Archaeology and the World of Jesus - (Archaeology and the New Testament) by David Desilva (Paperback)

About the Book

In this beautifully designed volume, a leading New Testament scholar explores the archaeology of particular sites, their relevance for studying the ministry of Jesus, and their connection to specific Gospel texts.

Book Synopsis

A fundamental principle of biblical interpretation is the importance of context--historical, literary, and canonical. But an often-neglected source of context for understanding Scripture is the field of archaeology. The physical and cultural world we inhabit affects us deeply, and that was no less true for the original writers and readers of Scripture. Archaeology provides insights into important questions like, What did these believers see day to day? What messages did they receive from their environment? What social practices influenced them?

In the second of three planned volumes, New Testament scholar David deSilva uses archaeological findings to explore places that provide important windows into Jesus's religious, political, and cultural environment. This visually compelling and beautifully designed book contains over 250 full-color photographs of sites and artifacts. The author focuses on the fruits of archaeology pertaining to sites associated with Jesus's travels and ministry and their connections with specific Gospel texts. This book helps readers visualize the early first-century environment of Jesus, his opponents, and his followers.

This volume will be an important supplemental textbook for courses on the New Testament and for anyone who wants to better understand the lived context of Jesus and his audiences.

About the Author

David A. deSilva (PhD, Emory University) is Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. He is the author of more than 30 books on the New Testament and Second Temple Period Jewish literature, including Archaeology and the Ministry of Paul, Introducing the Apocrypha, Discovering Revelation, Judea Under Greek and Roman Rule, and commentaries on Hebrews, Galatians, and Ephesians. He is also an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church.