num_pages: 200
description: Beyond the familiar lions' den and fiery furnace much of the book of Daniel seems baffling to modern readers. The first half recounts stories full of ancient Near Eastern protocol and imperial court drama; the second half features apocalyptic visions of monstrous beasts and cosmic conflict. Many Christians misunderstand or simply avoid the book. But failing to read Daniel well means missing a critical part of God's message to us. According to Tremper Longman III when we read Daniel on its own terms and in its original context we'll discover that all of the book is easier to understand than we might think. In this volume of the popular How to Read Series Longman brings his expertise as an Old Testament scholar and teacher to orient readers to a proper engagement with Daniel. He examines the book's genre structure historical background and major theological message before diving deeper into each of the stories and visions. As we learn how to enter the world of Daniel we find a message not only for his generation but also for ours: even in hostile circumstances God is in control and he will have the final victory. Longman draws out this theme of Daniel for the twenty-first century finding help for faithful living in a toxic culture and hope in a troubled world. How to Read Daniel is the perfect starting point for anyone studying teaching or seeking a reliable guide to this ancient book.
language: English
title: How to Read Daniel
publisher: IVP Academic