rue. The Holy Bible is the Word of God for the people of God, whose task it is to bear witness to the work of God in the world. For generations, this book has served to define the identity of the church and shape its mission. Taken together, the Old and New Testaments tell the story of a God who creates, calls, and covenants with people, a God who makes all things new. At the heart of this story is the person of Christ, the one in and through whom Christians read all Scripture.

The Baylor Annotated Study Bible represents a monumental collaborative effort, bringing together nearly seventy biblical scholars--Baylor faculty, graduates, affiliates, and friends--to refresh our view of the sacred texts. Each of the sixty-six canonical books of the Protestant Bible is given an introduction and commentary intended to immerse readers in the literary, sociohistorical, and theological depths of Scripture. In addition, the intercommunication and echoes between the biblical books are exhibited through a rich assemblage of cross-references. Rounding out this indispensable study aid are a biblical timeline, glossary of terms used in the introductions and commentaries, concordance to the New Revised Standard Version translation, and full-color maps.

A reliable companion for both personal and classroom study, the Baylor Annotated Study Bible follows in the long-standing mission of Baylor University: to serve as a faithful witness to the liberating, transformative good news of the gospel. Just as Baylor stands astride the realms of church and academy, so the Baylor Annotated Study Bible joins Christian conviction with scholarly rigor to provide a unique and accessible guide for all students of the Christian Scriptures and all followers of Christ. Let the tools provided here lead to an engagement with God's Word that enlightens, enriches, and encourages.