When the Israelites exclaimed, Here are your gods! at the sight of the golden calf, they were attempting to hold on to the God of their history while fashioning idols for their own purposes. In today's Western world, plenty of shiny false gods still hold power--idols of prosperity, nationalism, and self-interest. Christians desperately need to name and expose these idols. We must retrieve the biblical emphasis on idolatry and apply it anew in our journey of following Jesus. In Here Are Your Gods, Old Testament scholar Christopher J. H. Wright combines a biblical study of idolatry with practical discipleship. He calls readers to consider connections between Old Testament patterns and today's culture, especially recurring temptations to trust in political power. Now as much as ever, we need a biblically informed understanding of the many ways humans make gods for themselves, the danger of idols, and how God calls us to join him in the battle against idolatry as part of his ongoing mission to be known and worshiped by all peoples.

This completely revised and updated second edition of The New Testament in Antiquity skillfully develops how Jewish, Hellenistic, and Roman cultures formed the essential environment in which the New Testament authors wrote their books and letters. Understanding of the land, history, and culture of the ancient world brings remarkable new insights into how we read the New Testament itself.

Throughout the book, numerous features provide windows into the first-century world. Nearly 500 full color photos, charts, maps, and drawings have been carefully selected. Additional features include sidebars that integrate the book's material with issues of interpretation, discussion questions, and bibliographies.

The Discover Together Bible Study series equips readers with meaningful devotion, biblical principles, and timeless life lessons from books of the Bible.

Many women live with a relentless flow of anxious thoughts that distract, intrude, and exhaust--and this leaves little time to worship God or serve those around us. Trusted leader Sue Edwards points to an unexpected biblical story that can lead to a way out of these anxieties: the book of Ruth.

Unlike how it is often presented, Ruth's story isn't a Hollywood romance and Boaz isn't the hero. God is. He shows tender care for Naomi and Ruth, remaining faithful even in hopeless situations. Moreover, their lives demonstrate how he consistently lifts women into significant roles in his redemption story, whether or not they're considered culturally important.

Written for women of all generations and walks of life, Ruth is an inclusive Bible study with flexible format and multilevel questions to fit varied lifestyles.

Look for the entire line of inductive Bible studies by Sue Edwards at DiscoverTogetherSeries.com. Other books in this extensive series include Hosea, Proverbs, Luke, and Ephesians.