Reading Suggestions
for Travelers to the Bible Lands
Note that links to Amazon are my associate
links
GENERAL BIBLE
HISTORY
To get the big picture of the biblical lands and the
biblical history, I recommend a Bible atlas. It will provide a
historical overview, so information is not organized according to sites.
It will have lots of maps and photos that will help you link a site to
its place in the Bible.
·
For a concise Bible history overview and atlas, I am happy to
recommend the atlas I co-authored: Atlas
of the Biblical World. It’s available on Kindle
and as a durable paperback intended to withstand the rigors of travel.
·
I really like the Crossway
ESV Bible Atlas. It is what I use in the Bible Lands class, but
it’s too big to carry to Israel! You can get the Kindle version,
however.
TURKEY and GREECE
Travel Books
Guides to the Sites
There are numerous travel guides to Turkey and
Greece. Some are more for the general tourist and provide information
about sites to visit as well as about hotels, shopping, etc. These can
be quite helpful, but for the traveler interested in the biblical sites,
there are organized according to the sites and focus on the history and
provide specifics about visiting a site.
·
The archaeological excavations keep changing the sites, so this
book is getting just a bit dated (2003), but my top recommendation is A Guide to Biblical Sites in
Greece and Turkey by Fant
and Reddish. Note that it covers both countries, and it’s only $10
in the Kindle version.
·
Other good ones to consider that are more recent:
o
Biblical Turkey: A
Guide to the Jewish and Christian Sites of Asia Minor
by Mark Wilson (2010).
o
Greco-Roman Cities of
Aegean Turkey: History, Archaeology, Architecture by
Henry Matthews (2014)
o
Christian Origins in
Ephesus and Asia Minor by Mark R. Fairchild
(2017). Fairchild is one of the leading experts on archaeological sites
in Turkey. (He teaches Turks training to be guides.) The book is
organized by topic but includes maps, photos, and maps of almost every
site we visit.
·
Some general travel guides to consider:
o
A Traveller's
History of Turkey by Richard Stoneman
o
Fodor’s guides to Greece
and Turkey
oDK Eyewitness
guides to Greece and Turkey
o For Rick Steves
fans: Greece and
Turkey
o Greece:
An Oxford Archaeological Guide: Also includes information on
all the classical sites
Historical Fiction
Novels before Visiting Turkey and Greece
Here are some historical fiction novels written by
biblical scholars with stories set in the places of Paul, Revelation,
and the early church in Turkey and Greece.
Links provided are my Amazon associate links. Most
are rather quick reads, but they are a great way of learning about the
social context of the early church. They are especially fun to read in
connection with sites you have or plan to visit!
Before buying a book, you can check if your public
(or seminary) library has it, but do check out Hoopla.
This is an online book borrowing service that you may have available
through your local public library. They have at least four of these
books that you can ‘check out’ digitally for free.
Summary blurbs are from Amazon, and I have added
some comments.
- The
Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story from the New Testament World
by Bruce W. Longenecker - MGVH: I especially recommend this one!
Transported two thousand years into the past, readers are introduced
to Antipas, a Roman civic leader who has encountered the writings of
the biblical author Luke. Luke's history sparks Antipas's interest,
and they begin corresponding. While the account is fictional, the
author is a highly respected New Testament scholar who weaves reliable
historical information into a fascinating story, offering a fresh,
engaging, and creative way to learn about the New Testament world. The
first edition has been widely used in the classroom (over 30,000
copies sold). This updated edition, now with improved readability and
narrative flow, will bring the social and political world of Jesus and
his first followers to life for many more students of the Bible.
- A Week In the Life of a
Greco-Roman Woman by Holly Beers
In first-century Ephesus, life is not easy for women. A young wife
meets her daily struggles with equanimity and courage. She holds
poverty and hunger at bay, fights to keep her child healthy and
strong, and navigates the unpredictability of her husband's
temperament. But into the midst of her daily fears and worries, a new
hope appears: a teaching that challenges her society's most basic
assumption. What is this new teaching? And what will it demand of her?
In this gripping novel, Holly Beers introduces us to the first-century
setting where the apostle Paul first proclaimed the gospel.
Illuminated by historical images and explanatory sidebars, this lively
story not only shows us the rich tapestry of life in a thriving
Greco-Roman city, it also foregrounds the interior life of one
courageous woman―and the radical new freedom the gospel promised
- A
Week In the Life of Ephesus by David A. deSilva
As the city of Ephesus prepares for a religious festival in honor of
the emperor Domitian, a Christian landowner feels increasing pressure
from the city's leaders to participate. Can he perform his civic
duties and remain faithful to his Lord? Or has the time come for a
costly choice? In this historical novel, biblical scholar David deSilva brings to life such compelling
struggles faced by the early Christians. Their insistence on the
absolute lordship of their own singular deity brought them into
conflict not only with the myriad religious cults of the day, but with
all the crushing power of the empire itself. Meticulously researched
and supplemented by historical images and explanatory sidebars, A Week
in the Life of Ephesus poses anew the timeless question of
Christianity and empire. Here is a vividly imaginative portrait of the
Roman empire in all its beauty and might―and hanging over it, the
looming sky of
- A
Week in the Life of a Slave by John Byron
"I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in
chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful
both to you and to me." These words, written by the apostle Paul to a
first-century Christian named Philemon, are tantalizingly brief.
Indeed, Paul's epistle to Philemon is one of the shortest books in the
entire Bible. While it's direct enough in its way, it certainly leaves
plenty to the imagination. A Week in the Life of a Slave is a vivid
imagining of that story. From the pen of an accomplished New Testament
scholar, the narrative follows the slave Onesimus from his arrival in
Ephesus, where the apostle Paul is imprisoned, and fleshes out the
lived context of that time and place, supplemented by numerous
sidebars and historical images. John Byron's historical fiction is at
once a social and theological critique of slavery in the Roman Empire
and a gripping adventure story, set against the exotic backdrop of
first-century
- A
Week in the Life of Corinth by Ben Witherington III
Ben Witherington III attempts to reenchant our reading of Paul in this
creative reconstruction of ancient Corinth. Following a fictitious
Corinthian man named Nicanor through an eventful week of business
dealings and conflict, you will encounter life at various levels of
Roman society--eventually meeting Paul himself and gaining entrance
into the Christian community there. The result is an unforgettable
introduction to life in a major center of the New Testament world.
Numerous full-page text boxes expand on a variety of aspects of life
and culture as we encounter them in the
- A
Rooster for Asklepios: A Slave's
Story, Book 1 (of 3) by Christopher D. Stanley
The story centers on a slave named Marcus who manages the business
affairs of a wealthy Roman citizen in central Asia Minor (Pisidian
Antioch) in the first century CE. The first volume, A Rooster for
Asklepios, narrates his eventful
journey to a famous healing center in western Turkey (Pergamum)
following a dream in which the god Asklepios
appears to promise that his master will be cured there of a nagging
illness. The second volume, A
Bull for Pluto, relates the aftermath of this
journey, including a visit to Hierapolis. Along the way, both men
encounter people and ideas that undermine everything that they have
ever believed about themselves, one another, and the world around
them. Societal norms are challenged, personal loyalties tested, and
identities transformed in this engaging story that brings to life a
unique corner of the Roman world that has been neglected by previous
storytellers.
This one is quite interesting, and it describes a journey from
Pisidian Antioch to Laodicea to Ephesus to Pergamum which is exactly
the route we follow on the tour I lead. From Ephesus they go via
Sardis to Hierapolis, again a route we take (though in reverse).
There is also a website
with lots of supporting material you should check. Highly
recommended!
-
The Apostle: A Life of
Paul by John Pollock
The drama of a novel meets scholarship in leading Christian biographer
John Pollock's classic work about one of the most transforming persons
in history: the apostle Paul. The Apostle masterfully combines
careful adherence to biblical text, detailed research, and a
storyteller's gift to create a book equally relevant for both casual
readers fascinated by Paul's life and serious biblical scholars.
Pollock begins his fast-moving narrative with Stephen's death and
follows Paul through his conversion, missionary journeys, and eventual
execution. Many will enjoy it simply as a satisfying and insightful
true-life story, although maps and a study guide allow for deeper
exploration. The Apostle was originally published in 1969, and
this new edition marks the first significant revision in many years.
Not Turkey or Greece but
others in the series related to the early church:
·
A Week in the Life of
Rome by James L. Papandrea
In first-century Rome, following Jesus comes at a tremendous social
cost. An urbane Roman landowner and merchant is intrigued by the
Christian faith―but is he willing to give up his status and lifestyle to
join the church? Meanwhile his young client, a catechumen in the church
at Rome, is beginning to see just how much his newfound faith will
require of him. A Week in the Life of Rome is a cross section of ancient
Roman society, from the overcrowded apartment buildings of the poor to
the halls of the emperors. Against this rich backdrop, illuminated with
images and explanatory sidebars, we are invited into the daily struggles
of the church at Rome just a few years before Paul wrote his famous
epistle to them. A gripping tale of ambition, intrigue, and sacrifice,
James Papandrea's novel is a compelling
work of historical fiction that shows us the first-century Roman church
as we've never seen it before.
·
Phoebe: A Story
by Paula Gooder
Sometime around 56 AD, the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome. He
entrusted this letter to Phoebe, whom he describes as the deacon of the
church at Cenchreae and a patron of many.
But who was this remarkable woman? Biblical scholar and popular author
and speaker Paula Gooder imagines Phoebe's
story―who she was, the life she lived, and her first-century faith―and
in doing so opens up Paul's world, giving a sense of the cultural and
historical pressures that shaped his thinking and the faith of the early
church. After the narrative, Gooder
includes an extensive notes section with comments on the historical
context, biographical details, cultural practices, and more. Rigorously
researched, this is a book for anyone who wants to engage more deeply
and imaginatively with Paul's theology.
ISRAEL, PALESTINE,
and JORDAN Travel Books
General Bible
History
To get the big picture of the biblical lands and the
biblical history, I recommend a Bible atlas. It will provide a
historical overview, so information is not organized according to sites.
It will have lots of maps and photos that will help you link a site to
its place in the Bible.
·
I really like the Crossway
ESV Bible Atlas. It is what I use in the
Bible Lands class, but it’s too big to carry to Israel! You can get the
Kindle version, however.
·
For a concise Bible history overview and atlas, I am happy to
recommend the atlas I co-authored: Atlas
of
the Biblical World. It’s available on Kindle and as a
durable paperback intended to withstand the rigors of travel.
Guides to the Sites
·
The Holy Land: An
Oxford Archaeological Guide by Jerome
Murphy-O’Connor. As archaeological excavations continue, this one is
getting a bit dated (2008), but it is the one I recommend.
·
An Illustrated Guide to
the Holy Land for Tour Groups, Students, and Pilgrims
by Lamontte M. Luker. This is a pocketable guide also
available in Kindle.
Background for the
Political Situation
·
For something that is engaging reading that will help you
understand the current realities in the land, try Tolan’s . The
Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East
or Chacour’s Blood Brothers.
·
Mitri Raheb is a Lutheran pastor in
Bethlehem who has become a prominent voice for Palestinian people. He
has written many books you might
find interesting. (Try Faith in the Face of Empire.)
·
Check out A
Hitchhiker's Guide to Jesus: Reading the Gospels on the Ground,
especially if you are a seminary student. It’s an excellent mix of tour
guide and Bible reading guide.
Historical Fiction
Novels before Visiting Israel, Palestine, and Jordan
- The Source by
James A. Michener
MGVH: This is a typically long Michener novel, but it really
provides a sweeping account of human history. The setting is based
on the site of Tel Hazor in Israel. Highly recommended! In his
signature style of grand storytelling, James A. Michener transports us
back thousands of years to the Holy Land. Through the discoveries of
modern archaeologists excavating the site of Tell Makor, Michener
vividly re-creates life in an ancient city and traces the profound
history of the Jewish people—from the persecution of the early
Hebrews, the rise of Christianity, and the Crusades to the founding of
Israel and the modern conflict in the Middle East. An epic tale of
love, strength, and faith, The Source is a richly written
saga that encompasses the history of Western civilization and the
great religious and cultural ideas that have shaped our world.
- The Shadow of the Galilean
by Gerd Theissen
MGVH: This is a book I require in my class. Theissen
is a respected New Testament scholar. The structure of the book is a
bit odd, but it provides an excellent perspective into the character
of the historical Jesus. First published in 1987 by Fortress
Press, this 20th anniversary edition of this classic bestseller
includes a new Afterword from the author. Here, in narrative form, is
an account of the activity of Jesus of Nazareth, scrupulously
constructed so that it does not undercut the insights of New Testament
scholarship. What makes it different from other such attempts is that
Jesus never actually appears. What we find everywhere is his shadow,
his effect. Such an approach avoids the usual pitfalls of the genre
and lends this story - attributed to a fictitious narrator - an
attraction, freshness, and power all its own. Tension and interest are
maintained to the end, even for those sated with books about Jesus.
Careful documentation in the footnotes shows how much of the narrative
is based on ancient sources.
- A Week in the Life of a
Roman Centurion by Gary M. Burge
Enter a world of warfare and treachery, of duty and honor, of love and
loyalty, interwoven with the inner workings of a Roman centurion's
household. And then trace it as the road curves toward little
Capernaum. Follow the story of Appius, a proud centurion, and Tullus,
his scribe and slave. From a battle with the Parthians, through a
tragic personal crisis, to the gladiator arena at Caesarea Maritima,
their tale finally leads to the backwater village of Capernaum on the
shores of Galilee. There, in a culture not their own and during a week
they will never forget, they encounter a Jewish prophet from Nazareth.
A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion gives us a first-century view
of the world of the Gospels. In entertaining historical fiction,
splashed with informative sidebars and images, we capture a view of
Jesus' world from the outer framework looking in.
- Mary, Called Magdalene
by Margaret George
MGVH: George is a respected novelist (so this reads more like a
novel!), but she has done a good job of setting this story in the
time of the Jesus and connecting it to the Gospels. (900 ! pages but
available as an audiobook) Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute, a
female divinity figure, a church leader, or all of those? Biblical
references to her are tantalizingly brief, but we do know that she was
the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared—and the one
commissioned to tell others the good news, earning her the ancient
honorific, “Apostle to the Apostles.” Today, Mary continues to spark
controversy, curiosity, and veneration. In a vivid re-creation of Mary
Magdalene's life story, Margaret George convincingly captures this
renowned woman's voice as she moves from girlhood to womanhood,
becomes part of the circle of disciples, and comes to grips with the
divine. While grounded in biblical scholarship and secular research,
Mary, Called Magdalene ultimately transcends both history and fiction
to become a “diary of a soul.”
- The Book of Longings: A
Novel by Sue Monk Kidd
MGVH: This is a well-written novel by another respected novelist. I
am convinced that Jesus was never married, but if he had married,
this is a very likely scenario of how his life might have played
out. Jesus is actually somewhat peripheral to the story, but the
depiction of everyday life is excellent. (429 pages but
available as an audiobook) In her mesmerizing fourth work of
fiction, Sue Monk Kidd takes an audacious approach to history and
brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young
woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of
Galilee, she is rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a
daring spirit. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes
narratives about neglected and silenced women. Ana is expected to
marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. An encounter
with eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything. Their marriage
evolves with love and conflict, humor and pathos in Nazareth, where
Ana makes a home with Jesus, his brothers, and their mother, Mary.
Ana's pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to
Rome's occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother, Judas. She
is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha,
who harbors a compelling secret. When Ana commits a brazen act that
puts her in peril, she flees to Alexandria, where startling
revelations and greater dangers unfold, and she finds refuge in
unexpected surroundings with the Therapeutae sect. Ana determines her
fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most
impactful in human history. Grounded in meticulous research and
written with a reverential approach to Jesus's life that focuses on
his humanity, The Book of Longings is an inspiring, unforgettable
account of one woman's bold struggle to realize the passion and
potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture
devised to silence her. It is a triumph of storytelling both timely
and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers.
- Pontius
Pilate: A Novel by Paul L. Maier\
Award-winning historian and best-selling author Paul L. Maier has
created a compelling style of documentary fiction. He uses what is
historically known of Pilate’s life and rise to power, adds in the
known political climate of first-century Judea, and unveils the
colorful, untold story that changed history for all time. He provides
intriguing answers to questions such as: What really happened at that
most famous of trials? Were the proceedings against Jesus legal? Did
cowardice or necessity motivate Pilate’s judgment? What became of this
successful Roman politician after his verdict? Filling in the details
of Pilate’s early career in Rome, Maier captures the drama of imperial
Rome under the all-powerful Tiberius Caesar, the plottings of his
political allies and enemies, and his relationship with his beloved
but ambitious wife, Procula. His great moment arrives as he exchanges
the intrigues of Rome for the bewildering environment of Judea,
navigating new and dangerous waters. In Pontius Pilate, Maier paints a
picture for modern readers to help them understand the
behind-the-scenes complexities, political and religious realities, and
ultimately, the humanity of the people we know from Scripture.
- Day of
Atonement: A Novel of the Maccabean Revolt by David
DeSilva
The Greeks have taken over the world, but Jerusalem is still the same
backwater city Jason has always known. He wants to help his hometown
rise to a new age of prosperity and influence. If that means
stretching the terms of the city’s divine covenant, so be it. But how
far is he willing to go to achieve Greek greatness for this Jewish
city? It will take the willingness of a handful of Jews to die rather
than violate the covenant in order to turn the tide back to God.
Written by an internationally recognized expert in the period between
the Testaments, Day of Atonement invites readers into Judea during the
tumultuous years leading up to the Maccabean Revolt. It was this
pivotal decade that reminded Jews of the centrality of the covenant to
their national security and taught them that the covenant was worth
dying for. The story is so foundational, it is still told every year
at Hanukkah. The lessons learned during this turbulent time also shed
light on just what was at stake in the ministry of Jesus, whose
radical message seemed to threaten the covenant once again.