Study Bibles for Expositors--The NIV Archaeological Study Bible--Zondervan

-
The fourth study Bible that I would like to recommend to those who are endeavoring to develop into being an expositor is one that is very useful in looking at a text in a bit of a different light.  The NIV Archaeological Study Bible published by Zondervan is another excellent tool for those who would be critical of the biblical text.  A preacher will preach to a wide variety of people that visit the church where he will pastor.  For the most part the vast majority of apostolic churches have people who attend that believe the Scriptures to be authentic, inspired, inerrant, and authoritative.  But we have unbelievers who attend that do not have the same shared confidence in Scripture that we might not have and we have college students who attend schools where professors and other students can be militantly hostile against the Word of God.  This Bible is very helpful in combatting some of that rhetoric. 


The NIV Archaeological Study Bible was primarily put together by the staff at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary who worked diligently to take biblical events, people, and historical settings and connected them with biblical archaeological.  This study Bible comes in the New International Version from the 1984 edition that did not have many of the changes that occurred in 2002 that changed many of the gender-based into a neutral idea.  The study note contributors set forth some reasons why they focused on historical, literary, and cultural content of their work:

·      Context is crucial to interpretation.
·      The biblical world is complex and spans a great deal of history.
·      A study of the context is an encouragement to faith.
·      Awareness of the context of the Bible is an antidote to the dangerous dismissal of history that we see too often in both the church and the academy. 
·      Awareness of the world instills within us a deeper appreciation for the writers of Scripture and a deeper love for the Bible itself.

The NIV Archaeological Study Bible has some of the following features:

·      More than 500 various articles that deals with the geography and history of the Bible that falls into several categories:  Cities; cultural and historical Notes; ancient people, lands and the rulers; the reliability of the Bible; and ancient texts and artifacts.  
·      Helpful study notes at the bottom of the page that are very well cross-referenced to other areas of study in the Bible.
·      Book introductions (although they are not nearly of the same depth that the ESV Study Bible, MacArthur Study Bible and the Zondervan NIV Study Bible [2015] are.)
·      Very good indexes to the study articles and photos. 
·      An excellent subject index to the articles throughout the Bible.  (One of particular interest under the subject heading about Baal is “Tattoos and Self-Laceration in Ancient Religion.) 
·      It has a collection of the usual Bible maps that are in most Bibles. 

Obviously this Bible is one that will be to a person who has a little more time to dig out the material that he will be preaching.  However to the man who is very thorough about his work, he will find numerous articles that will combat some of the modern critics of the Bible who claim that some of its characters, battles, and even miraculous events did not take place.  Overall I would commend this study Bible to you but lower down on the priority list. 

Thanks for reading. . .

Philip Harrelson     


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Characters from Pilgrim's Progress -- Evangelist

-
Image
Returning to John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress , I want to look at another one of his characters.  This book over the years has been one I return to regularly and read various scenes from because even though it was written in 1678 still has a profound grip on presenting human behavior in an incredible way.  It was recommended to me by Brother Harrell in Bridge City a number of years ago.  It is rare to dig into this allegory about a man on a path toward the Celestial City and not come away with some spiritual benefit. The next character to assess is a man named Evangelist.  This character shows us the impact that a godly pastor/preacher/teacher can have on one traveling the Christian path.  It is compelling how that Bunyan begins the book by telling us that it is a story of a man who is walking through the wilderness of this world.  If ever there were a phrase that could sum up what we are doing as we walk out the Christian life, it would certainly have to be admitted that we are
Read more

OSTINATO RIGORE

-
Image
Leonardo da Vinci was a man who marked the world far beyond his lifetime.  He made some valuable contributions to the hometown he grew up in.  But it was his drawings that would outlive him.  The principle behind electric doors that are present at department stores was one of his ideas.  The principle behind the lamps and bulbs that have the ability to operate with varying degrees of power was another of his ideas.  I am certain that most people are familiar with his drawings of what he called “flying machines.”  These drawings would be proven true later on as the field of physics and the study of aerodynamics developed.  While some would categorize da Vinci as a genius, from various biographies it is clear that da Vinci had a gifted mind but it was not what many would classify today as an exceptional one.  So what was it that separated da Vinci from the rest of his fellows both in his time capsule and those beyond it?  It was a principle that is noted very early on in the journ
Read more

North Dakota District UPCI--Day 5--Bible Study Notes--Philip Harrelson

-
The following notes are the actual notes that I used in the July 14, 2023 session.  As you can see there is a lot more content than what was covered in the session.   The Saint Builds, Prays & Remains—vv. 20-21   A true saint will be one who builds his life on the Word of God (v. 20a). A true saint will pray in the Spirit (v. 20b). A true saint will remain in the love of God (v. 21).   Jude affirms that the Holy Ghost helps us to pray.  While we are praying, there is a steady flow of the grace of God given to those who would pray.  Zechariah 12:10 is notable for its promise that a spirit of grace and supplication will come to those who are given to prayer.  A regenerate man should be drawn very easily into the presence of the Lord during his times of prayer.  The priests were to wash in the laver before they went to the altar of incense in the Tabernacle, therefore a New Testament believer needs to come to the laver of regeneration by the work of the renewal of the Holy Ghost (Titu
Read more