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Иисус и Его мир. Новейшие открытия
В своей новой книге специалист по Библии с мировым именем, археолог, знаток древних языков и эксперт по апокрифам Крейг Эванс представил все наиболее важные археологические открытия, связанные с именем Иисуса из Назарета. Раскопки в Сепфорисе, Капернауме и Назарете, предметы и надписи из развалин древних синагог и крепостей, произведения античной культуры и старые книги, иудейские гробницы и оссуарии, современные методы реконструкции мира Иисуса – все это находки, ставшие сенсациями, тайны, которые, казалось бы, навсегда сгинули во тьме веков. Крейг Эванс собрал все, что будоражило умы, чтобы рассказать о подлинном значении всех эпохальных открытий и том мире, который за ними вырисовывается.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
34 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 25, 2016
Written for the nonspecialist, it is quite readable. Author has a high view of scripture and shows how archaeological evidence supports the biblical narrative.
August 27, 2015
I would love to see Craig A. Evans take on some militant Atheist Know-it-all Bible haters. Especially with his vast knowledge of Scripture and the New Testament world. Just to see him lovingly hold up the truth would be a relief.
And that is what this book does: It helps us to see the Scriptures and Jesus' world with bold confidence that we indeed have a Savior who is exactly what He promises: Messiah, King of Kings, Lamb Slain for the Sins of the World, and Holy God.
This book doesn't necessarily go that deep - but it does place us in Jesus' home turf.
In order for us to embrace any of the Bible, we have to know that we can trust it exactly as written. That it IS the history it claims to be. Of course: prophecy, revelation, and Psalms do not claim to be specific history - so we work with them accordingly. But when it speaks of History Craig Evans does his best to prove that it is. And i'm proud of my boy for speaking clearly against the buffoons of bad scholarship. Here's a fun sample:
"Harpur is convinced that Jesus of Nazareth is only a mythical figure, not a person of history...the lapsed Christian (Harpur) had this to say: 'Yeah, but they don't offer a shred of historical evidence. Since my book was publilshed, there has not been one scholar come forth with solid evidence form the first century...i've been waiting for the evidence to show up'.
Evans says, "Not surprisingly, the radical scepticism of Harpur and Price has gained no scholarly following."
But the games have just begun. Just like Reza Aslan and his "Zealot: The Life And Times of Jesus" crap - The popular media is not interested in historical accuracy or Biblical insight. Just like most goodreads reviewers: "This guy has a PHD He MUST know-it-all." But apparently any moron can get a PHD nowadays.
It is awesome that we have scholars like Craig Evans to get the OTHER side of the story. And the other side is GREAT!
Just FYI: Craig Evans is a Professor of New Testament studies, the author of more than fifty books and hundreds of articles. He is an internationally distinguished authority and lecturer on the historical Jesus. So IN YOUR FACE Reza Aslan.
After reading this book you will never see the Bible the same old way again. Those 1st century verses that seem like normal Jewish and Roman life will...come to life.
And that is what this book does: It helps us to see the Scriptures and Jesus' world with bold confidence that we indeed have a Savior who is exactly what He promises: Messiah, King of Kings, Lamb Slain for the Sins of the World, and Holy God.
This book doesn't necessarily go that deep - but it does place us in Jesus' home turf.
In order for us to embrace any of the Bible, we have to know that we can trust it exactly as written. That it IS the history it claims to be. Of course: prophecy, revelation, and Psalms do not claim to be specific history - so we work with them accordingly. But when it speaks of History Craig Evans does his best to prove that it is. And i'm proud of my boy for speaking clearly against the buffoons of bad scholarship. Here's a fun sample:
"Harpur is convinced that Jesus of Nazareth is only a mythical figure, not a person of history...the lapsed Christian (Harpur) had this to say: 'Yeah, but they don't offer a shred of historical evidence. Since my book was publilshed, there has not been one scholar come forth with solid evidence form the first century...i've been waiting for the evidence to show up'.
Evans says, "Not surprisingly, the radical scepticism of Harpur and Price has gained no scholarly following."
But the games have just begun. Just like Reza Aslan and his "Zealot: The Life And Times of Jesus" crap - The popular media is not interested in historical accuracy or Biblical insight. Just like most goodreads reviewers: "This guy has a PHD He MUST know-it-all." But apparently any moron can get a PHD nowadays.
It is awesome that we have scholars like Craig Evans to get the OTHER side of the story. And the other side is GREAT!
Just FYI: Craig Evans is a Professor of New Testament studies, the author of more than fifty books and hundreds of articles. He is an internationally distinguished authority and lecturer on the historical Jesus. So IN YOUR FACE Reza Aslan.
After reading this book you will never see the Bible the same old way again. Those 1st century verses that seem like normal Jewish and Roman life will...come to life.
June 5, 2012
A good, short introduction to the latest archeology relating to the time of Jesus and the early Church, this book is remarkably illuminating. For example, the story of the men who carry the paralytic to see Jesus and have to climb up and lower him through the roof makes a lot more sense when you find out that the small houses of the time had roof access via a staircase. Evans also demolishes very ably the ridiculous recent claim about the "Jesus family tomb". Clearly written and very interesting for those curious about the historical world of the Gospels.
May 17, 2024
Jesus and His World by Craig A. Evans
This insightful book by a well-credentialed scholar draws on recent and current archaeological finds to push back on some of the more novel and media-sensationalized hypotheses about the veracity of the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life. In countering these arguments, Evans introduces the archaeologists and their finds that have greatly helped educate scholars over the last 30 years about the life of the first century C.E. before the destruction of Jerusalem in 80 AD. The book is technical in nature, but helpful to the layperson (myself).
The book is a good look at “biblical archaeology, defined by Hendel as “the rigorous correlation of textual data from the Bible and material evidence from archaeology” (p. 9). Only five percent of biblical sites have been excavated, and those only partially. Scholars have to examine literary accounts for verisimilitude - comparing their description to what we know archaeologically to the way things really were, and their similarity to other accounts of the time. These help us critically examine claims such as Jesus being a Cynic, or illiterate, or various assertions about burial customs and symbols in Israel at the time.
Evans explains some of what we know about the towns of Galilee, including Sepphoris, which was a larger town just kilometers away from Nazareth that is curiously not named in the Gospel accounts (unless you consider “a city on a hill” to be a reference to it, or his criticism of the trumpeting of hypocrites drawn from what the crowd would have witnessed in the town’s theater). The Gospel accounts suggest Jesus visited largely villages in Gallilee and avoided the larger towns. Much can be learned from Sepphoris’ city dump about its distinct Jewishness compared to more Greek-oriented towns not far away.
Evans cites many literary texts from the period, whether it’s the scrolls from Qumran or Roman sources, some of which are known only in fragments from later Roman sources. It is fascinating that many of Jesus’ biblical references to the Old Testament come from the Aramaic interpretation, which complications are known as the Targum. “Thanks to the discoveries at Qumran and elsewhere near the Dead Sea, we now know that Targums – the plural form can also be ‘Targumim’ – were written as early as the first century bce. It is hard to see how Jesus could have absorbed so much material that is consistent with the emerging targumic tradition if he did not frequent the synagogue” (p. 71).
Evans provides overwhelming evidence of widespread literacy, even among the poor, slaves, etc. in the Roman world. He also shows how well texts even before the first century BCE have been found preserved thousands of years later, largely due to the material on which they were written. This is important for determining how close we may be to the original Gospel accounts from what we have:
“The fourth-century Codex Vaticanus was re-inked in the tenth century, which shows that it was still being read and studied some 600 years after it had been produced. If the first-century originals, or ‘autographs’ of the Gospels continued in use for 150 years or more, they would still have been in circulation when the oldest copies of the Gospels that we possess today were copied. Papyrus 45 from the Chester Beatty collection dates to about 220 ce. It preserves large portions of all four New Testament Gospels” (p. 91-92).
The book includes a long look on the burial practice of first century Jerusalem, and how it was somewhat altered by the massive expansion of construction works Herod and others. Due to the lack of space, the deceased bones were collected one year after the death, placed into an ossuary that was then placed in the family tomb. This included criminals who were not permitted to be buried in the family tomb. These ossuaries have preserved bones that also give evidence of diseases that were present and, in a unique case, evidence of the method of crucifixion. Certain tombs and ossuaries of prominent figures, such as Caiphas the high priest, may also be identified and give more light on the timelines we know of when certain priests and prefects held office. These chapters helped me realize how complicated the political situation was at the time and how explosive certain teachings of Jesus were.
Evans also helps the reader see how different first century accounts are to our more modern ways of writing literature. A modern book would probably begin by describing Jesus’ appearance, his manner of walking, the clothes he wears, more names of friends, etc. The ancient world does none of that. “As we ponder these questions, we realize that we know little about Jesus apart from his provocative teaching and even more provocative deeds” (p. 171).
There is a great bibliography at the end. I find no reason not to give the book five stars. The book is a short and insightful read.
This insightful book by a well-credentialed scholar draws on recent and current archaeological finds to push back on some of the more novel and media-sensationalized hypotheses about the veracity of the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life. In countering these arguments, Evans introduces the archaeologists and their finds that have greatly helped educate scholars over the last 30 years about the life of the first century C.E. before the destruction of Jerusalem in 80 AD. The book is technical in nature, but helpful to the layperson (myself).
The book is a good look at “biblical archaeology, defined by Hendel as “the rigorous correlation of textual data from the Bible and material evidence from archaeology” (p. 9). Only five percent of biblical sites have been excavated, and those only partially. Scholars have to examine literary accounts for verisimilitude - comparing their description to what we know archaeologically to the way things really were, and their similarity to other accounts of the time. These help us critically examine claims such as Jesus being a Cynic, or illiterate, or various assertions about burial customs and symbols in Israel at the time.
Evans explains some of what we know about the towns of Galilee, including Sepphoris, which was a larger town just kilometers away from Nazareth that is curiously not named in the Gospel accounts (unless you consider “a city on a hill” to be a reference to it, or his criticism of the trumpeting of hypocrites drawn from what the crowd would have witnessed in the town’s theater). The Gospel accounts suggest Jesus visited largely villages in Gallilee and avoided the larger towns. Much can be learned from Sepphoris’ city dump about its distinct Jewishness compared to more Greek-oriented towns not far away.
Evans cites many literary texts from the period, whether it’s the scrolls from Qumran or Roman sources, some of which are known only in fragments from later Roman sources. It is fascinating that many of Jesus’ biblical references to the Old Testament come from the Aramaic interpretation, which complications are known as the Targum. “Thanks to the discoveries at Qumran and elsewhere near the Dead Sea, we now know that Targums – the plural form can also be ‘Targumim’ – were written as early as the first century bce. It is hard to see how Jesus could have absorbed so much material that is consistent with the emerging targumic tradition if he did not frequent the synagogue” (p. 71).
Evans provides overwhelming evidence of widespread literacy, even among the poor, slaves, etc. in the Roman world. He also shows how well texts even before the first century BCE have been found preserved thousands of years later, largely due to the material on which they were written. This is important for determining how close we may be to the original Gospel accounts from what we have:
“The fourth-century Codex Vaticanus was re-inked in the tenth century, which shows that it was still being read and studied some 600 years after it had been produced. If the first-century originals, or ‘autographs’ of the Gospels continued in use for 150 years or more, they would still have been in circulation when the oldest copies of the Gospels that we possess today were copied. Papyrus 45 from the Chester Beatty collection dates to about 220 ce. It preserves large portions of all four New Testament Gospels” (p. 91-92).
The book includes a long look on the burial practice of first century Jerusalem, and how it was somewhat altered by the massive expansion of construction works Herod and others. Due to the lack of space, the deceased bones were collected one year after the death, placed into an ossuary that was then placed in the family tomb. This included criminals who were not permitted to be buried in the family tomb. These ossuaries have preserved bones that also give evidence of diseases that were present and, in a unique case, evidence of the method of crucifixion. Certain tombs and ossuaries of prominent figures, such as Caiphas the high priest, may also be identified and give more light on the timelines we know of when certain priests and prefects held office. These chapters helped me realize how complicated the political situation was at the time and how explosive certain teachings of Jesus were.
Evans also helps the reader see how different first century accounts are to our more modern ways of writing literature. A modern book would probably begin by describing Jesus’ appearance, his manner of walking, the clothes he wears, more names of friends, etc. The ancient world does none of that. “As we ponder these questions, we realize that we know little about Jesus apart from his provocative teaching and even more provocative deeds” (p. 171).
There is a great bibliography at the end. I find no reason not to give the book five stars. The book is a short and insightful read.
June 29, 2023
A very insightful and interesting book about the archaeological evidence for many things spoke of in Scripture. Evans does a great job of addressing the numer attacks on the Scripture, showing how many issues raised by skeptics about the authenticity of Scripture and many stories, have been vindicated by many more recent archaeological findings. In this book, Evans writes about growing up in Nazareth and what recent findings show about life in the city where Jesus grew up. He also writes about the findings in relation to the existence of the synagogue in the first century, the issues about literacy amongst the common man, the information that has been found regarding ruling priests and the temple, and then the issues revolving around Jewish burial traditions. These five areas tend to be five of many where skeptics seek to make their attack upon Scripture. Just like attacks from centuries ago, the more recent attacks have been found to be answered with very clear findings from archaeology.
I think this is an excellent book for one who is skeptical about Christ and Christianity. Well written and providing a more academic approach to apologetics through the grid of archeology. I highly recommend it.
I think this is an excellent book for one who is skeptical about Christ and Christianity. Well written and providing a more academic approach to apologetics through the grid of archeology. I highly recommend it.
January 14, 2024
Absolutely LOVED reading through this book. It was full of fantastic information, references to scripture and other documentations, as well as bringing some of the archaeological evidence to the forefront.
It is easy to read through the Bible and not be able to fully picture the areas that Jesus would have walked, or lived in. Having visited Israel several years ago, this book was a lovely addition to the evidence and archaeological sites.
Highly recommend!
It is easy to read through the Bible and not be able to fully picture the areas that Jesus would have walked, or lived in. Having visited Israel several years ago, this book was a lovely addition to the evidence and archaeological sites.
Highly recommend!
May 12, 2024
Great book for investigating the archaeological context of the New Testament.
It focuses on five aspects of Jesus' appearance on earth, each from an archaeological perspective:
- Jesus' context in Nazareth and Sepphoris
- the existence of synagogues in the first century
- literacy rates in the first century
- Jesus' encounters with the religious establishment
- Jewish burial traditions
It focuses on five aspects of Jesus' appearance on earth, each from an archaeological perspective:
- Jesus' context in Nazareth and Sepphoris
- the existence of synagogues in the first century
- literacy rates in the first century
- Jesus' encounters with the religious establishment
- Jewish burial traditions
February 3, 2025
I quite enjoyed this short walk through some of the archeological finds that help us better understand the world of Jesus and the apostles. I personally found the chapter on ancient literacy most interesting, as that is an area that seems to be underappreciated.
February 22, 2022
Prophetic graffiti??!!! The burnt house(skeleton of a woman reaching for a Roman spear)?!!!! So sick…..
January 29, 2013
Craig A. Evans is Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He has written a number of books about Jesus and the New Testament at both scholarly and popular levels and appeared as a guest expert on a variety of television shows. “The goal of this book,” he writes in the Preface, “is to present what I regard as the most important archaeological discoveries pertaining to Jesus of Nazareth in a way that can be accessed by non-experts.”
The book contains and Introduction, five chapters and two appendices. The Introduction notes that “what archaeologists uncover is not so much proof as clarification.” In terms of biblical archaeology, this means that archaeology sometimes makes a direct “correlation” between the text of the New Testament and its finds. Generally, however, what if finds works more indirectly, showing that New Testament accounts have “verisimilitude” or “resemblances to the truth.” Correlation proves; versimilitude clarifies.
Chapter 1 reviews the archaeological evidence about Jesus’ hometown, Nazareth. The Jesus Seminar generally and John Dominic Crossan particularly have argued that the New Testament Gospels misrepresent the historical Jesus. Instead of a Jewish Messiah and miracle worker, they conclude that Jesus was a “cynic sage.” For this interpretation to work, Jesus’ home life could not have been devout, and he must have been exposed to a significant Gentile presence. Unfortunately, archaeological digs in both Nazareth and Sepphoris (the nearest large city to Nazareth) make this significant Gentile presence. Both the village and the city were inhabited by Torah-observant Jews. This coheres with the Gospel portrait of Jesus himself as a Torah-observant Jew.
Chapter 2 counters the argument, made by Howard Clark Kee in the late 1990s, that synagogues arose in the aftermath of the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 70. This entails that Gospel narratives involving Jesus participating in synagogue rituals are post-hoc additions to the text, not genuine historical memories. Evans culls both literary evidence (from Josephus and Philo) and archaeological evidence from digs in the Holy Land to prove the existence of synagogues well before the fall of Jerusalem. He also shows how what evidence there is coheres with the notion of the synagogue as a place where, among other things, Jews gathered to worship God, study Scripture, and pray.
Chapter 3 surveys the available evidence on literacy in the ancient world and Roman Palestine to conclude that Jesus most likely was literate. He concludes, “The sudden emergence of a prolific literary tradition from an illiterate founder is not impossible of course, but it is less difficult to explain if Jesus were in fact literate.”
Chapter 4 places Jesus’ conflicts with the established religious leaders in Jerusalem in its historical context. Warning signs from the Second Temple period have been discovered that help explain Jesus’ anger at the aristocratic priesthood which made it difficult for Gentiles to worship God at “the house of prayer for all nations.” Moreover, archaeological digs in Jerusalem have uncovered the houses of the ruling elite, which were often large and well furnished, in comparison to those of the general populace.
Chapter 5 looks at “Jewish burial traditions” in the pre-A.D. 70 period. He shows how these widespread burial practices cohere with the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death and burial. Specifically, he counters the notion that the Romans never allowed the bodies of crucified persons to be buried by their family or friends. This lends verisimilitude to the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ burial in a tomb known to his disciples and calls into the question that Jesus’ body was thrown into a shallow, unmarked grave or left out to rot.
Appendix 1 refutes the contention of Simcha Jacobovici, Charles Pellegrino, and James Cameron that Jesus’ family tomb (and perhaps his own ossuary) has been found in East Talpiot. Appendix 2 speculates on what Jesus may have looked like. “Jesus probably looked like most 30-year-old Jewish men in the first century,” he concludes, “and we have a pretty good idea of how they looked,” based on scientific reconstructions of facial characteristics from a skull as well as from Egyptian mummy portraits of the period.
On the whole, I found Evans’s account to be reasonable, well-researched, and clearly written. There are no “bombshell” revelations in this book, but rather the patient reporting of decades of archaeological scholarship. Far from debunking the accounts of Jesus’ life in the Gospels, this scholarship adds verisimilitude to their portraits, even correlation where discoveries warrant it.
P.S. If you found this review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
The book contains and Introduction, five chapters and two appendices. The Introduction notes that “what archaeologists uncover is not so much proof as clarification.” In terms of biblical archaeology, this means that archaeology sometimes makes a direct “correlation” between the text of the New Testament and its finds. Generally, however, what if finds works more indirectly, showing that New Testament accounts have “verisimilitude” or “resemblances to the truth.” Correlation proves; versimilitude clarifies.
Chapter 1 reviews the archaeological evidence about Jesus’ hometown, Nazareth. The Jesus Seminar generally and John Dominic Crossan particularly have argued that the New Testament Gospels misrepresent the historical Jesus. Instead of a Jewish Messiah and miracle worker, they conclude that Jesus was a “cynic sage.” For this interpretation to work, Jesus’ home life could not have been devout, and he must have been exposed to a significant Gentile presence. Unfortunately, archaeological digs in both Nazareth and Sepphoris (the nearest large city to Nazareth) make this significant Gentile presence. Both the village and the city were inhabited by Torah-observant Jews. This coheres with the Gospel portrait of Jesus himself as a Torah-observant Jew.
Chapter 2 counters the argument, made by Howard Clark Kee in the late 1990s, that synagogues arose in the aftermath of the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 70. This entails that Gospel narratives involving Jesus participating in synagogue rituals are post-hoc additions to the text, not genuine historical memories. Evans culls both literary evidence (from Josephus and Philo) and archaeological evidence from digs in the Holy Land to prove the existence of synagogues well before the fall of Jerusalem. He also shows how what evidence there is coheres with the notion of the synagogue as a place where, among other things, Jews gathered to worship God, study Scripture, and pray.
Chapter 3 surveys the available evidence on literacy in the ancient world and Roman Palestine to conclude that Jesus most likely was literate. He concludes, “The sudden emergence of a prolific literary tradition from an illiterate founder is not impossible of course, but it is less difficult to explain if Jesus were in fact literate.”
Chapter 4 places Jesus’ conflicts with the established religious leaders in Jerusalem in its historical context. Warning signs from the Second Temple period have been discovered that help explain Jesus’ anger at the aristocratic priesthood which made it difficult for Gentiles to worship God at “the house of prayer for all nations.” Moreover, archaeological digs in Jerusalem have uncovered the houses of the ruling elite, which were often large and well furnished, in comparison to those of the general populace.
Chapter 5 looks at “Jewish burial traditions” in the pre-A.D. 70 period. He shows how these widespread burial practices cohere with the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death and burial. Specifically, he counters the notion that the Romans never allowed the bodies of crucified persons to be buried by their family or friends. This lends verisimilitude to the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ burial in a tomb known to his disciples and calls into the question that Jesus’ body was thrown into a shallow, unmarked grave or left out to rot.
Appendix 1 refutes the contention of Simcha Jacobovici, Charles Pellegrino, and James Cameron that Jesus’ family tomb (and perhaps his own ossuary) has been found in East Talpiot. Appendix 2 speculates on what Jesus may have looked like. “Jesus probably looked like most 30-year-old Jewish men in the first century,” he concludes, “and we have a pretty good idea of how they looked,” based on scientific reconstructions of facial characteristics from a skull as well as from Egyptian mummy portraits of the period.
On the whole, I found Evans’s account to be reasonable, well-researched, and clearly written. There are no “bombshell” revelations in this book, but rather the patient reporting of decades of archaeological scholarship. Far from debunking the accounts of Jesus’ life in the Gospels, this scholarship adds verisimilitude to their portraits, even correlation where discoveries warrant it.
P.S. If you found this review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
September 10, 2012
Craig A. Evans picks up the challenge laid down by modern non-Christian scholarship by addressing a number of objections to the historicity of New Testament culture. "Jesus and His World" is published by Westminster John Knox Press, ISBN: 978-0664-2341-33.
Evans’ style is appreciated, dealing squarely with evidence without appealing to pity or tradition as the basis from which he proposes his themes. And although dissenting scholarship is addressed, it is not done so in a negative or demeaning manner. This is an honest, forthright study of archeological insights into uniquely historical events that have rightly come under the scrutiny of some of the most respected Biblical critics.
An example of his scholarly integrity can be seen in a chapter dealing with the supposed burial chamber of Christ and His family. Although the existence of the actual burial tomb of Jesus would arguably be a boon to Christian researchers, Evans takes a cautious route, analyzing Jewish funerary customs to show how Jacobivici and Cameron stepped too far over the edge of scholarship into a garden of unjustifiable speculation.
Evans turns the process of intensive archeological processes into a narrative that is accessible to the layman. His ability to address issues like Nazarene culture in the first century is simple, straightforward and compelling.
I could see every reason for including this book on the syllabus of any apologetic course, whether offered in the pew or in a post-secondary setting. Although certainly not an exhaustive examination of every cultural argument against first century Christian origins as portrayed in the New Testament canon, Evans comprehensively addresses the most speculative of contemporary sensationalistic rebuffs of the Christian faith.
I highly recommend “Jesus and His World” by Craig A. Evans. Its engagement of serious issues with sound reasoning and evidentiary based argumentation should certainly be in investigator’s win column.
Evans’ style is appreciated, dealing squarely with evidence without appealing to pity or tradition as the basis from which he proposes his themes. And although dissenting scholarship is addressed, it is not done so in a negative or demeaning manner. This is an honest, forthright study of archeological insights into uniquely historical events that have rightly come under the scrutiny of some of the most respected Biblical critics.
An example of his scholarly integrity can be seen in a chapter dealing with the supposed burial chamber of Christ and His family. Although the existence of the actual burial tomb of Jesus would arguably be a boon to Christian researchers, Evans takes a cautious route, analyzing Jewish funerary customs to show how Jacobivici and Cameron stepped too far over the edge of scholarship into a garden of unjustifiable speculation.
Evans turns the process of intensive archeological processes into a narrative that is accessible to the layman. His ability to address issues like Nazarene culture in the first century is simple, straightforward and compelling.
I could see every reason for including this book on the syllabus of any apologetic course, whether offered in the pew or in a post-secondary setting. Although certainly not an exhaustive examination of every cultural argument against first century Christian origins as portrayed in the New Testament canon, Evans comprehensively addresses the most speculative of contemporary sensationalistic rebuffs of the Christian faith.
I highly recommend “Jesus and His World” by Craig A. Evans. Its engagement of serious issues with sound reasoning and evidentiary based argumentation should certainly be in investigator’s win column.
September 27, 2013
I first heard of the author when I saw him being interviewed on Christian television. I found him very interesting to listen to and immediately searched out some of his books. This particular book I tried to order to no avail (it wasn't in stock at the time) but I did manage to borrow it from the library.
The book is shorter than I expected. When I started it, I wasn't quite sure what I would learn but I knew it would be about life during the time of Jesus of Nazareth.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned some interesting things, such as: what was Nazareth like in the time of Jesus; did synagogues really exist in Jesus' day; were people literate in the time of Jesus, and particularly was Jesus literate; and last but not least, Jewish burial practices and their relevance to Biblical narratives on Jesus death and burial. The author adds two appendices dealing with what Jesus would have looked like and whether his burial tomb has been found. The book concludes with a suggested reading list for those interested in archeology as it relates to the Bible, and he also provides a comprehensive listing of source material from which the contents of the book are gleaned.
I picked up this book because of the onslaught of books and movies which sensationalize claims about Jesus and the Bible. It is refreshing to read well sourced statements confirming Biblical stories and teachings.
The book is shorter than I expected. When I started it, I wasn't quite sure what I would learn but I knew it would be about life during the time of Jesus of Nazareth.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned some interesting things, such as: what was Nazareth like in the time of Jesus; did synagogues really exist in Jesus' day; were people literate in the time of Jesus, and particularly was Jesus literate; and last but not least, Jewish burial practices and their relevance to Biblical narratives on Jesus death and burial. The author adds two appendices dealing with what Jesus would have looked like and whether his burial tomb has been found. The book concludes with a suggested reading list for those interested in archeology as it relates to the Bible, and he also provides a comprehensive listing of source material from which the contents of the book are gleaned.
I picked up this book because of the onslaught of books and movies which sensationalize claims about Jesus and the Bible. It is refreshing to read well sourced statements confirming Biblical stories and teachings.
December 23, 2018
This is a very worthwhile read. It is not as comprehensive as the title might suggest, but focuses on a few specific areas that are incredibly relevant to both the life of Christ and issues surrounding the claims of resurrection.
Specifically it sets the facts straight about Sepphoris, a major (Jewish) city near Nazareth and makes convincing implications on how this impacted the imagery used in Jesus' teachings.
Evans does a great job showing the early rise of synagogues in the time and area of Jesus and the purpose they served, as this was a fairly new feature in the region.
Finally, Evans delves into the burial customs of first century Jews and connects this with the narrative of Jesus' own death and burial.
Well worth reading.
Specifically it sets the facts straight about Sepphoris, a major (Jewish) city near Nazareth and makes convincing implications on how this impacted the imagery used in Jesus' teachings.
Evans does a great job showing the early rise of synagogues in the time and area of Jesus and the purpose they served, as this was a fairly new feature in the region.
Finally, Evans delves into the burial customs of first century Jews and connects this with the narrative of Jesus' own death and burial.
Well worth reading.
November 5, 2015
Short, simple, and perfectly effective. The book takes an apologetic tone, rather than a neutral, explanatory one, but this really doesn't detract from the impact and relevance of the material. Evans covers a lot of ground in a short amount of space, using archaeology to analyze Galilee and Nazareth, first century synagogues, first century literacy, and Jewish burial practices, all to establish the reliability of the Gospel accounts in these areas. Evans' writing is lucid and erudite, but clear, so that the book could be equally valued by both scholars and students/lay people. A fantastic, readable book.
October 6, 2013
An easy read through some of the archeaology discussion and debate surrounding Jesus of Nazareth and the context and time in which he lived. Craig makes the evidence and its implications easy to understand and gives us a better uinderstanding of the cultural context in which Jesus lived while at the same time dealing with some of the alternate theories regarding the cultural context of 1st century Galilee and Jerusalem.
March 3, 2014
Excellent survey of some important archaeological findings, bearing on the city of Sepphoris, the existence of synagogues in the time of Jesus, literacy in the time of Jesus, the death and burial of Jesus, and other important matters. Well written, concise, easy to follow... Craig Evans once again proves to be a great help to Christians of all shapes and sizes, who seek a deeper understanding of the life and times of Jesus.
February 26, 2016
Great overview of the current archaeological support for the evidence of Jesus and his world. This book is a startling contrast to his other book, "From Jesus to the Church." This one is written with a background and an enthusiasm, as well as good content knowledge. The author covers what archaeology says about Jesus' burial and his literacy, among other things that have been questioned by skeptics. His books are brief, which in my case I would recommend checking out at a local library.
December 30, 2012
To be completely honest, I was a little disappointed. This brief book could have been coupled to another book on the same subject to give it a 'whole' feeling. It feels like something was missing to it. While I enjoyed the content that was in the book, I felt like there was more to be desired, especially from the prominent Dr. Craig Evans.
August 25, 2014
Helpful book that "fills in" the historical setting of the Gospels giving us insights into the customs of the day. A good example of how biblical studies can incorporate archaeological findings in order to give us a better understanding of the texts themselves.
January 21, 2016
Very readable book for someone without much archeological knowledge. Gave me a much better sense of the reality of Jesus's time. Nice bibleograpy if you want to get into some of the details.
March 15, 2013
Very interesting and informative especially after my recent visit to the Holy Land.
September 4, 2013
This gave me real-world things to think about such as the literacy, temple/synogauge practices, burial practices and view of death, area/locations around Nazareth
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