Baker Books

Awesome book! This is one of three texts for my "Discipleship and Evangelism" course at Bible College. I highly recommend reading the three books together (also purchased from Amazon at great prices!). The other two are: "Living Proof: Sharing The Gospel Naturally" by Jim Petersen and "The Master Plan of Evangelism" by Robert E. Coleman. These books totally changed my life relative to discipleship and evangelism - both practically and theoretically!
Jesus Christ, Disciplemaker
Living Proof: Sharing the Gospel Naturally
Master Plan of Evangelism, The

I think every Christian and church leader ought to read this, period. It is foundational to how to do ministry and what kind of an outlook to have regarding people.

A must read.

This is a fine analysis of Jesus' work in making disciples. Anyone interested in making disciples should read this careful study which is full of insight on how Jesus formed character and understanding in his followers.
- Dennis McCallum, author Organic Disciplemaking: How to promote Christian leadership development through personal relationships, biblical discipleship, mentoring, and Christian community

Pitre asks an interesting question: why haven't scholars investigated Jesus in light of eschatological tribulation? It's clear Jesus spoke of a coming time of tribulation often. The "Our Father" even ends with, "Lead us not into peirasmos" (p 1). "Yet no major monograph has been written on Jesus and the peirasmos-the 'testing' or 'time of trial' (p 1).

It's really very odd. Jesus appeared to understand his mission in terms that were eschatological. So why has this theme been so little explored by current biblical scholarship?

It seems messianic expectations were high among Jews in the time of Jesus. There was a hope for the coming of the Messiah and a hope for the return from exile of the lost tribes, all of which had been promised by many prophets, especially Daniel.

Pitre goes into great depth digging through the evidence, providing ample evidence that runs through all sorts of different types of literature--"apocalypses, vision, hymnic literature, psalms, oracles, pesharim, rewritten Bible sectarian community rules, and various fragmentary pieces whose genre is no longer possible to determine (p128).

Jesus made many enigmatic statements concerning a coming time of trouble. Pitre argues that Jesus expected to set in motion the "Great Tribulation...the framework...is derived from...prophecies found in the book of Daniel regarding the abomination of desolation, the coming of the Son of Man, and the restoration of Israel" (p 378).

The important point Pitre is making is that this time of tribulation is tied to "nothing less than the climax of Israel's exilic sufferings" (p 379). This would be the New Exodus, leading to a restoration of the lost tribes, and it would require nothing less than a new Passover.

This is a rich, meaty book, full of excellent scholarship. Pitre covers in depth the work that has been by other biblical scholars, and then as carefully as possible details what he has discovered in his research. I n Anyone with any interest in the New Testament will want to grab this book.

And another good thing: I believe this was written as a doctoral thesis. So the odds are Pitre is young and we can expect many more books from him. I will be on the lookout.

Brant Pitre's doctoral thesis is brillant! Dr. Pitre can be counted amongst the brightest theologians of this century! Dee Givens

Brant Pitre's "Jesus, the Tribulation, and the End of the Exile," his dissertation from Notre Dame, is a phenomenal work at the highest caliber. Pitre sifts through the best scholarship concerning eschatology to deliver a thorough treatment of one of Scripture's most difficult topics. After elucidating a proper hermeneutic for understanding eschatological literature, Pitre systematically analyzes several key eschatological texts within the Jewish tradition. He then studies several "enigmatic" sayings of Jesus concerning the tribulation and a new eschatological age. Using the context of the Jewish eschatological tradition, Pitre is able to show Jesus' allusions back to this tradition. In doing so, he gives the reader a deep understanding of Jesus' death and the tribulation that follow. Furthermore, Pitre, within this eschatological tradition, helps the reader comprehend how the Jews expected the exile to end and the restoration of Israel to begin.

Rarely is a dissertation able to bring together such complex and disparate intertestimental themes into one coherent system of thought. Pitre's book is a must read for the current discussion on eschatology and the historical Jesus.

I purchased this book for a Seminary class. This book is a great resource for students of the Bible. The Scriptures have come more alive now that I better understand the politics and history of the time. It also strengthened my knowledge of the Old Testiment in general. I also knew very little about the intertestimental period until reading this. I highly recommend getting this resource.

Jewish Backgrounds is an excellent reference to introduce one to the History, culture, customs, polity, and theology that took place between the testaments. I am a Grad student and will definitely keep this book for my library. It is ideal for anyone interested in the nation of Israel and their influence and contribution to Christianity.

This is an excellent book on the subject of judaism in the period between the OT and the NT.
Mr.Scott covers a lot of ground regarding religious beliefs and how they changed over time.
There were different branches of judaism with similarities as well as differences.The author also details some contrasts between Samaritans,Pharisees,and Sadducees.

There is some helpful information on the Septuagint,it's source,and difference of translation between the hebrew OT and the greek OT.

Mr.Scott looks at Josephus and Philo and the value of their writings in the study of intertestamental judaism,with some understandable scepticism of Josephus.

He also details the priesthood and rivalry between families-Zadokites and Tobiads.The pollution of the priesthood is also discussed.

He covers the start of rabbinical judaism and the circumstances that led to the percieved need for oral law/tradition as a hedge around Torah.
There was some interesting information about Simon bar Kosiba(Kochba).

There is an "Intertestamental Calendar and Festivals Table" that is an excellent resource about the Biblical feasts.This period also saw the addition and alteration of some OT feasts.

The use of the sacred name is discussed.
"The Talmud and other rabbinical sources indicate that by the time of Simon the Just(c.200BC)the divine name was no longer pronounced,except by the high priest on Yom Kippur".
He also had an interesting perspective on the sabbatical and Jubilee years.
"The sabbatical year,occuring every seventh year and the Jubilee,every fiftieth year,prevented the accumulation of too much wealth and oppression of the poor".

There is a very good list of general sources,frequent footnotes and quotes.
I found a few minor points that I think are debatable in the book.That doesn't lessen the value of the author's work.
While not as comprehensive as Edersheim's "The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah", this book is a good choice for anyone interested in the diverse beliefs and Messianic expectations of the period.

"The life and shocking story of the icon who danced her way to fame and infamy in Paris."

I used this book for a class I taught about Josephine Baker. The images collected here give such a good representation of Ms. Baker's life, and the three long essays in the book helped me understand her better. I would love to see this exhibition personally, but since I can't do that the book makes a good substitute. La Baker was quite a woman!

Incidentally the recently released DVDs of her movies are interesting too.

The life of Josephine Baker is one of the most incredible success stories in American history. Born into a poor but vibrant district of St. Louis, as a child she took her first steps toward becoming an incredible dancer by dancing in the streets for pennies. At age 13, she ran away to join a traveling road show, and at age 16 was the star dancer of a show that toured the country. She moved to Paris to join a musical review called La Revue Négre. So great was her success that, at age 20, she was the toast of Paris, and soon after, the toast of all Europe.
Ernest Hemingway said of her "(she is) ...the most sensational woman anybody ever saw. Or ever will. Tall, coffee skin, ebony eyes, legs of paradise, and a smile to end all smiles." Baker even took lessons in dancing from the great ballet master Balanchine who, as it turned out, learned more from her than she from him!
Josephine Baker, Image and Icon is a tribute to this incredible African-American who had little or no formal education, but earned her place in history through sweat and perseverance and an incredible talent. It is a book made beautiful by the images of Baker herself, as shown by original theatrical posters, photographs, drawings, prints and paintings of Baker made by some of the most celebrated artists of the period. The book is a rich profusion of color and movement, much like the dancing for which Baker was celebrated.
The book had its origin in the mind of the Director of the Sheldon Art Galleries in St. Louis, Olivia Lahs-Gonzales. After two years of searching for art and ephemera that would best show the life and times of Baker, Gonzales mounted an exhibition at the Sheldon Art Galleries by the same name, with exhibits drawn from collections public and private across the United States and Europe.* The book itself was the natural outcome of what was shown at the gallery.
In the book, Josephine Baker and her life and times is further defined by three scholarly and highly readable treatises. Bennetta Jules-Rosette, the author of "Two Loves: Josephine Baker in Art and Life," writes of the inventing of the image of Baker and the preserving of her as an icon. Olivia Lahs-Gonzales offers a commentary on Baker in the context of the modern woman. Tyler Stovall, author of "Paris Noir, African-Americans in the City of Light," describes Paris and the Jazz Age, and the place of Baker in the black Montmartre.
Baker not only danced and sang her way into the hearts of Paris, Europe and the world, but capitalized on her fame by taking on other tasks, such as combating racism in all its aspects. She adopted 12 children of all races and religions--her "rainbow tribe"-- and installed them in an immense French chateau. And, most incredibly, she took on the dangerous role of a courier in the French underground during the Nazi occupation, for which she received the French Légion d'Honneur.
If there ever was a book that defined and embodied its subject in its pages, it is Josephine Baker in Art and Life. It is a book that belongs in the library of everyone who loves Americana in its finest manifestation.

*The exhibition has now moved on to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, where it remains until March 18, 2007

Well, big print at least! Great for Early Morning or Late Night Devotionals when the eyes are still weary!

EASY TO READ
THIS IS A GREAT BIBLE FOR THOSE WHO NEED LARGER PRINT, THE PRINT IS TRULY THE BIGGEST I HAVE EVER SEEN.
I LOVE THE EASY READING OF THIS BIBLE.

It is hard to find just a New Testament which is well bound! This is great! It is true giant print, so I use mine as my nightstand devotinal Bible. If only they would do a premium limp leather edition!

Compact. well made and print is not too tiny to read. Great little testament when you are on the go.

This is a finely crafted Bible made old world style. Real Quality Leather and a stitched binding. I have purchased this time and again for myself as well as for gifts. The KJV is the best and most faithful overall translation (literal to the original text).

I am extremely saddened to see it disappear from shelves out of print. I am instead seeing it replaced by NIV versions which have a number of difficulties. It is my prayer that the publisher does not discontinue this age old classic in such a perfect format for the modern day.

Of course - there is no book like The Book of books - the Bible,
but Cambridge puts out a quality of print, paper and leather covers that defies comparison. This little gem is supple, portable, elegant and durable. The addition of the Psalms to the New Testament makes it very special for daily use.

There is finally some solid, Evangelical scholarship taking non-scholarly popularizers like Hal Lindsey, Jack Van Impe and Pat Robertson to task. This book is dry in places, but it's handling of the past is crucial to our understanding of the present. The book does a monumental job of documenting end times paranoia from the time of the early church to today. Highly recommended...especially for those who helped make Hal Lindsey a millionaire several times over!

This book was required as the text for a course at a local college. We'll written and documented, it allows the reader to research on his own if he is in disagreement with the author. A pleasure to read, I read 80% of it one saturday. Good for the beginner, in that it defines terms used in simple language that makes it easier for the reader to grasp to concepts presented. I reccomend it highly to anyone, Christian or non, who wants to know more about Christian history.

Kyle pulls together a diverse collection of eshatological beliefs, predictions and events in such a way that one can really get a grasp on where we (as the church universal) have been on this issue. Is the dispensational premill position the historically dominant position of the church? What about the church's historical view of the rapture, the millennium or the tribulation. How did the church deal with deviant eschatologies?

I've studied eschatology in seminary, but this book really brings the scattered ideas and events together in an understandable and thought provoking way.

This book is a MUST READ for every pastor or teacher. If you are a layman, get the book. Read it, and then give it to your minister. Before you speak on the end times read this book!

Easy reading. Easy to understand. Moves quickly.

Rozar tells his story from the perspective of Christian faith and hope. His battle with AIDS has not kept him from living life to the fullest and trusting God for the outcome. I was so touched by this book as I know 2 people (one of them a Christian) suffering with AIDS. It is a disease that no one can ignore as it now afflicts so many people across all socioeconomic levels and not strictly foreigners and gay men. A beautifully written account of this terrible virus. Read it and be inspired!

Dr. Ed Rozar was a cardiac surgeon who contracted AIDS during a surgical procedure. His story is touching and very inspiring. He and his family could have fallen apart, because it seemed that his career would have to end, not even considering battling the disease itself. Their faith in God and the love of friends, while not curing the disease, has helped him to live "Laughing in the Face of AIDS". Alot of information and answers for some common concerning HIV/AIDS.

This is one of the most helpful books I've read concerning Christian people dealing with AIDS. Written from personal experience, it gives great insight on the struggle with AIDS and the real thoughts, feelings and difficulties that go with it. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for an informative and personal narrative on living with AIDS.

I really liked this book. My favorite parts are the author's personal adventure experiences to show how to free your mind from everyday work and stress. I am already experimenting with it and having great results. I already feel better physically and mentally. -Doing better at work too. Also, the Common Reactive Behaviors helped me to understand a couple of "baby-boomer" friends at work. -Jason, Dallas

Learning to Live, Living to Learn II has done more for me in my search for peace than any book I have ever read. For about the past 25 years I have been hungry to learn and to grow. I have listened to tapes, read books, attended seminars and I have grown, but the process was slow and not always clear. Since reading Dr. Baker's book, I feel like my awareness is increasing exponentially. Within days of starting her book my life was starting to change. Spiritual experiences were occuring daily. I am thankful that I journal daily or I may not have been able to remember all the details. You may ask HOW can a book make such a difference to someone. Most books tell who, what, where, why...Dr.Baker's book enabled me to experience her life's experiences through her eyes, her heart and through her mind in explicit detail, and then gave explanation of the meaning. She helped me realize that it is all right there in front of all of us and we are missing it. My response is "I want what she has". Learning to Live, Living to Learn II is a book I refer to often. As I grow, my understanding of what she says is enhanced. This book is truly inspired and will be looked back on as a legend in its time. I see this as just a beginning of much more that Dr. Baker has to offer, and it is time for her wisdom to be known.

Learning to Live, Living to Learn II has done more for me in my search for peace than any book I have ever read. For about the past 25 years I have been hungry to learn and to grow. I have listened to tapes, read books, attended seminars and I have grown, but the process was slow and not always clear. Since reading Dr. Baker's book, I feel like my awareness is increasing exponentially. Within days of starting her book my life was starting to change. Spiritual experiences were occuring daily. I am thankful that I journal daily or I may not have been able to remember all the details. You may ask HOW can a book make such a difference to someone. Most books tell who, what, where, why...Dr.Baker's book enabled me to experience her life's experiences through her eyes, her heart and through her mind in explicit detail, and then gave explanation of the meaning. She helped me realize that it is all right there in front of all of us and we are missing it. My response is "I want what she has". Learning to Live, Living to Learn II is a book I refer to often. As I grow, my understanding of what she says is enhanced. This book is truly inspired and will be looked back on as a legend in its time. I see this as just a beginning of much more that Dr. Baker has to offer, and it is time for her wisdom to be known.

My nephew and his father spent much quality time reading the bible stories together. This book is a wonderful gift to share God's word and to bring a father and son together.

We purchased this and the Little Boy's Book of Prayers when our son was a toddler. He loved carrying this book around and called it, "My Bible". The stories are short and engaging, perfect for wiggily little ones. Several years later we had a baby girl and right away I sought out the Little Girls Bible Storybook for Daughters and Mothers. She loves hers as well. It has bright pictures that she loves to look at. Hardcover and sturdy.

The wording of the Bible Stories followed by "Becoming a Man of God"- to apply the story is excellent. Both my son, age 4, and daughter, age 2, enjoy this book tremendously. We try to read this to our son every day. We all enjoy reading this book- it is a bit on the humorous side with the illustrations.