SPCK Publishing

Among a variety of religious authorities espousing different teachings, how were they to know who was right? How were men and women to be put right with God? How could Christians in the midst of a pagan culture live lives truly pleasing to God? 

'Only one way -' answered Paul, 'through Jesus Christ.' His answer holds true for us as well. The details of our struggle have changed since Paul's day, but the principles he sets forth are as timeless as the Lord he exalts.

The root of the word 'mission' means 'sending'. 

All Christian mission has its fountainhead in the God revealed in Scripture, who sent his Son for us, sends his Spirit to us, and summons all people to himself. The privilege and responsibility of his church, sent into all the world, is to testify by his words and deeds to Jesus Christ, God's unique son, crucified, risen and ascended.

The East-West partnership in missiological exploration expounds a variety of Old and New Testament texts, and examines a wide range of issues. The authors' desire is that Jesus Christ might be glorified more and more in the church and in the world; their eager expectation is that one day the whole creation will find its consummation in him, and God will be all and in all.

The Old Testament books of wisdom and poetry carry themselves differently from those of the Pentateuch, the histories or the prophets.

The divine voice does not peal from Sinai, there are no narratives carried along by prophetic interpretation nor are oracles declaimed by a prophet. Here Scripture often speaks in the words of human response to God and God's world. The hymns, laments and thanksgivings of Israel, the dirge of Lamentations, the questionings of Qohelet, the love poetry of the Song of Songs, the bold drama of Job and the proverbial wisdom of Israel all offer their textures to this great body of biblical literature. Then too there are the finely crafted stories of Ruth and Esther that narrate the silent providence of God in the course of Israelite and Jewish lives.

This third Old Testament volume in IVP's celebrated "Black Dictionary" series offers nearly 150 articles covering all the important aspects of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ruth and Esther. Over 90 contributors, many of them experts in this literature, have contributed to the 'Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry and Writings'. This volume maintains the quality of scholarship that students, scholars and pastors have come to expect from this series.

Coverage of each biblical book includes an introduction to the book itself as well as separate articles on their ancient Near Eastern background and their history of interpretation. Additional articles amply explore the literary dimensions of Hebrew poetry and prose, including acrostic, ellipsis, inclusio, intertextuality, parallelism and rhyme. And there are well-rounded treatments of Israelite wisdom and wisdom literature, including wisdom poems, sources and theology. In addition, a wide range of interpretive approaches is canvassed in articles on hermeneutics, feminist interpretation, form criticism, historical criticism, rhetorical criticism and social-scientific approaches.

The 'Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry and Writings' is sure to command shelf space within arm's reach of any student, teacher or preacher working in this portion of biblical literature.

Tony Lane surveys a wide range of doctrines relating to our experience of God’s gracious salvation.

He begins with our need as sinful and fallen people, moves on to consider what is involved in becoming a Christian - majoring on justification (being put right with God) – and concludes with sanctification (living the Christian life). As well as expounding various aspects of these doctrines, Lane introduces their historical roots in classical expositions.

Lane warns that these doctrines are in danger of being lost by significant sectors of evangelicalism, and he explains them clearly. He encourages readers to hold firmly to an evangelical soteriology, having a greater understanding of it and a stronger conviction of its truth, with experience of its application to Christian discipleship.

LESS > Fake
LESS > Shame
LESS > Masks
MORE > Real

Jesus promises ‘life and life to the full’. So why do so many people walk away from faith – and not just teenagers but people who have been in church for years?

The full life offered is one of genuine relationship with God and others, but has our tendency to fight vulnerability, mask weakness and hide disappointment cost us the real thing? Have we tried to keep it together, keep the faith, until we simply can’t do it anymore?

Following Jesus should not require fronts: when we fully grasp the love of God towards us, in all our mess and sin and doubt, we experience the freedom that vulnerability, honesty, and sacrifice brings. That’s real life; life to the full.

MORE > Real explores how we can build lives on truth, and cultivate a real faith that lasts through the storms of life.

The 2018 Year Book from Keswick contains a selection of talks from this year's convention. The contributors include

Christopher Ash
Richard Dannatt
Louise Morse
Chris Chia
Alasdair Paine
Rodgers Atwebenbeire
Jonty Allcock

Looking for answers to those big faith questions?

If God, Then What?' is a profound, quirky and amusing take on life's biggest questions. We encounter truth by sharing stories and asking questions. Andrew Wilson asks nine big questions about truth, origins and redemption, and wonders aloud about the possible answers, offering a fresh way of looking at life and a different way of communicating the gospel.

As he ponders those questions with you, the author will leave you with a fresh, new and exciting perspective on the life-giving gospel of Christ.

'A rather impressive young Christian.' The Times

'The best book on apologetics that has come from these shores for a decade. It will bring a smile to your face and present numerous eureka moments. And Andrew does it in this mad conversational style.'- Christianity Magazine

If we neglect this book, says Chris Wright, we miss the challenge and reward of wrestling with the massive theological issues that permeate it. How can suffering be endured alongside faith in an all-loving, good God? Even if these events are recognized and accepted as God's judgment, has not the flood of brutality and evil gone beyond all bounds? If anarchy, death and destruction stalk the land, can the centre of Israel's faith hold?

Wright shows that as Christian readers we must not, and cannot, isolate Lamentations from the rest of the Bible; and equally, that we should not read the rest of the Bible without Lamentations. We must still let it speak for itself, as a book for today.

The good news about injustice is that God is against it.

God is in the business of using the unlikely to accomplish justice and mercy. In this tenth-anniversary edition of Gary Haugen's challenging and encouraging book, he offers stories of courageous Christians who have stood up for justice in the face of human trafficking, forced prostitution, racial and religious persecution, and torture.

This expanded edition brings up to date his work in calling for the body of Christ to act. Throughout, he provides concrete guidance on how ordinary Christians can rise up to seek justice throughout the world.

What does it mean to be pilgrims in a confusing world? What vision of the good life drives us?

In this thoughtful exposition, Raymond Brown explores how the book of Numbers offers a picture of a better life. He shows how its message is eminently suited to our contemporary world, a world without firm spiritual and moral foundations. In contrast to contemporary thinking, Numbers pictures life as an accompanied journey, and not a meaningless maze.

Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Numbers offers an insightful, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Numbers and who want to delve deeper into the text.

This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.

Readable and reliable, The Message of Numbers will help for anyone looking for a commentary on the book of Numbers that make clear its meaning both in its original context and for twenty-first century readers.

Most of us are on the lookout for something fresh and different as we approach Advent and Christmas.

How can we fully appreciate the familiar truths, treasuring yet again the good news and joy of the season? What will really make our hearts sing? Look no further.

In this sure-footed, yet conversational and down-to-earth, little volume, William Philip looks at the 'songs' of key characters in the Christmas story:

• Elizabeth (joy for the hearers)
• Mary (joy for the humble)
• Zechariah (joy for the helpless)
• The Shepherds (joy for the heavens)
• Simeon and Anna (joy for the hopeful)

This is a book to engage heart and head, as it moves between key passages from Luke’s Gospel, from the song of the heavily pregnant to the song of a humble peasant, from the song of the helpless priest to the song of the heavenly proclaimers, and finally to the song of the hopeful 'pensioners'.

The author concludes, 'Countless people throughout the centuries have… joined the chorus of praise and proclamation, singing the song of the Saviour with Simeon and Anna, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and all the host of heaven. My hope is that your voice is already part of that wonderful refrain. But if not, then my prayer is that this Christmas is the time to do what these others have done and embrace the Saviour for yourself.'

'Takes the reader, with accuracy and deep devotion, from these wonderful songs of Scripture, to know, with new adoration, the Christ who was born' - Peter Dickson

'Inspiring and informative... Written not just for those who have found their Christian faith, but also for those who are still seeking and exploring. A great read for Advent.' - Clare Hendry

'A wonderful exploration of the Bible's own "Christmas carols". Saints, sceptics, seekers and Scrooges will find fuel here to warm the heart.' - Jonty Rhodes

'The cardiologist (or physician) who became a pastor has written a book to make our hearts sing... It has something striking in it for preachers, congregations and visitors alike.' - Rico Tice

God speaks. By his Spirit. Through the Bible. About his Son.

This is one of the most crucial things for any Christian to get to grips with. If we understand how God speaks, then we can truly know him. Everything else slots into place. We see Jesus clearly. We fall in love with him more deeply. We make sense of our world. But get this wrong and we lose it all.

This book covers the whole sweep of the subject from start to finish. It puts all the parts of the jigsaw in their proper place. Yet, mixing our metaphors, it’s also an appetizer, whetting your palate for more...

The short letters of 1, 2 and 3 John are some of the most complex and exciting in the New Testament.

Join Fred Sanders in discovering how, even in some of the shortest and strangest books of the Bible, He still speaks through Scripture, in this new volume in the Hearing God's Voice commentary series.

The Hearing God's Voice books are theological expositions of the Bible. That means we're reading each book of the Bible with our eyes on the Triune God and His works. The aim of each book in the series is:

To present God's Word accurately and faithfully for us today
To draw our gaze to God and His works in His Word
To be readable!

These aren't commentaries for scholars nor are they books of sermons. Our goal isn't simply to explain the text. Rather, in reading the Scriptures seriously, we want to lift our eyes to the God of Scripture, hear His voice, and gaze on His glory and grace.

What is happening in church leadership? Can anything be done?

In The Glorious Risk, Chloe Lynch challenges the broken stories shaping Western church leadership, where leaders become either pseudo-CEOs or burned out martyrs to the cause. Instead, Chloe offers a fresh, biblically faithful vision: leadership as friendship.

Rooted in God's invitation to relationship through Christ, this book reimagines leadership as a journey of friendship. With deep theological insight and lived experience, Lynch deconstructs harmful leadership models, reveals the life-giving potential of true friendship and shows how embracing this approach can transform churches from the inside out.

Accessible, engaging and thought-provoking, this work is a must-read for church leaders, ministry students and those yearning for a leadership style that embodies the beating heart of the gospel. Learn to lead in love and be inspired to redefine leadership in your own community.

The Old Testament books of Kings are a unique source for understanding the history of Israel, from the last days of the united kingdom under David to the eventual fall of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Presenting Israel's national history from a divine viewpoint, these narratives measure the kings of Israel and Judah, not by the mark they leave on secular history, but by their 'doing what is right in the Lord's sight'. Embedded in this story are enduring lessons of the ways of God with his people in every age.

This is an entirely new Tyndale Old Testament Commentary on the Book of Job, from W. Dennis Tucker, Professor of Christian Scriptures at Baylor University's Truett Seminary. Replacing Francis I. Andersen's much loved legacy volume, Tucker delves deep into the theological and exegetical work that has been done in the last few decades.

The book of Job is all about human suffering. Its portrayal of one man's anguish, the ineffective responses of his friends, and his struggle for faith and understanding mirrors our own experiences in the world.

Here is a careful, exegetical, theological and pastoral exploration of Job.

The Tyndale Old Testament Commentary is designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text of the book of Numbers says and what it means. The Introduction to this commentary gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting and purpose.

Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book of Job section by section, drawing out its main themes and also commenting on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties. In the new Old Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three headings: Context, Comment and Theology. The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.