The last six Minor Prophets--Nahum through Malachi--span preexilic and postexilic times. The first three--Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah--lead up to the exile, with themes ranging from God's judgment to his enduring faithfulness; the final three--Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi--lay spiritual foundations for the community returned from exile, encouraging the temple's rebuilding, visualizing the messianic age, and affirming God's covenantal faithfulness.Authors Laurie Braaten and Jim Edlin have expertly crafted a New Beacon Bible Commentary on these remarkable writings. Together these exceptional scholars have explored the individual themes of these biblical books, while also bringing to light any broader themes these books may share.The New Beacon Bible Commentary is an engaging, indispensable reference tool to aid individuals in every walk of life in the study and meditation of God's Word. Written from the Wesleyan theological perspective, it offers insight and perceptive scholarship to help you unlock the deeper truths of Scripture and garner an awareness of the history, culture, and context attributed to each book of study. Readable, relevant, and academically thorough, it offers scholars, pastors, and laity a new standard for understanding and interpreting the Bible in the 21st century.EACH VOLUME FEATURES: Completely New Scholarship from notable experts in the Wesleyan tradition Convenient Introductory Material for each book of the Bible including information on authorship, date, history, audience, sociological/cultural issues, purpose, literary features, theological themes, hermeneutical issues, and more Clear Verse-by-Verse Explanations, which offer a contemporary, Wesleyan-based understanding derived from the passage's original language
