A great asset for your Biblical Library
925385
The Nelson's Biblical Cyclopedic Index is an awesome concordance/topical index/dictionary that I can't recommend enough.

One of the biggest upsides to the book is its compact size.  The portability of the book makes it a great addition to anyone's "church bag."  The contents and information contained in the book is quite vast.  You will find meanings behind words - complete with scriptural reference.  There are even biblical backgrounds included with many of the definitions and explanations.

I recommend this book as a great tool for Bible studys, devotionals, lessons, etc.  It would make a great addition to anyone's biblical library.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program.
3032501
This edition of the Kregel Exegetical Commentary series on Judges and Ruth is a great resource on these Old Testament books that are so intertwined within narrative of the Old Testament.  Robert B. Chisholm, Jr. has produced a readable yet thought provoking commentary.  By bringing the latest Old Testament scholarship together with the practicability of making the story of Judges and Ruth come alive, Chisholm has created a resource that is helpful to both the pastor and the scholar.

Some of the more helpful parts of the commentary include short reviews of other modern day commentaries on the books.  This gives readers a guide for other helpful resources to aide them in their study.  Chisholm also includes helpful introductions to the books, which include sermon ideas on how a pastor might approach preaching through the book.  In this volume, Kregel has written yet another helpful resource for readers to engage with the scripture on a deep and thoughtful level.
2919489
I began reading Digging Through the Bible from a copy I found in the library, but felt I'd be referring to it often enough that I should have one of my own. Freund combines archaeological finds, Biblical references and the ongoing debate between Biblical "minimalists" and "maximalists throughout his book and intersperses his chapters with personal experiences on excavations, literary references, cultural history, word analysis, rabbinical interpretations and more in a thoroughly readable way. I am very impressed with the richness of his knowledge and his well-rounded, inclusive approach.
551937
Reading the Bible well can be a daunting task for many Christians, seasoned or young. That is why it is important to get the foundations of how the whole Bible fits together, how to read the different genres or kinds of Scripture, and how Jesus relates to it all.

Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible: A Guide to Reading the Bible Well is a short, helpful new book published recently by Crossway that aims to help in this task.

To be sure, this book is a compilation of articles that would help readers in reading and interpreting the Bible. The individual chapter authors are renown biblical scholars.

Thankfully, the editors (Wayne Grudem, C. John Collins, and Thomas R. Schreiner) have compiled one very cohesive and concise book to address all the basic kinds of hermeneutical issues. Part 1 of the book is on the Old Testament, part 2 is on the Background to the New Testament, and part 3 is on the New Testament itself.

*Helpful Time Lines
I found the last section of the book, Part 4, very helpful. These last few pages of the book contain Time Lines, and it gave me a really insightful look at the chronological history of the forefathers of the Jewish faith, the United Monarchy of the kings of Israel, the Divided Monarchy and exilic times, and the generations returning from exile.

Furthermore, the intertestamental events time line is a great resource for those Bible readers who did not know of the various historical and cultural events that predated the Bible, circumstances that affected the context of the New Testament. Consequently, the included New Testament Time Line is certainly an important chart to learn and be familiar with. When we understand the time of Jesus better, the more we can appreciate the significance of his atoning sacrifice for us and for our salvation.

*Biblical Backgrounds
Similarly, Part 2: Background to the New Testament is the most meaty and dense section of this book, and yet a section the seasoned Christian should consider studying carefully. The time between the testaments and the so-called "four hundred years of silence" is an era of Christian history that needs to be studied.

While in seminary at SBTS, I recall that this content was lectured and discussed in the first week weeks of my introductory New Testament class. I remember being very confused as to who the Sadducees were, and what the Esssenes were all about. Such historical facts were completely foreign to me, cultural artifacts that were never mentioned in my Christian life in the church. This is why every Christian will be aided in their understanding of Biblical history. When we develop greater perspective that the Holy Scriptures of our Christian faith came out of true, historical time periods and cultures, we get a better understanding of how amazing Jesus is. We will in turn discover why God's redemptive plan for all mankind is so amazing: Jesus is the fulfillment of the whole Scripture.

*Highly Recommended
I heartily recommend this small book to every Christian, young and old. If you are reading the Bible for the first time, or if you are reading through the Bible for the 40th time, you'll be sure to find that this book is an excellent assistant to your biblical interpretation.
2968215
this is one of my favorite one - volume bible commentaries. the other is&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Nelson-s-Compact-Series-Compact-Bible-Commentary/dp/0785252487/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Nelson's Compact Series: Compact Bible Commentary</a>.
it presents each book of the bible with a brief but thorough introduction covering the title, nature, authorship etc. then gives a
short outline and gets right into the commentary.
they used almost fifty different writers from more then fifteen denominational backgrounds with no editorial pressure to bring
everyone into one conforming viewpoint. at the end of each book there is a bibliography giving a list of works they have referred
to and those which can be of further use in any ones studies.
being a phrase by phrase commentary as opposed to a chapter by chapter one, this volume will help you understand the meaning of the text of scripture more thoroughly.
a good tool to go too first in your bible study and for quick reference when you need help to explain or understand something more
extensively.
2211522
I purchased a copy of this several years ago and have used it almost on a weekly basis! Not often do you add something to your library that is of such value that you'll refer to it in your studies but also you'll copy it's pages as handouts in your Bible study classes and Sunday School! Many facts, figures and charts are in one handy place which saves you time in research. I highly recommend you get a copy now and you'll wonder why you've been without one as long as you have!
2175442
Ryken's text is a great resource not only for Biblical Studies but also for general Literature Studies.  There are great explanations of literary terms- I wish I had this book four years ago when I started my English Degree.  The Biblical explanations are clear, and very helpful if you are not aquainted with the Bible, but can be redundant if you spent a lot of time in Sunday School.  Overall, this is the best book of the term, and possibly one of the greatest textbooks Ive used in 4 years of college.
1069741
Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts is a Third Edition referrence guide that should be utilized for anyone who either just reads or teaches about the Bible. It is full of charts and maps that will help you to understand what you are reading.

From back cover of book:

*A visual survey of the entire Bible that helps you put the major biblical events and characters in order

*Surveys and charts that offer an overview of each book of the Bible

*New full-color Bible maps that help you see the location of key events

*Tables, charts, and diagrams of Bible information that helps you focus on key issues

*Introductions to each book of the Bible that organize important information.

This book is very comprehensive and organized and very easy to read,I am a visual learning person and I really liked the fact that there were the maps and charts, that are reproducible from the Old and New Testament. In the Old Testament the book lists the Historical Books as well as the Prophetic Books and in the New Testament it covers the Four Gospels, the Epistles of Paul and the General Epistles. I really enjoyed browsing through this book.
1056002
I use this Bible dicitonary not only for defining biblical facts, but as an added help in commentary. The information
is factual, not slanted to one particular denominational bent.

I have several books for bible study reference that are the best available resources at this time, and this one is at the top of my list.
1380172
Great simple to read resource from a biblical no non-sense perspective
1514195
William Yarchin's History of Biblical Interpretation is a much-needed addition to the study of historical biblical exegesis.  It is the only volume dedicated to historical exegesis of which I am aware whose prime concern is allowing the reader to experience the primary sources rather than informing the reader concerning the author's understanding of the primary sources.  This does not mean that the reader is left to his or herself without any guidance concerning the primary sources, however.  Yarchin gives brief yet complete introductions to each source, setting them in context and guiding the reader concerning themes and perspectives to look for while reading the source.

A primary strength of the book is its range.  It is relatively short (429 pages of text plus introduction) while covering a span of twenty-two centuries.  It is not the case, however, that the compendious nature of the book keeps it from being thorough.  While I was unfamiliar with a good portion of the sources (many of which I had never heard of before), I am very familiar with works such as Origen's De Principiis, book IV and Augustine's De Doctrina.  Yarchin has identified the heart of these works as I remember them and printed them for the reader.  Because of this I feel confident in the assumption that he has done the same with the other works in his book.

Another strength of History of Biblical Interpretation is that it is not only dedicated to historical biblical exegesis in the Christian tradition, but pays ample attention to the Jewish tradition of biblical exegesis as well.  Since these two traditions share so many of the same texts, a history of biblical interpretation is incomplete without attention to both.  Yarchin's commitment to giving attention to both of these traditions not only gives his reader a more well-rounded history of biblical exegesis, but also can contribute to the discovering of ways in which the exegetical traditions of these two religions can inform one another in the future.

I was initially disappointed that there was not provided a summary essay at the end of the book.  But what I would expect in such an essay is really presented in the introduction.  I would strongly suggest anyone who has any interest in the history of biblical interpretation to read Yarchin's History of Biblical Interpretation.  It not only provides much of the information one will find in some of the standard introductory texts concerning historical exegesis (although in a different format), but is also the best springboard to delving into more obscure, yet important, texts (which are ignored by most introductions) that I have come into contact with as of yet.
2452782
Even though I'm still working my way through these two volumes (both simply contain a stupendous amount of information), I can truly say: If EVER you needed a tool for life, whether to counter an argument from a missionary or to deepen your knowledge of the Hebrew scriptures and to finally understand biblical sections in context, this is for you!  It is simply a treasure at such an affordable price.

I love the lucid way in which each topic is illustrated: with references, charts, Hebrew and English translation comparisons, and also in a friendly Q&A format which makes it so easy to follow and to grasp each conveyed concept. With the scripture index in the back, it is easy to find a topic via this textual reference and then quickly have the full explanation and illustration for that topic at hand.

I will forever use these two gems as reference books.  They are a product of years of study, experienced debating, and simply a must for each serious scholar's library.
1109968
I have use several Bible dictionarys over the years and this is easily the one I have liked the most.  The Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary does an exceptional job of not only filling the basic requirements of a Bible dictionary it goes beyond that with the photos and timelines that are included in this edition.  So often as we read scripture we disconnect it from the rest of the worlds history.  The very detailed time lines within this Bible dictionary track the events of scripture well but they also show the reader what was happening in the world outside of the Holy Land. The updated photos also add to the overall experience of the reader as well.  This is an excellent reference book to have on your shelf.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 : Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
3251685
I received my copy of Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps and Charts, Third Edition, as I was preparing a Bible study lesson on Biblical resources and reference books. After only a few minutes of flipping through the colorful pages, I was excited to share this book with the other women in our group.

The two major sections are Old Testament and The New Testament. Each book of the Bible has its own chapter and these are appropriately grouped. For example, the first five books of the Old Testament are under the heading of "The Pentateuch."

Between the two major sections is a brief section called "The Intertestamental Period." It shows four maps that illustrate the "shifts of political power over Palestine" between 750 B.C. until 63 B.C.

The chapters for each Biblical book contain a survey of the book which includes authorship, date written, themes and literary structure, and an outline. Important events recorded in the book are discussed. Charts and maps provide additional information.
The chapter on 2 Samuel, for example, includes a map that shows the locations for important events in the life of King David and a genealogy. Two charts list "David's Triumphs" and "David's Troubles."

The New Testament section opens with charts on "The Miracles of Jesus Christ" and "The Parables of Jesus Christ." It also includes a "Harmony of the Gospels," Herod's family tree, "The Plan of Herod's Temple," and a chart showing the "New Testament Political Rulers."
Photographs, such as the East gate of Jerusalem and Ephesian temple ruins, are scattered throughout the text.

The easy-to-read chapters provide a wealth of historical and cultural background. Bible study leaders and Sunday School teachers will appreciate the many charts and maps, which are reproducible and can be downloaded. Anyone who wants a deeper appreciation and understanding of what they are reading in Scriptures will find this book an invaluable resource.

(NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
970570
I have a half a dozen Bibles and this quickly became my favorite.  In addition to a clear and very understandable presentation of Biblical text, original words are usually noted in notes, and notes are very clear.  Pictures and other aides make Biblical study more meaningful and enjoyable.
4300306
I have used BibleWorks for many years in my research and writing and was looking forward to this latest update. The BW people have not disappointed. As an Old Testament scholar, I often was jealous of my New Testament counterparts that used previous versions, since the tools for Hebrew and Old Testament textual criticism were lacking or missing from those. However, with this new version, much more is available for Old Testament scholars. These include:
1. Images of Codex Leningradensis
2. The now available Stuttgart Original Languages module as an add-on--this includes the BHS apparatus and in an update will include the BHQ text critical apparatus
3. fuzzy searches that enable one to find similar words/phrases--I have found this often helps me discover parallel language in other parts of the OT
4. The full text of the New English Translation of the Septuagint--much better than the old Breton Septuagint
5. Better integration of the Samaritan Pentateuch--one can now view SP text alongside MT!
6. The Leiden Old Testament Peshitta is now included.

In addition, BibleWorks 10 has other features that are quite useful:
1. One can integrate e-published books into BW 10 for easy access to any reference works from other publishers
2. An entire library of Holy Land photos--a great resource that enables me to include these in presentations for my classes
3. The ESV Concise Bible Atlas--and one can purchase the entire ESV atlas as an additional module--again, this is nice for classes, as I can easily access maps to include in my lectures
4. While BW 10 maintains the classic 4-column layout, it is no possible to close columns. I often like to work with three columns, so this is a great feature.

Overall, I believe BibleWorks continues to be the best available Bible software for anyone working with ancient languages.
4085433
Wow, what a great resource! This verse by verse walk through has helped me understand the book of Hebrews, and the Gospel in its entirety to a whole new depth. Through continued study in additional resources and commentary I have found the authors words to be very Biblically sound, enlightening, and always an applicable understanding of the scripture. If you are looking for a great tool to enhance your study time and open your eyes to new depths in God's Word and what He has done for you, this is it.