Opens a window into the first-century world—so that you can better understand the New Testament.When we look at particular New Testament passages, asking questions about culture may lead us to entirely new levels of understanding. Understanding of the land, history, and culture of the ancient world brings remarkable new insights into how we read the New Testament itself.This completely revised and updated second edition of The New Testament in Antiquity skillfully develops how Jewish, Hellenistic, and Roman cultures formed the essential environment in which the New Testament authors wrote their books and letters.Features include: Nearly 500 full color photos, charts, maps, and drawings. Easy-to-understand call-outs and sidebars that integrate the book's material with issues of interpretation, discussion questions, and bibliographies. Questions for discussion and further study.