What do you think?
Rate this book
The IVP Atlas of Bible History
Open Your Understanding of the World of Scripture
The story of the Bible is inextricably linked to the land. To understand biblical history, we need to understand how the people, events, and geography interacted to form that ancient world.
Spanning three thousand years of biblical history, The IVP Atlas of Bible History reveals the many fascinating ways that history and archaeology confirm and complement the Bible's story. Taking a narrative approach, the atlas traces the unfolding of major events in the Old and New Testaments, from Abraham's wanderings in Canaan and Egypt to Paul's missions and the founding of new churches. It covers the many places of the world of the Bible, from Spain to Iran, from Yemen to Greece. Scholarly insights presented in a readable style add depth and color to our understanding of key people and stories in Scripture.
Features and benefits you'll find in The IVP Atlas of Bible History:
• Ninety-seven maps to help understand the biblical narrative and provide background information
• More than 150 color photographs, panoramic illustrations, and site plans, plus a range of battle plans and small artworks
• Special features on subjects such as the peoples and languages of the Bible that will deepen understanding of geography, landscape, climate, culture, and religion.
This is the perfect companion for anyone seeking a clear, reader-friendly, visual introduction to the history of the Bible.
The story of the Bible is inextricably linked to the land. To understand biblical history, we need to understand how the people, events, and geography interacted to form that ancient world.
Spanning three thousand years of biblical history, The IVP Atlas of Bible History reveals the many fascinating ways that history and archaeology confirm and complement the Bible's story. Taking a narrative approach, the atlas traces the unfolding of major events in the Old and New Testaments, from Abraham's wanderings in Canaan and Egypt to Paul's missions and the founding of new churches. It covers the many places of the world of the Bible, from Spain to Iran, from Yemen to Greece. Scholarly insights presented in a readable style add depth and color to our understanding of key people and stories in Scripture.
Features and benefits you'll find in The IVP Atlas of Bible History:
• Ninety-seven maps to help understand the biblical narrative and provide background information
• More than 150 color photographs, panoramic illustrations, and site plans, plus a range of battle plans and small artworks
• Special features on subjects such as the peoples and languages of the Bible that will deepen understanding of geography, landscape, climate, culture, and religion.
This is the perfect companion for anyone seeking a clear, reader-friendly, visual introduction to the history of the Bible.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 4, 2020
Much more than just maps, this book covers the history, geography, and archaeology of Old and New Testaments. With 97 maps, building pictures, and photos of the sites and objects, this is a pretty decent look at the world of the Bible. At the start is a loose chronology of the time, and at the end is a small glossary and a list of all the Bible quotes used. Of the OT apocryphal books, only the Maccabees books are used here, since they connect the OT and NT, in the in-between history part.
The beginning is good in that there is no creationism but realistic look on the creation of Earth and the universe, with some observations on what is said in 1.Moses 1:1-2:3, plus a map where the garden of Eden was supposed to be.
I learned some new information on things like OT-era maps (of clay and papyrus), the two possible dates for Exodus, the influence of Egyptian and Midian portable tents on the Tabernacle of Moses, conquest of Israel-proofs, the climate of the land of Canaan, on archives and libraries, on warfare (and inventions of certain warfare objects), on the city of Tyre, what buildings were in the city of Rome when Paul was there – and what wasn’t (the Colosseum, the Pantheon, mausoleum of Hadrian, certain pillars and triumphal arches), three explanations for Jesus’ star, what the fall of Jerusalm was like, and what was the development of the spreading of Christianity for the first 300 years (in general manner).
Some opinions were author's, and I agreed to disagree, like writers of the books of Isaiah (three actually), that Jesus preached for three years (could be 1-2 too), that Paul wrote all the letters his name is in (nope), that Daniel and Esther really existed (nope), what was the route of Paul’s fourth and last travel. But my disagreements didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the book; I think this atlas is a really decent Bible atlas, and quite informative.
The beginning is good in that there is no creationism but realistic look on the creation of Earth and the universe, with some observations on what is said in 1.Moses 1:1-2:3, plus a map where the garden of Eden was supposed to be.
I learned some new information on things like OT-era maps (of clay and papyrus), the two possible dates for Exodus, the influence of Egyptian and Midian portable tents on the Tabernacle of Moses, conquest of Israel-proofs, the climate of the land of Canaan, on archives and libraries, on warfare (and inventions of certain warfare objects), on the city of Tyre, what buildings were in the city of Rome when Paul was there – and what wasn’t (the Colosseum, the Pantheon, mausoleum of Hadrian, certain pillars and triumphal arches), three explanations for Jesus’ star, what the fall of Jerusalm was like, and what was the development of the spreading of Christianity for the first 300 years (in general manner).
Some opinions were author's, and I agreed to disagree, like writers of the books of Isaiah (three actually), that Jesus preached for three years (could be 1-2 too), that Paul wrote all the letters his name is in (nope), that Daniel and Esther really existed (nope), what was the route of Paul’s fourth and last travel. But my disagreements didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the book; I think this atlas is a really decent Bible atlas, and quite informative.
September 4, 2024
Though I didn't learn much from this book, this would have been the perfect book for me many years ago. I love history, and studied all of the material in this book and the things it points you too, but if you were someone who was looking to really dig into the historical background of the Bible (the Old Testament, Intertestamental Period, and New Testament) this is the perfect introductory book. Lots of helpful information, plenty of places to dig into further, historical information, archeological information, the biblical data delivered in a compact but easy and straightforward way, with lots of great art and maps to really help you visualize the world in the pages of the Bible. I highly recommend this book!
May 12, 2024
Great resource for anyone who wants more historical and geographical context for biblical events! Easy to read, bite-sized highlights from every major era and rule, from creation through the writing of the final epistles. Plus lots of maps, helpful charts, and colorful pictures of archaeological finds. Great for connecting the dots between different historical events, and a fantastic resource for Bible study or just satisfying your curiosity.
May 17, 2020
Great resource to learn about biblical history, geography, Ancient Near East beliefs/tradition, culture, politics, and maps. It's expensive book and worth to pay it!
March 3, 2016
As a visual learner, and in need of some historical background and context, this book helps to give insight to the context. I have used in my Sunday school prep and bibles studies and I have found it very helpful for other visual learners. For eg. the temple, geography, live photos. It's good to have in your shelf when you need it.
it useful it if you: preach, lead bible studies, teaching and etc. I believe it also works for all ages
it useful it if you: preach, lead bible studies, teaching and etc. I believe it also works for all ages
June 18, 2012
This is really great. It has helpful charts that the Zondervan atlas just doesn't have. However, nothing can compete with the Zondervan atlas in terms of really making you feel like you're in the highlands of Israel ready to defend your land against the uncircumcised armies rising from below.
September 13, 2012
Yes, I read the Bible atlas. In my defense, it's a very readable atlas.
December 18, 2012
Teeming with content both print and picture, this is is probably one of the most ideal atlases available today on Bible lands.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews