Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary | SHBC (34 vols.)

The Ten Commandments stand at the center of the book of Exodus and provide the key for understanding its purpose. They refer to the story in Exodus chapters 1–19 of God’s identity and what He has done for Israel. The Ten Commandments also refer forward to what God expects of Israel in response, as the second half of Exodus explains in chapters 20–40. This commentary by William Johnstone approaches the literary structure of Exodus and draws out implications for readers.

The Ten Commandments also provide guidance about how to read the book of Exodus. Moses’ recollection of the Ten Commandments that in Deuteronomy chapter five differs in several respects from those in Exodus chapter twenty. The differences between these books concern vital matters like covenant, law, and festivals. Johnstone argues that these differences are not to be glossed over but that their existence provides evidence of a dialogue between two voices running throughout the texts of Exodus and Deuteronomy. Dialogue, he explains, is central to the formation and interpretation of Scripture and is essential to the ways in which humans attempt to speak about God.

This timely commentary on the second half of Exodus is written by William Johnstone. In it, he explains that the Ten Commandments refer forward to what God expects of Israel in response, as the second half of Exodus explains in chapters 20–40. As in his commentary on the first half of Exodus, Johnstone connects the theme of dialogue to the book of Deuteronomy.

The contrast between the assessment of Leviticus and Numbers by the synagogue on the one hand, and by the church on the other, is little short of astonishing. The former has considered it crucial to an understanding of God and of the nature of the chosen people of Israel. The latter has usually reduced it to allegory or as a mere historical record of Israelite religion. In this new volume, Hebrew Bible scholar Lloyd R. Bailey examines these often overlooked or under-appreciated books of Moses in the contexts of both the Jewish and Christian traditions.

Deuteronomy is the fifth and arguably the most influential book of the Pentateuch. This text preserves the three addresses Moses delivered to the people of Israel just prior to his death and their entry into the Promised Land. Its name, which means “second law,” represented a reiteration, explication, and, to a degree, expansion, of the sole covenant between God and Israel. Deuteronomy was a reinterpretation of the law designed to meet the needs of a new generation facing a new future. In this volume of the groundbreaking Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary series, Old Testament scholar Mark Biddle skillfully leads his readers to consider how these words which might confuse a casual reader are useful to help Christians understand and meet the needs of our own generation as well.

Ruth and Esther are the only two women for whom books of the Hebrew Bible are named. This distinction in itself sets the books apart from other biblical texts that bear male names, address the community through its male members, recall the workings of God and human history through a predominately male perspective, and look to the future through male heirs. These books are particular stories of survival. The story of Ruth focuses on the survival of a family, Esther on the survival of a people.

As biblical characters, Ruth and Esther are women of their own times—and prove to be archetypal women for all times. Each conforms to the cultural norms of their story’s setting while pressing against boundaries of domination and privilege that limit female and outsider participation. As female characters, Ruth and Esther stand in a long line of biblical women who emerge as heroes in their stories. Each is a part of ancient Israel’s larger story of what it means to live as people of God.

Like the highly successful initial volume in the Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary Series, Walter Brueggemann’s 1 & 2 Kings, this volume explores the beginnings of kingship in Israel. Tony Cartledge author thoughtfully considers the debt that our religious and literary heritage owes to the books of 1 & 2 Samuel, including the counsel of Samuel, the determination of Saul, and the towering figure of David. The author describes and analyzes the events in these books as central to the preservation of the Hebrew and Christian traditions. Written as a textual commentary, this edition also includes numerous insights and visuals drawn from the worlds of art, archaeology, literature, history, and geography. His valuable treatment of 1 & 2 Samuel challenges readers of the biblical text to approach the books of Samuel with eyes of faith.

In this commentary, Walter Brueggemann considers the artistry of 1 & 2 Kings as it mediates between history and faith. He develops a theme around how the Old Testament provides peculiarly powerful ways of thinking and seeing God’s reality. He also points to issues of power in ancient texts that is still prevalent today.

In this narrative treatment of the text, a special focus is placed upon Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, and Josiah as models of faith. Brueggemann provides a useful guide for the reader to maneuver between flat history and the dynamism of faith.

Like all volumes in the Smyth & Helwys Commentary Series, 1 & 2 Kings provides a wealth of visuals, including photography, classic works of art, and maps. These provide a depth of explanation that support the task of interpretation.

Ezra-Nehemiah describes events that occurred between 539 and 432 BCE, but the books themselves were written between 432 and 200 BCE. Though these books describe early events and perhaps incorporates authentic memoirs of Nehemiah, they also contain redacted lists, narratives, and thinking about that crucial century in the life of post-exilic Judah and its neighbors. In addition, these accounts record both the successes and the excesses of three waves of returnees. The task of rebuilding and dealing with the effects of being exiled are major themes discussed by the commentator. For a modern audience, examining these difficulties and relating them to modern struggles is an essential part of the Christian faith. This volume is filled with relatable observations and a helpful interpretation of Jewish history.

The book of Job is considered by many to be the crown jewel of biblical literature. It centers on the central theme of Job’s struggle. Samuel Balentine presents the book of Job as a truly astonishing declaration about what it means to live in a world where order breaks down and chaos runs amok, where the innocent suffer and the wicked thrive, where cries for help go unanswered. He leads readers on an in-depth and far-reaching look at the nature of the book of Job. Balentine also helpfully examines various attempts by many others who have explored Job’s essential struggle.

Drawing from the most recent scholarly studies in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, this commentary promotes deep theological reflection. In addition to the imaginative artwork used for illustration, readers will find a broad appeal to contemporary literature and authors as touchstones for applied reflection. These books both use universal concepts and images and lack a particularistic appeal to ancient Israel's nationalistic story. These examples of wisdom literature in the Hebrew Bible may be some of the most relevant Biblical writing for our contemporary setting. For this reason readers are invited to recontextualize the wise council of Israel's ancient sages through the perspectives of contemporary literature.

The prophet Isaiah’s influence extended from his long career in Jerusalem in the late eighth century BCE through Judah’s exilic and Second Temple periods. For both Jews and Christians, Isaiah’s words have heavily influenced later theological writings, liturgies, lectionaries, hymns, poetry, and art. Among early Christian writings, Isaiah was seen as evangelist rather than prophet, foretelling Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection—a view that continues to prevail today. This happens despite scholars’ long arguing that Isaiah addressed his own time and not the distant future.

Readers of Tull’s engaging commentary will come to understand Isaiah as visionary spokesperson of ancient Jerusalem’s God. Preachers, teachers, and students will gain fresh connections between their modern setting and this ancient book. They will learn about the paths the book traveled as it grew, absorbed new meanings, and underwent reinterpretation. In this process, the book of Isaiah eventually emerged as Scripture for synagogues and churches.

The book of Jeremiah is arguably the longest and most complex book in the Bible. Jeremiah focuses on divine action and human response. The range and rigor of its rhetoric and the initial promise of the “new covenant” has left its mark on both the Old and New Testaments.

This prophetic book presents many difficult literary, historical, and theological issues. In this volume of the highly successful Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary Series, renowned Old Testament scholar Terence Fretheim expertly leads his readers through the difficulties to present the message of Jeremiah as one of grace and hope for today's world. After a lengthy introduction, Fretheim’s commentary presents the text in sections and focuses on literary and theological issues. His thoughtful reflections are useful for teaching God’s message from the pulpit.

The book of Ezekiel is organized around three major visions. This prophetic book describes God’s action as king of wayward Israel. Through symbolic acts, the prophet Ezekiel is so closely identified with divine judgment that his life becomes a mirror of the judgment itself. His first vision gives him a glimpse of the cosmos under the rule of God and inaugurates him into his role as a prophet. This commentary presents clear descriptions of historical events for modern readers and relates ancient prophecy for contemporary ministry settings.

The book of Daniel showcases the tragic experience and memories of Israel. This collection of stories and visions is useful as a God honoring archetype for people groups weighed down by suffering. Dr. Sharon Pace’s superb analysis and commentary reveal that from the depths of despair comes a faith that refuses to abandon God. Daniel boldly declared, through the eyes of faith, that the suffering of the righteous matters. He knew that God hears the voices of the hurting and that His divine plan is for their ultimate good.

This commentary focuses on the books of Hosea through Jonah, focusing on their contents in light of the Minor Prophets as a whole. Over the last thirty years, biblical scholars have explored the implications of an ancient Jewish and Christian tradition that referred to the Minor Prophets as “the Twelve.” Scholarly work on the Book of the Twelve in the last quarter century has focused on developing models of how these texts came to be recorded on a single scroll and on identifying points of unity within the single collection. Nogalski’s comprehensive and accessible commentary offers an overview of ancient traditions concerning the Book of the Twelve. He also explains this scholarly perspective and presents findings and their implications for modern readers.

This commentary focuses on the books of Micah through Malachi, focusing on their contents in light of the Minor Prophets as a whole. Over the last thirty years, biblical scholars have explored the implications of an ancient Jewish and Christian tradition that referred to the Minor Prophets as “the Twelve.” Nogalski’s comprehensive and accessible commentary offers an overview of ancient traditions concerning the Book of the Twelve. He also explains this scholarly perspective and presents findings and their implications for modern readers.

When the biblical canon was solidified in the fourth century, Matthew was the most popular and widely-used gospel for many reasons. In the Western church, reasons include the special role it assigned to Peter in relationship to the community of Christ. This gospel was also popular because it begins with a genealogy of Jesus. The gospel of Matthew also contains a more detailed resurrection account than is found in the Gospel of Mark.

Ben Witherington III is a renowned author of more than thirty books on the New Testament. In this commentary, he describes the fullness of the Christian life for those who study and obey the teachings of Jesus in the book of Matthew. As with each volume in this series, Witherington’s groundbreaking new commentary connects the insights of biblical scholarship to a practical exploration of the Christian life.

Mark is at the center of a scholarly debate about the nature of the Gospels and their relationship to one another. The history of Markan scholarship offers a privileged overview of basic issues in the study of the Gospels as a whole. Studying the gospel of Mark this way also provides an orientation to introductory questions of authorship, provenance, and purpose. This commentary provides deep discussion of one of the pillars of the Christian faith and tradition. Culpepper highlights Markan themes and makes numerous cross-references between related passages. He leads his readers deep into source material that remains endlessly fascinating, inspiring, and pivotal for our understanding of Jesus.

The Gospel of Luke narrates the life of Jesus. It includes accounts from the nativity, Jesus’ baptism and temptation, His ministry in Galilee, His teaching in Jerusalem, and includes His death and resurrection. In this engaging guide to Luke’s gospel, Richard Vinson accompanies readers on a journey through the life of Christ and utilizes the lenses of critical scholarship and contemporary culture. As a result, Luke’s primary themes are seen more clearly. These include the good news of the Kingdom of God, Jesus’ emphatic teachings on wealth and poverty, repentance and forgiveness, and the role of women in Jesus’ ministry.

The Acts of the Apostles explores the story of the early church, from its inception in Jerusalem to its continued existence in the Roman Empire. The early church firmly believed that it was not a new religion, but the realization and fulfillment of Judaism. However, as the church lived out its mission as the fulfillment of its own religious heritage, it had to learn to reach beyond the comfortable boundaries of its own Jewish traditions. Central to the fulfillment of the hopes of Scripture was the incorporation of all persons, Jews and non-Jews, into the people of God. This commentary explores this important broadening of the mission of God and brings lessons for modern Christians to continue the expansion through obedience.

Romans was written to help reconcile Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome. Paul’s aim was to unify these two sub-groups. In his letter, he presented a theology that placed Jew and Gentile on an equal footing, both in their sin and in their salvation. Modern Christians understand that our own situation corresponds to Paul’s original setting. Although the content of Romans was intended for a particular cultural context, its applicability extends to all times for God’s people. Distinguished biblical scholar Charles Talbert leads readers into the biblical world of Paul’s Letter to the Romans. He seeks to attune his readers’ ears to the important truth of God’s word for today.

The book of First Corinthians offers readers a window to the life of the early church in Corinth. Through Paul’s corrective letter, readers catch a glimpse of a faith community struggling with questions of identity, relationship, belief, and practice. Modern interpreters are presented only the issues that Paul wished to highlight and only in the ways he wished to address them.

First Corinthians holds a position of authority for Christians who believe it presents various norms in matters of identity, relationship, belief, and practice. This commentary proceeds in the conviction that our hearing is enhanced by our seeing. The more clearly teachers, preachers, and their congregations can see through this window into the life of that early faith community, the better we can hear the message of Scripture. To that end, this commentary attempts as clear a picture as possible of that initial church community in Corinth.

Mitzi L. Minor’s commentary on Second Corinthians takes the reader deep into the thought world of Paul and his congregation at Corinth. She explores the social and theological tensions that shape Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian Christians. His letter expresses Paul’s joy that prior severe correspondence had been positively received and problems were identified. Paul addresses issues that were tearing the church apart. False teachers were sowing discord and maligning Paul’s character. Paul found that many Corinthian Christians repented of their rebellion, and he encouraged them even as he sought to assert his role as Apostle.

Minor encourages the reader to imagine the radically new, at the time of Paul’s writing, church in Corinth. This was not a body of like-minded and similarly stationed citizens, but a novel collection of diverse people with disparate interests, struggling together to live as Christians in a world confronted by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s preaching of the gospel centered on making Christians with radically Christ-centered character. The importance and place of the Law of Moses for both Jews and Gentiles in the church was a hotly contested issue in the first century. This commentary explores this important early controversy and draws out points for application.

In his letter to the church in Galatia, Paul urged Gentile converts in churches he had founded to refrain from embracing a version of the gospel that insisted on their taking on a Jewish character in regards to the Law. He saw that this posture reduced the crucified Jesus Christ, who alone is the heart of the gospel, to being a mere agent of the Law. Paul wrote that the gospel of Jesus Christ and him crucified excludes the claim that Law-observance was somehow necessary for believers in Christ to experience the power of God’s grace.

Thomas B. Slater’s commentary on Ephesians transports the modern reader into the world of the early church. Slater asserts that Ephesians was written to persuade its original audience that an ethnically inclusive church based on religious affiliation and faithfulness was part of God’s plan. Both Jew and Gentile are equal partners in the new religious commonwealth. Slater addresses two important questions: What does it mean to live in a racially inclusive community? and What are Paul’s ethical requirements for living in such a diverse setting?

This commentary argues that Ephesians is deutero-Pauline, reinterpreting the Apostle for a new generation of Christians. Following Christ’s model, the letter to the Ephesians teaches virtues and relationships that ensure harmony and peace within the Christian church.

In this commentary on Philippians and Philemon, Pauline specialist Todd D. Still presents engaging teaching on the deeply loved Letter to the Philippian church and the frequently overlooked Letter to Philemon. With clarity and care, Still explains the contents of these letters along lexical and socio-historical lines. He remains attentive to the rhetorical features, theological dimensions, and the pastoral possibilities of these texts. Dr. Still seeks interpret Paul’s thoughts and to capture the Apostle’s affections for a beloved congregation and for a recently converted slave.

In Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, the reader is introduced to Christ as supreme Creator, the One who created earth and vanquished the power of death. However, this same Christ chose to bear the shame of death on a Roman cross in order to bring restoration and reconciliation to humans. This commentary presents fresh perspectives on the centrality of Jesus for the church. The enduring message of Colossians is uniquely challenging. The author testifies to the church’s cruciform life in obedience to their crucified cosmic Lord, Jesus Christ.

Explore the first-century Mediterranean world with this commentary on the Apostle Paul’s letters to the church in Thessaloniki. These letters consist of complex dialogues between the Thessalonian believers, Paul the missionary, and among subsequent Christians throughout church history.

Known as the Thessalonian correspondence, these writings give readers a wide window into the ancient environment where Paul lived, worked, and taught. In this commentary, readers learn of fears, joys, or trauma addressed by Paul’s letters.

With this commentary, find answers to common questions about social and cultural experiences of this community of new believers. Learn how they understood the life of faith. Better understand how they managed issues of life and work, faith and profession.

These letters also help twenty-first-century readers understand Paul’s perspectives on leadership, ethics, community life, and death. These letters remain impactful, just as they encouraged and challenged the community in Thessaloniki. They guide believers to live faithfully and lovingly with one another as we go about our work and worship.

The letters to Timothy and Titus have long been grouped together as the Pastoral Epistles. These are addressed to individuals charged with the oversight of certain churches and share common subject matter.

These letters provide source material about Paul’s life and ministry and the early history of Christianity in general. This commentary provides expert analysis of the contents and assists modern readers in understanding and applying Paul’s timeless instruction.

In his commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews, New Testament scholar Edgar McKnight explores two aspects of Hebrews as covenant—an appeal to the perfection and finality of Jesus Christ and an exhortation to faith based on that appeal. He also highlights the occasionally counterintuitive interpretative strategies of the author of this letter. This approach frames the author of Hebrews’ treatment of the problems of early Christians from the perspective of our modern world.

The Letter of James is a surviving representation of a once-flourishing Jewish Christianity. The Letter of James reveals a form of ancient Christianity distinctly different from the Pauline form of biblical Christianity. In this helpful examination of one of the earliest Christian communities, readers find fresh perspectives on familiar instruction. Specifically, a heavy emphasis on ethical responsibility and social justice makes this commentary a needed guide that contrasts Christian communities from an unjust world.

The Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary series is built upon the idea that meaningful Bible study can occur when the insights of contemporary biblical scholars are applied with pastoral sensitivity. Using a multimedia format, the volumes employ a stunning array of art, maps, and drawings to illustrate the insights of the Bible. This commentary is filled with expert analysis by a trio of scholars that examine and expound upon the letters of Peter and the book of Jude. Their findings are analyzed and presented in an accessible format. Together, this plurality of voices relate a unified interpretation to benefit Christians in a variety of settings.

Their findings are analyzed and presented in an accessible format. Together, this plurality of voices relate a unified interpretation to benefit Christians in a variety of settings.

How do modern Christians react when a community of faith experiences division? The letters of John provide an answer. Together, they nurture and strengthen believers while being realistic about those who are disrupting the community. John commands Christians to love one another and be hospitable, but also advises them to beware and resist trouble-makers.

The first letter of John was written during an era when the church was dividing because of disagreement about the humanity of Christ. John’s goal was to strengthen fellowship among like-minded congregations. This helpful commentary explains how John challenged claims from rival factions, tested each one, and then fully discredited their position. John’s advice on how to respond to such dangerous beliefs was to demonstrate the ideal Christian life. We are to teach followers how to recognize truthfulness and falsehood and to call people to remember what they have heard from the beginning of their faith.

Peter Jones also helpfully explores the second letter of John. He shows how John emphasized the serious nature of false teachings and encourages readers to be on their guard. His treatment of Third John compares the approach of two different leaders of a religious community. Gaius offered hospitality while a leader known as Diotrephes denied it to others.

The book of Revelation has been often misused and neglected by Christians who are unsure of how to approach this apocalyptic text. Mitchell Reddish believes that the church has an obligation to reclaim the book of Revelation and allow it to speak afresh as a powerful message of God. His commentary combines serious scholarship with contemporary application, designed to help modern readers understand and appreciate this mysterious and forward-looking writing.

Revelation is filled with visual and auditory richness. Reddish maintains that the visions, symbols, and seemingly strange images in the book are to be experienced more than explained. His interpretation asserts that the genius of Revelation is found in the cumulative effect of these imaginative components of John’s writings.

The unique features of this commentary are its three-fold format for each section of the biblical text: 1 a commentary section containing critical analysis and interpretation; 2 a section that makes connects the text and the modern reader by suggesting contemporary applications of the text; and 3 special interest material related to the text.

The Lord’s Prayer is the most recited, most memorized, and most studied text in the Bible. This prayer of Jesus, found in two versions in Matthew and Luke, has been extolled for its simplicity and beauty, for its reflection of “real life,” and for its vision of the consummated kingdom. It also contains several conundrums: what does it mean to “hallow” the Father’s name? What relationship does our forgiveness of others have with God’s forgiveness for us? If God does not tempt, why would we pray “Lead us not into temptation”? This commentary not only addresses these important questions but also offers insight into how the global church throughout generations has interacted with the Lord’s Prayer and has found in it inspiration and hope.