Tuesday, September 30, 2014

NIV First-Century Study Bible

_225_350_Book.1344.coverNIV First-Century Study Bible – Explore Scripture in its Jewish and Early Christian Context
Edited by Kent Dobson
Published at Zondervan

About the Bible

Experience the Bible through the eyes of a first-century disciple by exploring the cultural, religious, and historical background of the Bible. This Bible allows you to understand God’s Word in its original cultural context, bringing Scripture to life by providing fresh understanding to familiar passages, beloved stories and all the Scripture in between. The NIV First-Century Study Bible invites you into the questions, stories, and interpretations—both ancient and modern—which introduce you to a world vastly different from your own. Let us read with an eye on the past and with our feet planted in our present questions and circumstances.

Join Kent Dobson as he unpacks the culture of Bible times, and illuminates Scripture passages while asking thoughtful questions along the way. Kent is the teaching pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan, where he initially served as the worship director. He has been featured on Biblical programs for the History Channel and the Discovery Channel. Kent fell in love with Biblical studies in Israel and had the privilege of learning from both Jewish and Christian scholars. After his time in Israel, he returned to the States to teach high school religion and Bible before responding to God's call to the pastorate. Today, he keeps his connection to the Holy Land strong as he leads tours to Israel that combine study and prayer, inspired by the ancient discipline of spiritual pilgrimage.

Who is Kent Dobson?

Kent Dobson is the teaching pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan, where he initially served as the worship director. He has been featured on Biblical programs for the History Channel and the Discovery Channel.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Kent lived and studied in Israel where he earned a Masters Degree in History and Geography of the First Temple Period from Jerusalem University College. He also studied Comparative Religion at the Rothburg International School of the Hebrew University.

Kent fell in love with Biblical studies in Israel and had the privilege of learning from both Jewish and Christian scholars. After his time in Israel, he returned to the States to teach high school religion and Bible before responding to God's call to the pastorate. Today, he keeps his connection to the Holy Land strong as he leads tours to Israel that combine study and prayer, inspired by the ancient discipline of spiritual pilgrimage.

Kent lives is Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his wife and three children.

My Thoughts

I love putting the Bible into perspective and discover more about the times when the events happened.    I find it important to learn more about the culture and the history behind the words of the Bible.    So when I saw that this Bible would allow you to explore the Scripture in the Jewish and Early Christianity context I was excited.   

This Bible is packed with maps, charts, models as well as word studies and day in the life articles.    You can access the books of the Bible easily and quickly get an  introduction which will give you more information on the book itself – authorship and date, background, interpretation, literary characteristics, as well as an outline.  It is perfect to deepen your own understanding of the culture existing when a specific event happened and to grasp a better understanding of Word of God.

My only disappointment with it is the fact that I received an epub version of the Bible.  I personally prefers the versatility of accessing whichever page I want when I read the Bible.  Consequently, I still prefers a paper version of the Bible over a digital edition.    That’s my own personal preference because my husband on the other hand would prefer a digital edition of the Bible.   However, throughout the readings I have done in it, I could quickly click on links that would bring me to a word study or a map.  I could go back an forth between the links and the place where I was originally when I clicked on the said link.  I also learned a few things – like for example the meaning of the name Jonah which means dove or pigeon.   Considering that doves and pigeons have been used as messenger throughout history I think it is fascinating that God used someone whose name meant dove to be a messenger to Nineveh.     I’m sure there are many other little things that I can learn from this Bible – I just wish it was much easier to navigate the digital edition…

This bible would make a great gift this Christmas to someone who loves to learn more about life during the Bible times.   It would be a great gift as well for a graduate, a baptism or simply to bless someone.

The NIV First-Century Study Bible is available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

Hardcover

  

Imitation Leather

   

  

Available on Kindle as well

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to Zondervan for sending me the above mentioned product in EPUB format for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

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