Biblical Studies

This commentary is illuminating and instructive for anyone seeking to understand the Epistle to the Hebrews from the perspective of the Orthodox Church. Frequent mention is made of the specific placement of selected readings from the Epistle in the Church's liturgical and sacramental celebrations, and therefore this book is particularly useful for those responsible for preaching and teaching in the Church.

Noteworthy here is the fact that readings from Hebrews are prescribed during the two most important times in the Orthodox liturgical year: the days prior to the celebration of the Nativity of Christ and the Great Fast before Pascha.

The author's exposition of Hebrews 3:13 summarizes well the purpose and pastoral tone of the whole Commentary: "exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

His Eminence Dmitri is Archbishop of Dallas and the South, of the Orthodox Church in America.

In this book, Veselin Kesich examines the resurrection faith of the early Church, proceeding from an analysis of the idea of resurrection in pre-Christian and New Testament times, moving through the central events themselves and exploring their significance for all creation at all times.

The First Epistle to the Thessalonians is the oldest of the writings which have been gathered into the New Testament. In reading it we can sense the powerful impact made by St Paul's preaching of the Gospel as well as the Apostle's continuing prayerful concern for this new mission church. We also discover St Paul's understanding of the Second Coming of Christ as he deals with the perennial question of "those who have fallen asleep."

This important contribution to Orthodox biblical studies offers many helpful insights for all who wish to understand the bible better, experts and novices alike. Its author, Fr Paul Tarazi, Assistant Professor of Old Testament at St Vladimir's Seminary, clearly demonstrates the importance of discovering what the scriptural text itself is saying.

A synthesis of doctrine, spirituality, and biblical scholarship applied to the similarities and differences between old and new revelation in the Bible.

Fr. Tarazi explains how the very concept of a New Testament "scripture" came into being, beginning with Paul's letters. Paul's death then left a void in the leadership of Gentile Christianity, which was still under attack by Jewish Christianity. In order to defend the faith as it was preached by Paul, some of his followers created what is now the Gospel of Mark.

What prompted Luke to write his two-volume work and why did he write it in two volumes? Why did Luke, who knew and used Mark as a source, believe a second gospel was necessary? Why is the Holy Spirit so much more prominent in Luke-Acts than it was in Mark? After giving the reader a clear overall picture of Luke and Acts, Tarazi devotes the remainder of the book to detailed exegesis.

This new edition has two completely new sections: one titled "The Rise and Formation of Scripture" and one titled "Toward the Gospel." Together they clarify the relationship between the Old and New Testaments and will help every reader understand why the New Testament cannot be understood except in the light of the Old.

Paul Tarazi's distinctive treatment of the prophetic books allows him to answer all of these and other key questions in the second volume of his trilogy of Old Testament Introductions. First examining in detail Amos as a prototype of all the prophets and then focusing solely on the unique message and characteristics of each of the others, he is able to treat important issues with a dept rarely attained in an introductory work.

Fr. Tarazi provides essential background un the language, history, and culture of those who first wrote, used, and edited these psalms, leading to sometimes surprising new understandings of common terms such as "king," "God," "Lord," and "righteousness." Along the way he explains how and why the psalms were used in prayer, and what we can learn about prayer itself.