Asia Bible Commentary

1 Timothy shows how Christians can live in harmony and with integrity in a society of people with differing religious and cultural beliefs and values. This commentary provides an exposition of 1 Timothy's message, which is relevant to many theological and pastoral situations faced by Asian church communities today. Along with the detailed commentary, the authors provide cultural reflections on various topics surrounding church, government, and society. “The Asia Bible Commentary” Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the body of Christ in Asia by providing a pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

2 Peter and Jude, though brief, are rich resources for understanding the call to live godly and holy lives. Importantly they provide essential discussion on false teachers, individuals whom many of us today narrowly define based on their unorthodox views or teachings. While there is truth in this definition, Dr. Uytanlet expands on this by skillfully expounding 2 Peter and Jude to show that our understanding of false teachers should be broadened to include lifestyle and character. In acknowledging these important areas, 2 Peter and Jude demonstrate that false teachers may hold to correct doctrines, but their loose morals and abuse of power make them false teachers. This key commentary highlights the importance of mining these Catholic Epistles further and expertly brings their messages to an Asian context. The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing a pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

The book of Judges marks an important transition in the life of Israel. It shows the cycle of deviancy and repentance, heroic actions and social collapse, the misuse of power and the marginalization of God. This commentary seeks to help readers navigate the many strange stories and characters of Judges by providing an overall framework for reading it and by explaining a way of entering its stories so that they can be appropriated in an Asian context. This commentary challenges the reader to pray and work for a spiritual revitalization, building a new social fabric in a world marked by injustice, pragmatism, and the loss of a God-centered way of life.

The book of Lamentations cannot be truly appreciated without knowing suffering and the agony that follows tragic experiences. In this commentary, Dr. Federico Villanueva relates the experience of his fellow country men and women in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda to the experience of the Jewish people after the destruction of Judah and the city of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. By drawing these parallels, the author hopes that together we will read Lamentations in collective solidarity with a suffering people.

In his letter to the Ephesian church, the apostle Paul lays before his readers God's plan of salvation, which is to be fulfilled when all things find their rightful place in Christ. Paul draws out the practical implications of God's purpose for the body of Christ, showing how the unity of a new humanity is revealed within it as a foretaste of the ultimate unity of all things in the Son of God. This commentary shows the relevance of Ephesians for the church in Asia today seeking to understand God's eternal purposes in Christ, especially in the face of pluralism, suffering and injustice. The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christians in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The goal is to strengthen the body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

The three prophets – Joel, Nahum, and Malachi – speak to the challenges of their own day. Joel, following a locust plague, confronts the people of a bigger impending catastrophe that they could avoid if they return to God with prayers. As such, amid pain, he offers hope. Nahum depicts the wrath of God against an oppressive country. Although God is slow to anger, he will pursue his justice against oppressors. This instills faith in troubled times as God is, forever, the refuge to his people. Malachi calls the people to honor the unchanging God who continues to care for them, even if they have fallen short in many ways. To honor God means knowing and walking with him in words and in deeds. Serving him is a great privilege. He will refine those who are serving him with his divine unwavering love. The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

The Gospel of John is one of the significant writings that appeals to Asian spirituality and ideals in a variety of ways. John's unique features as a literary masterpiece encompass the feelings and aspirations of the Asian consciousness. The Gospel's genre dynamism, features of setting, ideological constructs, character traits, plot structure, and point of view reflect and reveal its assimilative power to resonate with the situational aspects of Asian communities. John is better understood rhetorically within the religious and cultural contexts of Asia. In this commentary, Dr. Johnson Thomaskutty explores the possibilities of a pastoral and contextual reading of the Gospel of John. The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the body of Christ in Asia by providing a pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

The poignant narrative of Exodus, which involves leaving one's homeland, traveling, settling, unsettling, wrestling with identity, seeking a home, and pursuing aspirations, resonates with the present circumstances of the Chinese diaspora. This commentary delves into the concept of exodus, tracing its roots from the biblical exodus to its modern manifestation in the Chinese diaspora – "the new exodus." This approach forefronts the nuances of otherness, minority status, liminality, and hybridity in a dominant culture while simultaneously accentuating the transnational, global, and multifaceted roots of such an existence. This diasporic reading of Exodus seeks to facilitate transformation in the ongoing quest for identity, meaning, and purpose, all within the framework of God's redemptive history and diasporans' journey of becoming. The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the body of Christ in Asia by providing a pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

"The book of Numbers is a misunderstood book of the Bible. It is about a lot more than just numbers. Rather, it is about the people's journey with God in the desert. The Hebrew title of the book, Bammidbar, means "In the Desert" indicating that the setting is the most important part of the story. The God who delivered his people from Egypt is the same God who will lead them through the wilderness and give them the Promised Land. But as the book of Numbers shows us, often it is through the experience of being in a desert that God fulfils his purpose. It is the same thing for God's people today. This commentary opens up the value of this often overlooked Old Testament book to those who find themselves or their churches in a barren place but with the presence of the Lord alongside them.The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible."

The Asia Bible Commentary series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible. The Great Commission is yet to be fulfilled. Asian churches, like Matthew's original audience, are encountering various challenges as they obey Jesus' last command in the First Gospel. The promise of the presence of God accompanies Jesus' command and in Matthew's narrative God's presence is seen powerfully in Jesus' life. Believers today can hold to the same promise, and this promise should be an encouragement to continue preaching God's kingdom.

The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible. Micah contains a provocative message: God has a problem with his people and is sending judgment. However, Micah's message is not only one of impending judgment, it also contains grace and hope. Ferreira shows how Micah provides hope that Christians, especially Asian preachers and teachers, will become courageous messengers of the Lord Jesus Christ. This commentary is based on a careful reading of the Hebrew text within its historical and canonical context. It not only provides a detailed analysis of the book of Micah but also serves as an introduction to the message of Old Testament prophetic literature.

The books of Habakkuk and Zephaniah are God's word to his people Israel at the lowest point in their history—the time of the Babylonian captivity. In the horizon, the looming national disaster is not simply contrasted with the prophetic hope of deliverance; rather the brightest light that shines are the display of God's unchanging faithfulness, power, and holiness—the foundations for divine action for the well-being of the remnant of Judah. They show us the faith of the righteous among the rebels and the ruins. These two powerful books demonstrate that faith without faithfulness is an infantile fantasy. Written in accessible language to guide readers into the world of Hebrew poetry, this volume speaks to all those who continue to desire God in life's dark places and dark times, revealing Scripture's beauty and power as we persist in seeking to understand its intricacies.

Today the Asian church ministers in a multi-religious and often multi-cultural environment and faces serious challenges. Thankfully, we have a resource that offers guidance and encouragement: the ancient documents known as 1, 2 and 3 John. In this commentary, Dr. Gilbert Soo Hoo provides careful textual analysis alongside contextual relevance in the hope that the reader will hear God's voice, encouraging them to become disciples that live in fellowship with the Father and the Son and with one another. The fundamental Christological truths presented serve as a template to help evaluate various teachings and to discern what is true and what is false, which is critical for believers living and serving in multi-religious Asia.

The Asia Bible Commentary series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible. This commentary on Psalms 1-72 provides an exposition that the reader can engage within their own community of faith in the Asian cultural context. Along with a commentary on each Psalm, Dr. Federico Villanueva provides cultural reflections on a wide variety of relevant topics that include the likes of lament, praise, creation, meditation, depression, and natural phenomena. This commentary is an excellent resource for pastors, lay leaders, and Bible students but will also be useful and relevant for any Christian committed to applying the Bible in their respective contexts.

The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible. Set in Persia, the book of Esther seems to show little interest in the temple, the Promised Land, prayer or other signs of the Israelite religion. Most peculiarly for a book of the Bible, there is no explicit mention of God! Yet there are many similarities with the setting of Esther and situations in Asia today, which open ways for God to speak into present realities. This commentary examines the book of Esther in its original context, and considers how to interpret and apply it in light of the rest of Scripture – both the Old Testament and the New.

Asian Christians will identify with the context of the epistle to the Philippians; a church hemmed in on every side. The internal struggles of the community, personality conflicts among leaders, division within the church, and challenges from false teachers coupled with the violent threat from outside the church parallels the situation in many parts of Asia today. Paul's ethical exhortations to the believers in Philippi enrich, guide, and correct so that a vibrant body of Christ can be established. Philippians teaches all Christians to make it their goal to know Christ more and more each day, imitate his example above all others, and bear bold witness to God's offer of salvation to all, beyond every divisive border. This commentary on Philippians studies the text exegetically in its original dynamic context while seeking to hear the rhetorical thrust of the apostle's words in the present Asian context. The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

This commentary presents the book of Ruth through a uniquely Asian lens that helps bring out the nuances of this Old Testament text that are often missed or misunderstood. The deep and skillful exegesis presented will satisfy a scholarly reader, yet the language used is accessible enough for lay preachers and teachers to understand, appreciate, and use. This commentary brings the text to life; Ruth is no longer a story in a time long gone, but one that effortlessly unfolds right in front of your eyes. The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

The book of Job engages with the issue of pain and suffering. Job asked the same question that we have probably asked a hundred times – why do the righteous suffer? In his pain, he decided to file a case against God, but he rescinded in a moment of truth. He realized God's purpose for allowing pain was to have a deeper experience of the living God. This commentary expounds and explains how one can see a good God in the midst of life's sufferings. The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing a pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

In this commentary on Jonah, Dr. Rosa Shao beautifully weaves together the story of the biblical text with narratives from the Asian (Chinese and Filipino) contexts and psychological insights. Testifying to how she was drawn to the book, Dr. Shao shares how this book has impacted her personally and demonstrates how others can hear the book's message in their own context. From better understanding the story of Jonah, readers will gain valuable insight for discerning God's divine call on their own lives. The Asia Bible Commentary series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

Criminals in Hong Kong and China are often superstitiously religious. Ironically, both they and police officers worship the same folk god, Guan Gong, who represents righteousness! However, their religiosity has no moral consequences – what both groups are seeking is protection from their opponents. Unfortunately, some Asian Christians have a similar model of religiosity. They want God's protection and blessings, but they do not want God to affect how they live. James will have none of this. He is convinced that our devotion to God must be reflected in the way we live, and so he writes a letter that is full of sound, practical advice. He exhorts us to control our tongues, he speaks against greed, envy, and wrong desires, and he gives wise advice about enduring suffering, praying for ailing believers, and restoring believers who are tempted to depart from the truth. Using Asian applications, this commentary of James highlights the relevance the triune God has in all contexts of life. The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

1 Samuel is full of riveting narratives related to the beginning of dynastic monarchy in ancient Israel. These narratives provide not only the spiritual wisdom about our relationship with the Lord, but also insights into the outworking of political power. Throughout this commentary, Dr. Koowon Kim introduces the reader to relevant aspects of the Chinese historical novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which has been so influential in forming the worldview of people in much of East Asia since the fourteenth century. Both theologically and historically informed, this commentary will help those from cultures heavily influenced by the story to understand the biblical narrative of 1 Samuel, as well as inform those interested in East Asian culture of commonly held beliefs regarding what constitutes a good ruler. The Asia Bible Commentary series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible. The book of Leviticus has a two-fold mission. Leviticus 1–16 symbolizes the order of the world through sacrifices, purity law, and sacred boundaries, so that God's people can acknowledge his presence and lordship in their different aspects of life. The second part of the book, from Leviticus 17–27, extends the belief of holiness through moral laws of sex and social justice, so that God's people can be holy, as he is holy. This commentary helps believers to integrate God's holiness into their daily lifestyle with particular attention to Asian contexts.

Paul's epistle to the Colossians was written to a group of Christians who still held on to their past Jewish and pagan traditions alongside their faith in Christ. To help these believers, Paul provided guidance on how to deal with their past, showing them how faith in Christ brings new meaning to their situation. Similarly, in his epistle to Philemon, Paul addresses a culture where slavery was a common practice. He demonstrates the potential when slaves responded to the gospel and turned to Christ. Both of these epistles are extremely relevant to the church in Asia today, especially as it is confronted with syncretism, false teachings and the mistreatment of the less fortunate and marginalized in society.

In a world torn by racial, social, economic, political, and gender tensions, the message of Romans is deeply relevant and needed. It is a message both powerful and simple: Christ loved us while we were enemies of God. Can we, then, not follow his example and love those who are different than us? Romans will prepare us to do so. The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing a pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah illustrate how leaders of God's people confronted the challenges facing the Jews during the post-exilic period of Israel. Zerubbabel inspires the people of God to rebuild the temple; Ezra leads them in renewing their faith in God; and Nehemiah rebuilds the wall and, importantly, the people as well. The examples in these books, of leading through challenges and opposition by trusting the Lord and committing to prayer, testify to how God's gracious hand guides and blesses his people at each step. The careful exposition of these two books provides a valuable model for us to balance prayer and action with contextual application, and how the full obedience of leaders can lead to communities being transformed. The Asia Bible Commentary series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.