Ancient sources tell us a great deal about the cultural patterns and values that prevailed in the Mediterranean of the biblical periods:

The Ancient Mediterranean Social World makes the rich social context of the ancient Mediterranean available to readers through succinct introduction of key ideas, thoughtful selection of translated primary sources, and extensive cataloging of relevant primary sources.

Zeba Crook brings together leading scholars to write on twenty different topics, from patronage to gender to loyalty to evil eye. Each chapter opens with an introduction to the topic, offers a short list of secondary sources, and an extensive list of primary sources. The passages in each chapter reflect the vast array of sources roughly from Homer to Augustine, including epigraphical, papyrological, literary, historical, philosophical, biblical, and dramatic texts.

This authoritative volume serves as a ready reference for the novice and experienced scholar alike.

Contributors:

Alicia Batten, Giovanni Bazzana, Agnes Choi, Zeba Crook, John Daniels, Dennis Duling, John H. Elliott, Amy Marie Fisher, Jason Lamoreaux, Dietmar Neufeld, Jerry Neyrey, Douglas Oakman, Ron Roberts, Richard Rohrbaugh, Gary Stansell, Colleen Shantz, Eric Stewart, Erin Vearncombe, Ritva Williams

Glynn and Burer examine commentaries on every book of the New Testament, describing their approach, format, and usability; they then rank them on a scale of good, better, and best. Other chapters survey special studies for each New Testament book as well as books in related disciplines such as historical background, language resources, and hermeneutics. Also included are helpful chapters on building a must-have personal library, and identifying books that comprise the ultimate New Testament commentary collection. This is an indispensable resource for any serious student of the Bible.

The Carta Bible Atlas provides the historical and archaeological context needed to understand the biblical text, making it perfect for pastors, teachers, students, and scholars! The original authors of The Carta Bible Atlas, Yohanan Aharoni and Michael Avi-Yonah, developed biblical maps that have precise details of each of the major events described in the Bible. As research has progressed and new discoveries have been made, the succeeding authors have revised previous material to supply a more complete picture for many of the biblical narratives.

Rainey has added over 40 new maps of the Bible that place the biblical events in a solid framework of ancient Near Eastern history and culture, and has thoroughly revised subsequent chapters along those lines. Notley has revised and enhanced the portions dealing with New Testament events. He has also extended the reach of this Bible atlas to the beginning of the fourth century A.D. by adding a chapter on the Holy Land according to the Onomasticon of Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea.