Bible Background, Survey, Authenticity & Introduction

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Subsections

OT Background, Survey, Authenticity & Intro
NT Background, Survey, Authenticity & Intro
Bible Chronology

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Order of Contents

Authenticity of Bible  4
Background, Survey & General Introduction  7
.      Latin  1
Special Intro to, & Authenticity of, each Book  4
.      Latin  1
Manners & Customs  1
Bible History  3
Geography & Topography  10
Archaeology  7
Coins  2


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Authenticity of the Whole Bible

See also our sections on the authenticity of the whole Old & New Testaments and on each book thereof on our Old Testament Commentaries and New Testament Commentaries pages

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1800’s

Rawlinson, George – The Historical Evidences of the Truth of the Scripture Records Stated Anew, with Special Reference to the Doubts and Discoveries of Modern Times, in 8 Lectures  (1860)  460 pp.

Rawlinson (1812–1902) was a leading ancient historian of his day and goes through the confirmatory evidences of history to the truthfulness of the Old Testament books in Lectures 2-5.  He does the same for the New Testament in the last 3 Lectures.

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Mid-1900’s

Bruce, F.F. – The Books & the Parchments: Some Chapters on the Transmission of the Bible  Buy  (1950; 1963)  265 pp.  ToC

Broomall, Wick – Biblical Criticism  Buy  (1957)  316 pp.

Broomall was the student of Dr. Robert Dick Wilson of old Princeton and was a professor of Hebrew and Systematic Theology at Erskine Theological Seminary in South Carolina.  The content is at an intermediate level, though is easy to read.

“The present volume is naturally a defense of what is no known as the conservative (which is often generally equated with the traditional or historic) view of the Bible.  The author is thoroughly persuaded that this position is defensible–in fact, that it is the only view that will stand up under the scrutiny of historical research and investigation.” – Preface

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Late-1900’s

Linnemann, Eta – Historical Criticism of the Bible: Methodology or Ideology  Reflections of a Bultmannian Turned Evangelical  trans. Robert W. Yarbrough  Buy  (Baker, 1990)  159 pp.  ToC

Linnemann (1926-2009) was a high-ranking, liberal, German professor of New Testament who became converted to the Savior.  She here exposes, from the inside, the secular ‘historical criticism’ of the Bible for what it is.

“As a student of Rudolph Bultmann and Earnst Fuchs… I had the best professors which historical-critical theology could offer to me…  My first book turned out to be a best-seller…  I was awarded the title of honorary professor of New Testament in the theology faculty of Philipps University, Marburg, West Germany…  I became enslaved to watching television and fell into an increasing state of alcohol dependence…  At that point God led me to vibrant Christians who knew Jesus personally as their Lord and Savior… He immediately took my life into his saving grasp…  Suddenly it was clear to me that my teaching was a case of the blind leading the blind…  I regard everything that I taught and wrote before I entrusted my life to Jesus as refuse.  I wish to mention that I have pitched my two books… along with my contributions to journals, anthologies and Festschriften.  Whatever of these writings I had in my possession I threw into the trash with my own hands in 1978.” – Author’s Introduction

Robert Yarbrough, who translated the work, was a professor of New Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary.  See his article on Linnemann’s life and post-conversion literary works.

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Bible Background, Survey & General Introduction

See also our pages on Old Testament Background, Survey, Authenticity & Introduction and New Testament Background, Survey, Authenticity & Introduction

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1600’s

Heidegger, Johann H. – Bible Handbook: OT & NT  (d. 1698)

Heidegger (1633–1698) was a Swiss reformed theologian.

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1800’s

Horne, Thomas Hartwell – An Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, vol. 1, 2, 3, 4  (NY: Robert Careter, 1854)  ToC 1, 2, 3, 4  Vols. 1-3 contain General Introduction to the Bible, vol. 4 contains Special Introduction on each book of the Bible.

Horne (1780–1862) was a Church of England minister, a bibliographer and on staff at the British museum.  This evangelical Introduction was used at Old Princeton for a time.

“Of great value to the Bible expositor.  Provides a comprehensive compendium of Biblical knowledge covering hermeneutics, history and geography, and apologetics.” – Cyril J. Barber

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1900’s

Boyd, James & J. Gresham Machen – A Brief Bible History: A Survey of the Old & New Testaments  (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1922)  135 pp.  ToC

Hendriksen, William – Survey of the Bible: A Treasury of Bible Information  Buy  1st ed.  (1947)  470 pp.

Hendricksen (1900–1982) was a minister in the Christian Reformed Church and is well known for his commentary with Simon Kistemaker on the New Testament.

“Most helpful at a simple level [is] William Hendricksen, Survey of the Bible, which is reliable and short…” – Joel Beeke

Geisler, Norman & William Nix – A General Introduction to the Bible  Buy  1968

Geisler is not Reformed, but is an evangelical author and teacher.

“Covers the inspiration, canonicity of the text, and translation of the entire Bible from an evangelical point of view.” – Cyril J. Barber

Deal, William – Pictorial Introduction to the Bible  Buy  (1967; 1975; Baker, 1982)  ToC

“Most helpful at a simple level [is]…  William Deal, Pictorial Introduction to the Bible, which excels in practical lessons to be gleaned from each Bible book.” – Joel Beeke

Richards, Lawrence O. – Teacher’s Commentary  Buy  (Victor Books, 1988)  ToC

“Richards, Teacher’s Commentary… is weak on theology but excels as a practical guide for Sunday school teachers, Christian educators, and leaders of Bible-group studies.” – Joel Beeke

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Liberal

Briggs, Charles – A General Introduction to the Study of Holy Scripture: the Principles, Methods, History & Results of its Several Departments & of the Whole  (NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1899)  720 pp.  ToC

Briggs was a renowned, liberal, presbyterian professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, who got defrocked and excommunicated by the Northern Presbyterian Church in 1893.  This work is not recommended, but is here as a historical example of what liberals were then saying, from their own mouth.

“Liberal.  A classic treatment by a leading nineteenth-century theologian.” – Cyril J. Barber

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Latin Introductions to the Bible

1600’s

Rivet, Andrew – Isagoge, or a General Introduction to the Sacred Scripture of the Old & New Testament, in which its Nature, Existence, Authority, Necessity, purity, versions, reasons of its interpretations & mode are traced out, & its dignity, perfection & use are defended against old & new light-fleers from the Scriptures, and of the true judge of the controversies of the faith is profusely disputed  (Leiden, Commelinus, 1627)  520 pp.  ToC  Indices: Subject, Scripture, Authors

Rivet (1572-1651) was a French Huguenot theologian who was called in 1620 to be a professor of theology and Old Testament Exegesis at Leiden, Netherlands.

“His most famous work in this field [of OT exegesis] was his Isagogue…  which, according to Honders, may be considered a precursor to modern Biblical hermeneutics.  This work was based on his lectures on the doctrine of Holy Scripture, and comprised thirty chapters in which he discussed questions brought forward by Roman Catholic controversialists regarding the status of Scripture.” – Theology of the French Reformed Churches (RHB, 2014), p. 259  See there for an outline of the work in English.

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ToC

Dedicatory Epistle
Oration on the Excellence & Manifold Utility of the Sacred Literature

1. Of the names of sacred Scripture, or of the etymology & definition of the name  1
2. Of the essence of sacred Scripture, or of the definition of the thing  7
3. Of sacred Scripture’s existence, authority & certainty, even more than[?] our reason, where is examined that celebrated saying of Augustine, ‘I do not believe the Gospel…’  15
4. Of the origin & necessity of the holy Scriptures  36
5. Of the causes of the holy Scriptures  45
6. Of the canon of sacred Scripture, and first whether any books pertaining to the canon have perished  60
7. Of the canon of the Scriptures as far as specification  72
8. Of the original languages of sacred Scripture, and of the purity of the Hebrew & Greek fonts, where is of the origin and necessity of the points amongst the Hebrews  95
9. Of the old versions of the sacred Scriptures  118
10. Of the edition of the seventy interpreters and its authority  124
11. Of the old Latin versions, especially of the Vulgate edition and its authority  144
12. Of the new Latin versions which are circulated  169
13. Of the vernacular versions, and whether it is expedient to translate Scripture into vernacular languages and for it to be read by everyone promiscuously?  183
14. Of the exegetical interpretation of the sacred Scriptures and of their literal sense  210
15. Of the sense of Scripture which they call mystical  222
16. Of accommodation, which they call the sense of Scripture  237
17. Of the contents in sacred Scripture and of the use of consequences  243
18. Of the true reason for investigating the historical or literal sense of Scripture  257
19. Which things the interpretation of the Scriptures agree, and who or what ought to be the judge of the truen sense of the Scripture  271
20. There is no union of men, nothing that man by dignity in any amount whatever prevails which is the supreme judge and an infallible judgment of the sense of Scripture or of the controversies of the faith, where is profusely treated of the analysis of the faith according to papists  292
21. Some Scripture places are expended which the papists bring to prove a judge of controverises and of the true sense of Scripture to be necessary from men, someone supreme  323
22. Of the perspicuity and clarity of saced Scripture, or of the difficulty and obscurity of the same, what is to judge and in what way speak  340
23. Some difficult causes of the Scriptures alleged by the papists are expended and it is manifested that they are not such as take away the perspicuity of Scripture in necessary things to salvation  372
24. The state of the controversy on the perfection and sufficiency of the sacred Scriptures, in all things which respect eternal salvation, is expounded  393
25. An explication of 2 Tim. 3:14-17, ‘But continue in the things…’, and a vindication of them from the exceptions of adversaries  413
26. Of the various acceptations of traditions in general and of rules which adversaries propound, unto discerning true from false, divine from human  434
27. Objections of adversaries are solved and extra-Scriptural traditions they contend are necessary to salvation are examined  457
28. Of the eloquence of sacred things  481
29. Of the various paritions of the sacred Scriptures, also on the origin of distinctions by sections, chapters and verses  494
30. Of the necessary use amongst Christians of the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and of their final collation with the new books, with a conclusion of the whole work  510

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Heidegger, Johann H. – A Biblical, Hermeneutic Enchiridion  2nd ed.  (Amsterdam: Haring, 1688)

Bk. 1, Of the Canonical Books of the Old Testament

1. Of the canonical books of the Old Testament in general  1
.      Synoptic table of the OT books  19
.      Interpreters of the OT books, all or many  21

Bk. 2, Of the Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament

1. Of the apocryphal books of the OT in general  422

20. Of the apocryphal books of the Old Testament removed from the reading of the Church  572

Bk. 3, On the New Testament Books

1. Of the NT books in general  585
.      Synoptic table of the NT books  606
.      Interpreters of the NT books, of all or many  608

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Special Introduction to, & the Authenticity of, each Book of the Bible

Books

1600’s

Heidegger, Johann H. – Bible Handbook: OT & NT  (d. 1698)

Heidegger (1633–1698) was a Swiss reformed theologian.

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1800’s

Horne, Thomas Hartwell – An Introduction to the Critical Study & Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, vol. 4  (1854)   Vol. 4 contains Special Introduction on each book of the Bible

This Introduction was used at Old Princeton for a time, and defends the authenticity of each book of the Bible.

Fraser, Donald – Synoptical Lectures on the Books of Holy Scripture, vol. 1 (Gen-Hab), 2 (Zeph-Rev)  (1885)

Fraser was a minister in the Free Church of Scotland.  He wrote the Life of, and edited the Diary of, Ebenezer Erskine.

Jamieson, Robert, Andrew Fausset & David Brown – Commentary on the Whole Bible  (1871)

This is one of the best, generally reformed commentaries available.  Jamieson was of the Church of Scotland, Fausset of the Church of England, and Brown of the Free Church of Scotland.

‘Preface’ & ‘General Introduction to the Pentateuch’  2 & 32 pp.

Genesis  6 pp.
Exodus  4 pp.
Leviticus  3 pp.
Numbers  2 pp.
Deuteronomy  6 pp.

The Historical Books

Joshua  5 pp.                          1 & 2 Kings  3 pp.
Judges  6 pp.                          1 & 2 Chronicles  4 pp.
Ruth  3 pp.                              Ezra  3 pp.
1 & 2 Samuel  3 pp.                Nehemiah  1 p.
.                                               Esther  1 p.

‘Preface’ & ‘Introduction to the Poetical Books’  2 & 4 pp.

Job  3 pp.
Psalms  3 pp.
Proverbs  2 pp.
Ecclesiastes  2 pp.
The Song of Solomon  3 pp.

‘Introductions to the Prophetical Books’  2 pp.

Isaiah  4 pp.                            Amos  1 p.
Jeremiah  3 pp.                      Obadiah  1 p.
Lamentations  1 p.                 Jonah  1 p.
Ezekiel  2 pp.                          Micah  1 p.
Daniel  4 pp.                           Nahum  1 p.
Hosea  1 p.                             Habakkuk  1 p.
Joel  1 p.                                 Zephaniah  1 p.

‘Introduction to Prophets of the Restoration’  3 pp.

Haggai  1 p.
Zechariah  1 p.
Malachi  1 p.

‘Introduction to the Gospels’  24 pp.

Matthew  6 pp.
Mark  2 pp.
Luke  2 pp.
John  3 pp.

Acts  10 pp.

The Epistles

Romans                                      Titus
1 Corinthians                               Philemon
2 Corinthians                               Hebrews
Galatians                                     James
Ephesians                                   1 Peter
Philippians                                   2 Peter
Colossians                                   1 John
1 Thessalonians                           2 & 3 John
2 Thessalonians                           Jude
1 Timothy                                      Revelation
2 Timothy

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Series

Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary

Genesis  John H. Walton  2013
Genesis – Deuteronomy  2019
Joshua – Samuel  2009
Kings – Esther  2009
Job  2009

Psalms  John W. Hilber & John H. Walton  2013
Proverbs – Song  2009
Isaiah  David W. Baker  2013
Isaiah – Daniel  Baker, Voth, Ferris, Bodi, Lucas  2009
Minor Prophets  2009

Mathew – Luke  Arnold, Baugh, Davids, Garland, Gill, et al.  2002
John  Andreas Kostenberger  2007
John  Craig Keener  2019
John – Acts  Arnold, Baugh, Davids, Garland, Gill, et al.  2002

Acts  Clinton Arnold  2019
Acts  Clinton E. Arnold  2007
Romans to Philemon  Arnold, Baugh, Davids, Garland, Gill et al.  2002
Romans  Douglas J. Moo, Ralph P. Martin & Julie Wu  2007
1-2 Corinthians  Arnold, Gill & Hubbard  2007

Galatians  Douglas J. Moo, Ralph P. Martin & Julie Wu  2007
Ephesians – Colossians  Frank Thielman & Steven Baugh  2007
Thessalonians – Titus  Jeffrey Weima & Steven Baugh  2007
Philemon  Frank Thielman & Steven Baugh  2007

Hebrews to Revelation  Arnold, Baugh, Davids, Garland, Gill et al.  2002

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Latin Special Introduction to each Biblical Book

1600’s

Heidegger, Johann H. – A Biblical, Hermeneutic Enchiridion  2nd ed.  (Amsterdam: Haring, 1688)    no ToC  For each Biblical book there is an outline of its contents and a listing of its commentators.  This has been translated into English above.

ToC

Dedicatory Epistle
To the Reader
Bk. 1, Of the Canonical Books of the Old Testament

1. Of the canonical books of the Old Testament in general  1
.      Synoptic table of the OT books  19
.      Interpreters of the OT books, all or many  21
2. Genesis  22
3. Exodus  37
4. Leviticus  48
5.  Numbers  57
6.  Deuteronomy  69
7. Joshua  81
8. Judges  92
9. Ruth  104
10. 1 Samuel  108
11. 2 Samuel  119
12. 1 Kings  128
13. 2 Kings  139
14. 1 Chronicles  150
15. 2 Chronicles  159
16. Ezra  168
17. Nehemiah  173
18. Esther  180
19. Isaiah  187
20. Jeremiah  211
21. Lamentations of Jeremiah  231
22. Ezekiel  238
23. Daniel  259
24. Hosea  272
25. Joel  281
26. Amos  285
27. Obadiah  292
28. Jonah  295
29. Micah  300
30. Nahum  305
31. Habakuk  309
32. Zephaniah  313
33. Haggai  317
34. Zechariah  321
35. Malachi  328
36. Job  333
37. David  355
38. Proverbs  394
39. Ecclesiastes of Solomon  402
40. Song of Songs  410

Bk. 2, Of the Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament

1. Of the apocryphal books of the OT in general  422
2. Book of Wisdom  446
3. Ecclesiasticus  457
4. Tobias  470
5. Baruch  480
6. Epistle of Jeremiah  485
7. Judith  488
8. 3rd Esdras  499
9. 4th Esdras  505
10. Additions to Esther  512
11. History of Susanna  518
12. History of Bel  523
13. The Babylonian Dragon  527
14. Hymn of Azariah  531
15. Song of the Three Boys  534
16. Prayer of Manassah  536
17. 1 Maccabees  539
18. 2 Maccabees  554
19. 3 Maccabees  564
20. Of the apocryphal books of the Old Testament removed from the reading of the Church  572

Bk. 3, On the New Testament Books

1. Of the NT books in general  585
.      Synoptic table of the NT books  606
.      Interpreters of the NT books, of all or many  608
2. Matthew  609
3. Mark  635
4. Luke  647
5. John  664
6. Gospel Harmony  678
7. Acts of the Apostles  706
8. Romans  722
9. 1 Corinthians  744
10. 2 Corinthians  755
11. Galatians  764
12. Ephesians  771
13. Philiipians  778
14. Colossians  784
15. 1 Thessalonians  789
16. 2 Thessalonians  796
17. 1 Timothy  800
18. 2 Timothy  807
19. Titus  812
20. Philemon  817
21. Hebrews  819
22. James  835
23. 1 Peter  843
24. 2 Peter  851
25. 1 John  857
26. 2 John  865
27. 3 John  869
28. Jude  871
29. Apocalypse of St. John  877
30. Apocryphal Books of the NT  903-11

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Manners & Customs

Mackie, G.M. – Bible Manners & Customs  (NY: Fleming H. Revell, 1898)  180 pp.  ToC


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Bible History

Blaikie, William G. – A Manual of Bible History, in Connection with the General History of the World   (n.d.)  530 pp.

Blaikie was a minister in the Free Church of Scotland.

Lewis, Jack Pearl – Historical Backgrounds of Bible History  Buy  (Baker, 1971)  ToC

“Presents in readable form the material from archaeological discoveries which highlights events during the lives of leading Biblical personalities.  Greatly facilitates sermon preparation.” – Cyril J. Barber

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Geography & Topography

1800’s

Thomson, William – The Land & the Book, or Biblical Illustrations Drawn from the Manners & Customs, the Scenes and Scenery of the Holy Land, vol. 1 (Southern Palestine & Jerusalem), 2 (Central Palestine & Phoenicia), 3 (Lebanon, Damascus & Beyond Jordan)  (1880)

“Thompson spent 30 years as a missionary in Bible lands, and this work is the result of his observations and travels in the Near East.” – Cyril J. Barber

Geikie, John Cunningham – The Holy Land and the Bible: a Book of Scripture Illustrations Gathered in Palestine, vol. 1 (Southern Israel to Jerusalem), 2 (Around Jerusalem to Northern Israel)

Geikie (1824 – 1906)

‘One of the best religious writers of the age.’ – Spurgeon

‘We can never know too much of that literature which throws side-lights on the Bible, and which unfolds the customs of the people, difficult allusions,historical coincidences, geographical details.  Geikie’s Hours with the Bible; Kitto’s Daily Illustrations, edited by Dr. Porter; Dr. Smith’s Bible Dictionary; books like these are invaluable….’ – F.B. Meyer

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Early 1900’s

Sanday, William – Sacred Sites of the Gospels  (1903)  270 pp.

Sanday was an Oxford professor.

“An old, moderately helpful survey of sights made famous by Christ during his earthly life and ministry.” – Cyril Barber

Smith, George Adam

Historical Geography of the Holy Land, Especially in Relation to the History of Israel and of the Early Church  (1910)  760 pp.  See below for the companion Atlas.

Smith was a liberal.

“A classic study by a renowned scholar of the past century.” – Cyril J. Barber

Jerusalem: the Topography, Economics & History from the Earliest Times to A.D. 70, vol. 1 (Topography, Economics, Politics), 2 (History)

“Provides considerable detail on the topography, economics, and history of Jerusalem from the earliest times to A.D. 70.” – Cyril J. Barber

Dalman, Gustav – Sacred Sites & Ways  Buy  (NY: MacMillan, 1935)  ToC  Here is a review.

“One of the best modern works on the geography of Palestine.” – Cyril Barber

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Mid-Late 1900’s

Bruin, Paul & Phillip Giegel – Jesus Lived Here: a Modern Pilgrimage through the Holy Land  Buy  (1958)  240 pp.

“A pictorial study of the places referred to in the Gospels.  Clear illustrations chosen with taste and distinction.  Enhanced by color as well as black and white prints.” – Cyril Barber

Adams, J. McKee – Biblical Backgrounds: a Geographical Survey of Bible Lands in the Light of the Scriptures & Recent Research  Buy  (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1934 / 1965)  475 pp.  ToC

Adams was a professor of Biblical Introduction at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

“A well-illustrated, up-to-date [ed. 1965] work on the geography of the Ancient Near East.” – Cyril J. Barber

Pfeiffer, Charles & Howard Vos – Wycliff Historical Geography of Bible Lands  Buy  (1967)

“A modern, evangelical treatment of the ten areas of the Near Eastern and Mediterranean world.  Blends the historical, geographical, Biblical, and archaeological material to form a factual, informative reference tool.  Enhanced with 459 excellent illustrations, 45 black-and-white maps, 16 pages of color maps, and helpful diagrams of local areas and many ancient cities.” – Cyril J. Barber

Smick, Elmer – Archaeology of the Jordan Valley  Buy  (Baker, 1973)  ToC

Turner, George Allen – Historical Geography of the Holy Land  Buy  (Baker, 1973)

“A well outlined, beautifully illustrated and admirably executed volume.  Deserves a place on every Bible student’s book shelf.” – Cyril J. Barber

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Atlases

Smith, George Adam – Atlas of the Historical Geography of the Holy Land  1915  180 pp.

Pfeiffer, Charles – Baker’s Bible Atlas  Buy  (1961, 1973, 2003)  ToC

“An important work incorporating a geographical gazetteer to assist the reader in identifying Biblical places with present-day name.” – Cyril J. Barber


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Archaeology

See also our separate sections on ‘Archaeology on the Old Testament’ and ‘Archaeology on the New Testament’

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Introductory Article

Climer, Phillip – ‘Archaeology and the Bible’  1999  originally published in the Trinity Review, and reprinted as an appendix to Ussher’s Annals of the World.  Here hosted at Answers in Genesis (2012), from their Answers in Depth.

Climer is a reformed Christian.  This is an excellent introduction as to how the Bible (God’s truth) is related to the inferential and always inconclusive methodology of archaeology.  Climer uses the excavation of Troy as an in-depth example of the wide ranging and contradictory, yet assured conclusions that the methods of modern archaeology come to.

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Books

Intermediate

Berkhof, Louis – Biblical Archaeology  (1928)  200 pp.

Berkhof was a noted American-Dutch, reformed theologian.

Free, Joseph – Archaeology & Bible History  rev. ed.  Buy  (1992)  320 pp.

Free was chairman of the department of archaeology at Wheaton College, IL.

“Shows how archaeology confirms Bible history and illuminates the events of the OT and NT.  An introductory work.” – Cyril J. Barber

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Advanced

Kitchen, K.A. – The Bible in its World: the Bible & Archaeology Today  Buy  (2004)

See the ‘Buy’ link for a review.

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Reference

ed. Avi-Yonah, M. – Encyclopedia of Archeological Excavations in the Holy Land, vol. 1 (A-D), 2 (E-I), 3 (J-N), 4 (O-Z)  Buy  (Prentice-Hall, 1975-1958)

“This encyclopedia covers all the significant archeological activity in Palestine up to the time of publication.  The information is given alphabetically by site.  It is a wonderful reference work and covers all periods of antiquity.” – Tremper Longman, 5 out of 5 stars

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Cities

Pfeiffer, Charles – Jerusalem through the Ages  Buy  (1967)  94 pp.

“A brief treatment of the history of Jerusalem through the centuries.  Incorporates a survey of both sacred and secular history and includes the significant archaeological findings and their bearing upon thee Biblical text.” – Cyril J. Barber

DeVries, LaMoine – Cities of the Biblical World  Buy  (1997)  385 pp.  Hendrickson

This work is helpfully arranged according to Old and New Testament, and the major nations therein, with their significant cities listed and discussed.

Unfortunately the work walks a middle, broad path, being at ease with, and coming from the perspective of, status quo secular archaeology.  Thus, it has numerous liberal concessions/assumptions which are not on par with the Biblical timeline.  Likewise, the author’s writing, while providing some helpful information, is the opposite of invigorating and is not very engaging.  But the work fills a void.

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Bibliography of General Archaeology

Awe, Susan C. – ‘Archaeology’  in ARBA Guide to Subject Encyclopedias & Dictionaries  (Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1997), pp. 79-80


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Coins

Jewish

Madden, Frederic William – History of Jewish Coinage & Money in the Old & New TestamentsSupplement  (1864, 1875)

“An extensive treatment of the history of currency and monetary exchange in the Ancient Near East, together with many illustrations of coins from the period of the Maccabean, Idumean, and Roman periods.  Chapters include Arabic coins, Greek and Roman money, weights and measures, Talmudic writings on coinage, and ancient methods of counterfeiting.” – Cyril J. Barber

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Roman

Mattingly, Harold – Roman Coins: From the Earliest Times to the Fall of the Western Empire  Buy  2nd ed.  (London, 1928; 1960)  300 pp.  ToC

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Related Pages

Whole Bible Commentaries

Biblical Theology

Old Testament Theology

New Testament Theology