Essential Bible Reference Series Collection (4 vols.)

by Brian L. Webster; David R. Beach; John H. Walton; Moisés Silva

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2006–2011

Overview

These unique, easy-to-use reference guides quickly provide context for reading Scripture. The Zondervan Essentials Series helps readers understand the biblical story and its significance, provides helpful insights into the world of the Bible, describes life and customs in biblical times, and includes a unique reference guide to the ancient works of poetry and worship in the Psalms.

Key Features

• Classification of each psalm by its literary type
• Historical and theological background
• Introductions to important Bible characters
• Cultural background of the biblical writings
• Insights into the world of the Bible

Product Details

• Title: Essential Bible Reference Series Collection
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Volumes: 4
• Pages: 728

The Essential Bible Companion to the Psalms

• Authors: Brian Webster, David R. Beach
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication Date: 2010
• Pages: 192

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The Essential Bible Companion to the Psalms provides fundamental information regarding the meaning, background, context, and application of the Psalms. In addition to practical application, numerous charts are included that provide information about the various types of psalms (messianic, prophetic, etc.) along with a quick reference list of psalms that lend themselves to being used for worship or personal meditation or as a basis for praying the Scriptures.

Through the use of full-color visual images, the message and world of the Psalms are brought to life in a way never before presented, making this book an excellent resource for understanding the Psalms.

Brian L. Webster is an associate professor of Old Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He did his doctoral work at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

David R. Beach is a licensed counselor who studied under Dr. Dan Allender at Mars Hill Graduate School. He teaches spiritual formation and psychology courses at Cornerstone University. He also cofounded Soul Seasons with his wife Cynthia—a workshop based ministry focused on spiritual and creative formation.

The Essential Companion to Life in Bible Times

• Author: Moisés Silva
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication Date: 2011
• Pages: 144

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

The Essential Companion to Life in Bible Times organizes material in thematic fashion and distills from the various articles the information that is most useful for appreciating the cultural background of the biblical writings. The book begins with a chapter on the family, describing what the Bible says about children, from their birth through their education, and discusses the roles played by men and women when they reached adulthood. The topics of sex, marriage, divorce, old age, death, and burial are also treated. From there, topics include:

• The household: from house architecture and furniture to the subjects of food and water, as well as health and illness in biblical times
• Social life: including population, the calendar, economics, crafts, travel and trade, dress, and music
• Government: in the towns, the larger cities, and the state; including the role of the king, as well as the function of elders and officials
• Israel’s religious life: from the use of high places and altars, to the importance of the tabernacle and the temple, to the role of priests and Levites

Drawing on a wealth of material from the Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible and the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary, this book is most useful for uncovering, understanding, and appreciating the cultural background of the biblical writings.

Moisés Silva taught biblical studies at Westmont College, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Seminary. He is the author or coauthor of eight books and the revising editor of the Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible.

The Essential Bible Dictionary

• Author: Moisés Silva
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication Date: 2011
• Pages: 240

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

If you are looking for a Bible study tool that is easy to understand and does not require a Bible degree to use, then The Essential Bible Dictionary is for you. In addition to defining words, places, people, and the many themes of the Bible, this concise reference work is:

• Visually stimulating, with full-color images and illustrations
• Ideal for use in devotions or personal Bible study
• A storehouse of information, providing essential information regarding the world of the Bible
• Organized A–Z
• Filled with charts and maps that bring the everyday world of the Bible to life

The Essential Bible Dictionary is for all ages and provides insights into the world of the Bible for years to come. For use with any translation of the Bible, and presented in full-color, this is the most up-to-date, trusted resource for devotions, personal Bible study, and teaching.

Moisés Silva taught biblical studies at Westmont College, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Seminary. He is the author or coauthor of eight books and the revising editor of the Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible.

The Essential Bible Companion

• Authors: John H. Walton, Mark L. Strauss, and Ted Cooper Jr.
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication Date: 2006
• Pages: 152

The Essential Bible Companion gives you what it promises: the essentials. The most vital, absolutely indispensable information you need for reading and truly understanding God’s Word. Developed by two world-class Bible scholars, this unique, easy-to-use reference guide gives you clear, crisp insights into the Bible book by book.

John H. Walton is a professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament; Ancient Israelite Literature in Its Cultural Context; Covenant: God’s Purpose, God’s Plan; The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, available from Logos in The Essential IVP Reference Collection Version 3.

Mark Strauss is a professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary in San Diego. He has written The Davidic Messiah in Luke-Acts, available from Logos in the Library of NT Studies: JSNTS on the Gospels and Acts (16 Vols.); Distorting Scripture?; The Challenge of Bible Translation and Gender Accuracy; and Luke in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary series.

Ted Cooper founded Bible in 90 Days in 2002 following almost 20 years in the computer industry. Ted has served on a number of professional and charity boards, and is an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Houston, where he currently serves on the Session.