Nijay K. Gupta

Perhaps

Christian Living

“Faith is not knowing all truth. And faith is not making it up as you go along either. McNall presents faith as an expedition into the unknown led by a known God. This is a hope-filling book that intentionally does not give you all the answers. Pilgrims: take this book with you on your journey.”

Power in Weakness

Church Leadership & Ministry

“Most of the books I have read on pastoral leadership suffer from a fatal flaw. They try to ‘use’ Scripture to help pastors ‘succeed.’ But success is often connected to church size, money, power, and popularity. These kinds of books are misguided because they try to squeeze biblical material to fit into a worldly mold. Gombis subverts that approach by demonstrating the cruciform spirit of Paul's ministry. Power in Weakness blends biblical insight with numerous case studies in real-life ministry today. This is not only one of the best ministry books I have read but an incisive study of Paul's theology as well.”

Practicing Lament

Prayer & Spiritual Formation

“Rebekah Eklund has made a powerful case for recovering the worship practice of lament. ‘Easter’ faith does not cancel out sorrow. And lament is not about giving up on God. It is a cry of anguish reaching out to a personal and trustworthy God. If you are looking to deepen your faith and to walk more fully in the ways of Jesus, Eklund is the perfect guide.”

Preaching Ephesians

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Cohick, who has already published significant scholarship on Ephesians including an excellent technical commentary, lends her wisdom to preachers who aim to present this Pauline text as a compelling word for the people of God today. Her exegesis is trustworthy, her exposition is clarifying, and her homiletical counsel is practical and insightful.”

Reading While Black

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“When I was a student, I was explicitly and implicitly trained to focus exclusively on the ancient context of Scripture and read 'objectively.' Bible study could easily become a disembodied experience. McCaulley makes a compelling case, in this engagement with African American biblical interpretation, that not only is the reader's culture and experience not a hindrance to interpretation per se but can enrich it greatly. Reading While Black is a unique and successful blend of biblical hermeneutics, autobiography, black history and spirituality, incisive cultural commentary on race matters in America, and insightful exegesis of select New Testament texts.”

Rediscovering Jesus

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Rediscovering Jesus is like an expert journalist or photographer examining the subject—in this case, Jesus—from all sides and angles. Not only do you get perspectives from the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament, but also impressions from Muslims, Mormons, movies and more besides. Few textbooks do as good of a job as this one in helping students engage with Jesus' question 'Who do you say that I am?'”

Rediscovering Scripture's Vision for Women

Women

“Debates about women, marriage, the Bible, and theology are explosive with heat, while often generating too little light. Peppiatt brings to the discussion wide-ranging knowledge, a keen exegetical eye, winsome and witty explanation, and new insights.”

Resurrecting Justice

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“What is Romans about? We know the traditional answers: justification by faith, forgiveness of sins, personal salvation. Harink doesn't throw these out the window but puts the spotlight on the thematic thread of justice that runs all through Romans. I admit that I had my initial hesitations and doubts about reading Romans as a treatise on justice, but by the end I was a believer! Harink joins together what has often been torn asunder today—the relationships between personal and corporate, individual and communal, and personal justification and social justice in Christian thought and theology—with the resurrection of Christ at the center of it all.”

Romans

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“In the crowded landscape of literally hundreds of Romans commentaries, Eastman’s work is a standout. Drawing from a distinguished career of Pauline scholarship, she deftly exposits Paul’s magisterial text, identifies its theological riches, and offers wise counsel for preaching and teaching Romans as a powerful word of God for the present. For pastors and students who are put off by dull, esoteric, and jargon-laden academic commentaries, this will be a breath of fresh air.”

Savoring Scripture

Bible Studies & Devotionals

“Savoring Scripture takes seriously the psalmists' confession that the Word of God is rich food that delights and satisfies. Abernethy offers a simple and well-rounded approach to Bible study that opens the path to formation and nourishment. Spiritual reflection without deep study is foolish; study without worship is lifeless. This book intertwines both and makes for a perfect recipe.”

Self-Giving Love

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“This theological guidebook to Philippians captures the heart of Paul's message to this beloved church: live in and imitate the love of Jesus. Flemming is a wise, warm, and witty companion on the journey to better understanding this rich letter.”

Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“this” and “that,” it is important to process what the Bible is. Bird offers clarity and insight on big issues of inspiration, canon, and how to read the Bible wisely—all in a short seven chapters. I wish I had this book when I was first learning how to study the Bible.”

The Genuine Jesus and the Counterfeit Christs

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“In The Genuine Jesus and the Counterfeit Christs, Simon Gathercole debunks popular arguments about how various ancient sources rival the validity of the four New Testament Gospels. Gathercole concisely presents evidence that the four Gospels are early in composition, accurate in telling the story of Jesus, and united on the core truths about his life, teaching, and saving death and resurrection. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John deserve to be in a category of their own, and they belong in the New Testament as a fourfold witness to Jesus Christ. This is an excellent book to assign to students or share with fellow church members.”

The Gift of Thorns

Christian Living

“sanctified by Christ. Much like St. Augustine, Swoboda’s theological reflections are his Confessions. Take it up and read with delight.”

The Mary We Forgot

World Religions

“Harlot. Sinner. Mystic. Wife. Mary Magdalene has been called many things throughout history. The fanciful story of prostitute-turned-saint makes for good drama, but what does Scripture really say about this Mary? McNutt rightly dwells on what the Gospels teach: her faith and deep devotion to Jesus. This book not only clarifies the woman we forgot but also helps us see more clearly the Messiah who sent her as first witness of the resurrection. McNutt is a gifted spiritual biographer. This was a delight to read.”

The New Testament around the World

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“None of us reads the Bible neutrally. Whether we recognize it or not, we read and interpret the Bible from our own culture, experiences, and personal perspective. That is a bad thing if we assume we know everything but a good thing if we are willing to read Scripture with others and learn from each other’s vantage points. These global readings are a gift of learning for those who want to better understand culturally diverse interpretations of the New Testament.”

The New Testament in Color

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“In my own theological education, I was pressured to suppress my ethnic perspective and experiences, to conform to some sort of disembodied neutrality. Since then I have come to learn that my background, culture, and reading lens can actually enhance my ability to understand Scripture. I am thrilled to recommend The New Testament in Color because this 'library-in-a-book' reflects the beautiful mosaic of a many-colored hermeneutic. I wish someone had handed this book to me twenty-five years ago, and I hope many will read it now.”

The New Testament in Its World

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Wright has proven himself a discipline-shaping scholar, Bird a master textbook writer. When you put their minds and skills together, you get an excellent introduction to the New Testament: witty, accurate, accessible, eye-catching. This is a must-have resource for students.”

The Pharisees

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Stereotypes of Pharisees as hypocritical and legalistic self-righteous moralists have fueled anti-Semitism and bad readings of the Bible for far too long. . . . Yinger makes an excellent contribution to serve that need, examining the range of ancient texts that talk about Pharisees for the benefit of students, pastors, and general readers of the Bible. This is the first book I would hand someone who was interested in understanding the Pharisees of antiquity.”

The Sexual Reformation

Theology

“Byrd contends that we are in need of a more robust theology of sexuality—what does it mean to be man? Woman? Humans in relationship with one another? So much that is written in this category is combative, overly simplistic, or individualistic. Byrd turns to Scripture, specifically the Song of Songs, to ponder these matters anew. She finds there a love canticle that showcases the beauty of unity, individual uniqueness and gifting, and desire at its best. Throughout, Byrd points to the example of the love of God made flesh in Jesus Christ. This book is a great starting place to move beyond old battles stuck in stalemate or tired of fighting.”