What was happening outside Bible lands during the time of the patriarchs, Jewish kingdoms, the prophets, Jesus' ministry, and the early church? Find out with The Bible in World History. This pocket-sized, fully illustrated reference breaks biblical and early church history into eight major time periods--from "Creation to the Tower of Babel" through "Anno Domini," the years from Jesus' birth to about AD 330--and shows what was happening in other parts of the world during those times. With references to Chinese, Indian, African, and Mayan cultures, among others, The Bible in World History will help you see how history and scripture intersect.

A literary history of our most influential book of all time, by an Oxford scholar and Anglican priest In our culture, the Bible is monolithic: It is a collection of books that has been unchanged and unchallenged since the earliest days of the Christian church. The idea of the Bible as "Holy Scripture," a non-negotiable authority straight from God, has prevailed in Western society for some time. And while it provides a firm foundation for centuries of Christian teaching, it denies the depth, variety, and richness of this fascinating text. In A History of the Bible, John Barton argues that the Bible is not a prescription to a complete, fixed religious system, but rather a product of a long and intriguing process, which has inspired Judaism and Christianity, but still does not describe the whole of either religion. Barton shows how the Bible is indeed an important source of religious insight for Jews and Christians alike, yet argues that it must be read in its historical context--from its beginnings in myth and folklore to its many interpretations throughout the centuries. It is a book full of narratives, laws, proverbs, prophecies, poems, and letters, each with their own character and origin stories. Barton explains how and by whom these disparate pieces were written, how they were canonized (and which ones weren't), and how they were assembled, disseminated, and interpreted around the world--and, importantly, to what effect. Ultimately, A History of the Bible argues that a thorough understanding of the history and context of its writing encourages religious communities to move away from the Bible's literal wording--which is impossible to determine--and focus instead on the broader meanings of scripture.

This is a review of world history from a Bible believer's perspective. It is designed for use by homeschoolers but anyone can learn from it.

What was happening outside biblical territories during the time of the patriarchs, Jewish kingdoms, the prophets, Jesus' ministry, and the early church? Find out with "The Bible in World History."

Rose Book of Bible and Christian History Time Lines is one of the top Bible time lines sold through Christian bookstores. It includes 20 feet of time lines in one beautiful hard-bound book! Compare Bible history, world history, and Middle Eastern rulers and empires side by side. Then unfold this giant Bible time line poster and put it up on the wall or down the church hallway. This dramatic timeline is guaranteed to grab people's attention in Bible study and adult Sunday school. This incredible Bible time line not only covers events from Genesis to Revelation, it also covers all of church history, including the expansion of Christianity and the persecution of Christians around the world, as well as the history of Bible translation. The Rose Book of Bible and Christian History Time Lines is printed on heavy chart paper and can be taken out of the book and unfolded out to full length. See the comparison chart below to see why Rose Book of Bible and Christian History Time Lines is one of the best available. 10-Foot-Long Bible Time Line Includes: Hundreds of key people and events from Genesis to RevelationEvents from world history and Middle Eastern history to give you a comparisonDates of kings, prophets, battles, births, and deathsColorful photos and illustrationsLarger print than most time lines 10-Foot-Long Church History Time Line Includes: Beginning with the life of Jesus, all of the major events through modern dayMore than 300 key people and events that all Christians should knowEmphasis on world missions, the expansion of Christianity, and Bible translation in other languagesPacked with colorful photos Sample comparisons of Bible history and world history side by side. This indispensable Bible study tool is a great addition for any church resource library, Christian school, or homeschoolers classroom.

Take in the full history of the Bible with a detailed account that focuses on its major empires, events and personalities. Written by a religious scholar who has taught at high school, college and adult levels, this historical exploration is organized around the major civilizations and epochs of the ancient world, beginning with Sumer and ending with Rome. Author Bruce W. Gore provides a thorough overview of major empires, such as the Assyrians or Babylonians, as well as more modest civilizations, such as the Phoenicians or Hittites. Learn how Cyrus the Persian, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and others changed the course of Christianity. In the course of historical exploration, this account also examines questions that may have puzzled readers of the Bible in the past: * Who was Sennacherib? * To which Assyrian king did Jonah preach, and did this make any difference in history? * What did the eight night visions of Zechariah mean in light of the rule of Darius the Persian? Study the Bible with an eye on its ancient setting and develop an understanding of its key people, places and civilizations with Historical and Chronological Context of the Bible.

Interpretations of the Bible abound . . . so what should you believe? What’s the real story behind the book that’s sold more copies than any other publication in history? Is the Bible a reliable historical document . . . or just the greatest story ever told? Written by acclaimed Bible historian Jeffery Donley, The Everything History of the Bible Book answers these questions and more. A one-stop resource for everything you need to know about the truth behind the Bible, this fascinating book addresses the following issues: The reliability of divine inspiration The forgotten gospels and their omission from the Bible Existence of documented historical support for Biblical events Accepted, disputed, and completely rejected Testaments De-coding Da Vinci The Shroud of Turin And much, much more! With The Everything History of the Bible Book as your guide, you’ll learn all about the legends, myths, and historical events that inspired the Bible. You’ll come to understand its amazing impact on the past, the present, and the future of mankind. Most important, you’ll find out what it can mean to you - and your world.

"[The Book of] Revelation has served as a "language arsenal" in a great many of the social, cultural, and political conflicts in Western history. Again and again, Revelation has stirred some dangerous men and women to act out their own private apocalypses. Above all, the moral calculus of Revelation—the demonization of one's enemies, the sanctification of revenge taking, and the notion that history must end in catastrophe—can be detected in some of the worst atrocities and excesses of every age, including our own. For all of these reasons, the rest of us ignore the book of Revelation only at our impoverishment and, more to the point, at our own peril." The mysterious author of the Book of Revelation (or the Apocalypse, as the last book of the New Testament is also known) never considered that his sermon on the impending end times would last beyond his own life. In fact, he predicted that the destruction of the earth would be witnessed by his contemporaries. Yet Revelation not only outlived its creat∨ this vivid and violent revenge fantasy has played a significant role in the march of Western civilization. Ever since Revelation was first preached as the revealed word of Jesus Christ, it has haunted and inspired hearers and readers alike. The mark of the beast, the Antichrist, 666, the Whore of Babylon, Armageddon, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are just a few of the images, phrases, and codes that have burned their way into the fabric of our culture. The questions raised go straight to the heart of the human fear of death and obsession with the afterlife. Will we, individually or collectively, ride off to glory, or will we drown in hellfire for all eternity? As those who best manipulate this dark vision learned, which side we fall on is often a matter of life or death. Honed into a weapon in the ongoing culture wars between states, religions, and citizenry, Revelation has significantly altered the course of history. Kirsch, whom the Washington Post calls "a fine storyteller with a flair for rendering ancient tales relevant and appealing to modern audiences," delivers a far-ranging, entertaining, and shocking history of this scandalous book, which was nearly cut from the New Testament. From the fall of the Roman Empire to the Black Death, the Inquisition to the Protestant Reformation, the New World to the rise of the Religious Right, this chronicle of the use and abuse of the Book of Revelation tells the tale of the unfolding of history and the hopes, fears, dreams, and nightmares of all humanity.

In this new edition of a successful book (over 120,000 copies sold), now updated throughout, a leading expert on the social world of the Bible offers students a reliable guide to the manners and customs of the ancient world. From what people wore, ate, and built to how they exercised justice, mourned, and viewed family and legal customs, this illustrated introduction helps readers gain valuable cultural background on the biblical world. The attractive, full-color, user-friendly design will appeal to students, while numerous pedagogical features--including fifty photos, sidebars, callouts, maps, charts, a glossary of key terms, chapter outlines, and discussion questions--increase classroom utility. Previously published as Manners and Customs in the Bible.