Dr. Craig S. Keener

Dr. Craig S. Keener is a professor of the New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary. His is especially known for his work on the background of the New Testament, including the IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, which has sold over half a million copies. His latest commentary Acts: An Exegetical Commentary, 4 vols., is now available. Craig has taught in various countries, especially countries in Africa. He and his wife, Medine, work together for ethnic reconciliation in the U.S. and Africa.

The four canonical Gospels are ancient biographies, narratives of Jesus’s life. The authors of these Gospels were intentional in how they handled historical information and sources.

Building on recent work in the study of ancient biographies, Craig Keener argues that the writers of the canonical Gospels followed the literary practices of other biographers in their day. In Christobiography he explores the character of ancient biography and urges students and scholars to appreciate the Gospel writers’ method and degree of accuracy in recounting the ministry of Jesus. Keener’s Christobiography has far-reaching implications for the study of the canonical Gospels and historical-Jesus research. He concludes that the four canonical Gospels are historically reliable ancient biographies.

Known for his meticulous and comprehensive research, New Testament scholar Craig Keener presents his magnum opus in this four-volume magisterial set, Acts: An Exegetical Commentary. Drawing on an unparalleled range of ancient extrabiblical sources, Keener's extensively documented and insightful exegesis paves the way for fully understanding Acts in its first-century context. The four-volume set is an invaluable resource for New Testament professors and students, pastors, Acts scholars, and libraries.

You’ve heard many Bible stories hundreds of times, but how many behind-the-scenes details are you missing? Sometimes a little context is all you need to discover just how much is happening in Scripture. That’s what the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible provides. Every page is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of Bible times. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus.