Bible Study Books

BAD GIRLS OF THE BIBLE AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM
by Liz Curtis Higgs. Larger than normal print, IMHO. Condition: UNREAD 2001 Waterbrook Trade Paperback, third printing. Very pale "near crease" back cover. Interior perfect. Content: Humorist and popular storyteller Higgs (Help! I'm Laughing and I Can't Get Up) takes a look at the vamps and tramps of the Bible, searching for the lessons these wicked women have to teach. She acknowledges that as much as she admires Sarah's faithfulness and Mary's innocence, she finds that her own life contains many of the shortcomings of women such as Rahab, Delilah and Lot's wife. When Higgs begins her study of Jezebel, she notes, "I understood her pushy personality, I empathized with her need for control, I tuned into her angry outbursts...but boy did she teach me what not to do in my marriage." She places the ten women in her study into four categories. Eve, she says, was the "First Bad Girl," for badness has to begin somewhere. Potiphar's wife (who tried to seduce Joseph), Delilah and Jezebel, Higgs says, were "Bad to the Bone": these women "sinned with gusto from bad beginning to bitter end." Women who were "Bad for a Moment," and who have forever been characterized by their "life-changing" mistakes, include Saphhira, Michal and Lot's wife (who was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back on her homeland against God's commands). Higgs says that Rahab, the prostitute who helped the Israelites conquer Jericho, the Woman at the Well and the Sinful Woman were "Bad for a Season, but Not Forever": these women "had plenty of sin in their past, but they were also willing to change and be changed." Higgs opens each chapter with a fictional retelling of the biblical story and then proceeds to a verse-by-verse exegesis and commentary on the biblical text. Each chapter closes with four lessons to be learned from the life of the bad girl and eight "thoughts worth considering." Higgs retells these biblical stories with rollicking humor and deep insight as she teaches about the nature of sin and goodness. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.59 + $ 3.19 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

THE BIBLE AS HISTORY (Second Revised Edition)
by Werner Keller. Translated from the German by William Neill. Revised & Postscript by Joachim Rehork. New material translated by B. H. Rasmussen. B&W drawings and maps illustrate. Condition: UNREAD 1988 Bantam Books paperback, 9th printing. Light taning to page edges. Content: This book is still the standard by which all other Biblical archaeology works are measured, and is now thoroughly updated with the latest scientific and archaeological breakthroughs in biblical investigation. It contains: Revolutionary new evidence that confirms some of the most monumental and controversial events in the Bible-including the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra; Recently deciphered texts from the ancient world that offer an intriguing look back at the origin of the Ten Commandments; An entirely new chapter revealing the extraordinary techniques that may soon prove the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin. The book will take you on a breathtaking journey to the heart of Holy Scripture as it pieces together one of the most stunning spiritual puzzles in the history of mankind. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 2.94 media shipping.

BIBLE WOMEN SPEAK TO US TODAY
by Mary E. Jensen. Condition: UNREAD 1983 Augsburg Trade Paperback, reprint. Interior perfect but does have light edgewear front cover fore edge. Content: Ruth, Sarah, Mary Magdalene, Elizabeth, Queen Esther, Lot's wife - what could these women of Bible times possibly teach us today? Perhaps more than we think. In this book of short meditations, 40 Bible women come alive through Jensen's skillful descriptions. We see how their lives parallel women's lives today, with common concerns about how to draw closer to god and how to live in accordance with his will. Perfect book for women's Bible studies or for Sunday School discussions. [1 copy available]
$ 4.50 + $ 2.94 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

EARLY CHRISTIAN HERESIES
by Joan O'Grady. Cover art: "The Desecration of the Host" by Paolo Uccello. Condition: UNREAD 1994 Barnes & Noble hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), 5th printing. Content: Reviewer: "Gnostics, starting with Valentinus about 137, claimed you had to have secret 'gnosis', knowledge, as opposed to salvation being available to all. Valentinus considered himself a Christian, to the fury of Irenaeus. Most of the Gnostic schools believed that "matter was hostile to the good," ideas which came from Greek philosophy and Zoroastrian dualism. There was also Marcion, who formed a church without the Old Testament and much of the new. And Montanists, who wanted church to be an emotional experience, and demanded separation of Christians from the world. Tertullian would famously fall for this heresy. "By the end of the century the Montanist Church appeared as an even more powerful rival to the Catholic Church than the Marcionites had been." Manichaeism was not a Christian heresy, but it taught a dualistic system. Augustine was, originally, a believer. Arianism was the heresy that would nearly rend the church in two. "Arguments about the Trinity and about the relation of Christ to the Father had been growing in intensity." Written in clear, easy to understand language, and aimed at the general reader, this book would be a useful reference tool for anyone. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.50 + $ 3.09 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

EXODUS (Daily Study Bible Series)
by H. L. Ellison. B&W maps illustrate. Condition: UNREAD 1983 Westminster Press Trade Paperback edition, 5th printing. Content: Exodus is in many ways one of the most important and spiritually interesting books in the Old Testament. It tells the story of how God freed his people from Egypt and bound them to himself by a covenant. We are given an insight into how this link with God modified the people's traditional law, how God's grace reacted to a broken covenant, and how we should approach God in worship. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.50 + $ 3.09 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

NOAH'S FLOOD: The New Scientific Discoveries About the Event That Changed History
by William Ryan & Walter Pitman. B&W maps and drawings. Condition: NEW 2000 Touchstone (UK) Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: Archeologists have long sought to prove that the great flood described in Genesis and in the Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh was a historic event. Columbia University geologists Ryan and Pitman weigh in with a highly conjectural theory that seems as good as any other, if no better. Around 5600 B.C., they maintain, Noah's flood occurred when rising Mediterranean waters roared through the narrow Bosporus Strait, transforming the Black Sea, then a freshwater lake, into a bloated saltwater body. Taking a cue from Australian prehistorian Gordon Childe, who posited that Europe's first farmers came from Asia, the authors contend that the Black Sea at the time of the alleged flood was a fertile oasis, a cultural magnet where diverse peoples?farmers, animal breeders, artisans?exchanged techniques and possibly genes. They point to the sudden appearance in Europe, shortly after 5600 B.C., of "outsider" tribes, advanced farmers who, the theory goes, were fleeing the flooded Black Sea region. Other flood refugees, in this scenario, migrated to Russia's steppes, Anatolia, Mesopotamia and the Middle East, preserving memory of the catastrophe in mythic and oral traditions later enshrined on clay tablets and ultimately in the Bible. Ryan and Pitman base their theory partly on radiocarbon dating of marine sediments that they collected in 1993 during a Black Sea expedition and partly on Ice Age climatic patterns, modern linguists' quest for a proto-Indo-European mother tongue and genetic studies of population migrations over the millennia. Their complicated detective tale is intriguing, but much more solid evidence would be required to convince skeptics. Illustrated with drawings by Anastasia Sotiropoulos and maps by William Haxby. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 10.50 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

THE GOSPEL OF PHILIP: Jesus, Mary Magdalene and the Gnosis of Sacred Union
by Jean-Yves Leloup (Joseph Rowe Translation From the French) Coptic translations by author. Condition: NEW 2004 Inner Traditions Trade Paperback, first American edition/printing. Cover art from a Castagno fresco (c. 1444) of the apostles. Content: The Gnostic Gospel of Philip, discovered in 1947 at Nag Hammadi, Egypt, is best known for a verse that portrays Jesus kissing Mary Magdalene on the lips. Although this is the most visual image in that gospel, the underlying message, about the sacredness of the marital union, was also controversial in early Christianity, as it established closer links to Judaism and the belief in a space of holiness that can occur in the physical act of love. Leloup, who has also written on the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, here translates Philip's gospel from the Coptic and offers a rather brief analysis of the text (he promises more in a future book). Still, what he does cover -- ways to look at conception, birth, and the relationship between man, woman, and God -- is well thought out and understandable to the lay reader. Most of the book is taken up with actual translation and visuals of the Coptic original from which Leloup worked. Interesting read! Questions welcome [1 copy available]
$ 8.50 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

THE HARLOT BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD: Forbidden Tales of the Bible
by Jonathan Kirsch. B&W maps. Honi Werner jacket painting. Condition: UNREAD 1997 Ballantine hardcover & dJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: Kirsch retells some of the juicier stories of the Bible in contemporary language. He expands upon the original biblical text to make the stories highly readable and includes with each the original text in modern translation and a brief sketch of the scholarly research and the speculation surrounding it. For those to whom Bible stories suggest "Disneyesque animals and simple uplifting moral lessons," this book may be a bit of a shock. Kirsch shows that the Bible is not a children's book. Then, as now, rape, incest, prostitution, murder, and strange religious cults were a part of life. As Kirsch says, "The Bible is a map of the human heart, and no secret chamber or hidden passage is left out." Kirsch contends that returning to the Bible can offer insight into modern issues. Mostly, however, he offers an irresistible popularization of some unfamiliar stories. Some readers will enjoy it; others will be highly offended. Questions welcome [1 copy available]
$ 3.00 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

THE LIFE STORY OF ADAM AND HAVAH: A New Targum of Genesis 1:25 - 5.5
by Shira Halevi. Condition: Gently pre-read 1997 Jason Aronson hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Content: The story of Adam and Havah (Eve), the first man and woman as told in the Bible, has greatly influenced our ideas about relations between the sexes, reward and punishment, and free will versus predestination. An imaginative approach to this well-known yet enigmatic myth. Targum is a late Hebrew word meaning "translation" - actually a "translation from the Aramaic." In the act of translating from the original Hebrew text, the way in which certain words are rendered is in itself a form of interpretation. Because many Hebrew words have an ambiguous meaning, and often more than one meaning, the opinion of the interpreter as to how the word appears in the secondary language colors the understanding of the translation's reader. It is common practice for scholars to use biblical translations as a form of commentary and interpretive resource on the text. In this targum, Shira Halevi follows tradition by doing much more than simply translating the biblical text into English; she offers the full-range of possible translations from the Hebrew, clearly aligning the alternate meanings so that the English reader can comprehend the inherent complexity of many Hebrew words. [1 copy available]
$ 6.50 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

LISTENING TO THE PAST: The Place of Tradition in Theology
by Stephen R. Holmes. Condition: NEW 2002 Baker Academic/Paternoster Press Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: This book comprehensively examines the doctrine of communion of saints, bringing together wisdom concerning atonement, free will, theology, politics, and the importance of listening to and learning from tradition and history. Each individual chapter focuses on a different aspect of modern-day questions and conundrums involving God and faith, in a succinctly written study of lessons already learned throughout the centuries. Listening To The Past is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in Christian Doctrine & Theology. [1 copy available]
$ 4.49 + 3.19 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

THE LOST GOSPEL: The Book of Q and Christian Origins
by Burton L. Mack. Condition: UNREAD 1993 HarperSanFrancisco Trade Paperback, third printing. Light tanning to page edges. Content: If its premise is accepted by a preponderance of theologians, this debatable study could bring about a rethinking of the origins of Christianity. Mack presents an analysis of the so-called Book of Q , a supposed collection of Jesus's sayings that was compiled by his followers during his lifetime. Certain scholars, deducing the existence of the book, have reconstructed the putative text of this "lost gospel" during the last 20 years through a comparison of the gospels of Matthew and Luke, who, it is contended, used Q as a common basis (Q stands for Quelle , German for "source"). Mack, a professor of New Testament at the School of Theology at Claremont College in Los Angeles, concludes that "the people of Q"--Jesus's contemporaries--thought of him as a teacher, not as a messiah, and that they did not regard his death as a divine or saving event. Mack offers an earthy, colloquial translation of the Book of Q with its wisdom sayings, exhortations, parables and apocalyptic pronouncements. His portrayal of the early Jesus movement reveals a community based on fictive kinship without regard to class, gender or ethnicity. The discovery of Q , Mack argues, compels us to see the New Testament gospels as imaginative creations rather than historical accounts. [1 copy available]
$ 4.49 + 3.29 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM WITH EXPLANATION
by CPH. Condition: Gently pre-read 1995 CPH small hardcover (no DJ issued), 5th printing. Bright blue boards with gilt lettering. Name inside front cover. B&W decorations. Content: The Lutheran standard for the theology and work of Martin Luther. [1 copy available]
$ 4.49 + $ 3.09 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

MEDITATIONS ON THE APOCALYPSE: A Psycho-Spiritual Perspective on the Book of Revelation
by F. Aster Barnwell. B&W photos & charts illustrate. Condition: UNREAD 1994 Element Trade Paperback, no printing given. Tiny edgewear. Content: "In a disciplined and inspired work of analysis, Barnwell has made connections that reveal the mysteries of the Book of Revelations. His intensive study of ancient symbolism, coupled with spiritual devotion and prayerful inquiry, allowed him to stitch together the patchwork of images into a powerful and cohesive message. Seekers of every faith will find information in this book on the rare process of transformation we are exhorted to accomplish in the Book of Revelations. It ain't about the end of the world, folks. It's an inside job. But you knew that." Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.49 + $ 3.09 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

MEET YOURSELF IN THE PARABLES
by Warren W. Wiersbe. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1980 Victor Books paperback, no printing given. Although unread, there is a name on the top Title Page. Content: The parables are not bedtime stories to put you to sleep, but rather bugle calls to wake you up. They are both mirrors and windows. As mirrors, they help you see yourself. As windows, they help you see life and God. This is a Victor Adult Elective/13 sessions. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 2.94 media shipping.

THE MISSING BOOKS OF THE BIBLE, Volume 1
by Halo Press. Condition: UNREAD 1996 Halo Press Trade Paperback, no printing given. Tiny edgewear cover fore edge. Moderate tanning to interior pages. Content: Biblical characters such as Susanna, Judith, Judah Maccabee are missing from the "Bible" as we know it, but there are at least twelve other books which are know as the apocrypha, meaning "missing" or "things hidden away." Why were these books omitted from some Bibles? In this book you will learn their fascinating history, and be able to read them in their entirety. Included in Volume 1: The First and SEcond Books of Esdras; The Book of Tobit; The Book of Judith; The Rest of the Chapters of the Book of Esther; and The Wisdom of Solomon. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 5.49 + $ 3.09 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

NEW TESTAMENT ETHICS: The Legacies of Jesus and Paul
by Frank J. Matera. Condition: NEW 1996 Westminster Knox hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: In this book, Frank Matera examines the ethic found in the teachings of Jesus and Paul. He explores the broad range of moral concerns found in these writings and finds an identifiable unity that underlies the ethical teachings of both. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 7.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

NOTORIOUS VOICES: Feminist Biblical Interpretation 1500 - 1920
by Marla J. Selvidge. UNREAD 1996 Paragon hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition. DJ has tiny tiny "wrinkle" top spine. Condition: NEW 2001 Baker Academic Trade Paperback, no printing given. Content: Designed to be used in conjunction with Notorious Voices: Feminist Biblical Interpretation, 1500-1920, this book will provide useful primary material for class discussion or research. The selections are short but most of the material echoes the essential positions taken by the authors. Can also stand alone as a source. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

POCKET CATHOLIC DICTIONARY (Abridged Ed. Modern Catholic Dictionary)
by John A. Hardon, S. J. Condition: Gently used 1985 Image Books paperback, 9th printing. Spine creases and tiny edgewear, but still clean & tight inside. 510 pages. Content: Incorporating the changes in the revised Code of Canon Law, this pocket edition of an important religious reference presents over 2,000 clear and concise definitions of the Catholic Church's teachings on faith, worship, morals, theology, history, and spirituality. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 2.50 + $ 2.89 media shipping.

REGARDING KARL BARTH: Essays Toward a Reading of His Theology
by Trevor Hart. Condition: NEW 1999 paternoster press (UK) Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: This book is a distinctive engagement with the most significant elements in the theology of, arguably, the most prominent Christian thinker of the twentieth century. Through an ongoing dialogue with Barth's writings and the views of other theologians, notably Brunner, Kung, Lindbeck, McFague and Moltmann, Trevor Hart initiates fresh explorations of key issues from Barth's work and shows how they continue to provide insight in our postmodern theological context. Topics covered include Scripture and revelation, the Trinity, natural theology, pluralism, justification by faith, ethics, and the nature and problems of religious language. Beginning students, thoughtful pastors and theologians familiar with Barth will all find this book to be a clear and helpful guide to his theology. [Interesting section on religion and the Third Reich.] Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 14.79 + $ 3.09 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

THE SOCIAL SETTING OF PAULINE CHRISTIANITY: Essays on Corinth
by Gerd Theissen. Condition: Gently pre-read 1982 Fortress Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. DJ shows light edgewear. Content: This book comprises a number of essays translated from the German, which were first published in 1974 and 1975, as well as an introduction by the translator, John H. Schütz It was first published in English in 1982 and republished in 2004. Thus it does not contain developments in the last quarter of a century. However it is a classic in our understanding of the social world of early Christianity. It is still of value today in helping to gain insight into Paul's community in Corinth, its problems and Paul's suggested resolution of these. Theissen develops the idea that Paul's followers were not all from the lower strata of society. While in Palestine the followers of Jesus were from the rural poor, in Paul's communities his followers were diverse. The majority of Paul's followers in Corinth were poor, but some were wealthy and educated. These were the leaders. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 10.79 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF ST. IGNATIUS: Based on Studies in the Language of the Autograph
by St. Ignatius. Translated by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. Condition: Good+, 1968 Loyola University Press Trade Paperback, no printing given. Tiny edgewear and about 10 pages have some highlighting on them. Other pages untouched. Content: Reviewer: "St Ignatius spiritual classic is brought to life by this translation. The well presented additional information on the life and times of the saint is very helpful. St Ignatius' method of deepening ones spirituality and closeness to God really works. I had a few problems with some quirks deriving from the dark side of medieval Catholicism. Nevertheless this is an excellent book and the exercises are profitable if adopted sensibly. A good read for the church historian and Christian believer alike." Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 2.99 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

THEOLOGY AFTER THE STORM: Reflections on the Upheavals in Modern Theology and Culture
by John McIntyre. Edited, with critical introduction by Gary Badcock. Condition: UNREAD 1997 Eerdmans Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: This book contains 3 books from the dean of Scottish theology: The Humanity of Christ, Theology of Prayer, and The Cliche. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.59 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO: The World at the Time of Jesus
by Charles A. Frazee. B&W photos illustrate. Condition: NEW 2003 Eerdmans Publishing hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), second printing. Content: The shelves are filled with books describing the life of Jesus and his homeland, but rarely has Jesus life been placed within the larger context of world history. This book is an absorbing work that surveys for the first time the people who were alive and the historical events taking place around the world at the time of Jesus.Drawing on historical records and the work of archaeologists and anthropologists, Frazee explores the full sweep of human society contemporary with Jesus' own first-century Palestine. Each chapter looks at one of the worlds major regions from the Arctic, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas to Europe, Africa, and Asia and provides a short background of its history and its status at the time Jesus walked the earth. In providing a birds-eye view of the world at this pivotal point in history, Frazee gives readers a new perspective on the life of Jesus in the Holy Land, allowing them to compare and contrast it with life taking place elsewhere on the globe. Written with an inviting voice and enhanced with informative illustratations and maps, [1 copy available]
$ 10.69 + $ 3.39 media shipping. .

WEATHER & THE BIBLE: 100 Questions & Answers
by Donald B. DeYoung. Foreword by Henry M. Morris. B&W illustrations. Condition: NEW 1998 Baker House Trade Paperback, 5th printing. Perfect but for small, pale diagonal crease bottom back cover tip - I dropped the book. ACK! Content: I like this book! "This book answers very basic, everyday questions about our favorite small-talk topic, weather! It gives a clear understanding of weather topics from a Biblically sound point of view." Especially interesting is the section on St. Elmo's fire. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.49 + $ 2.89 media shipping.

WHAT ARE THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS AND WHY DO THEY MATTER?
by David Noel Freedman and Pam Fox Kuhlken. Foreword by Weston Fields. B&W photos and maps illustrate. Condition: NEW 2007 Wm. Eerdman's Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: The Dead Sea Scrolls are again on exhibit, and thousands of people will journey to see them. But will these folks understand what they see? There are plenty of scholarly volumes on the Dead Sea Scrolls, full of indexes, footnotes, and jargon for those in the know. But what about the majority of the population -- nonspecialists who just want a basic understanding of what the Dead Sea Scrolls are and why they're so important? That's where this little book comes in. Freedman and Kuhlken here offer an informed, inside look at these significant ancient texts. Full of humor and behind-the-scenes glimpses into research on the Scrolls, this is a fascinating, accessible guidebook -- perfect for any reader seeking a brief, quality introduction to this inscrutable subject. Questions addressed run the gamut from general to paranoid to somewhat cynical. Here's a sampling: What are the Dead Sea Scrolls all about?; Who wrote them, why, and in what languages?; How do scholars reconstruct a biblical text?; Have the Scrolls changed our understanding of any passages in the Bible?; Do the Scrolls tell us when the world will end?; - How has technology improved our ability to study the Scrolls?; How much would a Scroll fragment sell for on eBay today? Informative, teachable, readable, "understandable." Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 9.00 + $ 2.94 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

WHERE TO FIND IT IN THE BIBLE: The Ultimate A to Z Resource
by Ken Anderson. B&W cartoons & illustrations by Jack Hayes. Condition: NEW 1996 Thomas Nelson large soft cover (578 pages), no printing given. Light tanning to page edges. Content: Over 3700 contemporary topics are covered (in alphabetical order), i.e., child abuse, and what passages in the Bible deal with that topic. For users of KJV, NIV, NKJV, CEV, LB, NRSV, and other popular translations. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 5.49 + $ 3.49 media shipping.