This textbook provides an introduction to the Second Temple period (520 BC–AD 70), the formative era of early Judaism and the setting for Jesus and the earliest Christians.

Apocalypticism is not a specialized or peripheral topic in biblical studies. It represents the central, characteristic transformation of Hebrew thought in the Second Temple period, and it’s the context in which the New Testament books were written.

The Baker Academic New Testament Backgrounds collection brings you 27 volumes from today’s finest New Testament, Greek, and Judaic scholars, including Craig S. Keener, Michael F. Bird, Graham H. Twelftree, Ben Witherington III, Bruce Metzger, and others. It provides insight into the cultural, social, and religious contexts surrounding the Greco-Roman World, analyzes the credibility of the biblical canon, miracles, and exorcisms, and explores the history and impact of Judaism. Each volume is clear, comprehensive, and readable; each tackles skeptics’ tough questions; and each includes helpful resources like indexes, bibliographies, and photos.

The Baker Academic New Testament Backgrounds collection brings you 57 volumes from today’s finest New Testament, Greek, and Judaic scholars, including Craig S. Keener, Michael F. Bird, Graham H. Twelftree, Ben Witherington III, Bruce Metzger, and others. It provides insight into essential New Testament topics. This collection offers a look at the cultural, social, and religious contexts surrounding the Greco-Roman World, analyzes the credibility of the biblical canon, miracles, and exorcisms, and explores the lives and ministries of Christ’s apostles—Simon Peter, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Build your library with the Baker Academic Biblical Studies Bundle (190 vols.). Bringing together a wide variety of scholarship by some of the leading biblical scholars today, this collection provides an academically rigorous addition to your Bible software library. Covering everything from the cultural and historical context of the Old and New Testaments through difficult interpretive questions raised by the original languages, and even dealing with serious questions in biblical theology, the Baker Academic Biblical Studies Bundle makes available essential resources for anyone serious about studying scripture.

Our largest package, the 2025 Ultimate Library, provides an incredible library for biblical research and theological reflection. Whether focused on Church history or biblical exegesis, the vast collection of resources and titles at your fingertips cover the gamut—from most devotionals to practical discussions of pastoral ministry to the most rigorous scholarly and academic research. This package has everything you need to engage in the serious study of Scripture and its world, with respected resources like the Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies | LHBOTS (382 vols.) and top-tier exegetical commentaries like the New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament | NIC (51 vols.).

“Jesus and the Gospels” is one of the most popular religion courses at colleges, and it is required at many seminaries and divinity schools. This textbook, written by an award-winning educator, is designed for a semester-long course in both these settings. Moreover, it could be used as a supplementary text in courses on christology, the historical Jesus, New Testament literature, and the Bible. Murphy will provide an introduction to the gospels that does justice to the full range of modern…

The Orthodox Portfolio library makes your study of the Bible easier by connecting your entire library of books to a robust set of study tools. The Orthodox Portfolio Library takes everything in the Orthodox Diamond Library and adds even more to your library. The Orthodox Portfolio LIbrary contains key sets including Fathers of the Church: A New Translation (148 vols.), Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament | TDOT (17 vols.), T&T Clark Jewish and Christian Texts Series (13 vols.), Berit Olam: Studies in Hebrew Narrative & Poetry (15 vols.), and many more. The Orthodox Portfolio Library is excellent for academic research or advanced exegesis.

The Wesleyan Portfolio library makes your study of the Bible easier by connecting your entire library of books to a robust set of study tools. The Wesleyan Portfolio Library takes everything in the Wesleyan Diamond Library and adds even more to your library. The Wesleyan Portfolio LIbrary contains key sets including Anchor Yale Bible Commentary | AYBC (94 vols.), The Encyclopedia of Christianity (5 vols.), International Critical Commentary | ICC (68 vols.), Literary and Rhetorical Commentaries on the New Testament (30 vols.), and many more. The Wesleyan Portfolio Library is excellent for academic research or advanced exegesis.

The Orthodox Diamond Library makes your study of the Bible easier by connecting your entire library of books to a robust set of study tools. The Orthodox Diamond Library takes everything in the Orthodox Platinum Library and adds even more to your library, with scholarly series like Ancient Faith Biblical And Theological Studies Collection (64 Vols.), Septuaginta with Apparatus and Alternate Texts (Rahlfs-Hanhart)Septuaginta with Apparatus and Alternate Texts (Rahlfs-Hanhart), Dictionary of Classical Hebrew | DCH (9 vols.), and Carta Biblical Background Collection (9 vols.). With over 1600 volumes of advanced biblical reference works, this is an ideal package for anyone doing academic research or advanced exegesis.

This far reaching collection includes many of the premiere resources available for biblical study, theology, ministry, history, and more. These resources from Baker Publishing Group feature stand alone volumes as well as dedicated series, with contributions from leading scholars such as Douglas Moo, D.A. Carson, Darrell Bock, Peter Leithart, Thomas Schreiner, and many more. With these resources from trusted guides you will discover new and challenging insights as you dig even deeper in your studies.