ESV Study Bible: Interview with NT Editor Tom Schreiner

The New ESV Study Bible

“The first print run of Crossway’s new resource, the ESV Study Bible, of 100,000 copies, sold out even before the publication date. New Testament scholar Tom Schreiner served as the New Testament editor of the study Bible.” He was recently interviewed about the content of the new Bible. Here’s a preview:

GB: What is your opinion of the finished product?

Schreiner: I am very pleased with it. With the maps and charts and all the color, it is beautifully executed. I think it is very readable. It is very pleasant to the eye and most importantly, I think the content is excellent.

GB: What aspect of this study Bible do you think will do the most to help Christians to understand their Bibles more accurately?

Schreiner: I think the most helpful thing is the notes. The ordinary Bible reader often needs help understanding, so as you go chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse, the notes are brief but substantive. A lot of readers don’t have time to read long commentaries, but with this Bible you get pithy, accurate, theologically-faithful notes that can help a reader grasp the content of the Scriptures, in a relatively short amount of time. It functions as a sort of mini-commentary.

Read the whole thing here.

(HT: Gender Blog)

The Writing’s On the Wall…

I don’t know about you, but I can be a sucker for the spectacular. I mean I understand that running backs cannot be successful without a good offensive line, but I also know that not too many folks are lining up to by jerseys of offensive tackles and guards. The running backs get the chance to actually score points that can determine wins and losses. Who gets more attention? But ask any running back how good they would be if their offensive line decided not to block for just one play. It wouldn’t be pretty!

If we’re honest, we are all drawn to the spectacular, even in Scripture. Think about what’s happened so far in the book of Daniel. We’ve seen elaborate dreams interpreted and fulfilled! We’ve seen men standing in fiery furnaces unharmed. We’ve seen God humble a proud king on the spot and then restore his greatness at the appointed time. What’s next? Well, how about a hand, floating in mid-air, writing a secret message on a wall? Yep, that’s what happens in Daniel chapter 5, and that is our text this Sunday at Baptist Church of the Redeemer.

Can you imagine what this would be like? The king’s response is indicative of the sheer pandemonium that must have broken out at the very sight of an armless hand writing on a wall. Later Daniel reveals that it is indeed God who sends the hand to deliver a prophetic message of judgement. Spectacular! But the question is, what message has God delivered to us? In other words, how is this spectacular penning of a divine message any different than the Bible that is sitting in front of you right now? Who is the author? What is the message? How important is it that we weigh and consider this divine message? It was important for King Belshazzar, as he would learn even that night. That Bible may not look spectacular, but it is indeed God’s specific, personal and glorious message to you and to me. It is His self-revelation; His writing on the wall. How will you respond to it’s message this week? How will you measure up in the justice scales of God? Join us this week as we run to the only one who can right our deficiencies.

“God is My Judge”

Paul said “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ.” It was through the word that Ezekiel saw dry bones transformed into life. How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to the word of God. I am so thankful to be at a church where I look forward to hearing the Word of God preached and exulted over every Sunday. It has been a joy to walk through Paul’s letter to the Colossians and examine the robust contours of the gospel. We have seen wisdom’s cry through the pen of Solomon in the first chapter of Proverbs. And now we are about to set out on a new journey through the book of Daniel. Are you as excited as I am?

Join us this week as Jim Hamilton opens this series with “Holiness in the Land of Shinar,” from Daniel 1:1-21. The book of Daniel begins in 605 B.C. as Babylon has conquered Jerusalem. We read in chapter one that “Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it…the LORD gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah into his hand…” Why has this happened? What would this mean for the future of the people of God? It seems the first order of business for the new king was to brainwash some of the finest young men in Israel to the Babylonian gods. He even gave these men new names representing these gods and commanded that they eat food and drink wine that symbolized their new found pagan allegiance. How will these young men respond? How would you respond?

We will see that these men will be distinct from their contemporaries. They will not defile themselves so easily. Now, the distinction in this text is not about diet or carb counts. Daniel and his three friends were pursuing holiness. This is what sets the people of God apart. Are you pursuing holiness? Is there a difference in your life, or would you be described as the typical American? How is our church displaying a distinction from the outside world? Where do we truly gain knowledge and wisdom? Daniel’s name means “God is my judge.” Is He yours? What other judges do you have in your life that you bow down to? Join us this week as we seek to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven.