Biblical Genres

When an Orthodox Jew is found shot to death in Montreal, Temperance Brennan is called in to examine the body and to figure out the puzzling damage to the corpse. Unexpectedly, a stranger slips her a photograph of a skeleton and assures her the picture is the key to the victim's death. Before she knows it, Tempe is involved in an international mystery as old as Jesus, a mystery that could rewrite 2000 years of religious history.

The Gospel According to Judas, by Benjamin Iscariot, sheds new light on the mystery of Judas (including his motives for the betrayal and what happened to him after the crucifixion) by retelling the story of Jesus through the eyes of Judas, using the canonical texts as its basic point of reference. Ostensibly written by Judas' son, Benjamin, and following the narrative style of the Gospels, this re-creation is provocative, compelling, and controversial.

The Chronicles of Heaven, literary epic, continues its story in Exodus. The escape opens with God calling out to an uncircumcised heathen names Abraham to play his part in the vast tapestry of God's eternal plan. As The Escape unfolds, Christ is shown to be the very center of all that God is doing.

Daniel’s meteoric rise in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court is a two-edged sword. Yahweh has greatly blessed Daniel and his friends, and they have found much favor in the eyes of the Babylonian king, but it has come at a cost. Daniel has made powerful enemies who seek to destroy him and any influence he has over the king of Babylon. Dark forces are moving into position around Daniel. Envious men want nothing more than to see him and his friends dead.

With her trademark wisdom and humor, Anita Diamant ( The Red Tent) considers the nature, strength, and necessity of adult female friendship. Good Harbor examines the tragedy of loss, the insidious nature of family secrets, and the redemptive power of friendship.

When her father dies and she is left in the care of her conniving brother Laban, Rebekah knows her life has changed forever. Her hope for the future is restored when she falls in love with her cousin Isaac, and their relationship starts strong. But marital bliss cannot last forever, and the birth of their twin sons marks the beginning of years of misunderstanding, disagreement, and betrayal. The rift between them grows wider and wider until it is surely too deep to be mended. And yet, with God all things are possible.

In order to understand, appreciate, and faithfully preach the word of God, pastors must discern the literary nature of the Bible. Instead of just acknowledging the various genres of Scripture, pastors and teachers should allow these genres to influence how the text is approached and communicated. In The Beauty and Power of Biblical Exposition, they will learn how to both read and preach the Bible as a literary anthology.

Two thousand years ago, when the Romans came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciple Peter cut off the ear of an innocent man. Jesus rebuked Peter and quickly healed the servant's ear - and the Sword of Peter took on supernatural powers. Fast forward to modern day where a Biblical archaeology quest for the Sword of Peter is imperative to both Israel and to the Christian world.

After finding two ancient silver shekels in an old robe, Professor Sam Godfrey and Achava, guardian of Israel and its sacred artifacts, believe they've been chosen to find the rest of the coins. Sam and Achava follow the trail of the robe to a man who tells them they have 30 days to find the rest of the shekels. He warns that if they don't succeed in time, something catastrophic will happen.

Thousands of years ago, just before God flooded the Earth, a man of faith took his family and many animals onto an ark he built in order to survive the coming deluge. Fast forward to modern day where Achava, spiritual guardian of Israel, leads the team on a time travel quest for Noah's ark. Achava is joined by Sam Godfrey, an archaeologist; Anthea, Achava's archrival half-sister; and the newest member of the team, Khassima, a royal dancer who is haunted by her past. Together, the intrepid team uses supernatural forces to travel back to the time of Noah.

Thousands of years ago, Moses was given the stone tablets with God's Commandments. They were kept in the Ark of the Covenant for a time, but they're no longer there. In modern day, Achava is a spiritual warrior. And a wife and a mother-to-be. Now, in their final mission from God, Achava and Sam must find and return the stone tablets of the Commandments of God into the Ark of the Covenant. It's their most dangerous mission ever - not only will Achava have to fight her greatest battle, but she must do it while carrying their child.

Thousands of years ago, a young warrior slew a Nephilim with a sling, some stones...and God's help. In modern day, Achava is the warrior. The avenger. And now, a wife. When Achava, supernatural guardian of Israel, marries Professor Sam Godfrey, she loses some powers. Becoming more human by the hour, Achava can no longer Soul Merge and must rely on her half-sister, Anthea, for such travels. Sam doubts Achava can battle evil without her supernatural abilities.

Book three of the Rise of Daniel follows Daniel, Jeremiah, and Nebuchadnezzar through the dark period of the Babylonian Captivity. Daniel has gained favor within Nebuchadnezzar’s court, but this creates envy in those who resent his rise to power. An array of evil spirits arises against him, threatening to destroy him, his friends, and his people. Daniel walks a thin line of survival where a single misstep could see him consumed by the evil spirits seeking his life. Such is the danger that even his friendship with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah is in jeopardy.

Ravaged by one brother, silenced and betrayed by another, and abandoned by her father, Tamar—once beloved daughter of the king of Israel, and healer of the court—suddenly finds herself in exile, fleeing for her life. But the story continues where the scriptures end: a dangerous journey and tenacious pursuit of her true identity and calling brings her full circle, to her rightful place in the kingdom.

God is a covenant making, covenant keeping God. From the dawn of prehistory, God’s dealings with mankind can be understood through the lens of covenant: A binding agreement of unending loyalty and faithfulness. His early covenants with mankind were one-sided, requiring very little from men in return. All of that changed with the birth of the nation of Israel, and her deliverance from slavery in Egypt through Moses. The Mosaic covenant, also known throughout the Bible as “the law”, encompassed the rest of the Old Testament books through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The Third Millennium paints a blood-chilling picture of the chaos and confusion of the end times as witnessed by one American family as unforgettably narrated by their guardian angel, Michael.

In her eventful lifetime, Miriam was many things to many people: protective older sister, song leader, prophetess, leper. But between the highs and the lows, she was a girl who dreamed of freedom, a woman who longed for love, a leader who made mistakes, and a friend who valued connection.

This is the incredible story of the journey undertaken by two men. Paul and Barnabas left their homes and risked their lives to cross seas and mountains. They were shipwrecked, beaten and faced the threat of robbery and murder. They were almost killed by floods and spent sleepless nights exposed to storms and freezing mountain temperatures. They travelled to places which had never heard the gospel and brought Jews and Gentiles to Jesus.

Jesus' apostles were not particularly remarkable men at first glance: fishermen, carpenters, even tax collectors! And yet he said, "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain" (John 15:16). Little is known for certain about what happened to each of them following the Resurrection, yet ancient traditions abound. What were their final moments like in this life? How did each apostle summon such astounding courage to face trial, tribulation, and martyrdom?

James ben Joseph wrestles with the pain of his older brother's death. He never believed Jesus was a rebel, but his brother's radical teachings drew dangerous attention from the Pharisees. Traveling to Jerusalem for Passover, James hoped to convince Jesus to abandon his reckless ideas and come home. Betrayal and conflict led to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, and to protect his family, James turned his back on his brother. As rumors spread that Jesus has risen from the dead, James' sorrow mixes with fear of persecution.