In ancient times, Leviticus was the first biblical book with which Jewish children began their education. According to the rabbis, there are 613 laws in the Torah, and nearly half of them are contained in Leviticus. And yet it also contains narrative, making the book's genre something like an "instructional history" and indicating that the instruction cannot be separated or understood apart from its narrative setting.

A new commentary for today's world, The Story of God Bible Commentary explains and illuminates each passage of Scripture in light of the Bible's grand story.

The first commentary series to do so, SGBC offers a clear and compelling exposition of biblical texts, guiding everyday readers in how to creatively and faithfully live out the Bible in their own contexts. Its story-centric approach is ideal for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and laypeople alike.

Each volume employs three main, easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God's story:

• LISTEN to the Story: Includes complete NIV text with references to other texts at work in each passage, encouraging the reader to hear it within the Bible's grand story.


• EXPLAIN the Story: Explores and illuminates each text as embedded in its canonical and historical setting.


• LIVE the Story: Reflects on how each text can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustrations to aid preachers, teachers, and students.

Edited by Scot McKnight and Tremper Longman III, and written by a number of top-notch theologians, The Story of God Bible Commentary series will bring relevant, balanced, and clear-minded theological insight to any biblical education or ministry.

Jerry Shepherd is associate professor of Old Testament, Taylor Seminary, Edmonton, Canada.