Delving into the New Testament Scriptures is a journey that extends beyond mere reading. It involves understanding the rich tapestry of biblical history and the diverse cultural, historical, archaeological, and linguistic contexts in which these texts were written. This doesn’t mean that everyone needs to be a certified Greek-speaking Biblical scholar. However, taking God seriously means taking seriously the world in which God originally spoke.
It is up to studious Christians and committed Bible teachers to understand the New Testament context by accessing suitable resources. These resources can help in learning about the world Jesus lived in. If you are looking for Christmas gifts for your Bible nerd friend, fellow Christian, or even for yourself, I’ll share some must-read options drawn from my own experiences. These can provide expert understanding of the context and background of the New Testament. With these in hand, you will begin to illuminate the truths of Scripture in new and exciting ways for your peers and congregations.
Why New Testament Context Matters in Bible Study and Teaching
I’m a firm believer that every Christian should become acquainted with the world in which Biblical authors lived and wrote. We can’t simply assume that the writers of the Bible thought like us today—that’s unrealistic and not fair to the Scriptures. Instead, during the events and writing of the New Testament, their world looked quite different. God spoke in a specific place and at a specific time to a specific people.
Understanding the worldview and historical intricacies of the New Testament is not just an academic exercise. It is vital for both personal Bible study and teaching in Bible classes. Context helps us to comprehend what the original audiences of the New Testament would have understood when they first heard these texts. This understanding is crucial because it allows us to interpret the Scriptures as they were intended by their authors, rather than through the lens of our modern-day culture and experiences.
In Bible study and teaching, knowing the context helps to clarify meanings, unravel metaphors, and explain references that might otherwise be obscure or misunderstood. It bridges the gap between the ancient and modern worlds, making the teachings of the New Testament more relevant and accessible to contemporary audiences. By engaging with these texts within their original context, we can appreciate their timeless wisdom and apply their teachings more accurately in our lives and the lives of those we lead.
Best Books on New Testament Backgrounds
TERMINOLOGY
Real quick, I want to break down what I mean by “reading level” in the following article. Some of these books are written at a more POPULAR level, this book is going to be accessible to anyone and isn’t written just for scholars. Then I have a category called ADVANCED POPULAR because it’s a work I think is accessible to most people but might be a little more technical in some of its content and language. Finally, I have the category ACADEMIC to denote a work that is aimed toward scholars and researchers, usually citing lots of quality sources, and it might contain the original languages.
Encountering the New Testament
Subtitle: A Historical and Theological Survey
Author(s): Walter A. Elwell & Robert W. Yarbrough
Reading Level: Popular
I first read Encountering the New Testament in my undergraduate class “The Story of the New Testament,” a course required for all students, not just Bible majors like me. While this book is filled with fine scholarship, it is easily digestible for non-Bible scholars, despite being designed as a textbook. Elwell and Yarbrough’s introductory work is a lot less daunting than some of the other thicker volumes on this list. It is full-colored and includes helpful pictures and maps to help readers orient themselves in the New Testament landscape.
Encountering the New Testament offers several general insights on every book, but pays special attention to the main theological contribution of each book. It is an excellent introduction to the theologies present throughout the Scriptures, presented in an easy-to-understand manner. I would recommend it to students and pastors, but not to those seeking in-depth, cutting-edge research.
An Introduction to the New Testament
Subtitle: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation
Author(s): David A. deSilva
Reading Level: Advanced Popular
I’m a huge fan of anything David deSilva writes, and this book is no exception. In An Introduction to the New Testament, deSilva insightfully explores the New Testament world and examines each book in the canon, highlighting key issues, theologies, and thought-provoking topics. For an introductory look at the New Testament, this book is impressively comprehensive! It seems there are few stones that deSilva leaves unturned. I cannot stress enough how helpful this book is!
While this is a hefty volume—indeed, nearly a thousand pages—it reads quite easily. I was tempted to categorize it as an Academic book, but its style, pictures, maps, and illustrations make it an inviting and engaging read for any level. However, this work is probably best used as a reference when you want background information on a specific book. I would especially encourage reading the first three chapters about how society operated in the New Testament world, as this will profoundly inform your understanding of every New Testament book. As a bonus, deSilva includes a ministry application for each book he discusses.
Apologies for being so forthright, but yes, you need to buy An Introduction to the New Testament. Whether you are a pastor, Bible teacher, or simply a curious student of the Bible, this is an indispensable resource to revisit time and time again.
Handbook of Biblical Social Values
Subtitle: NA
Author(s): John J. Piltch & Bruce J. Malina
Reading Level: Advanced Popular
Picking up a copy of the Handbook of Biblical Social Values will change your whole perspective on commonly used religious terms as you discover their original meanings. This book offers a well-researched look into the cultural world of the ancient Mediterranean context, organized like a dictionary of terms. For instance, if you want to explore “altruism,” you can turn directly to that page. To understand more about “love,” there is an entry explaining how the concept functioned in that world. Unlike Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Purity, which I will recommend next, this book discusses a wide variety of values, rather than just four, sacrificing depth for breadth. However, for most readers, these explanations will be sufficient to begin viewing the Bible in a new light.
Piltch and Malina are astute New Testament scholars who bring their insight to this work. While it is mostly accessible, the introduction does include some advanced terminology and can be confusing for those not familiar with cultural anthropology. Their social-scientific approach to Scripture is illuminating, though, we get the hang of it. Delving deeply into a culture can also offer insights into how our own culture operates today. The Handbook of Biblical Social Values will help you think like a person in the New Testament era and enhance your understanding of people in the Old Testament as well.
Paul and Gender
Subtitle: Reclaiming the Apostle’s Vision for Men and Women in Christ
Author(s): Cynthia Long Westfall
Reading Level: Advanced Popular
Cynthia Long Westfall’s Paul and Gender earns a spot on the list for its eye-opening content! Westfall contextualizes Paul’s specific views on men and women and, in the process, illuminates the broader culture’s perspectives on gender and sexuality. This book serves not only as an insightful interpretation of Paul’s views on women in a more positive light but also as an excellent introduction to Greco-Roman social customs regarding the roles of men and women in family and society. As it helps us understand what the Christian Scriptures may be saying in context, it is incredibly relevant to today’s church climate, which is grappling with questions of sexuality.
While Paul and Gender is not difficult to read, Westfall’s approach is highly technical. She thoroughly examines the original Greek, compares it with other Greco-Roman authors of the time, and references a wealth of sources. So, while I believe the book is approachable for most readers, be aware that it delves into complex information on a nuanced topic. For anyone seeking insights into family life in New Testament times or trying to understand Paul’s comments on women, this book is a valuable addition to any bookshelf.
Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Purity
Subtitle: Unlocking New Testament Culture
Author(s): David A. deSilva
Reading Level: Academic
As I mentioned earlier, David deSilva consistently delivers top-notch scholarship. In Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Purity, he delves into four main values prevalent in the Greco-Roman world in which the New Testament was written. While he touches upon these concepts in the initial chapters of An Introduction to the New Testament, in this book, he explores them in greater depth and discusses examples from the literature of that era. After reading deSilva’s work, I gained a deeper appreciation for a socio-cultural interpretive approach. Understanding how the ancient world functioned really makes things click!
This book is scholarly and academic in nature, but you’ll be amazed to learn, for example, what “grace” meant in New Testament times and how that understanding can enhance our description of the concept today. Similarly, comprehending kinship in ancient times enriches the Christian perspective of the church as a family. After reading Honor, Patronage, Kinship and Purity, and perhaps revisiting it due to its complexity, you’ll be astonished at the insights you have been missing. If you’re prepared to invest a bit more effort into your reading, this book should be on your wish list.
Conclusion: Know Your New Testament Scriptures
The five books recommended in this article are invaluable starting points for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the New Testament and its cultural and historical backdrop. They are essential for students, teachers, and anyone interested in gaining a fuller appreciation of the New Testament Scriptures. By exploring these works, readers can enrich their study and teaching of the Bible, connecting more profoundly with the sacred texts of biblical history.
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Bonus Books!
If you are looking for more diverse works to add to your personal study or for Bible class preparation, I’ve collected some more wonderful works that I believe are quality even if I don’t have first-hand experience with them.
However, I have read Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien. It’s not included in this list only because it covers both the Old and New Testaments–I know, I’m being picky! Yet, absolutely pick it up for an easy-to-read exploration into the ways our “Western” eyes and cultural assumptions gloss over the dynamics that people in the Biblical World would understand intuively.
And other bonuses:
- The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians by N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird
- Backgrounds of Early Christianity by Everett Ferguson
- The New Testament World: Insights from Cultural Anthropology by Bruce J. Malina
- What’s in the Word: Rethinking the Socio-Rhetorical Character of the New Testament by Ben Witherington the III
- The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine
Jake Doberenz is a writer, teacher, minister, and creative thinker from Oklahoma City, OK. He is the Founder and President of Theophany Media. Additionally, he ministers at the Mayfair Church of Christ and teaches middle school debate at The Academy of Classical Christian Studies in Oklahoma City. Jake is almost done with his Master of Theological Studies at Oklahoma Christian University, the same place he recieved an undergraduate degree in Biblical Studies with a minor in Communication Studies.