Books in the Anchor Bible Commentary (YUP) series

Exploring explications of "Ephesians", this book concludes that it was intended for Gentile Christians converted after Paul's visits to Ephesus. It reexamines the relationship between Israel and the church, discounting the thesis that "Ephesians" suggests an "early Catholic," or high-ecclesiastic or sacramental doctrine.

"Haggai and Zechariah 1-8, Volume 25B" in the acclaimed "Anchor Bible" part of the Scripture known as the Minor Prophets, were written during a critical period in Israel's history, the momentous return of the Jews from Babylonian exile. This book considers the "Book of Haggai" and the "Book of Zechariah" in a linguistic, and social context.

One of early Christianity's crafted sermons, "Epistle to the Hebrews" addresses listeners who have experienced the elation of conversion and the heat of hostility, but who now must confront the formidable task of remaining faithful in a society that rejects their commitments. This book examines the debates surrounding "Epistle to the Hebrews".

In AD 49, Paul traveled to Thessalonica, to preach the gospel. A small group of manual laborers responded positively to his message, resulting in the formation of a church. This work describes the social, cultural, religious, and philosophical contexts in which the Thessalonians lived, enabling us to understand Paul's missives.

Offers a discussion of the first-century context of Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. This volume helps the general audience understand what "II Corinthians" says and means.

Covering the "Gospel According to Luke", the author brings to the task his mastery of ancient and modern languages, his encyclopedic knowledge of the sources, and his intimate acquaintance with the questions and issues raised by the third "Synoptic Gospel". It helps Christians hear the Good News afresh and understand it.

Were Jonah's experiences true to the history of ancient Israel? Were they meant to be read comically, philosophically, allegorically, symbolically, or realistically? And is God godly when acting beyond the comprehension of prophets, let alone ordinary human beings? This volume considers these and many more other issues.

Includes an introduction; translation; notes; and illustrations of the book "Hosea".

Written as resistance literature, to strengthen and console loyal Jews of the second century BC who had to endure religious, economic, and social oppression at the hands of Antiochus I. This book includes the famous incident of 'the handwriting on the wall' and recounts the four vivid dream-visions or apocalypses which, through symbols and signs.

Presents a commentary on the Scripture attributed to the third major Old Testament prophet, Moshe Greenberg. This book uses prose to explain Ezekiel's ecstatic, erratic, almost incomprehensible otherworldly visions and prophecies.

From his boyhood call to prophecy in 627 bce, which Jeremiah tried to refuse, to his scathing judgments against the sins and hypocrisy of the people of Israel, Jeremiah charged through life with passion and emotion. This book investigates the opening twenty chapters of this Old Testament giant.

Offers descriptions of the people, places, customs, and noteworthy features of the language of "I Samuel".

"Esther", the biblical book named after the beautiful Jewish woman chosen by the Persian King Xerxes to be queen, is a story of love, political intrigue, and religious faithfulness. This volume offers a treatment of scholarly issues and provides an explanation of the popular Jewish festival of Purim.

"Lamentations" is traditionally thought to have been written by the prophet Jeremiah. This volume gives evidence against Jeremiah's authorship and suggests that the poems should be treated as an intelligible unity, most likely written by an eyewitness to the events described.

"Exodus" is the heart of the Hebrew Bible, the defining moment in Israel's birth as a people, the dramatic triumph of their God. This volume offers an exploration and analysis of the book's first eighteen chapters.

"The Letter to Titus", one of the three "Pastoral Epistles" of the New Testament, has become the ground of intense controversy - theologically, sociologically, even politically. This volume guides readers through the shoals of contemporary controversy among scholars, dealing definitively with issues of authorship, and the purpose of the Pastorals.

A study of Proverbs that includes a survey of the collections of ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature. It covers such themes as the origins of personified wisdom, what wisdom is, and where wisdom can be heard.

Re-creates the turbulent age of the birth of Christianity and examines the myriad "outside" influences - from cold, rational Hellenistic philosophy to exclusive, ethereal Gnostic thought - that often threatened the evolution of Christian theology.

Ezekiel's prophecies and visions transport us to almost indescribable realms, completely uncharted territory this side of heaven. This book exhibits the characteristic care and special sensitivity of a world-renowned scholar.

Presents a commentary on the biblical book of Psalms. This book offers translation of the most beloved collection of poetry in Judeo-Christian sacred Scriptures. It interprets Hebrew poetry in light of rich linguistic and cultural evidence.

An acknowledged expert on the Hebrew Bible, Thomas Dozeman offers a fresh translation of the Hebrew and Greek texts of the book of Joshua and explores the nature, function, and causes of the religious violence depicted therein. By blending the distinct teachings of Deuteronomy and the Priestly literature, Dozeman provides a unique interpretation of holy war as a form of sacred genocide, arguing that, since peace in the promised land required the elimination of the populations of all existent royal cities, a general purging of the land accompanied the progress of the ark of the covenant. This essential work of religious scholarship demonstrates how the theme of total genocide is reinterpreted as partial conquest when redactors place Joshua, an independent book, between Deuteronomy and Judges. The author traces the evolution of this reinterpretation of the central themes of religious violence while providing a comparison of the two textual versions of Joshua and an insightful analysis of the book's reception history.

Offers an introduction to the background, text, and context of the book of "Acts", as well as chapter-by-chapter notes and comments in which are provided insights and answers to questions that have long plagued preachers and parishioners, teachers and students.

Distilled over centuries, the biblical book of "Ecclesiastes" offers us the time-tested advice of Israel's sages. This book offers an interpretation of this collection of ancient wisdom.

Reinvigorates the basic laws of society with their life-giving power: the Shema and the Great Commandment.

This volume completes Bible scholar Michael V. Foxs comprehensive commentary on the book of Proverbs. As in his previous volume on the early chapters of Proverbs, the author here translates and explains in accessible language the meaning and literary qualities of the sayings and poems that comprise the final chapters. He gives special attention to comparable sayings in other wisdom books, particularly from Egypt, and makes extensive use of medieval Hebrew commentaries, which have received scant attention in previous Proverb commentaries. In separate sections set in smaller type, the author addresses technical issues of text and language for interested scholars.The authors essays at the end of the commentary view the book of Proverbs in its entirety and investigate its ideas of wisdom, ethics, revelation, and knowledge. Out of Proverbs great variety of sayings from different times, Fox shows, there emerges a unified vision of life, its obligations, and its potentials.

Although it appears second in the "New Testament", "Mark" is generally recognized as the first Gospel to be written. This work points out, the "Gospel of Mark" can be understood only against the backdrop of the apocalyptic atmosphere of the Jewish rebellions of 66-73 ce, during which the Roman army destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem (70 ce).

Featuring a translation of the "First Corinthians", this work explains the religious meaning of this Pauline epistle. It discusses many of the usual introductory problems associated with the epistle, including issues of its authorship, time of composition, and purpose.