Biblical Genres

The city of the Jebusites is thought to be impossible to capture. But for David and his fledgling kingdom, there is no choice. It must be captured. Meanwhile, the Philistines are still as powerful as ever, and their threat is always looming. For generations they have tormented the people of Israel, and David believes the time has come to end their threat—forever. As a once-in-a-lifetime storm batters the hills and valleys of Israel, David and his Mighty Men face their greatest test.

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be one of the 5,000 when Jesus multiplied the fish and the loaves? Or one of his disciples when he walked on water? Or to have seen Lazarus come out of the tomb? Ever wonder what Mary thought when Gabriel told her she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit, or what the fallout was like in her personal life? Ever considered how those two disciples felt on the road to Emmaus, when they found that the man with whom they had been talking was in fact their risen Lord?

God is a covenant making, covenant keeping God. From the dawn of prehistory, God’s dealings with mankind can be understood through the lens of covenant: A binding agreement of unending loyalty and faithfulness. His early covenants with mankind were one-sided, requiring very little from men in return. All of that changed with the birth of the nation of Israel, and her deliverance from slavery in Egypt through Moses. The Mosaic covenant, also known throughout the Bible as “the law”, encompassed the rest of the Old Testament books through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

One of the most common arguments against Christianity is that the God of the Old Testament seemed so drastically different than the God of the New Testament. In the Old, many claim He seemed cruel and capricious, while in the New, He suddenly became a God of love and tolerance. Yet Jesus said, “If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father”, and the writer of Hebrews tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever”. If God hasn’t changed, how do we explain the apparent difference? The answer lies in a long-forgotten word: covenant.

How a better understanding of genre leads to a better understanding of the biblical text. The Bible, with its gloriously rich diversity of ancient genres, demands a flexible and historically aware approach to genre. Different conceptions of narrative, poetry, gospel, epistle, wisdom, and...

The Bible offers some clues to God's personality - he's alternately been called vindictive and just, bloodthirsty and caring, all-powerful and impotent, capricious and foresighted, and loving and hateful. But no one has ever fully explored why God might be such a figure of contrasts. Nor has anyone ever satisfactorily explained what guides his relationship not just with angels, the devil, and his son, but also with all of creation.

Transported two thousand years into the past, readers are introduced to Antipas, a Roman civic leader who has encountered the writings of the biblical author Luke. Luke's writings spark Antipas's interest, and a correspondence transpires between them. As the two delve deeply into each other's lives, Antipas begins to see things in fresh ways, causing him to rethink the values upon which his life had been founded.

What if you could climb into Mesu Andrews' mind while she plotted a biblical novel? Have you ever wished you knew more about a character's motivation? Or more personal history that led to the characters' emotional reactions? Prophets & Kings answer those questions. His Unfathomable Plan attests to God's absolute goodness and sovereignty over even the most painful events of our lives. Before Aya becomes Isaiah's prophetess wife, she cares for a little girl who young Prince Ahaz later agrees to marry.

In an effort to complete a war his father had planned to win, King Xerxes calls every governor, satrap, and official in his vast kingdom to his palace in Susa to strategize and feast. But when he discovers Esther, Xerxes is sure he has a second chance at happiness. In her wildest dreams, Esther could never have imagined that she would end up as queen of Persia. Yet she knows better than to become complacent. Another of Xerxes's wives is vying for position, and his closest advisor has a deep and dangerous grudge against Esther's adoptive father.

Kahlil Gibran was a profound Lebanese-American poet, philosopher, and artist whose work transcended cultural boundaries and touched the hearts and minds of millions worldwide. Born on January 6, 1883, in the mountain village of Bsharri, in what was then part of the Ottoman Empire (now Lebanon), he rose to become one of the most influential literary figures of the 20th century. His profound prose had impacted the lives of countless people, and his works have never been out of print.

The story revealed in this book was transmitted directly to the author by Mary Magdalene's previously unknown daughter, Sarah, who shares the Pleiadian perspective of the true mission of her family—Jesus of Nazareth, his mother, Mary, his wife, Mary Magdalene, and his two children, Sarah and Timaeus. Sarah gives us an inside look at their familys trials and true purpose in coming to Earth from the Stars to help humanity evolve and grow through living in the true Pleiadian Way of Love.

It's the year 641 since the beginning of everything, and when Eve passes away, she leaves Adam, the only man on earth who remembers everything since they walked in Eden. When Enoch, God's newly appointed prophet, decides to collect the stories of the faithful from previous generations, he finds Adam in desperate need to confess the dark secrets he's held onto for too long.

The throne of Israel is in peril. A band of outlaws have pledged their allegiance to King Saul's son-in-law, David. Living in caves and deserts, the men of David try to keep hidden from the ever-vengeful wrath of their king. Meanwhile, in the small village of Kabzeel, Benaiah the priest lives peacefully with his wife and child. Against his wishes, providence continues to place Benaiah in the middle of Saul and David's battle. Rumors begin to spread that David has been chosen by God. Benaiah is told that he must pick a side. But whose side will he choose?

The authors of the New Testament regularly quote and allude to Old Testament passages that point to the presence, person, and work of Jesus. Jesus himself claimed that Moses wrote about him (John 5:46). And on the road to Emmaus, Jesus instructed the disciples from "Moses and all the prophets"...

Based on the book of Acts this is the story of the Apostle Paul's third journey. Told through the eyes of Paul's companion Timothy this is the tale of the journey to Ephesus and Paul's time in the city. Unlike his earlier journeys the third journey is spent mostly in one city where Paul not only raises up a church but trains young men to take on the mission of raising up the next generation of churches after his death. This is also the story of the church in Corinth and Paul's letters to that riotous, chaotic gathering.

A typical day at the rehabilitation center turns into a nightmare for Emma Grady when her favorite physical-therapy patient vanishes in front of her, along with several colleagues. Fear turns to chaos as Emma begins the frantic race from Brooklyn to Queens, anxious to discover if her boyfriend is safe. Subways are closed, graves are open, and countless people have inexplicably disappeared. Mayhem erupts as terror grips the residents of New York City. This unique book takes listeners on a riveting journey from New York City to Israel, and, in the final chapters, into the Bible.

A Christmas tree, stripped of its seasonal ornaments and discarded in the woods, struggles with the brief time he adorned a family's home at Christmas. Listening to the whispers of older wiser trees, he learns a profound truth about the brevity and beauty of life and offers that lesson to us. In the second story, the author discovers giving as the heart of Christmas through the unselfish spirit of his father. In the final story, the Bethlehem innkeeper learns that Jesus isn't looking for perfect places or people in which to enter this world. All He needs is a place to be born.

In order to understand, appreciate, and faithfully preach the word of God, pastors must discern the literary nature of the Bible. Instead of just acknowledging the various genres of Scripture, pastors and teachers should allow these genres to influence how the text is approached and communicated. In The Beauty and Power of Biblical Exposition, they will learn how to both read and preach the Bible as a literary anthology.

The Biblical Commentary Through Dialogue series examines the Judeo-Christian origin stories through the eyes of a critic and an apologetic alike. Eavesdrop on a debate between a Christian elder and young agnostic as they pore over select books of the Holy Bible, finding common ground to derive lessons from the ancient tales. Grab yourself a bowl of popcorn as these two generations duke it out in a serious philosophical approach to Scripture with a humorous twist.

Join Jesus and the lads as they travel towards the Jordan river valley. Spending the day in friendly rivalry. Not every day was full of sadness and trials. Even grown men let the boy shine through sometimes. If you need some cheering up, this story is for you.