader to a wide selection of these extraordinary and beautiful "lost" works - from words considered to be those of prophets, kings, and patriarchs (even Adam himself) to legends and stories that supply "missing" parts of the Gospels. For each work, commentary is followed by a translated extract in clear and up-to-date language. The commentary places writings in their religious, social, and political context; explains the crucial importance of these works to the development of Jewish and Christian thought; and highlights the many legends and artistic traditions that sprang from them. It also examines the reasons - both religious and political - why these writings did not become part of the Jewish and Christian Bibles. Lavishly illustrated, and amplified by a detailed timeline and data boxes, this text is a rich resource for anyone interested in exploring the origins of Judaism and Christianity. 256pp

$35.00 Cloth (University of Chicago Press) September 2001

MAGIC AND PAGANISM IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY, Hans-Josef Klauck; translated by Brian McNell Hans-Josef Klauck, an expert in the cultic practices of the region, describes this world into which Christianity was born and relates to it the many experiences of the first Christians recorded in Acts. For example, Peter encounters the Samaritan magician Simon, the people in Lystra want to offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, and in Ephesus some burn their books of magic formulae while others provoke a riot in the name of Artemis. Klauck provides a fascinating account of these phenomena and their significance for Christianity historically and today. 144pp

$40.00 Hardcover (T&T Clark)

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS IN THE BIBLE, by Victor H. Matthew (Revised Edition) Each chapter furnishes an introduction to a period in Israel's history, and sheds light on the daily life of the people of the time. Now in a new, revised edition, over one hundred Scripture passages placed alongside the text and more than twenty new illustrations and photos to help to give an even better "feel" for the world of Abraham, David, Jesus and Paul. 320pp

$18.00 Cloth $10.00 Paper (Hendrickson Publishers)

THE NEW TESTAMENT, AN ORTHODOX PERSPECTIVE VOLUME ONE: SCRIPTURE, TRADITION, HERMENEUTICS, by Theodore Stylianopoulos This is an introduction to basic questions of the New Testament. Fr. Stylianopoulos explores the Orthodox understanding of Scripture, its place in the life of the Church, the role of the Fathers in interpretation, and the place of scholarly and academic research. He then proposes three models or levels for scriptural interpretation: the exegetical, the interpretive, and the transformative. Includes bibliography and indices. 296pp

$17.00 Paper (Holy Cross Orthodox Press)

NEW TESTAMENT TIMES, Merrill C. Tenny A short reconstruction of the cultural background in which Christianity arose and developed from the time of the maccabean Revolt to A.D. 138. The book begins with an explanation of the relevance of the historical, political, social, and economic background during the first century which helps furnish a proper understanding of the New Testament. Dr. Tenney takes into account all the possible historical sources - canonical and non-canonical, literary and archaeological. Included are 130 illustrations, 3 original maps, 6 helpful charts, 4 exhaustive indexes and a detailed bibliography. 416pp

$20.00 Hardcover (Hendrickson Publishers)

OLD TESTAMENT TIMES, R.K. Harrison A short reconstruction of the cultural background in which Christianity arose and developed from the time of the maccabean Revolt to A.D. 138. The book begins with an explanation of the relevance of the historical, political, social, and economic background during the first century which helps furnish a proper understanding of the New Testament. Dr. Tenney takes into account all the possible historical sources - canonical and non-canonical, literary and archaeological. Included are 130 illustrations, 3 original maps, 6 helpful charts, 4 exhaustive indexes and a detailed bibliography. 416pp

$20.00 Hardcover (Hendrickson Publishers) 

PAUL: A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION, E.P. Sanders Sanders, an influential Pauline scholarscholar, analyzes the fundamental beliefs and vigorous contradictions in Paul's thought, discovering a philosophy that is less of a monolithic system than the apostle's convictions would seem to suggest. Numerous black and white illustrations. 144pp

$9.00 Paper (Oxford University Press)

THE TOSEFTA: TRANSLATED FROM THE HEBREW, WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION, Jacob Neusner The only English language translation of the Tosefta ("supplement"), which contains explanations and discussion not included in the Mishnah, is organized according to the same six divisions. Materials in the Tosefta are attributed to rabbinic authorities in the first and second centuries C.E., the same ones cited in the Mishnah, and as such the Tosefta is crucial to the study of formative rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity. 2048pp

$120.00 Hardcover (Hendrickson Publishers)

WHERE DID CHRISTIANITY COME FROM?, Justin Taylor, S.M. Where Does Christianity Come From? restates the central argument of Taylor's earlier work The Origins of Christianity: An Exploration; reorganizes it, adds new material (including an Appendix), and presents it here in a teachable text for classroom use. Where Does Christianity Come From? surveys the first 150 years of Christianity. It looks for the environment in which Christianity began and traces the process by which Christianity emerged form it. The search follows clues given by familiar rites and institutions, especially by the central Christian sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist. The formation of Christianity involved both continuity and discontinuity with the original environment, symbolized by the death and resurrection of Jesus. This approach conveys new insights into the study of Christian origins. 208pp

$20.00 Paper (The Liturgical Press)