IVP Book Club Digest - January 19, 2015

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J A N U A R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 5

IN THIS ISSUE ▷HAVE MARKETPLACE MEASURES CORRUPTED MISSIONS? ▷ROMANS

▷ A REVEREND’S JOURNEY WITH PARKINSON’S ▷FRESH BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES



Joseph Barber Lightfoot (1828–1889), also known as J. B. Lightfoot, was an

English theologian and preacher who served as canon of St Paul’s Cathedral and

Bishop of Durham. He was a professor of divinity at Trinity College, editing the

Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology from 1854 to 1859, and he gained enormous

popularity for his work Essays on the Work Entitl ed Supernatural Religion, a defense ofthe New Testament. His writings include essays on biblical and historical subject

matter, commentaries on Pauline epistles and studies on the Apostolic Fathers, as

well as four posthumously published volumes of sermons.

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2 I V P B O O K C L U B . C O M

UNEARTHING A TIMELESS TREASURE

The Acts of the Apostles is the first in a

three-volume set of newly discovered and

previously unpublished material from

J. B. Lightfoot, one of the great biblical

scholars of the modern era.

Among the many pages discovered were

two sets of lecture notes on the Acts

of the Apostles. Together they amount

to a richly detailed, albeit unfinished,

commentary on Acts 1–21.

The project of writing a commentary onActs had long been on Lightfoot's mind,

and in the 1880s he wrote an article

about the book for the second British

edition of William Smith’s Dictionary of

the Bible . Thankfully, that is not all he

left behind.

viii + 399 pages, hardcover, 2944, $40.00

CLUB PRICE: $28.00This book will ship automatically unless

you reply by January 19, 2015.



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M A I N S E L E C T I O N

1-800-843-9487

In the spring of 2013, Ben Witherington III

discovered hundreds of pages of biblical

commentary by Lightfoot in the Durham

Cathedral Library. While incomplete, these

commentaries represent a goldmine for histo-

rians and biblical scholars, as well as for the

many people who have found Lightfoot’s work

both informative and edifying, deeply learned

and pastorally sensitive.

Now on display for all to see, these commen-

tary notes reveal a scholar well ahead of his

time, one of the great minds of his or any gen-

eration. Well over a century later, Lightfoot’s

writings remain a relevant and significant

resource for the church today.

“The discovery of hitherto unknown exegeticalworks by J. B. Lightfoot is a rare gift, full of

potential for fresh insight both about the man himself

(acknowledged worldwide as the leading scholar of his

day) and, as he would have wished, about texts which

he knew so well and which themselves express the

heart of the gospel.”

—N. T. Wright

“J. B. Lightfoot was perhaps the greatest New

Testament exegete in the nineteenth-century English-

speaking world, and his works remain useful today.

The discovery of his previously unpublished research,

which addresses in a balanced and informed way

many issues still debated today, is an epochal event in

New Testament studies.”

—Craig Keener, Asbury Theological Seminary

“Lightfoot is peerless among biblical commentators ofhis day. . . . To watch him work—as in this book

on Acts—is an education in the questions to ask,

approaches to take and ways to draw evidence from

disparate sources together to produce a coherent whole.

We are greatly in debt to Ben Witherington, Todd

Still and their collaborators for bringing this material

to light for our day.” —Steve Walton, Tyndale House, Cambridge

“Everyone who has read J. B. Lightfoot’s great com-

mentaries on the letters of Paul wishes for more. . . .

The publication of Lightfoot’s long-lost commentary is

momentous.”

—Craig A. Evans, Payzant Distinguished

Professor of New Testament, Acadia University

ABOUT THE LIGHTFOOT LEGACY SET

PRAISE FOR THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES



44


THE LEGACY LIVES ON

David Congdon, IVP Academic editor for the

project, discussed this exciting publishing event with

editors Ben Witherington III and Todd D. Still.

Congdon: Could you briefly tell me how

this project started?

Witherington: In 1978 I was wandering

around Durham Cathedral Library and saw a

case with handwritten notes on Acts 15 and

assumed there must be more. [After many

years,] I finally went and rummaged through

everything they had, which included some1,500 handwritten pages on Acts, John, 1

Peter and 2 Corinthians—all untranscribed

and all unpublished. I felt like I hit the moth-

er lode since he was the greatest commentator

of the nineteenth century.

Ben Witherington III (PhD, University of Durham) is professor of New

Testament for doctoral studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and on the

doctoral faculty at St Andrews University in Scotland. An ordained pastor

in the United Methodist Church and a popular lecturer, he has written over

forty books, including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest .

Todd D. Still (PhD, University of Glasgow) is William M. HinsonProfessor of Christian Scriptures in the George W. Truett Theological

Seminary of Baylor University. He is the author of Conflict at Thessalonica: A

Pauline Church and Its Neighbours and the editor of Jesus and Paul Reconnected: Fresh

Pathways into an Old Debate. He is a licensed and ordained Baptist minister.

A CONVERSATION WITH THE EDITORS

Congdon: After this discovery, what hap-

pened next? Is this where Todd entered the

picture?

Witherington: I examined the extent of

what was in the notebooks. There werealso two large blue loose-leaf binders full

of deteriorating pages. I had to wear gloves

and turn pages on a pillow to prevent

crumbling. On top of all this, once I had

alerted the librarian to what was there,

they took it all away for restoration. One

can only double check the digital images to

see if I transcribed correctly.

Still: Ben and I have been good friends for

a number of years now. Ben shared with me

via email regarding the Lightfoot largess he

had found. In response, I shared with Ben



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M A I N S E L E C T I O N

1-800-843-9487

PROJECTED VOLUMES

VOLUME 2: JOHNFall 2015

VOLUME 3: 1 CORINTHIANS & 1 PETERFall 2016

that I was something of a “Lightfootphile”

and how over the years I had consulted and

recommended his various commentaries. At

this point, the project began to percolate.

In short order, through the generosity of

Asbury Seminary, Baylor University and my

father (Willard Still), we were able to secure

the monies necessary to digitize all the rel-

evant notebooks and loose-leaf pages that

Ben had identified.

Congdon: Could

each of you tell me

one thing that hasmost surprised you

about these materials?

Witherington: For me it’s that Lightfoot

kept revising and adding to this material,

including adding references to scholarly

literature (for decades!) when he was only

using it for lectures at Cambridge. It is as

if he knew someone might find all this and

one day publish it.

Still: Into his learned exegetical lecture

notes, Lightfoot will sometimes weave

poignant theological and homiletical state-

ments. Encountering such remarks is like

coming across the surprise in a box of

Cracker Jacks!

Congdon: What would you say to the

pastor or the seminarian who is looking

for resources on Acts and who may not

know much about J. B. Lightfoot? What

is the abiding value of this work for the

church today?

Still: Given Lightfoot’s immense erudition,

encyclopedic knowledge and scholarly pro-

ductivity, it is easy to forget that he was,

among other things,

a preacher and min-

ister. The work of

Lightfoot, not least

on Acts, serves as

both a resource and a

model for those who are seeking to divide

rightly the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).

Witherington: The church today is suf-

fering from a sort of amnesia; it has for-

gotten the rock from which it was hewn,and so it fails to understand its own iden-

tity. The past, as Lightfoot would say, is

not mere prologue; it is the foundation of

our faith and on it we must stand.

Lightfoot kept revising and adding to this

material. . . . It is as if he knew someone

might find all this and one day publish it.



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N E W A L T E R N A T E S

I V P B O O K C L U B . C O M6

OVERTURNING TABLESScott A. Bessenecker

We are more than the businesses we have become. Much ofChristian ministry and Protestant mission has been shaped tooperate not according to the witness of the Scriptures, but accord-ing to the values of the free market, defining missions successin marketplace terms. Scott Bessenecker points toward a view ofmissions freed of false attachments to material paradigms andtailored toward a kingdom vision.

201 PAGES, PAPERBACK, 3680, $16.00

CLUB PRICE: $11.20EBOOK AVAILABLE

PSALMSTyndale Old Testament Commentaries

Tremper Longman III

The book of Psalms is the heart of the Old Testament, the libretto

of the most vibrant worship imaginable. It informs our intellect,stimulates our imagination, arouses our emotions and stirs us toholy thoughts and actions. It also anticipates Jesus Christ. HereTremper Longman interprets each psalm in its Old Testament set-ting, summarizes its overall message and reflects on its significancefrom a New Testament perspective.


CLUB PRICE: $12.60

QUESTIONING YOUR DOUBTSChristina M. H. Powell

You are not alone with your doubts. Sometimes we have intellectualquestions about the plausibility of God. Other times we go throughdifficult life experiences that cause us to question our faith. Scientistand cancer researcher Christina Powell helps us grapple with ourdoubts about God, allowing us to move beyond skepticism, dis-illusionment or painful life circumstances. We can ultimately work

through challenges to faith and find a renewed confidence in ourbeliefs when we dig deeper into our questions.





1-800-843-9487

N E W A L T E R N A T E S

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THE FUTURE OF EVANGELICAL THEOLOGYAmos Yong

The shift of Christianity from the Euro-American West to theGlobal South invites a thorough rethinking of evangelical theol-ogy. In this bold theological proposal, Amos Yong draws on theAsian American religious experience to develop a pentecostalglobal evangelical theology.



THE WAY OF GRACEGlandion Carney with Marjean Brooks

Foreword by Richard J. Foster

With poignant vulnerability, The Way of Grace describes ReverendGlandion Carney’s journey from the diagnosis of Parkinson’sdisease into a new land of God’s amazing grace. We too canexperience lives full of grace and truth, courageously searchingout God’s wonders every day.



WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVENNew Studies in Biblical Theology

James M. Hamilton Jr.

James Hamilton delves into the book of Daniel’s rich contribu-tion to the Bible’s unfolding redemptive-historical storyline.He addresses key questions and examines the literary structure,visions, heavenly beings and typological patterns.


CLUB PRICE: $17.50

SERVICELifeGuide® Bible Studies

R. Paul Stevens

Looking inside ministry specifically, R. Paul Stevens examines

biblical examples of service that were motivated by imagination,passion, faith, hope and love. You will discover how to live andserve wholeheartedly, no matter what your profession.






PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be

transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

—Romans 12:2

ROMANS

LifeGuide® Bible

Studies

Jack Kuhatschek

Sometimes our wor-ship loses its passion.Our prayer life becomes

stagnant. We forget whywe are serving God. Andslowly, subtly, the world’sways become our ways.The New Testamentbook of Romansaddresses these problems,showing us how we canbreak out of old pat-terns and become new in

Christ.96 PAGES,PAPERBACK, 3008,$8.00


ROMANS

IVP New Testament

Commentary Series

Grant R. Osborne

Paul, in seeking to bringunity and understand-ing between Jews and

Gentiles in Rome, setsforth in Romans his mostprofound explication ofthe gospel and its mean-ing for the church. Theletter’s relevance is asgreat today as it was inthe first century. Grant R.Osborne explains whatthe letter meant to its

original hearers and itsapplication for us today.

447 PAGES,PAPERBACK, 4006,$20.00


ROMANS

Tyndale New

Testament

Commentaries

F. F. Bruce

While Romans has beenamong the most influ-

ential books of the NewTestament, it has alsobeen the subject of someof the church’s mostheated debates. In theconcise and informativestyle that has become thehallmark of the TyndaleCommentaries, F. F.Bruce guides us along

the difficult but reward-ing paths of this greatletter.


CLUB PRICE: $12.60

COMMENTARIESON ROMANS AND1–2 CORINTHIANS

Ancient Christian

Texts

Ambrosiaster, edited

and translated by

Gerald L. Bray For the first time,Ambrosiaster’s com-mentaries on Romansand Corinthians aremade available in Englishtranslation, offering arich repository of insightinto the thinking ofpre-Reformation church

leaders for the lead-ers and teachers of thechurch today.

300 PAGES,HARDCOVER, 2903,$60.00

CLUB PRICE: $42.00



1-800-843-9487 9

SUPPLEMENT YOUR STUDY

For both students and teachers of the Word,

these resources approach Bible study

from fresh perspectives.

FRAMEWORKS

Eric Larson

A fresh, innovative andgroundbreaking surveyof the New Testament,Frameworks combinescompelling stories, bril-

liant images and simpleillustrations like mapsand charts to create anengaging context to helpyou navigate Scripture.With over 125 high-resolution color pho-tographs and largemargins for note taking,Frameworks is the perfect

companion to yourfavorite study Bible.


CLUB PRICE: $13.99

THE IVPINTRODUCTIONTO THE BIBLE

Edited by Philip S.

Johnston

This resource is intendedto reduce the fuzziness

of biblical interpretation,providing backgroundinformation to the wholeBible and each Testament,as well as the gap betweenthe Testaments. It alsointroduces all the mainsections of the Bibleand each biblical bookin turn. So the Bible is

brought to life, first withbroad brush strokes andthen with fine art work.

XII + 292 PAGES,PAPERBACK, 3940,$23.00


TRANSFORMINGBIBLE STUDY

Bob Grahmann

In this book BobGrahmann unfolds along-appreciated methodof inductive Bible study,

updated to meet theneeds of today’s genera-tion. With both biblicalexpertise and culturalawareness he lays outthe method clearly. Withexercises to put themethod into practice,this is a book that willbenefit you individually

as well as in your nextgroup Bible study.


CLUB PRICE: $11.20

THE BIBLE STUDYHANDBOOK

Lindsay Olesberg

Lindsay Olesberg lays afoundation for why weread the Bible, what atti-tudes are most helpful

as we enter into seriousBible study, and whatpractices yield the mostfruit. From foundationalinsights to best practicesand hands-on exercises,you will find everythingyou need to cultivateyour curiosity, hone yourattention and mine the

lessons of whatever pas-sage you find yourself in.





ENDURANCE FOR A LIFE OF FAITH

“Let us throw off everything that hinders andthe sin that so easily entangles. And let us run

with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

— Hebrews 12:1


THE RACE SETBEFORE US

Thomas R. Schreiner

and Ardel B.

Caneday

The New Testamentoften describes theChristian life as a mara-thon. But what exactlyis the prize? This bookoffers a serious, exegeti-cal wrestling with thebiblical understandingof saving faith and itsimplications. This studyconsiders all of the rel-evant biblical texts andweighs their meaningfor both Christian livingand pastoral ministry.


CLUB PRICE: $21.00

CHRISTIANCHARACTER

LifeGuide® Bible

Studies

Andrea Sterk and

Peter Scazzero

Compassion, humility,faith, perseverance. Welong for the beauty ofChrist to be reflected inour lives. Such charactercomes only as the Spiritof God transforms usthrough the Word ofGod. These Bible studieswill help you along your

journey toward becomingall that God created youto be.


CLUB PRICE: $5.60

A LONGOBEDIENCE IN THESAME DIRECTION

Eugene H. Peterson

Tucked away in theHebrew Psalter, EugenePeterson discoveredthe Songs of Ascents,songs that were sung bypilgrims on their way upto worship in Jerusalem.In these songs (Psalms120–134) Petersonfinds encouragement formodern pilgrims as welearn to grow in worship,

service, joy, work, happi-ness, humility, commu-nity and blessing.



PERSEVERANCE

Christian Basics

Bible Studies

Eugene Peterson

When the going getstough, what does aChristian do? God hasgiven you resources tosee you through toughtimes. As you grow inhope, patience, repen-tance and joy, you alsogrow in your abilityto persevere. These sixstudies, based on ALong Obedience in the Same

Direction, will encour-age you to continue inthe path Christ has setbefore you.


CLUB PRICE: $6.30

O v e r 1 0 M i l l i o n L i f e G u i d e s S o l d

A L i f e G u i d e ®

B i b l e S t u d y

12 STUDIES FOR INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS

Andrea Sterk &

Peter Scazzero

CHRISTIANCHARACTER



111-800-843-9487

BIBLICAL BACKSTORY

Immerse yourself in the context of Scripture

for a more complete understanding.

THE IVP BIBLE BACKGROUND

COMMENTARY: OLD TESTAMENT

John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews and Mark W. Chavalas

“A treasure of information crucial to enriching your under-standing of the Bible.”

—Tremper Longman III, Westmont College

832 PAGES, HARDCOVER, 1419, $35.00


THE IVP BIBLE BACKGROUND

COMMENTARY: NEW TESTAMENT

Craig S. Keener

“Carefully researched yet accessible for the busy pastor or otherreader, this commentary puts years of research at the reader’s

fingertips, passage by passage, in a single volume.”

—George O. Wood, general superintendent of theAssemblies of God

816 PAGES, HARDCOVER, 2478, $35.00


IVP BIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTARY SET

2 TITLES, 40310, $70.00

CLUB PRICE: $46.20—THAT’S 34% OFF!

USE CODE 1155 WHEN ORDERING ONLINE

In verse-by-verse format, these commentaries provide the crucial historical, social and cultural backgroundyou need for responsible—and rich—Bible study. They each include a glossary of cultural terms and

important historical figures, maps and charts, up-to-date bibliographies, and introductory essaysabout cultural background information for each book of the Old and New Testaments.



N E X T M O N T H

Experience transforming community with Ruth Haley

Barton, and expand God’s presence to the ends of the earth.

THE GOSPEL IN THEMARKETPLACE OF IDEAS

Paul Copan and

Kenneth D. Litwak

201 PAGES, PAPERBACK,4043, $18.00


THE LOST WORLDOF SCRIPTURE

John H. Walton and

D. Brent Sandy



CALLED TO BE SAINTS

Gordon T. Smith



CHRIST CRUCIFIED

Donald Macleod



RENAISSANCE

Os Guinness



CHRISTIANITY ON TRIAL

W. Mark Lanier



M I S S A DIGE S T M A I N ?

I t ’ s no t too l a t e to t ake ano ther look !

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IVP Book Club Digest - January 19, 2015