Holy Bible ESV, Spanish/English Parallel Bible

Holy Bible ESV, Spanish/English Parallel Bible

ISBN-13: 978-1433579660
Hardcover: 1792 pages
Publisher: Crossway Bibles
Released: January 3rd 2008

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Spanish and English are two of the five most-spoken languages in the world. This new edition of the ESV honors the diversity and relevance of God's Word in a way that is ideal for not only native speakers of either language but also bilingual readers. This Bible positions two columns of Scripture on each page: the beloved Reina-Valera 1960 Spanish text on the left, and the ESV English language text alongside it on the right. It also features textual notes for both translations in the back, and is contained in a durable, gold-foil stamped cover.

Size: 6.5" x 9.1875"
8-point type


My Review:
Holy Bible ESV, Spanish/English Parallel Bible has two columns on each page, with the left column in Spanish (RVR version) and the right in English (ESV). The text is small and the pages so thin that the text from the other side shows through, so I sometimes have trouble reading the words (at 45 year old). The cover is (fake?) leather, the edges gilt, and there's a ribbon for marking your place, so the outside looks nice. I've been improving my intermediate-level Spanish by reading Spanish verses every day by e-mail, so I thought this would be a great way to continue that learning method. So far, it does look like I can read the Spanish and just glance over at the English when I'm not sure of a word and see what it means in English. I think both had similar translation styles and used the same text so the wording is close enough that I can use it for language learning.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Greek New Testament by Crossway Books

The Greek New Testament
by Crossway Books

ISBN-13: 9781433579646
Hardcover: 720 pages
Publisher: Crossway
Released: November 4th 2021

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The Groundbreaking Tyndale House Greek New Testament, Complete with Comprehensive Dictionary

Reflecting decades of scholarly advances, The Greek New Testament, Produced at Tyndale House, Cambridge was created under the oversight of editors Dr. Dirk Jongkind (St. Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge) and Dr. Peter Williams (Tyndale House, Cambridge). Their team took a rigorously philological approach to reevaluating the standard text―reexamining spelling and paragraph decisions as well as allowing more recent discoveries related to scribal habits to inform editorial decisions.

This edition features an exhaustive dictionary, giving readers a tool for rewarding study. Eliminating the need to frequently reference other materials, this resource with the added dictionary is ideal for students, pastors, and those who are less familiar with Greek.


My Review:
The Greek New Testament is the New Testament text entirely in Greek. There's a dictionary in the back giving the English for the Greek words. The text size is decent, not large print nor small or tiny print. I'm only just starting to learn biblical Greek, but I thought a Greek New Testament would be useful to have. It's a hardback and the paper it's printed on is thick enough to endure use (not tissue-thin). The text is described as from "the standard text."


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit by Jodi Magness

Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit
by Jodi Magness

ISBN-13: 9780802865588
Paperback: 375 pages
Publisher: Eerdmans
Released: April 12th 2011

Source: Bought.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit Jodi Magness unearths “footprints” buried in both archaeological and literary evidence to shed new light on Jewish daily life in Palestine from the mid-first century b.c.e. to 70 c.e. — the time and place of Jesus’ life and ministry.

Magness analyzes recent archaeological discoveries from such sites as Qumran and Masada together with a host of period texts, including the New Testament, the works of Josephus, and rabbinic teachings. Layering all these sources together, she reconstructs in detail a fascinating variety of everyday activities — dining customs, Sabbath observance, fasting, toilet habits, burial customs, and more.


My Review:
Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit discussed Jewish purity issues from the time of Jesus. The author looked at various literary sources from that time (including the Bible and Qumran texts) and compared this to what has been found through archaeology. Were certain rulings by rabbis followed by the general population? The author treated the Bible as just another text from the time period, though she wasn't disrespectful. She focused a lot on the Qumran community, both literary texts and archaeological discoveries. This book was academic in tone but easy enough to follow. There were some pictures at the center of the book illustrating some of the archaeological finds that she talked about. While I did learn some interesting things, it has a rather narrow focus on Jewish purity.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Evidence for the Bible by Clive Anderson, Brian Edwards

Evidence for the Bible
by Clive Anderson, Brian Edwards

ISBN-13: 9781683441113
Paperback: 252 pages
Publisher: Master Books
Released: January 1st 2018

Source: Bought.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Evidence for the Bible helps us discover archaeological finds that confirm or illustrate the biblical account. The authors’ purpose was to provide a reliable summary of the up-to-date positions in laymen’s terms, with added reference books suggested for deeper study into the various subjects addressed.


My Review:
Evidence for the Bible works through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and talked about the archaeological evidence found for the people and places mentioned in the Bible. The book had full-color photographs of the archaeological finds along with information about where it can be found. In general, I felt this book did a good job of providing information about Bible-related archaeological finds that confirm the accuracy of the Bible accounts.

That said, the authors' push to reinterpret the text so that only about 30,000 Hebrews left Egypt after living there for 400 years seemed an odd questioning of the Biblical record. Yes, having enough water and food for over a million people was a problem, thus the reason they kept complaining to God about it. And God provided. Just because only two Hebrew midwives were mentioned in Exodus 1 doesn't mean that's all there were (plus dropping the number of women in their care down to maybe 10,000 adults doesn't actually solve the problem of two midwives being not enough). Just because there were 600,000 men of fighting age doesn't mean they really had army yet. They had been slaves, feared for their potential to revolt so it's unlikely they had military training. Not all of them fought in every battle. And the author's method of translating "thousand" into "unit of about 10 men" would change Numbers 31:4 "Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel” as each tribe sending 1 unit or around 120 men total. This was for a major battle. Seriously? So I didn't agree with some of their ideas, though the main information was solid.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Names of God by Melissa Spoelstra

The Names of God
by Melissa Spoelstra

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Released: August 4th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Today's culture and others' views, even those of other Christians, can present a distorted view of God. Some suggest God exudes qualities He does not possess such as being unloving or apathetic toward His creation. In a world where we find people creating God in their own image, studying God's names can remind us that we are created in His. In fact, one of the best ways to know God's true character and grow closer to Him is to study His names.

In The Names of God, Melissa Spoelstra leads women on an exploration of the many names of our triune God--from El and Elohim to Yahweh and its many combinations to names such as Abba, Jesus, and Holy Spirit...and many others.

As women study the names of God, their ideas about God will become more grounded in what His names tell them, and thus more personal, allowing a greater trust in Him to share the details of their lives. Whether having walked with God for many years or just starting out in a relationship with Him, by the end of this study women will not only know more about God but will know Him better--because through the discovery of God's names, they will discover Him!


My Review:
The Names of God is a six week long group Bible study on some of the names of God. Each week had 5 days of study, plus there was a day where you took notes on the video study. The author choose various Hebrew and Greek names for God and did a day of study on each name. She gave the name's translation/meaning and then provided some commentary about where this name first occurred in the Bible and how knowing this name may help us to more fully understand God's character and work in our lives. She included verses to read, reading comprehension questions, and discussed how this applies to our lives. She included some verses to memorize and a nice prayer at the end of each chapter. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting study.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Bread of Life by Abigail Dodds

Bread of Life
by Abigail Dodds

ISBN-13: 978-1433572470
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Crossway Books
Released: September 28th 2021

Source: review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Millions of people have rediscovered the joy of homemade bread making. A quick search on Pinterest or Instagram brings up step-by-step instructions and captivating photos for everything from sourdough to naan. Bread satisfies our bodies, but our spirits cry out for even greater sustenance.

In Bread of Life, Abigail Dodds--an avid baker and mother of 5--invites readers to ponder and celebrate God's spiritual and physical provision in Christ through the hands-on art of bread making. Offering readers easy-to-follow directions for everything from focaccia to chocolate babka along with full-color photographs throughout, this unique book is an enriching blend of devotional meditations and recipes that invites readers to ponder the true bread of life as they bake for their families and friends.


My Review:
Bread of Life is a devotional with a bread theme and bread recipes. There were 11 devotionals with a recipe at the end of each. The author included recipes for a round wheat loaf, focaccia, zucchini bread, naan, cheese bread, sour dough country loaf, popovers, cottage bread, croissants, biscuits, and chocolate babka. Some of the recipes were more complex to make while others were simple. The pictures were primarily decorative (like a picture of people eating bread or the finished bread) rather than illustrations or step-by-step demos. Each devotional started with a couple verse quotes and then her commentary. She talked about something in her life that God pointed out to her, what Scripture says about that problem and why it is a problem, and how she's changed. She ended with three discussion questions and a bread recipe. Overall, I'd recommend this devotional.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God by Bob Hartman

Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God
by Bob Hartman,
Steve Brown (Illustrations)

ISBN-13: 9780830781553
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: David C Cook
Released: September 1st 2021

Source: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Clever Cub is a curious little bear who LOVES to cuddle up with the Bible and learn about God. Clever Cub wants to give thanks to God but doesn’t know how. So Mama Bear tells the story of Peter and John healing a man—a man who then gave thanks to God in a wonderful way! This engaging picture book tells the story of God's healing in Acts 3 and teaches children ages 3-6 the joy of showing gratitude to God.


My Review:
Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God is a Christian children's book is aimed at ages 3-6. It started with the mother thanking God for something good and teaching her cub to think about what he'd thank God for. She then told him the story from Acts 3:1-10 where Peter heals a lame beggar. The cub asked things like if the "temple gate called Beautiful" was in rainbow colors, and the illustrations showed what he's imagining. Still, the illustrations (while cartoon style) were fairly accurate in giving an idea of what things would have looked like. It's a fun way to teach this important lesson, and my 5-year-old niece enjoyed it. It's a bit wordy for my 2-year-old niece, though.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.