Harper's World of the New Testament

Harper's World of the New Testament is an informative, detailed description of the first century and the cultural context of early Christianity. The author brings this world vividly to life: the gladiatorial games and pagan rituals, the Greek myths and religious cults, the Jewish sects and the Roman emperors-all are combined in a compelling recreation ion of the rich and tumultuous setting that framed the birth and rise of Christiani-ty. Harper's World of the New Testament immerses us in the many cultural and political forces: Roman politics, Eastern mystery religions, Greek philosophy, Gnosticism, and Jewish religion. Edwin Yamauchi provides us with an unparalleled understanding of the world of the conquerers and priests, archi-tects and scholars, warriors and merchants who formed the background for-and were sometimes directly affected by-the coming of Jesus and the establishment of Christianity. Maps, illustrations, and striking color and black-and-white photo-graphs further illuminate the New Testament world. The result is a book that sheds light on the Gospels and Epistles while pro-viding a remarkably clear glimpse into the first century. Harper's World of the New Testament reminds us forcefully that the events of the New Testament took place in a real world, at an actual time in history, and in places that can still be seen, photographed, and appreciated today.