The Ivp New Testament Commentary Series

Pastors with a passion for sound exposition and scholars with a heart for pastoral leadership have joined forces to produce this exciting commentary series, now in paper and with all new covers! Each volume, informed by the best of up-to-date evangelical scholarship, presents passage-by-passage commentary based on the NIV along with background information on authorship, setting, theme and various interpretive issues. A unique format allows the main commentary to focus on the vital message of the New Testament for today's church, while bottom-of-the-page notes include valuable scholarly information to support those who use the volumes as a resource for preaching or teaching preparation. Seldom have such readable commentary and reliable research helps been available in the same volume! Preachers, teachers, students and other individuals who want to dig deep into the heart of the New Testament will find an indispensable companion in the IVP New Testament Commentary Series.

The Gospel of John declares its purpose clearly - "these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." Thus it fulfills a dual function, encouraging believers and providing them with evidences for proclaiming that Jesus is God's Messiah, the divine, incarnate Son of God. In this pastorally oriented commentary, readers will find an introduction with background material concerning authorship, date and purpose, as well as a summary of important theological themes. A passage-by-passage exposition follows that focuses on understanding what John had to say to his original readers in order to see its relevance for the church today. Students, pastors, Bible teachers and everyone who wants to understand the message of John for the church will benefit from this resource.

Matthew was the most popular gospel in the early church, widely read for its clear empahsis on Jesus' teaching. Craig Keener expounds the text as a discipleship manual for believers today.

Ron Kernaghan expounds the Gospel of Mark for readers interested in how this gospel relates to the life of the church.

If there ever was a hostile environment for the gospel, it was strife-torn, ethnically diverse Palestine following the ascension of Jesus. In Acts, the sequel to his Gospel, Luke tells how the Holy Spirit transformed a ragtag band of believers into a unified, world-changing church. William Larkin explores this narrative of the early church.

Nothing cripples a church's effectiveness like internal strife. In Philippi, Paul addressed a congregation whose private struggles were compounded by opposition and suffering from without. Paul's strategy was to write them a letter of friendship and moral exhortation, reminding them of their "partnership in the gospel," their mutual suffering for the cause of Christ, and their need to "stand firm in one spirit." His approach and counsel can serve us well today.In this warm, well-written study of Philippians, readers will find an introduction that discusses the letter's occasion and purpose, authorship, and other background information, as well as its important theological themes. Passage-by-passage commentary follows that seeks to explain what the letter means to us today as well as what it meant for its original hearers.Students, pastors, Bible teachers and everyone who wants to understand the Paul's message for the church will benefit from this excellent resource.

G. Walter Hansen's study on Galatians is part of the IVP New Testament Commentary Series, a series which combines pastoral concerns with attention to tough exegetical issues and emphasizes the significance of the biblical text for today's church.