The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

As I mentioned last week, while most of the books I review are clearly for younger grandchildren, many grandmas (and grandpas) have older grandchildren, so today I'm very happy to let you know about a "must-have" book for grandparents and for older grandchildren.

Sometimes when we talk with our older grandchildren about reading the Bible, they say they do not read it, because they are not able to understand what it says. This is where a resource like The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament becomes such a valuable resource - for you and for them.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament
Author - Craig S. Keener
Publisher - InterVarsity Press

Favorite Features -

• Information on how to use the commentary
• Commentary focuses on both the culture and language for full understanding
• Each book of the New Testament has information in the introduction on the Author, date it was written, where it was written, the setting/purpose, genre/sources and the message of the book.
• Glossary, maps, charts and index in the back.
• Each verse in each book of the New Testament is explained

IVP says; "To understand and apply the Bible well, you need two crucial sources of information. One is the Bible itself. The other is an understanding of the cultural background of the passage you're reading. Only with the background are you able to grasp the author's original concerns and purposes. This unique commentary provides, in verse-by-verse format, the crucial cultural background you need for responsible - and richer - Bible study. This revised edition of the standard reference work in its field has been expanded throughout to now provide even more up-to-date information by one of the leading New Testament scholars on Jewish, Greek and Roman culture."

If we are serious about wanting to fight mis-interpretation of the Bible and encourage reading and understanding the Bible, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament is a tool which will prove its value over and over again, both for you as you read the Bible and for your grandchildren as well. This is a book you will use again and again - and by doing so you will model to your grandchildren to be people who read God's Word with a focus upon understanding what it is saying. Get a The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament for you and one for each of your older grandchildren as well.