Most Christmas books focus on the light and joy of the season. Anticipating the Advent, however, portrays the dark side of Christmas because only then will the Light shine the brightest. On the night when the host of heaven sang "Glory to God in the highest," they were arrayed to do battle with the evil forces who wanted to kill the promised child. This seed of Eve was coming to crush the enemy's head (Gen 3:15) and destroy the Devil's power (Heb 2:14). Old Simeon would tell the y...

The document called Second Clement was not a letter, nor was it written by Clement. It originated as an address to a congregation and is preserved among the group of writings known as the Apostolic Fathers. Unlike First Clement, it is one of the least known of these writings, yet preserves a fascinating window into the life of early believers. Its overall message is that Christians should render a payback to God for his grace shown to them in Christ. Second Clement offers a fascinating win...

William Varner provides a completely up-to-date introduction to the writings of the Apostolic Fathers. These 1st-2nd Century texts are foundational for the early Christian movement, and the interpretation of the New Testament in the earliest days of what was to later become known as Christianity. Beyond introducing the individual writers Varner also presents and situates their writings, with each chapter offering an introduction followed by key texts. Varner translates these works afresh, ...

The Jews in the first century wondered: who would He resemble? Would He be a prophet like Moses? A priest like Melchizedek? A king like David? He would surprise them all, from the day He entered the Jordan River until He went through a metamorphosis on a high mountain. He would be tested in a harsh wilderness-and pass the test! He would deliver those tormented by demons and feed both a Jewish and a Gentile multitude, and yet be rejected by his neighbors. So here is His ministry, in the mid...

Rarely read and even less rarely preached, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs have been compared to riddles wrapped in enigmas. While included in the trilogy of Solomonic works along with Proverbs, they are often ignored because one seems to be overly pessimistic and the other is almost risqué in its description of physical love. Sometimes readers wonder why these books are in their Bibles! Employing a key that is found near the back door of each of these neglected books, William Varner at...

This concise commentary focuses on the Greek text of Philippians, giving special attention to lexical semantics, syntax, and discourse. Interacting with the latest translations and Greek lexicons, as well as the best of commentators, Varner provides a straightforward exegesis of the Greek text. Ideal for those preparing to preach or teach Philippians, this focused and rich commentary will become a favorite to consult first.

The ultimate, all-in-one resource on what the Old Testament says about JesusAs Jesus walked the Emmaeus road, he showed his companions how the whole of Scripture foretold his coming. Yet so often today we’re not quite sure how to talk about Jesus in the Old Testament. How do you know what applies to Jesus? And how do you interpret some of the strange prophetic language?Get answers and clarity in this authoritative and reliable guide to messianic prophecy fr...