format - CSDirectory.com · Web view• The situation looks pretty clear cut: no way out.---But Elisha sees things spiritually—the way God has created them. • He prays that

Weekly Bible Study Resources

Bible Characters for Your Weekly Bible Study

Compiled by Lt Gen C. Norman Wood, USAF (Ret), Burke, VA 22015

For week of November 30 – December 6, 2009

Clements, Mrs. Janet Heineman (CSB; Chicago, IL), “The Fruits of God’s Handiwork,” IN THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BIBLE LESSON: God the Only Cause and Creator, Christian Science Sentinel, Vol.110 (2 June 2008), p. 21.

--…the fruit of God’s work is undeniably Godlike.--…God is causing the whole of His creation to express—in infinite, individual ways—His boundless good qualities.--…God made us all to be fruitful and prosperous.

• We have a mission—even an obligation—to bring healing insights to the issues of the world, rooting ourselves in this assurance: “…nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God” (Isa 55:5).

---…find healing in relation to [your] health, [your] interaction with nature, [your] political environment, [your] communication.--…you and I can turn our thought from the material to the spiritual cause, and experience healing.--No matter what we may face today that is unlike God, we can pray with grateful expectation that He showers blessings upon everyone.

SECTION III: Elisha Surrounded at Dothan by Horses and Chariots (II Kings 6: 8-17)RELATED SCRIPTURE: Ps 34: 7; 91: 4 TIME LINE AND AUTHOR: “It seems that the author was most likely an unnamed prophet of the Lord who lived in exile with Israel in Babylon. Kings was written between 561-538 B.C.” (MacArthur Bible Commentary) The event occurred @850 BC.

Vv. 8-10: "Syria was again at war with Israel; in guerilla style, Ben-hadad secretly set up a camp for ambush." (King James Bible Commentary)

“Elisha, receiving spiritual revelation, continually identified to Jehoram the Israelite towns which the king of Syria planned to attack. Jehoram then took the proper precautions and appropriately fortified those towns in order to frustrate the Syrian plan.” (MacArthur Commentary)

"God's servants often experience providential succor in times of danger, though they cannot confidently reckon upon protection from earthly peril. What alone is assured to them, if they continue loyal, is spiritual security." (Dummelow Commentary) “The reader sees through the eyes of the despairing servant what nobody else but Elisha can see: a heavenly host stands by Elisha, who also have horses and chariots, but theirs are made of fire (v.17).” (Oxford Bible Commentary)

“king of Syria”/Ben-hadad II[Ben hay' dad]

Ben-Hadad I (885-860 BC)Ben-Hadad II (860-841 BC) Hazael (servant to Ben-Hadad II) 841-801 BC

CSDirectory.com weekly Bible Study resources http://www.csdirectory.com/biblestudy/nw-index.html1

Bible Characters for your weekly Bible study — November 30 – December 6, 2009

Ben-Hadad

Ben-hadad II was the King of Syria who besieged Samaria during the time of Elisha (mid-ninth century BC). He “also continued to invade and oppress the northern kingdom of Israel each year during the reign of King Ahab.” (Who Was Who in the Bible)

He was "murdered by the usurper Hazael, whom Ben-Hadad had sent to inquire of Elisha about his recovery from an illness (2 Kgs. 8:7-15)." (Eerdmans Dictionary)

However, "There are serious questions about whether the Ben-Hadad of 1 Kings 20,22, and 2 Kings 6-8 is a distinct king. Current studies have argued that this Ben-Hadad should be identified with Ben-Hadad son of Hazael and that these stories have been misattributed to the times of King Ahab of Israel and his sons (ca. 875-842 [BC]), when they originally described the times of Kings Joahaz and Joash (ca. 814-782)." (Anchor Bible Dictionary) All the People of the Bible (published in 2008) says: “Ben-hadad II of Syria was the son of Hazael, the murderer of Ben-hadad I.”

“king of Israel”/Jehoram/Joram

Ahab = JezebelAhaziah (died 849 BC)Jehoram (reign 849-842 BC)Athaliah (sister)

Ahaziah (King of Judah)

Jehoram, also called Joram, was "the ninth king of Israel, who reigned for eleven years." (Baker Encyclopedia)

Jehoram was "the son of Ahab who succeeded his brother Ahaziah as king of the northern kingdom of Israel and reigned from 849 to 842 [BC] (2 Kgs 1:17; 3:1)." (Eerdmans Dictionary)"He put away the image of Baal which his father had made, but adhered to the calf worship instituted by Jeroboam." (Westminster Dictionary)

"The historical background to the narrative in 2 Kgs 3:5-27 is…not immune to questioning." (Anchor Bible Dictionary) The king of Israel "was unable to put down the rebellion of King Mesha of Moab. The prophet Elisha accompanied the armies of Jehoram when Mesha, in desperate straits, 'offered up his eldest son as a burnt offering' on the city wall in full view of the attackers." (HarperCollins Dictionary)

Elisha[Ē lī’sha] (“my God is salvation”)

(Abbreviated)Elisha was an early Hebrew prophet who succeeded the prophet Elijah when Elijah’s time on

earth was finished. "His name appears for the first time in a divine command given to Elijah, according to which Elijah had to anoint Elisha as his successor (I Kings 19:16-17)." (Interpreter's Dictionary) Elisha ministered for about 50 years in the northern kingdom of Israel, serving God during the reigns of Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash. Elisha’s work consisted of presenting the Word of God through prophecy, advising kings, anointing kings, helping the needy, and performing several miracles….



He plays a role in wars between Syria and Israel: "The fragile peace between Israel and Syria broke down and warfare was resumed." (Great People of the Bible) “He…advised the king of Israel of the plans (II Kings 6:8-10) of their Assyrian enemies.” (Who Was Who in the Bible) "When the Syrians (Arameans) came to Dothan to capture Elisha, he prayed and his servant was shown the armies of God protecting the city. The Arameans were stricken with blindness, and Elisha led them to Samaria and persuaded the king of Israel to feed and release them. “Whether or not there was an actual Aramean siege of Samaria in the late 9th century is uncertain, but Israel was at war with Aram-Damascus.” (Eerdmans Dictionary)….

“the servant of the man of God”/Gehazi

(Abbreviated)Gehazi is a "servant or younger associate of the prophet Elisha." (HarperCollins Dictionary)

“The Bible portrays him as a man of questionable character.” (Holman Dictionary)….

"If the 'servant of the man of God' in 2 Kgs 6:15-17, who is explicitly described as Elisha's 'boy' (na‘ar, v 17) is also to be identified with Gehazi (cf. 2 Kgs 4:43), the other suggested meaning of his name as 'valley of vision' becomes relevant. . It was Elisha’s prayer that opened his eyes so that he could see that ‘the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha (v.17)." (Anchor Bible Dictionary)….

Driver, David C. (CSB and First Reader), “Can revenge be sweet?,” Christian Science Sentinel, Vol.99 (10 November 1997), p. 4.

--It takes truth to correct an error, a right to correct a wrong, good to correct evil. Hence revenge can never truly be sweet. It can never right a wrong.--God’s coming with vengeance is rather like the way light wipes out darkness.

• It simply eliminates darkness. It’s a matter of law. Light and darkness cannot coexist.--We bring God’s law of retribution into our experience in proportion as we obey such divine precepts as

never returning evil for evil,overcoming evil with good,loving our enemies,blessing them that curse us.

• An example of this is found in the Old Testament story of the prophet Elisha surrounded by enemy forces in the town of Dothan (see II Kings 6:8-23).

Herr, Klaus-Hendrik, “Finding unity in a world of competing interests,” Christian Science Sentinel, Vol.106 (19 April 2004), p. 6.

--I find a helpful spiritual lesson about healing polarized thinking in a Bible story involving the prophet Elisha.

• At one point, he and his servant find themselves surrounded by a hostile Syrian army (see II Kings, chapter 6).

---The servant is overcome with panic and hopelessness.• The situation looks pretty clear cut: no way out.

---But Elisha sees things spiritually—the way God has created them.• He prays that his servant’s eyes (his understanding) might be opened—to the invisible reality

that God is in control of events.--One could say that Elisha wants his servant to see what is divinely true—to think outside the box, if you will.



Leishman, Thomas L., “Concluding Events in Elisha’s Career,” CONTINUITY OF THE BIBLE, Christian Science Journal, Vol.86 (October 1968), p. 538.

--Elisha showed his alertness and prophetic insight in warning the king of Israel of the precise position which the Syrian king had chosen for his own camp in a projected attack on the Israelites.

• Thanks to the prophet’s warning, the Israelite ruler was repeatedly enabled to defend himself and his nation successfully, while the Syrians made every effort to find and to destroy Elisha, learning that it was he who had discovered and divulged their supposedly secret plans (see verses 8-14).--Informed by his spies that the prophet was at Dothan, the Syrian ruler sent an army to surround the city by night; and when Elisha’s servant awoke in the early morning, he was startled to discover that “an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots.” (I Kings 6: 15)

• His fears were silenced by his master’s assurance that “they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” (verse 16) Moreover, in response to Elisha’s prayer, his servant no longer saw horses and chariots as symbols of danger or attack but rather as symbols of protection—“horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (verse 17).

Bergenheim, Richard C. (CSB, Director, Editor-in-Chief, Contributing Editor, and President), “A lesson from Dothan,” EDITORIAL, Christian Science Sentinel, Vol.95 (11 October 1993), p. 27.

--The enemy moved by night and surrounded the city.• As dawn broke, Elisha’s servant went out and saw that he and his master were in great danger

for there was no way of escape.---He was sure that the ongoing duel between Elisha and the king of Syria was over.---“ Alas, my master!” he cried, “how shall we do?”

• Elisha’s reply was unexpected.---“Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” Yet Elisha

was standing alone with his servant, while the city was surrounded by troops with their horses and chariots, and their sole purpose was to capture him and bring him to the king of Syria (see II Kings, chap. 6).--What the king of Syria never understood was that Elisha was a man of God. That means a lot more than simply being a good man. It signifies that Elisha knew God, that he communed with God, was conscious of His practical presence and power.

Hogue, Mrs. Blanche Hersey (CSB and 2nd Reader), “Elisha’s Servant,” Christian Science Sentinel, Vol.12 (21 January 1910), p. 403.

--"FEAR not;" answered Elisha to his servant's cry, "Alas, my master! how shall we do?" • "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."

---And the narrative continues: "And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha:"--The servant of Elisha is not alone in his query "How shall we do?"

• Human perplexity is ever seeking, ever needing, a way out of trouble, and humanity must change its point of view as did Gehazi if it would discover the help at hand.

---To the material senses the "hosts of the King of Syria," in the form of temptation and pain and disaster, may sorely beset him who is striving for right.

• Because Christian Science is in the world, however, to make plain and to establish the spiritual point of view, because it is here to repeat and to spread abroad Christ's glorious "Fear not," heavy eyes may by its means be opened and lifted to see the chariots of the Lord on the mountain-side, and to fear the hosts of evil not at all.

SECTION IV: Jesus Heals the “man sick of the palsy” (Matt 9: 2-8)CSDirectory.com weekly Bible Study resources http://www.csdirectory.com/biblestudy/nw-index.html

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PARALLEL GOSPELS: Mark 2: 2-12; Luke 5: 18-25TIME LINE: The Year of Popularity and Fundamental Principles (Jesus’ 2nd year of ministry), 28 AD at Capernaum.

“a man sick of the palsy”

This story is told in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In Matthew and Mark it is called “The Sick of the Palsy;” in Luke it is called “The Paralytic.” “This conflict episode is the first of five conflict episodes (2:1-2; 13-17, 18-22, 23-28; 3:1-6).” (MacArthur Commentary) “The story presupposes that the infirmity has a spiritual cause (cf. Ex 20:5; I Cor 11:29-30; James 5:14-15; in [Matt] 9:32-34 a demon makes a man deaf and dumb).” (Oxford Bible Commentary)

"Jesus had been traveling throughout Galilee, preaching and teaching, and people keep coming to him to be healed and cured." (On Your Mark) His "entry into Capernaum was unknown by the public," but when "someone discovered his presence, the news spread like wildfire." (King James Commentary) "As Jesus arrives at Capernaum, some people carry to him a man who was unable to walk, presumably near the shore in the hope that Jesus will heal him ([Matt] 9:2-8)." (Eerdmans Commentary) "Brought to Jesus on a bed, the man's paralysis was severe. Jesus' words of forgiveness [v.2] may indicate that the paralysis was a direct consequence of the man's own sin." (MacArthur Commentary)

“The peculiarity of this miracle is that it was worked to prove a doctrine, and that in the face of opposition. There were present certain scribes and Pharisees, some of whom had doubtless come from Jerusalem expressly to oppose Jesus. Jesus at once threw them a challenge by saying to the man, ‘Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.’ The scribes understood this to mean that He claimed to forgive sins as only God can do. Instead of repudiating this suggestion, as a mere man would have done, Jesus accepted it, and proceeded to prove His claim by a miracle.” (Dummelow Commentary) "In response to the scribes' and Pharisees' questioning, Jesus claims that 'the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins' ([Luke]5:24)." (Eerdmans Commentary) "It is certainly easier to claim the power to pronounce absolution from sin [whether is easier, Matt v.5] than to demonstrate the power to heal." (MacArthur Bible Commentary)

"[Luke] alone mentions the glorifying of God by the paralytic [v.25], and the fear of the bystanders." (Peake's Commentary) "The audience was stunned again when Jesus healed the man of his paralysis [Matt 9:8]; and they marveled, (lit., they were afraid)." (King James Bible Commentary) The scribes and Pharisees “perceive that God’s power is being democraticized.” (Theological Bible Commentary)

Willis, John Buckley (CSB, Associate Editor, Bible Lesson Committee, and President), “Be Of Good Cheer,” EDITORIAL, Christian Science Sentinel, Vol.14 (27 July 1912), p. 951.

--[Through the] gospel truth Christian Science is bringing convincingly nigh in the immediate release of many a long-time bondsman to sickness and sin. The fetters forged and heartlessly applied by the fateful working of material law, have been struck off by the power of the Word, and thus the reassurance of "God with us" to save men in keeping with their need, is being brought to the heart of humanity.

• God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform, and it is an abiding source of inspiration and strength to know and to prove again and again that His way is not that of material law and order.

---On the contrary, as it is written, we may be changed "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," and this because all human problems are solved in the acceptance of Truth.

• "Be of good cheer," said the Master….CSDirectory.com weekly Bible Study resources http://www.csdirectory.com/biblestudy/nw-index.html

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Gorrell, Mrs. Frances M., “Glorifying God,” Christian Science Sentinel , Vol.15 (16 August 1913), p. 986.

--As we read several accounts of Jesus' healing work, we note that many of them close with the words, "and they glorified God." --…Eddy tells us in the "Manual of The Mother Church": "Testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important. More than a mere rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ" (p. 47).

• In order to glorify God one must love Him supremely, be ever conscious of His power and goodness, and make large room for the thought of His allness.

---When we make a business of glorifying God, there will be no time for self-justification, self-righteousness, or self-pity.--It may be that we have not yet realized the healing for which we have been watching and praying, but there is always the opportunity to praise God for the freedom and joy which the healing of another has brought. --Ofttimes in our work it may seem that after all the thought and care and pruning, God is not glorified, good is not evidenced, because we have not gathered any fruit; but when we look beyond this seeming, we know, as Mrs. Eddy has said, that "Truth does the work, and you must both understand and abide by the divine Principle of your demonstration" (Science and Health, p. 456).

SECTION V: Jesus Resurrects the Widow of Nain’s Son (Luke 7: 1, 11-15)RELATED SCRIPTURE: I Kings 17: 17-24; II Kings 4: 32-37 TIME LINE: The Year of Popularity and Fundamental Principles (Jesus’ 2nd year of ministry), 28 AD at Nain.

“Now Jesus raises the dead, [in] anticipation of the series of claims he makes in 7:22, this time echoing not Isaiah but I Kings 17:17-24, Elijah raising the son of a Sidonian widow. In his inaugural sermon Jesus had already appealed to Elijah raising this widow's son (4:25-26), there making the point that 'there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah,…yet Elijah was sent to none of them.' Luke is echoing both 1 Kings 17 and Jesus' sermon in ch. 4.” (Eerdmans Commentary)

This story is unique to Luke. It “comes from Luke’s special material, L; it is without parallel in the gospel’s tradition. ” (Interpreter’s One Volume Commentary) “Soon afterward” (v. 11) hints that Luke is not quite sure when it happened. In v.12 the phrase carried out refers to the fact that “Jewish tombs were always outside the walls, and burials were required to be performed within 24 hours.” (Dummelow Commentary) "This [he…touched the bier, v.14] was a ceremonially defiling act, normally." (MacArthur Bible Commentary)

This story reveals Jesus’ sensitivity to the widow’s marginal existence. This miracle was done in front of “much people” and similar to the raising of Lazarus in the presence of a multitude of witnesses. The bier is a pallet, not a coffin. This raising from the dead is in contrast to the struggle and difficulty experienced by both Elijah and Elisha, and indicates Jesus’ authority with the single word of power: “Arise.”

“The object of recording that the young man spoke [v.15] after arising was to give evidence that he was really alive.” (King James Bible Commentary) “And he delivered him to his mother: Verbatim echo of the Elijah story (See 1 Kgs 17:23). Throughout, Jesus’ compassion is directed not only to the dead man but to his mother.” (People’s NT Commentary)

"a widow" of Nain



"Nain was a small village in Galilee about seven miles southwest of Nazareth [and 25 miles SW of Capernaum on the hill “little Hermon” as it slopes down to the plain of Esdraelon to the southeast, not in Galilee proper; now a squalid collection of mud hovels]. Luke tells us that Jesus traveled to Nain from Capernaum, where he had cured the slave of a Roman centurion. Before Jesus enters the village gates, he encounters a funeral procession. Luke relates the circumstances to show how pitiful the situation is. 'A man who had died was being carried out' (v.12), accompanied by his mother, a widow." (Women in Scripture)

“Among the many widows who were in Israel (Luke 4:25), quite a few of them crossed the pathway of Jesus in the days of [his] flesh.” (The Women of the Bible) "The image of a widow as a symbol for the poor who are completely dependent on God is more developed in Luke than in any other Gospel." (Women in the New Testament) "When a woman's husband died in first-century [BC] Jewish communities, the wife was designated a widow, a term with strict social/economic meaning. A 'widow' was a woman no longer under the authority of a male, either her father or her deceased husband. Although Jewish law recognized that widows lived legitimately by their own authority, this freedom from male authority could leave a woman in a vulnerable social position." (Women in Scripture)

Thompson, Abigail Dyer, “Overcoming ‘the last enemy,’” Christian Science Journal, Vol.56 (April 1939), p. 7.

--[The young man of Nain] is described in the Gospel of Luke as “the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.”

• This young man had probably carried what seemed to him a heavy responsibility, because of his being the only son of his mother, and in consequence had strongly resisted the thought of death.

---At the gate of the city of Nain, Jesus met the funeral procession, and, as though that had been the purpose of his coming, he paused and the funeral procession stopped also.

• Turning to the bereaved mother, with his usual tenderness and compassion he sympathetically said, “Weep not.”

---The he stepped to the bier and declared with authority and power, “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.”

• And what followed immediately? The Scriptures tell us that “he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”

Williams, Christine Irby (Houston, TX), “Shine the Light,” BIBLE FORUM, Christian Science Journal, Vol.125 (August 2007), p. 10.

--For Jesus, crowds were the norm.--The Gospels give many examples in which Jesus publically and outwardly let his light shine to reveal already possible solutions to the challenges around him.

• Once when Jesus was approaching the gate of a city with “many of his disciples…and much people,” there was another crowd nearby in a funeral procession (see Luke 7:11-16).

---With a single touch of the bier that carried the dead son of a weeping woman, Jesus stopped the funeral procession.

• Rather than hiding his spiritual vision from the crowds, Jesus let his light shine—and raised the boy from the dead, showing the mother the highest form of compassion that any parent could hope for.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:



Bible Translations

King James Version (KJV). Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK, 1611 (1955 ed.)

Metzger, Bruce M. and Roland E. Murphy (eds.), The New Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV). Oxford University Press: New York, NY, 1991.

Moffatt, James, A New Translation of the Bible. Harper & Brothers Publishers: New York, NY, 1922 (1954 ed.)

New English Bible, The (NEB). Oxford University Press: New York, NY, 1961 (1972 ed.).

New International Version (NIV): Student Bible. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI, 1986 (2002 ed.).

Schuller, Robert H. (ex.ed.), Possibility Thinkers Bible: The New King James Version (NKJV). Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville, TN, 1984.

Scofield, Rev. C.I., D.D., The Scofield Reference Bible (KJV). Oxford University Press: New York, NY, 1909 (1945 ed.)

Thompson, Frank Charles (ed.), The New Chain-Reference Bible (KJV). B.B. Kirkbride Bible Co: Indianapolis, IN, 1964.

Today’s Parallel Bible (KJV, NIV, NASB, NLT). Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI, 2000.

Bible Paraphrased Interpretations

Peterson, Eugene H., The Message. NavPress: Colorado Springs, CO, 1993 (2002 ed.)

Phillips, J.B., The New Testament in Modern English. Macmillan Publishing Co.: New York, NY, 1958 (1973 edition).

Commentaries

Barton, John and John Muddiman (ed.), The Oxford Bible Commentary. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK, 2001.

Black, Matthew and H.H. Rowley (eds.), Peake’s Commentary on the Bible.Van Nostrand Reinhold (UK) Co., Ltd: London, ENG, 1962.

Boring, M. Eugene, Revelation: Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1989.

Boring, M. Eugene and Fred B. Craddock, The People's New Testament Commentary. Westminster John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 2004.

Brueggemann, Walter, Genesis: Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1982.

Buttrick, George Arthur (comm.ed., et al), The Interpreter’s Bible. Abingdon Press: New York, NY, 1953.



Craddock, Fred B., Luke: Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1990.

Creach, Jerome F.D., Joshua: Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 2003.

Davies, G. Henton, et.al. (ed.), The Twentieth Century Bible Commentary. Harper & Brothers, Publisher: New York, NY, 1932 (1955 ed.)

Dobson, Edward G. (cont. et al), King James Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville, TN, 1999.

Dummelow, The Rev J.R. (ed.), A Commentary on the Holy Bible. MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc: New York, NY, 1908 (1975 ed.).

Dunn, James D.G. (gen.ed.), Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.: Grand Rapids, MI, 2003.

Eiselen, Frederick C. (ed.), The Abingdon Bible Commentary. Abingdon Press: New York, NY, 1929.

Fretheim, Terence E., Exodus: Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1991.

Gore, Charles, Henry Leighton Goude, and Alfred Guillaume (eds.), A New Commentary on Holy Scripture. The Macmillan Company: New York, NY, 1928.

Hare, Douglas R.A., Matthew: Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1993.

Henry, Matthew, Commentary on the Holy Bible (in six volumes), 1706. Reprinted by MacDonald Publishing Co.: McLean, VA.

Laymon, Charles M. (ed.), The Interpreter’s One-volume Commentary on the Bible. Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN, 1971.

Nickelson, Ronald L. (ed.), KJV Standard Lesson Commentary: International Sunday School Lessons, 2007-2008. Standard Publishing: Cincinnati, OH, 2007.

MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville, TN, 2005.

Matera, Frank J., II Corinthians: The New Testament Library. Westminster John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 2003.

Mays, James L. (gen ed.), HarperCollins Bible Commentary. Harper: San Francisco, CA, 2000.

McKenna, Megan, On Your Mark. Orbis Books: Maryknoll, NY, 2006.

Newsom, Carol A. and Sharon H. Ringe (eds.), Women’s Bible Commentary. Westminster John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1998.



O’Day, Gail R. and David L. Petersen (eds.), Theological Bible Commentary. Westminster John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 2009..

Perkins, Pheme, First and Second Peter, James, and Jude: Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1995.

Sloyan, Gerard S, John: Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1988.

Smith, D. Moody, First, Second, and Third John: Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1991.

Weiser, Artur, The Psalms: The Old Testament Library. Westminster Press: Philadelphia, PA, 1962.

Whiston, William (tr.), Josephus: The Complete Works. Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville, TN, 1998 (reprinted). [100 AD]

Williamson, Lamar, Jr., Mark: Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1983.

Willimon, William H., Acts: Interpretation, A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. John Knox Press: Louisville, KY, 1988.

Dictionaries

Achtemeier, Paul J. (ed.), The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Harper: San Francisco, 1996.

Brownrigg, Ronald, Who’s Who in the Bible. The New Testament. Bonanza Books: New York, NY, 1980.

Butler, Trent C., Ph.D. (gen.ed.), Holmon Bible Dictionary. Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville, TN, 1991.

Buttrick, George Arthur (ed.), The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (in four volumes). Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN, 1962.

Comay, Joan, Who’s Who in the Bible: The Old Testament. Bonanza Books: New York, NY, 1980.

Evans, Craig A. & Stanley E. Porter (eds.), Dictionary of New Testament Background. InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL, 2000.

Freedman, David Noel (editor-in-chief), The Anchor Bible Dictionary. Doubleday: New York, NY, 1992.

__________, Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, MI, 2000.

Gehman, Henry Snyder (ed.), The New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible. The Westminster Press: Philadelphia, PA, 1970.

Jacobus, Melancthon, D.D,, et.al (eds.), Funk and Wagnalls New Standrad Bible Dictionary. Funk and Wagnalls Co.: New York, NY, 1936 (Third Revised Ed.)



Losch, Richard R., All the People in the Bible. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.: Grand Rapids, MI, 2008. Metzger, Bruce and Michael D. Coogan (eds.), The Oxford Guide to Ideas & Issues of the Bible. Oxford University Press: New York, NY, 2001.

__________, The Oxford Guide to People & Places of the Bible. Oxford University Press: New York, NY, 2001.

Meyers, Carol (gen.ed.), Women in Scripture. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.: Grand Rapids, MI, 2001.

Peloubet, F.N., Peloubet’s Bible Dictionary. The John C. Winston Co: Philadelphia, PA, 1947.

Smith, William, LLD, A Dictionary of the Bible. American Baptist Publication Society: Philadelphia, PA, 1893.

Who Was Who in the Bible . Thomas Nelson: Nashville, TN, 1999.

www.crosswalk.com, Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary.

www.crosswalk.com, Easton’s Bible Dictionary.

Handbooks

Blair, Edward P., Abingdon Bible Handbook. Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN, 1975.

Bowker, John (ed.), The Complete Bible Handbook. DK Publishing, Inc: London, UK, 1998.

Halley, Henry H., Halley’s Bible Handbook. Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapid, MI, 1927 (1965 ed.)

Unger, Merrill F., Unger’s Bible Handbook. Moody Press: Chicago, IL, 1967.

Atlases, Maps, and Geography

DeVries, LaMoine F., Cities of the Biblical World. Hendrickson Publishers: Peabody, MA, 1997 (2nd Printing Aug 1998).

Frank, Harry Thomas (ed.), Atlas of the Bible Lands. Hammond Inc.: Maplewood, NJ, 1990.

Isbouts, Jean-Pierre, The Biblical World: an illustrated atlas. National Geographic: Washington, DC, 2007.

Nelson’s Complete Book of Maps & Charts. Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville, TV, 1996.

Then and Now Bible Map Book. Rose Publishing: Torrance, CA, 1997.

Webster’s Geographical Dictionary. G. & C. Merriam co.: Springfield, MA, 1949 (1963 ed.).


http://www.crosswalk.com/

http://www.crosswalk.com/


Whitney, Rev. George H., D.D., Hand-Book of Bible Geography. Phillips & Hunt: New York, NY, 1879.

Wright, Paul H., Holmon Quick Source Bible Atlas. Holmon Bible Publishers: Nashville, TN, 2005.

Time Lines

Bible Time-Line. Christian Science Publishing Society: Boston, MA, 1993.

Bible Time Line. Rose Publishing Inc.: Torrance, CA, 2001.

Grun, Bernard, The Timetables of History. Simon & Schuster: New York, NY, 1975 (3rd ed.)

Miscellaneous

Andruss, Bessie Edmond, Bible Stories as Told To Very Little Children. Coward-McCann, Inc.: New York, NY, 1937.

Asimov, Isaac, Asimov’s Guide to the Bible: Two Volumes in One. Wings Books: New York, NY, 1969.

Baker, Mark (ed.), The Baker Encyclopedia of Bible People. Baker Books: Grand Rapids, MI, 2006.

Barber, Wayne, Eddie Rasnake, and Richard Shepherd, Following God: Learning Life Principles from the Women of the Bible, Book One. AMG Publishers: Chattanooga, TN, 2006 (13th printing)

Beebe, Mary Jo; Olene E. Carroll, and Nancy H. Fischer, Jesus’ Healings, Part 1. General Publications Bible Products, CSPS: Boston, MA, 2002

__________, Jesus’ Healings, Part 2. General Publications Bible Products, CSPS: Boston, MA, 2002.

__________, Jesus’ Healings, Part 3. General Publications Bible Products, CSPS: Boston, MA, 2002.

__________, New Testament Healings: Peter, Paul, and Friends. General Publications Bible Products, CSPS: Boston, MA, 2003.

Begbie, Harold (ed.), The Children's Story Bible. The Grolier Society: New York, NY, 1948.

Bible Through the Ages, The. The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.: Pleasantville, NY, 1996.

Children's Bible, The. Golden Press: New York, NY, 1965.

Click, E. Dale, The Inner Circle. CSS Publishing Company, Inc.: Lima, OH, 2000.

Crossan, John Dominic, The Birth of Christianity. HarperCollins Publishing: San Francisco, CA, 1998.

Deem, Edith, All of the Women of the Bible. HarperCollins: San Francisco, CA, 1955.

Dewey, David, A User's Guide to Bible Translations. InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL, 2004.

Essex, Barbara J., Bad Boys of the New Testament. The Pilgrim Press: Cleveland, OH, 2005.CSDirectory.com weekly Bible Study resources http://www.csdirectory.com/biblestudy/nw-index.html

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Feiler, Bruce, Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths. William Morrow (HarperCollins Publishers Inc): New York, NY, 2002.

Getty-Sullivan, Mary Ann, Women in the New Testament. The Liturgical Press: Collegeville, MN, 2001.

Great People of the Bible and How They Lived. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.: Pleasantville, NY, 1974 (3rd Printing).

Haag, Herbert and Dorothee Soelle et.al., Great Couples of the Bible. Fortress Press: Minneapolis, MN, 2004 (English Translation, 2006)

Hill, Craig C., Hellenists and Hebrews. Fortress Press: Minneapolis, MN, 1992.

Kee, Howard Clark, et al, The Cambridge Companion to the Bible. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK, 1997.

Keller, Werner, The Bible as History. William Morrow and Co.: New York, NY, 1964 (revised).

Kirsch, Jonathan, The Harlot by the Side of the Road: Forbidden Tales of the Bible. Ballantine Books: New York, NY, 1997.

Landis, Benson Y., An Outline of the Bible Book by Book. Barnes & Noble Books: New York, NY, 1963.

Lockyer, Herbert, All the Women of the Bible. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI, 1967.

McBirnie, William Steuart, Ph.D., The Search for the Twelve Apostles. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.: Carol Stream, IL, 1973.

Miller, Madeleine S. and J. Lane, Harper’s Encyclopedia of Bible Life. Harper & Row Publishers: San Francisco, CA, 1978.

Murphy, Kathleen, The Women of the Passion. Liguori Publications: Liguori, MO, 2005.

Mysteries of the Bible. The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.: Pleasantville, NY, 1988.

Schmithals, Walter, The Office of the Apostle in the Early Church. Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN, 1969.

Smith, Wilbur M., D.D. (ed.), Peloubet’s Select Notes on the International Sunday School Lessons. W.A. Wilde Co.: Boston, MA, 1943.

Snipes, Joan Koelle, Bible Study for Children. Bible Teaching Press: Shepherdstown, WV, 1999.

Tosto, Peter (ed.), Found Volumes, Version 2007 (software). www.foundvolumes.com: Marietta, GA, 2007.

Trammell, Mary Metzner & William G. Dawley, The Reforming Power of the Scriptures: A Biography of the English Bible. The Christian Science Publishing Society: Boston, MA, 1996.


http://www.foundvolumes.com/


Trench, R.C., Notes on the Parables of Our Lord. Baker Book House: Grand Rapids, MI, 1948.

Walker, Peter, In the Steps of Paul. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI, 2008.

Willmington, Harold L., The Outline Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.: Carol Stream, IL, 1999.

Zondervan Bible Study Library 5.0., Family Edition (software). Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI, 2003.

*The weekly Bible Lessons are made up of selections from the King James Version of the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.


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format - CSDirectory.com · Web view• The situation looks pretty clear cut: no way out.---But Elisha sees things spiritually—the way God has created them. • He prays that