Historical and Cultural
Context of Scripture
General
A list of significant biblical dates to provide a
framework for the flow of biblical History.
A chart showing the basic timeline and storyline of the
Bible with significant people and writings noted.
A contrast of ancient tribal cultures' concern with
community and communal ways of thinking with modern individualism, and
its implications for understanding Scripture.
Old Testament
(Note: Some articles may have relevance for both Testaments)
A menu page for access to short summaries of OT History
as a background for biblical interpretation. The history is
organized around eight major periods: The Patriarchal Era
(1800-1290), Exodus and the Period of the Judges (1290-1050), Early
Israelite Monarchy (1050-750), Assyrian
Dominance (750-640 BC),
The Rise of Babylon and Exile (640-538),
The Persian Period and Return (538-323), The Greek Wars/Maccabean
Period (323-63), The Rise of Rome (63-3). Some of
these pages are in preparation and will be made available as they are
completed.
Chart of the ministry dates of the major prophets of
the Old Testament.
Chart of the reigns of kings of the United Monarchy and
the Divided Kingdoms of Israel and Judah to the fall of Jerusalem (1050 -
586 BC), color coded to show good and bad kings, as well as those deposed
or assassinated.
Overview of the military leaders in the Book of Judges,
with brief comments on the theological role of the book compared with
Joshua.
Information on the Prophet Elisha and the role of the
Elisha traditions in biblical narratives.
Chart and information about the Hebrew and later Jewish
lunar calendar in use in the Old Testament, including the names of the
months and the growing seasons associated with each.
Brief survey of the mythical background of Canaanite
Ba'al worship and its impact on Israelite religion.
The full text of the Enuma Elish, the
Mesopotamian myth of creation, with introductory comments and a summary of
each tablet.
A paper dealing with the Israelite appropriation of
metaphors, symbols, and conceptual categories from the "pool" of ancient
Middle Eastern culture, noting both the similarities and differences, and
the implications both for understanding the OT, as well as for addressing
the modern conflict of science and religion.
A graphic to go with the article
Speaking the Language of Canaan, comparing various ways of
understanding and talking about the physical world.
The cultural and historical background of the reference
to "sons of God," "daughters of men," and the giants in Genesis 6.
An analysis of four Old Testament passages that use
'us' to refer to God, concluding that they are cultural metaphors drawn
from the imagery of God as a high king.
A detailed analysis of Hebrew terms in the Old
Testament that are sometimes translated 'demons,' seen against the
background of ancient Near Eastern culture.
The traditional translation 'Red Sea' in the Exodus
account has led to unnecessary debate; the text actually reads 'sea of
reeds,' although its location is unknown; the account is more concerned
with theological confession than providing details of geography.
Short article dealing with the implications of
Near Eastern social customs relating to travelers and resident aliens.
A comparison of Israel's social laws as based on the
Ten Words (Ten Commandments) with those of surrounding nations; while they
shared many aspects, Israel's laws differed in three important ways.
This is a detailed examination of the first 11 chapters
of Genesis, containing some practical applications of cultural background
to the interpretation of biblical texts.
Intertestamental
A chart with brief comments of the Seleucid, Ptolemaic,
and Maccabean/Hasmonian control of Palestine between the time of the death
of Alexander of Macedon and the Roman occupation under Pompey (323 - 63
BC).
New Testament
(Note: Some articles may have relevance for both Testaments)
A table of Roman Emperors, Procurators, and Kings who
governed Palestine in the New Testament era.
A chart and brief history of the rule of the various
Herods in Palestine during the New Testament era.
Short article examining OT uses of the metaphor of vine
and vineyard as background for John's account of Jesus as the true vine.
Short article identifying these two groups in the
social background of 1st century AD Judaism.
Short article on John the Baptist and his setting in
1st century Judaism.
Short article providing background for Luke's story of
the Prodigal son.
Short article examining the idea of the resurrection of
Jesus in the context of first century thought, and its Christian
expression mainly from 1 Corinthians 15.
Brief look at the development from biblical
perspectives of ways of dealing with the poor and needy in Judaism.
See also the
PhotoTour for photos and maps that relate to the historical and
cultural background of Scripture.
There are additional topics not listed here available
in Short Bible Topics
-Dennis Bratcher, Copyright ©
2018, Dennis
Bratcher - All Rights Reserved
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