I want to recommend a few Bible resource books you may like, too. The Holy Land Illustrated Bible, The Archaeological Study Bible, The NLT Illustrated Study Bible, The Thompson Chain Reference Bible, The Old and New Testament set of The Bible Knowledge Commentary, and a good Bible Atlas (mine is the Rose Now and Then Bible Atlas)

One book that I would highly recommend discusses the cultural background of crucifixion. Martin Hengel, a world-renowned philologist who taught at the University of Tubingen, introduces the reader to the different cultural perceptions of crucifixion leading up to the life and teachings of Jesus. While the short monograph (around 100 pages) thoroughly debates the technical issues, it does so in the footnotes, allowing access to a variety of knowledge levels. The book is simply entitled Crucifixion and can be read in a matter of days. It brings to life the importance of early Christian preaching, Peter at Pentecost and Paul in his missionary journeys, to emphasize the cross. It also warns us against those who would diminish or dismiss the cross. Let us reflect the attitude of Paul. "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." I Cor 2:2

Thank you so much for this - I’m beginning my journey of understanding and reading the Bible better. I love Jesus so much but I’m clueless. Thank you again

Dictionaries, introductions etc etc are all great but a decent Atlas was a game changer for me.

I really like your recommendations -- especially the two atlases. Most American Christians don't understand the need for a good atlas, to enhance their biblical understanding.

I’ve got a feeling that this channel is really going to grow. Nice work!

its really important to help people understand that God has called us in diffeeent offices, if we all pile up on the pulpit will miss very helpful and critical services like yours, keep it up pliz, am Emmanuel from Zambia

I was really looking for some Bible commentary to understand Bible more deeper and you have shown the books to my satisfaction. Thank you and God bless

I’ve used the IVP background commentaries and read Lost Letters. Good resources.

Best editing yet JC!

This is an excellent video. Thank you so much!

Great talk thank you. It is really helpful to have teachers who have used all these books and more to recommend resources. The background books are excellent even if rather daunting to pick up. I have read nearly all of Wright and Bird, it is a useful overview of the NT. Walton on the Near East is not an easy read but has some very interesting information on cultures surrounding Israel in OT times. In support of eg Fee and Stuart's great books Walton, Longman and others' How To Read books are great intros to individual books of the OT, maybe helping to restrain more way-out interpretations?! I have had the IVP Bible Atlas for more than 40 years but the Zondervan books look really good. Thank you. Maybe I could also suggest Kenneth Bailey's books as eye-opening introductions to NT society and life too.

This video was helpful. Thanks. The proactive vs reactive comment was right on. I've found "The New Testament in it's World" by Wright and Bird to also be really helpful.

Thank you! Your teachings sure help me.

Our library has several commentaries you can check out

Thanks!!

Great video. Thank you ! Do you have any more biblical fiction recommendations besides the lost letters ?

Excellent video - your suggestions are top notch I do think that EVERYTHING by Othmar Keel is worth while to read but Symbolism of the Ancient Word is KEY! Lastly, I have to admit, that I was a little surprised not to see ANET and COS alongside their more cost effective counter parts like Kenton Sparks Ancient Texts for the Study of the Hebrew Bible: A Guide to the Background Literaterature (and its NT counterpart Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies: A Guide to the Background Literature Paperback - Jan. 1 2012 by Craig A. Evans) and Readings from the Ancient Near East: Primary Sources for Old Testament Study by Bill Arnold and Bryan Beyer. These are simply standard works Love your videos and channel - looking forward to seeing more in the future ;-)

One of my favorite background books is Understanding the Bible by this guy named Harris, I believe - I forgot what his first name was. It is concise and compact, and seems to be a college textbook.

Thanks for the helpful video! Your channel has been a blessing to me. Would you say Walter Kaiser's, "A History of Israel" would be a resource for the culture of the OT, or is it mainly just geographic and historical in nature? Thanks again!

Thank you so much for this video as this really helps. I would also like to know if it is good to use Alfred Edersheim on Old testament history.

Im not a preacher but many history, geography, culture, tradition, language knowledge points are sort of essential, i wont see the picture here or there in the Word. I give you example: how Sarah stayed with Abraham after he let her that way to another man😮 or how Lot was ready to let his daughters out to raging crowd for two male strangers or what on earth is a connection between Jacob's peeled rods, sheep's drinking and mating urge and tonn more of such. Thanks for fiction novel recommending, history is more likely to be changed than a novel.

Seriousl question.. have you ever investigated comparative mythology? Have you read the creation story in Genesis alongside the Sumerian enuma elish? Compared the story of Samson with the myth of Hercules? The book of Esther with the myth of Ishtar?? The story of lot and the the two Angels with the Greek story of Zeus and Hermes ( also in disguise to test man) or have you read Psalm 104 and the the Egyptian "hymn to aten" it's almost a word for word copy... Anyone about to read the Bible needs to look into this themselves if only to dismiss it which anyone who investigated it couldn't do without cognitive dissonance if you're going to base your life on something isn't it good to investigate all angels?

Sometimes my thoughts are if we focus too much on culture we use the excuse God's Word applied to them but not to us. I like application bibles. How God speaks to us today through His Word. I have a Cultural Background Study Bible and find it distracting. I don't care about the different gods etc. I just know what God says not to worship other gods or idols. Max Lucado Study Bibles are good and David Jeremiah Study Bible.

The NIV Archaeological Study Bible is great too! I think they don't make it anymore.

As an interested layperson who enjoys digging in to the background info, would it still be advantageous to invest in the IVP background commentaries if I already own and use the cultural background Study Bible? Or would it be more valuable to accumulate the Zondervan series?

Help, I can’t find the NLT translation for the Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

I have the OT and NT bible background commentary but I wish I had gotten the Zondervan series. It seems to me like it's about 2-3 times the amount of entries you would have in a study bible. It's helpful, but for a regular teacher it's a bit light.

Interesting but a heavy emphasis on historical and cultural context. I wonder if he also reviews books aiming to give a theological understanding of the Bible. The historical-critical method is good but has its limitations. It isn't the end of the story.