Year: 2016. So, here’s what I think about the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, with notes from Dr. John H. Walton (Wheaton College) in the Old Testament and Dr. Craig S. Keener (Asbury Theological Seminary) in the New Testament, brings to life the ancient world of Scripture for modern readers. I have been thinking of getting a study Bible for a while, when I stumbled across your article on how to choose the best one. (I include some notable examples from other books of the Bible, too. A number of Accordance users have requested these study Bible notes; and no doubt, they will be pleased to hear that we are making it available today for the Accordance Library. This study Bible shows us the literature, customs, and commonly-held beliefs of Bible times. Instead of catching what the Scripture meant to its original audience, I’m catching what it means to a homeschooler in North Carolina! It’s kind of like name-dropping, but with pieces of the natural world. In the introduction to the book of Jonah, the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible says, “[. Now, any study Bible is expected to have abbreviated commentary notes that accompany the biblical text. . The article then says that we can’t really be sure of either dates. I’m not just a modern Westerner: I’m a modern Westerner who grew up in the evangelical “Bible Belt” (read: raised in a socially conservative Protestant community). For example: until I read an article in this study Bible on the book of Jonah, I had no idea that Assyria wasn’t really a threat to Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II (Jonah’s time period). Here I’d just been thinking Assyria was growing in power as the northern kingdom of Israel was growing in wickedness. By way of example, we’ll be digging around in the book of Job. That may be a fluke. You could say, “Oh, I know about stars, the sun, the moon, sunrises, sunsets, clouds, wind, rain, thunder, lightning, etc.” And if you wanted to sound really smart, you could list off the ways that those phenomenon work, too. What’s the big deal about cultural backgrounds when it comes to studying the Bible? Understand the audience. Job feels like a unique book of the Bible, right? long(? The Old Testament includes a helpful chart that explains the nuances of meaning contained in Hebrew words that don’t have exact equivalents in English. But just had to let you know about it—these notes are wildly helpful, but they’re not always consistent. It’s not the cryptic language in the prophets. But there’s a parallel here to an ancient form of communicating wisdom. I’ll show you what I mean by taking a little tour through the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible features, and then looking a little closer at the study notes and articles. (Like, two whole dollars!). Sometimes a little context is all you need to discover the rich meaning behind even the most familiar stories of Scripture. Even Christian culture can be a barrier to interpreting the Bible (i.e., sometimes I’ve been taught to interpret passages in ways that the author may not have intended). The one article I referenced says this in its conclusion: “The verse has nothing to do with sexual ethics, as important as they may be.” (p.860). That's what the NKJV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible provides. Walton then makes the case that Job is  saying that he’s not seeking to amass a harem for himself. Nope. Color maps at the end of this study Bible complement the color maps in the interior of the Bible to help readers to visualize the geographic context of what they are studying. Join our email list, and we’ll send you some of our best free resources—plus we’ll tell you whenever we make something new. Every page is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of Bible times. He walks Job through the cosmos, moving from the creation and ordering of the earth, sea, and sky to discussing the intricacies of how certain animals behave. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. With all that IQ these guys have, you would think they favor a simple but beautiful, harmonious solution where God and Science go hand in hand. (If you own the NIV Application Commentary, this might sound familiar.). It’s the fact that the Bible was written by people who lived thousands of years ago and thousands of miles away . Every page is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of Bible times. The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, with notes from Dr. John H. Walton (Wheaton College) in the Old Testament and Dr. Craig S. Keener (Asbury Theological Seminary) in the New Testament, brings to life the ancient world of Scripture for modern readers. Is it basically combining the commentary into a Bible volume or is it quite different? But is that a big deal? That’s because at the time of Jonah, Assyria was focusing on internal security (different people were grabbing at power) than it was on expanding its territory. Every page of this NRSV Bible is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of biblical times. This one will be extremely useful. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible August 1, 2016 James F. McGrath Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Every page of this NIV Bible is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of biblical times. And before getting back to the text of Scripture, it tops it off with yet another (very short) article listing the ways in which the character of Job thinks like an Israelite. The worst part is that I don’t even know what I’m missing. In Egypt, people would list things in the universe that they knew about as a way to showcase their wisdom. I think it may be my favorite study Bible since Kay Arthur’s New Inductive Study Bible. So if you wanted to sound wise in ancient Egypt, one way to do so was to just list off a bunch of things in a category. If you can’t tolerate the idea of the Genesis creation accounts being compared to other creation myths of the ancient Near East . So for now, I’ll leave two main caveats for you here: For example, remember the “covenant eyes” verse? On a different note, what do you think about Halley’s Bible Handbook? But it doesn’t get hung up on time periods unnecessarily. Does it have leanings towards any particular doctrine? Actually, it’s worse than that. Which brings up two interesting points to consider: One thing that I find fascinating is that God, who is eternal, engages mortals in their own cultural contexts. The Beginner’s Guide. “Is it advisable to buy this 2016 version? That’s why the Old Testament introductions include “Key Concepts” and the New Testament Introductions include “Quick Glance” information to help readers orient themselves. So, I would like to ask you something. . The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, with notes from Dr. John H. Walton (Wheaton College) in the Old Testament and Dr. Craig S. Keener (Asbury Theological Seminary) in the New Testament, brings to life the ancient world of Scripture for modern readers. I am a research student in India and I am kinda getting tired of defending the Bible against Science among my peers. Words and names are listed alphabetically, along with their more significant verse references. In this case, it goes on a three-page article takeover of the book: listing 10 ways the book of Job stands in contrast to the pagan literature of the day. That’s what the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible provides. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible Notes$39.90, [email protected] | For a limited time, you can get introductory discounted pricing on the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible when you add it to your Accordance Library. Book Introductions answer questions about who wrote the books of the Bible, to whom, and when, as well as informing readers about the larger cultural and political context in which a book was written. They focus on the land, the literature, and the political and cultural contexts that the Bible’s authors lived in, and emphasize how the people of Israel were both influenced by, as well as how they were called to be different from, their surrounding culture. One of the better study Bibles to come along recently is the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. “Something, something B.C.” just doesn’t cut it: there was so much more happening in the ancient world than what the Bible talks about. ): This is a really valuable tool, but it’s not for everyone. Let’s cover some areas in which this study Bible gives some really, really helpful insight. at the time of Jonah, Assyria has not been a threat to Israel for a generation, and it would be no threat for a generation to come” (p.1504). Welcome to the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. In the notes you will find direct connections between ancient culture (s) … We often read this and see it as God going, “Hey, Job, you think you’re so smart? Is it more/less in-depth or helpful? I’ve said before that background commentaries are my favorite kind of commentaries. That means Job (and those who first read the story) would have understood God’s initial answer to Job as a statement of wisdom. If you don’t want to have descriptions of ancient pagan religious beliefs and practices in your Bible . . Please login to your account first; Need help? The NIV Concordance is a tool designed to help readers who remember a key word or phrase in a passage to locate the verses they are looking for. We’re not weathering the same international political climates. Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible – FaithGateway Store Discover new dimensions to even the most familiar passages as you are taken behind the scenes into the ancient world. In the Old Testament, dates of writing and specific authorship for each book are less clear than in the New Testament, where such information is marginally less controversial, although still debated. . =). You have in your hands a comprehensive, multiuse tool that has been designed specifically to enhance your understanding of and apprecia-tion for the cultural backgrounds that form the footings on which the foundation of God’s Word is built. This verse is often interpreted this way: “See, fellas? The Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible aims to help you understand the Bible writers, their audience, and their times. Even though I have a pretty good handle on the timeline of Israel’s history, it’s easy for me to get a little fuzzy on the “when” of what’s going on. then you’ll probably hate this study Bible. But no! It’s better to try to understand the message as closely as we can through the eyes of the original audiences. . . Turns out there were several works of ancient Mesopotamian literature that deal with the concept of an “innocent sufferer.” In at least five other texts, terrible tragedies befall an upright figure for reasons unknown. . The Cultural Background Study Bible is a Bible that contains a lot of information about the times in which the various sections were written. The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible is designed to help readers see richer meanings to familiar biblical stories and passages. The Bible was written to people of the ancient Near East, but I’m a modern Westerner. . However, there’s great advantage to having a study Bible in Accordance because unlike a print copy where you’re stuck with the translation it came with, Accordance allows you to put any set of Bible study notes with any Bible you want—original language or translation. Spoiler alert: I like it, and I’ve been looking forward to getting my mitts/paws/talons on this sucker for a long tome . . Moses: The Old Testament’s Greatest Prophet, Who Was King Solomon? The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, with notes from Dr. John H. Walton (Wheaton College) in the Old Testament and Dr. Craig S. Keener (Asbury Theological Seminary) in the New Testament, brings the ancient world of Scripture to life for modern readers. . NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible Sampler. ), Oh, and one last note. If you don’t want to be told that the Satan character in Job may not be the same being as the devil in the. Have you used the IVP Bible Background Commentary? “Every line and every word in the Bible comes from a context—historical, social, cultural, theological — and speaks into those contexts—sometimes against that culture, sometimes with that culture, and sometimes to expand that culture. Who Was Herod? You know what I think my biggest obstacle is when it comes to studying the Bible? Features: Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV)2017 ECPA Bible of the Year … That’s really cool to read: it shows that God is communicating his wisdom in a way that the ancient Israelites would clearly understand. The New Testament includes a reference feature entitled “Key New Testament Terms” that is designed to help clarify and further define the cultural contexts behind these terms. Grasping the original audience’s perspective helps us understand the setting to which the inspired authors communicated their message. We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. But they just wanna go on the collision course. And I do not presume to be the model of consistency in biblical interpretation. Ancient Manners and Customs, Daily Life, Cultures, Bible Lands When we study the Bible we almost always come across references to the people, places, and things of the ancient Middle Eastern world. NKJV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Leathersoft, Brown, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture - Kindle edition by Keener, Craig S., Walton, John H., Keener, Craig S., Walton, John H.. For example, on the first page of the book of Job, there’s an article entitled “Chronological Context of the Character Job.” In two paragraphs, it gives a brief explanation as to why people assume the story of Job takes place in the patriarchal period (i.e., the time of Abraham), and a few ways people have tried to estimate the date the story took place and the book was written. Or should I wait for the next one coming up this year?”. And that’s not even the worst part. fantastic resource to those wanting to study their Bible with an understanding of the cultural context =), NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible Sampler by Zondervan on Scribd. If this interpretation is correct, then this verse is more about Job’s humility (he’s not seeking a status symbol of wealth or power) than his sexual integrity (which he defends in verse 9 of the same chapter). 2. I certainly look at cultural backgrounds before I look at any kind of interpretive or theological approach. (c) 2021 Oaktree Software, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentaries. For example, in Job 38 and 39, God responds to Job’s declaration of innocence. However, study Bibles often make an excellent “first stop” in researching a biblical passage because you can get a more distilled amount of information very quickly. Probably not, says Walton. Features include: The full text of the NIV ; Targeted book introductions explain the context in which each book of the Bible was … .] A text is ideas linked by threads of writing. by Jeffrey Kranz | Aug 22, 2016 | Article | 4 comments, TL;DR: Zondervan sent me a copy of the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible to check out, and I liked it enough to write about it. Logos Bible Software 9 review: Do you REALLY need it? to more people who lived thousands of years ago and thousands of miles away. NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, eBook: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture HarperCollins Christian Publishing. A few months ago, I told Zondervan I’d write a review of their new NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible on two conditions: they had to send me a free copy and tell me I look good in a fez. The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, with notes from Dr. John H. Walton (Wheaton College) in the Old Testament and Dr. Craig S. Keener (Asbury Theological Seminary) in the New Testament, brings to life the ancient world of Scripture for modern readers. In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. I think I am going to settle for the taste of your sample for now. which is something I never would have picked up from that verse. We’re not reading the same stories. Job was righteous, and he didn’t ogle anyone but Mrs. Job. But the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible doesn’t just stop at showing the similarities between biblical literature and other ancient works. If this verse were about sexual purity, then the Hebrew writers probably would have used different words for “young woman.” He makes the case that Job is actually asking, “what interest would I have in arranging a marriage with an eligible young woman?”. I don’t complain about this, but it often puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to interpreting the Bible. The Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, with notes from Dr. John H. Walton (Wheaton College) in the Old Testament and Dr. Craig S. Keener (Asbury Theological Seminary) in the New Testament, brings to life the ancient world of Scripture for modern readers. . Main NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, eBook: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture. But at the beginning of the very next article on the same chapter, we get this: “Job lists a catalog of crimes: lust (v.1)”. I am an Amazon associate, so if you should happen to purchase this Bible by clicking a link in this post, I’ll get a tiny kickback. Every page is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of Bible times. We find walled cities, bronze gates, streets, threshing instruments, and carts used in agriculture, large houses with cornerstones, and courtyards. A review of the NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (ISBN 9780310452683). So, here are seven really great reasons to study cultural backgrounds of the Bible. . When we take our Western, modern culture and impose it on the text, we’re putting in meaning that wasn’t there, and we’re missing the meaning that the text has.” Thus, we often make assumptions about the Bible because we read it through the lens of our culture and experience. . These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of … File: AZW3 , 57.00 MB. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus. Maybe we are arguing for the sake of arguing!! And I haven’t even bought it yet! The commentary was edited by two evangelical scholars who are well-known for their expertise on historical context: John Walton (OT) and Craig Keener (NT). Of course, there’s much more than this. I could probably rifle through this Bible and turn up all kinds of specific misgivings, but that would take a while. Are there better alternatives? er, time. Over 10,000 study notes have been placed close to the text that they amplify and explain. . These have been designed to provide the reader with a deep and rich understanding of the nuances that the original readers and hearers of the Bible would have intuitively understood. I got this copy of the Cultural Backgrounds Bible in the mail a few days ago. 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