Books published by Inter-Varsity Press

The book of Joshua presents a number of interpretative problems.On the basis of literary studies and archaeology, some have claimed that the book is a product of a much later age than the one it portrays and does not reflect actual events. Another important issue is how it should be read as Christian Scripture, given that it describes at least a partial annihilation of indigenous people groups. Related to this today is the ongoing struggle over essentially the same piece of land that is described in Joshua.To address these and other issues, Pekka Pitkanen reads Joshua in its Ancient Near Eastern context. He makes extensive comparisons with relevant contemporary literature and includes an archaeological survey of all places mentioned in the Masoretic text. He argues that Joshua helps conclude the pentateuchal tradition and is best understood as a conquest document originating from the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age that helps define Israelite identity in Yahwistic terms and promulgates Yahwism in Israel as the exclusive religious ideology. In application, he engages with genocide studies and reflects on theodicy and the use and abuse of power.

From cover to cover, key themes can be traced through the stories and teaching of Scripture. Creation, sin, salvation, sanctification and community - these are the themes that make up the essentials of our faith. As we understand the place of these doctrines in Scripture, we will better understand God's good news for our lives and his church today.

Beginning with the basics, Stanley Grenz leads his readers into a theological engagement with moral inquiry. In a concise yet reliable fashion, 'The Moral Quest' sets forth the basics of ethics, considers the role and methods of Christian ethics in particular, and examines the implicit and explicit ethical approaches of the Old Testament, the Gospels and Paul.Grenz goes on to introduce the foundational theological ethics of Augustine, Aquinas, and Luther and the Reformers, then continues with an evenhanded discussion of modern and contemporary Christian ethicists, including Albrecht Ritschl, Karl Barth, Paul Ramsey, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King Jr., Gustavo Guti rrez, Rosemary Radford Ruether, Stanley Hauerwas, Carl F. H. Henry and Oliver O Donovan.The book concludes with Grenz's own constructive proposal of comprehensive love, rooted in the life of the Trinity and worked out in Christian community.Clearly written and well apprised of relevant literature, 'The Moral Quest' is a first-rate introduction to Christian ethics. It will serve students, pastors and interested laypersons alike.

Let's be honest: there are gaps everywhere in life - the gap between who we are and who we would like to be; the gap between the Christianity we profess and the Christianity we practise; the gap between us and those we love; the gap between the world as it is and the world as it should be. We feel disconnected from God, from one another and from ourselves.How do we close those gaps? How is God working to make us whole?This book brings the gospel to bear on the gaps in our lives.Drawing on a highly unusual lifetime's experience living out the Christian faith in more than twenty countries, Graham Hooper shows how we can be made whole in the struggles and joys of everyday life - work and relationships, success and failure, service and weakness.

Martin Selman's work on the Book of 1 Chronicles is a contribution to The Tyndale Old Testament Commentary Series, a series that offers thorough, up-to-date, passage-by-passage commentary on the books of the Old Testament.

These commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. The Introduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting and purpose. Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties. In the new New Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three headings: Context, Comment and Theology. The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.2 CORINTHIANSPaul's long, complicated history with the Corinthian church culminates in this ardent defence of Christian ministry in general and of his own ministry in particular. Colin G. Kruse provides an insightful analysis that illuminates Paul's contrast of the old and new covenants and his eloquent exposition of the ministry of reconciliation. He also charts a clear, plausible course through the maze of the literary history of Paul's correspondence with the Corinthian Christians.

These commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. The Introduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting and purpose. Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties. In the new New Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three headings: Context, Comment and Theology. The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.JAMESThe letter of James has often been defined in terms of moral earnestness, repentance and consistent social action, leading many to argue that it is not theological. This separation between theology and practice, Douglas J. Moo observes, can all too easily lead people to read Scripture as a book to be analysed rather than a message to be obeyed - the very mindset against which James inveighs. Moo's exposition of these themes illuminates James's rich letter and its message for us today.

Is the Bible's teaching on sexuality plausible today? Can you be Christian and gay? Discover how life in Christ is the best life for everyone, whoever you are attracted to

God often seems most distant when we are going through our hardest times. And yet many people have found that it is exactly at the moments of their greatest struggle that they have met God most closely. Through vivid retellings of the stories of eight biblical characters who met God at points of extremity in their lives, Ian Coffey offers us inspirational ways of making the struggles we face an opportunity for growth. By sharing both modern examples of people who have faced the same sorts of struggles, and events in his own life, he gives us practical help and hope in our hardest moments. Esther & courageJeremiah & inadequacyJohn & doubtPaul & fearPeter & imprisonmentRuth & lossElijah & despairMark & failureFull of rich reflection and thought-provoking questions, it will help us to discover the God who walks with his people through their darkest moments.

Anyone who has been through Sunday school can tell you that Jesus walked on water, fed the 5,000 and told a parable about a sower. Is there really much more to it than that? Aren't the Gospels supposed to be the ""easy"" bits of the Bible?Using Mark as a worked example, Andrew and Tim follow 'the most important things that have ever happened in the history of the world'. They help us see ""a diagnosis of the human condition more perceptive than that offered by any physician, politician, philosopher or psychiatrist"". They point to a solution that touches in the same moment both the horrors of hell and the glory of heaven. We come face to face with the Jesus of the Bible and see how to follow him in a way that utterly transforms our lives.The conviction of the Dig Deeper books is that God wants us to work hard at reading the Bible in order to discover its true meaning, hence the use of 'tools' to dig and dig again. It's an interactive and enjoyable process. Indeed, the authors want to make finding Bible treasure a real possibility for everyone. And to do so with receptive hearts, listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying.'What a splendid book! A great resource for Bible study leaders and preachers.' - Peter Adam'This book is a gold mine, not just because of the many rich ideas it contains, but especially because it enables us to discover the treasures of the Gospels... The resulting engagement with the gospel - with Jesus himself - is compelling and life-changing.' - Jonathan Lamb

How can we maintain an intimate relationship with God in a busy world? How do we read the Bible to feed our souls, rather than ""professionally"", looking for the next talk we have to deliver? How do we care for ourselves and avoid either burn-out or rust-out?Paul Mallard has written Staying Fresh for everyone involved in ministry, at whatever level that may be. While he acknowledges the importance of conviction and competence, his primary emphasis here is on character. He is passionate about the importance of integrity, of persevering in prayer and discipleship, of never giving up in our battle with sin and our service for Christ.""But even if you are not a leader and never aspire to be one,' he says, 'I hope that what you learn here will help you to maintain the freshness of young love.""

Just as the Old Testament book of Genesis begins with creation, where humans live in the presence of their Lord, so the New Testament book of Revelation ends with an even more glorious new creation where all of the redeemed dwell with the Lord and his Christ. The historical development between the beginning and the end is crucial, for the journey from Eden to the new Jerusalem proceeds through the land promised to Abraham. The Promised Land is the place where God's people will once again live under his lordship and experience his blessed presence. In this stimulating study, Oren Martin demonstrates how, within the redemptive-historical framework of God's unfolding plan, the land promise advances the place of the kingdom that was lost in Eden and serves as a type throughout Israel's history that anticipates the even greater land, prepared for all of God's people, that will result from the person and work of Christ - and that will be enjoyed in the new creation for eternity.

'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.' 'Thy word is a lamp to my feet.' 'Search me, O God, and know my heart!'Such phrases leap to mind each time a Christian lifts his heart to God. For many, in fact, the Psalms are the richest part of the Old Testament. Derek Kidner provides a fresh and penetrating guide to Psalms 1 - 72. He analyses each psalm in depth, comments on interpretative questions and brings out the universal relevance of the texts. He also gives special help on the psalmists' cries for vengeance. Together with its companion volume (Psalms 73 - 150), both of which were formerly part of the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series, this introduction and commentary will inspire and deepen personal worship.

This book explores the biblical conception of mystery as an initial, partially hidden revelation that is subsequently more fully revealed, shedding light not only on the richness of the concept itself, but also on the broader relationship between the Old and New Testaments. As such, it is a model for attentive and faithful biblical theology.

In this magisterial synthesis, Paul A. Rainbow presents the most complete account of the theology of the Johannine corpus available today. Both critical and comprehensive, this volume includes all the books of the New Testament ascribed to John: the Gospel, the three Epistles and the book of Revelation.While not proclaiming a definitive position on the question of authorship, this work seeks to shed light on the theology common to all the New Testament authors. John's root beliefs concerning God, humanity, sin, the world, and the significance of the Christ-event on eschatology unite the examined books with the rest of the New Testament canon. The Johannine corpus also highlights the important areas of Christology, soteriology and ecclesiology in a manner that is worth exploration.Organizing John's ideas by the main characters around whom they revolve, the Johannine universe consists of persons divine and human, and their relationships with each other. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, faithful believers and the rest of the world are the main cast of characters that make up the rich set of writings considered in this exhaustive analysis.

The book of Psalms is the heart of the Old Testament, the libretto of the most vibrant worship imaginable. It informs our intellect, stimulates our imagination, arouses our emotions and stirs us to holy thoughts and actions. It is also a pivotal witness to, and anticipation of, Jesus Christ. Tremper Longman's commentary interprets each psalm in its Old Testament setting, summarizes its message and reflects on its significance from a New Testament perspective, noting any citation and also providing a Christological reading.

We all love stories.In a world where people are often hostile to the good news, telling stories is an ideal way to communicate the gospel warmly and winningly. Those who would never listen to a sermon or a gospel presentation are often enthralled by the same message told as a story.Of course, that's just what Jesus did in his parables. Our Bibles are filled with stories that communicate deep truths in a moving and powerful way. But how can we, too, use the power of stories to get gospel truths across in fresh ways, and to teach biblical truth in memorable and life-changing ways?Martin Goldsmith discovered early in his career as a missionary that stories were the most effective way of sharing the gospel - especially in places where evangelism was illegal. But, since then, he's discovered that they are also often the best way of sharing it with our neighbours in the West, who are suspicious of religious truth and hate being preached at.Full of colourful stories from a lifetime of sharing the gospel, this book shows us how to do the same. The author demonstrates how the Bible teaches its theology through story, and how other faiths are shaped by their storytelling - giving us a deeper understanding of how we can reach others and teach real and significant truths in an enthralling way.If we want to win hearers for the gospel in today's world, it is vital to become compelling and persuasive tellers of the gospel story once again.

When Jesus walked with his confused disciples on the Emmaus road, he began with Moses and all the Prophets and explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself - and their hearts burned within them (Luke 24).Contemporary people, too, can find their hearts burning as they hear God speak through the Old Testament texts. However, preaching from this part of the Christian Bible brings significant challenges and raises a number of issues, and hence can be neglected.This stimulating volume offers guidance for expository preaching from the Old Testament, and practical suggestions for how to understand the message of its diverse literature and to apply it today. The chapters cover narrative, plot and characters, along with the main Old Testament genres and two special topics: preaching from 'difficult' texts, and preaching Christ.The aim is to encourage use of all the Bible's rich resources, in the power of the Holy Spirit, in preaching the good news of the kingdom of God worldwide.The contributors are internationally respected evangelical Old Testament scholars, from a wide range of church traditions, who are also active in preaching: Daniel I. Block, David G. Firth, Grenville J. R. Kent, Paul J. Kissling, Alison Lo, Tremper Longman III, Ernest C. Lucas, R. W. L. Moberly, Laurence A. Turner, Federico G. Villanueva, Gordon Wenham, H. G. M. Williamson and Christopher J. H. Wright.

A careful study of righteousness and justification in Paul - examining the theological issues at stake in the New Perspective.

Basic Christianity.