Cultural Context
Kenneth E. Bailey (1983). Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes: A Literary-Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke (Combined edition). Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN-10: 0802819478 ISBN-13: 978-0802819475
An examination of the poetic structures of the parables with the Oriental culture that informs the text.
Kenneth E. Bailey (2008). Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels. InterVarsity Press Academic: Downers Grove, IL. ISBN-10: 0830825681 ISBN-13: 978-0830825684
Excellent! Bailey helps the western mind “see” the gospels as Jesus and his listeners would understand them. Every believer should read this book
Gary M. Burge (2009). Jesus, The Middle Eastern Storyteller. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN-13: 978-0-310-28045-3
Gary M. Burge (2009). The Bible and the Land. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN-13: 978-0-310-28044-6
Gary M. Burge (2010). Encounters with Jesus. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN-13: 978-0-310-28046-0
Very Good. These three volumes uncover the ancient culture and discover the hidden meanings in many of the gospel stories.
Darrell L. Bock and Gregory J. Herrick eds. (2005). Jesus in Context: Background Readings for Gospel Study. Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN-10: 0-8010-2719-5
Very Good. Includes gospel narrative along with the Rabbinic writings [Mishnah, Talmud, etc.] sections that support the context for the biblical periscopes.
Craig S. Keener (2014). The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. 2nd ed. InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL. ISBN-10: 0830824782 ISBN-13: 978-0830824786
John H. Walton (2012). The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL. ISBN-10: 0830814191
These commentaries are not to be read cover to cover but to support your specific passage study as you read the biblical text.
E. Randolph Richards & Brandon J. O’Brien (2012). Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible. InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL. ISBN-10: 0830837825 ISBN-13: 978-0830837823
Excellent! This volume provides an understanding of the difference between western thought and eastern thought as it relates to the biblical text.
Lois Tverberg (2018). Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus: How a Jewish Perspective Can Transform Your Understanding. Baker Books: Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN-10: 0801017157 ISBN-13: 978-0801017155
Lois Tverberg & Ann Spangler (2018). Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN-10: 0310330696
Lois Tverberg (2013). Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN-10: 0310330009 ISBN-13: 978-0310330004
Lois Tverberg (2004). Listening to the Language of the Bible. En-Gedi Resource Center. ISBN-10: 0974948209
Excellent! How does the Bible “think”? An understanding of the Hebrew language will give the stories and teaching of Scripture a fresh insight. These books will open your eyes to the way first-century Middle Eastern people would have understood Jesus.
John H Walton and D. Brent Sandy (2013). The Lost World of Scripture. InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL. ISBN-13: 978-08308-4032-8
Excellent! Describes the difference from the aural culture of antiquity with the textual culture of modern culture. This volume is very academic and lay readers may get weighed down with some of the deeper explanations but every pastor and serious bible student should read this book.
Historical Novels
- Historical Novels on the History of the Old Testament
Austin, Lynn. Chronicles of the Kings (series), Bethany House Publishers
Excellent. – These five volumes incorporate Old Testament history in exciting and theologically correct novels. They tell the biblical story of the kings of Judah through historical fiction. Austin presents the life of King Hezekiah and his family in a story that stays true to the biblical narrative.
Gods and Kings, volume 1, February 1, 2005
Song of Redemption, volume 2, May 1, 2005
The Strength of His Hand, volume 3, September 1, 2005
Faith of My Fathers, volume 4, February 1, 2006
Among the Gods, volume 5, June 1, 2006
- Historical Novels on the History of Modern Israel
Thoene, Brock & Bodie. Zion Covenant Series. Tyndale House Publishers: Carol Stream, IL.
Historical fiction – Relates the lives of a German Messianic Jewish family, the Lindheims, from 1936 to the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.
Vienna Prelude (1989)
Prague Counterpoint (1989)
Munich Signature (1990)
Dunkirk Crescendo (2005)
Thoene, Brock & Bodie. Zion Chronicles Series. Tyndale House Publishers: Carol Stream, IL.
Historical fiction – Covers the events surrounding Israel’s statehood in 1948.
The Gates of Zion (1986)
A Daughter of Zion (1987)
The Return to Zion (1987)
A Light in Zion (1988)
The Key to Zion (1988)
Thoene, Brock & Bodie. Zion Legacy Series. Penguin Group (USA): New York, NY.
Historical fiction – Israel becomes a nation (May 1948) and the Arab world responds.
Jerusalem Vigil (2000)
Thunder from Jerusalem (2000)
Jerusalem’s Heart (2001)
Jerusalem Scrolls (2001)
Stones of Jerusalem (2002)
Jerusalem’s Hope (2002)
Uris, Leon (1958). Exodus. Ballantine Books (Random House Group): New York, NY. [ISBN-13: 978-0553258479.]
Classic. Historical fiction – the story of an American nurse and an Israeli freedom fighter caught up in the battle to found the state of Israel.
Wouk, Herman (1993). The Hope: A Novel. Back Bay Books (Little, Brown & Company): Boston, MA. [ISBN-10: 0316953199.]
Excellent. Historical fiction – the first twenty years of Israel’s history ending with the six-day war. History told through lives of a naval officer, air force general and Mossad (Israel’s CIA) officer and their families.
Wouk, Herman (1994). The Glory: A Novel. Back Bay Books (Little, Brown & Company): Boston, MA. [ISBN-10: 0316954411.]
Excellent. Historical fiction – the next twenty years of Israel’s history including the Yom Kippur war, Entebbe rescues, and Camp David Accords. The story continues through the children of the characters introduced in The Hope.
Archaeology and Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
Martin, James C., Beck, John A., Hansen, David G. (2009). A Visual Guide to Bible Events. Baker Books: Grand Rapids, MI. [ISBN-13: 978-0801012853.]
Very Good. – Contextual explanation of scriptural events – Presents many cultural understandings which help explain the biblical text.
Martin, James C., Beck, John A., Hansen, David G. (2010). A Visual Guide to Gospel Events. Baker Books: Grand Rapids, MI. [ISBN-13: 978-0801013119.]
Very Good. – Same approach as previous book only limited to understanding the Gospels.
Price, Randall J. (2003). Fast Facts on the Middle East Conflict. Harvest House Publishers: Eugene, OR. [ISBN-0- 7369-1142-1.]
Question and Answer format to understanding the history and current conflict. Terrific, small guide to what is really happening and why.
Price, Randall J. (1997). The Stones Cry Out. Harvest House Publishers: Eugene, OR. [ISBN-13: 978-1565076402.]
Excellent. – An evangelical view of the evidence produced from archaeology. Answers to many questions posed by liberal views. Will help understand archaeological sites we will visit.
Price, Randall J. (2019). What Should We Think About Israel? Editor. Harvest House Publishers: Eugene, OR. [ISBN-13: 978-0-7369-7779-1.]
Excellent. – Exposes the main current issues and provides objective facts to assist us learn the truth about Israel’s past, present, and future. Discusses topics like Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Christian Zionism and the theology that proports it, replacement theology, Palestinian Christians and their plight, the new Anti-Semitism, and many others. Every evangelical Christian should own this volume.
Van Geldermalsen, Marguerite (reprint 2010). Married to a Bedouin. Virago, UK. [ISBN-13: 978-1844082209.]
Insightful. – While on a sightseeing tour of ancient Petra, Marguerite met the handsome Bedouin man who would become her husband. She shares many of the Bedouin traditions lost to the modern world. During our trip we will see Bedouin living in the desert much as they have for centuries. NOTE: many of the OT biblical characters including Abraham were Bedouin.