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NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture
CONTEXT CHANGES EVERYTHING
The full text of the NIV
Targeted book introductions explain the context in which each book of the Bible was written
Insightful and informative verse-by-verse study notes reveal new dimensions of insight to even the most familiar passages
Key Old Testament (Hebrew) and New Testament terms are explained and expanded upon in two helpful reference features
Over 300 in-depth articles on key contextual topics
375 full-color photos, illustrations, and images from around the world
Dozens of charts, maps, and diagrams in vivid color
Words of Jesus in red
Additional study Bible tools: cross references, a concordance, indexes and other helps
You’ve heard many Bible stories hundreds of times, but how many behind-the-scenes details are you missing? Sometimes a little context is all you need to discover the rich meaning behind the stories of Scripture.
That’s what the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible provides. Every page is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of Bible times. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus.
Discover new dimensions of insight to even the most familiar Bible passages as you take a behind-the-scenes tour into the ancient world.
The Bible was originally written to an ancient people removed from us by thousands of years and thousands of miles. The Scriptures include subtle culturally based nuances, undertones, and references to ancient events, literature and customs that were intuitively understood by those who first heard the Scriptures read. For us to hear the Scriptures as they did, we need a window into their world.
The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, with notes from Dr. John H. Walton (Wheaton College) in the Old Testament and Dr. Craig S. Keener (Asbury Theological Seminary) in the New Testament, brings to life the ancient world of Scripture for modern readers.
Features:
The full text of the NIV
Targeted book introductions explain the context in which each book of the Bible was written
Insightful and informative verse-by-verse study notes reveal new dimensions of insight to even the most familiar passages
Key Old Testament (Hebrew) and New Testament terms are explained and expanded upon in two helpful reference features
Over 300 in-depth articles on key contextual topics
375 full-color photos, illustrations, and images from around the world
Dozens of charts, maps, and diagrams in vivid color
Words of Jesus in red
Additional study Bible tools: cross references, a concordance, indexes and other helps
13507 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2016
2307 people are currently reading
851 people want to read
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* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
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September 1, 2016
NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, ed. John H. Walton and Craig S. Keener (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016).
One of the fundamental rules of biblical interpretation is that the Bible should be read in context. A corollary to this is that taking the Bible out of context is a great error. Bible readers should strive to do the former and avoid the latter. Context changes everything, you see.
The problem is that our cultural context is not the cultural context of the Bible’s original writers, hearers, and readers. For example, the story of Abraham (Genesis 12:1ff.) took place 4,000 years ago. Abraham’s world was characterized by polytheism, concubinage, slavery, sacrifice (of both animals and children), and a pastoral economy.
Similarly, the story of the apostle Paul (Acts 9:1ff.) took place 2,000 years ago. It was a world characterized by Greek culture and language, Roman law and politics, Gentile polytheism versus Jewish monotheism, slavery, and very different assumptions than ours about the worth of women and children, among other things.
The differences between our cultural backgrounds and the Bible’s cultural backgrounds illustrate the truth of L. P. Hartley’s famous statement, “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” To understand the Bible’s meaning here, we must understanding its meaning there.
Unfortunately, the Bible’s cultural backgrounds are often opaque to us. Its original hearers and readers would’ve picked up on the meaning of a given Bible passage immediately because they understood its culture from the inside. Contemporary readers have to work harder to understand a text in its original context.
There are numerous print resources help readers do this: anthologies of ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman literature, Bible commentaries, dictionaries and encyclopedias, histories of the biblical eras, archaeological reports, and scholarly monographs on a variety of topics. The libraries of Bible scholars and pastors usually contain books like these.
The average Bible reader often doesn’t have the time to read or resources to accumulate such a library, however. What they want is a reliable, affordable volume that explains the basics of the Bible’s cultural backgrounds. That’s why I’m so excited about the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, edited by John H. Walton and Craig S. Keener, and published by Zondervan.
Walton and Keener are respected Bible scholars, teaching Old Testament at Wheaton College and New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, respectively. Both are devout Christians with a high view of Scripture’s inspiration and authority. Keener is a fellow Pentecostal.
Both have devoted a significant portion of their scholarly careers to understanding the Bible’s cultural backgrounds. Walton served as general editor of The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Old Testament. Keener authored the IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament. Walton and Keener drew on these resources to write the Old and New Testament sections of the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, respectively.
Here are some of the key features of this Bible:
Introductions to each book of the Bible
10,000 notes explaining specific verses
320 essays and 375 maps, charts, and diagrams that “summarize and explain important background information from Scripture” (p. iv)
The NIV Cross-center Cross Reference system and the NIV Concordance, both of which are common to all NIV study Bibles
The focus of this study Bible is the cultural backgrounds of the Old and New Testaments. Walton and Keener identify “three goals” in their introduction to the text:
We study the history of the Biblical world as a means of recovering knowledge of the events that shaped the lives of people in the ancient world.
We study archaeology as a means of recovering the lifestyle reflected in the material culture of the ancient world.
We study the literature of the ancient world as a means of penetrating the heart and soul of the people who inhabited that world (p. x).
This focus on history, archaeology, and literature means that the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible does not address questions about the application of biblical teaching to today’s questions, as do many other study Bibles. Instead, its goal is to illuminate the meaning of the Bible in its original cultural contexts.
One of the paradoxical themes that emerges from such a focus is similarity and difference. Put simply, biblical religion displays both similarities to ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman culture, the cultural backgrounds of the Old and New Testaments, as well as differences from those cultures. Both are necessary to fully understand the Bible in context.
Let me illustrate this with two articles from the study Bible:
The first comes from the Old Testament. The religions of both Israel and other ancient near eastern societies involved animal sacrifices and food offerings. See the opening chapters of Leviticus for a biblical example of this. This illustrates similarity.
But differences emerge on close inspection—deep differences, in fact. An article titled “Great Symbiosis” (p. 186) explains:
The “Great Symbiosis” describes the relationship between gods and humans in the ancient Near Eastern cultures surrounding Israel. It was fundamentally materialistic, concerned with divine and human needs for food and shelter, and it prioritized ritual over righteousness.
Israel’s theology, on the other hand, was primarily moral and prioritized righteousness—a divine attribute—over ritual. The article goes on to say:
Here’s another example, this time from the New Testament. Between 1946 and 1956, scholars discovered 981 texts (or fragments of texts) in caves near the northern end of the Dead Sea called Qumran. The Dead Sea Scrolls include numerous copies of texts of the Old Testament, as well as texts describing the theology and practice of a sectarian Jewish group living in Qumran, probably the Essenes.
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls revolutionized our understanding of Second Temple Judaism, the period between the second century B.C. and the second century A.D., the period during which Jesus lived and the early church began. Scholars noted “significant examples of how the Qumran community parallels the New Testament church.” And yet, despite these similarities, the early church was also very different from the Qumran community. The article titled “Qumran and the New Testament” goes on to summarize the differences:
Once we see the cultural backgrounds of the Bible, we realize that surface similarities often masked deep differences. Israel’s sacrificial system was similar to other ancient Near Eastern societies, but its theology was different. The early church’s worldview shared concerns with other Jewish groups, but how it addressed those concerns was different.
Although the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible does not focus on questions of application, it seems to me that understanding the similarities and differences of Israel and the Church to their surrounding cultures has enormous practical value. Christians today Christians cannot live in contemporary society without looking and sounding like our neighbors, to a great degree. And yet, there are deep differences. The goal is to be “in” the world without being “of” the world (John 17:13–19). Understanding how first Israel and then the Church struggled to be in-but-not-of helps us with our own struggle to do the same today.
Obviously, in a work of this size—weighing 4.3 lbs., this study Bible has 2,400 pages—a reader won’t agree with all the authors’ notes or essays. Walton and Keener take care to differentiate conclusions that reflect scholarly consensus from topics where there is a scholarly difference of opinion. Even so, I found my understanding of biblical passages enriched by encountering them in light of the history, archaeology, and literature of their cultural backgrounds.
The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible is available in print and digital formats. It is available in Kindle format for $14.99, in hardcover for $49.99, and in three leather-bound options for $79.99. The Kindle price is attractive, but I would recommend buying the hardcover or leather-bound copy. Yes, it’s a bit more expensive, but I think it’s much easier to use.
If you’d like to test-drive the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible before you buy it, I’d encourage you to visit the website contextchangeseverything.com, which includes a sampler of the print version of Genesis and Matthew. To see the layout of the Kindle version, click “Look Inside” on its Amazon.com page.
_____
P.S. This review was cross-posted at InfluenceMagazine.com.
P.P.S. If you found this review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
One of the fundamental rules of biblical interpretation is that the Bible should be read in context. A corollary to this is that taking the Bible out of context is a great error. Bible readers should strive to do the former and avoid the latter. Context changes everything, you see.
The problem is that our cultural context is not the cultural context of the Bible’s original writers, hearers, and readers. For example, the story of Abraham (Genesis 12:1ff.) took place 4,000 years ago. Abraham’s world was characterized by polytheism, concubinage, slavery, sacrifice (of both animals and children), and a pastoral economy.
Similarly, the story of the apostle Paul (Acts 9:1ff.) took place 2,000 years ago. It was a world characterized by Greek culture and language, Roman law and politics, Gentile polytheism versus Jewish monotheism, slavery, and very different assumptions than ours about the worth of women and children, among other things.
The differences between our cultural backgrounds and the Bible’s cultural backgrounds illustrate the truth of L. P. Hartley’s famous statement, “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” To understand the Bible’s meaning here, we must understanding its meaning there.
Unfortunately, the Bible’s cultural backgrounds are often opaque to us. Its original hearers and readers would’ve picked up on the meaning of a given Bible passage immediately because they understood its culture from the inside. Contemporary readers have to work harder to understand a text in its original context.
There are numerous print resources help readers do this: anthologies of ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman literature, Bible commentaries, dictionaries and encyclopedias, histories of the biblical eras, archaeological reports, and scholarly monographs on a variety of topics. The libraries of Bible scholars and pastors usually contain books like these.
The average Bible reader often doesn’t have the time to read or resources to accumulate such a library, however. What they want is a reliable, affordable volume that explains the basics of the Bible’s cultural backgrounds. That’s why I’m so excited about the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, edited by John H. Walton and Craig S. Keener, and published by Zondervan.
Walton and Keener are respected Bible scholars, teaching Old Testament at Wheaton College and New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, respectively. Both are devout Christians with a high view of Scripture’s inspiration and authority. Keener is a fellow Pentecostal.
Both have devoted a significant portion of their scholarly careers to understanding the Bible’s cultural backgrounds. Walton served as general editor of The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Old Testament. Keener authored the IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament. Walton and Keener drew on these resources to write the Old and New Testament sections of the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, respectively.
Here are some of the key features of this Bible:
Introductions to each book of the Bible
10,000 notes explaining specific verses
320 essays and 375 maps, charts, and diagrams that “summarize and explain important background information from Scripture” (p. iv)
The NIV Cross-center Cross Reference system and the NIV Concordance, both of which are common to all NIV study Bibles
The focus of this study Bible is the cultural backgrounds of the Old and New Testaments. Walton and Keener identify “three goals” in their introduction to the text:
We study the history of the Biblical world as a means of recovering knowledge of the events that shaped the lives of people in the ancient world.
We study archaeology as a means of recovering the lifestyle reflected in the material culture of the ancient world.
We study the literature of the ancient world as a means of penetrating the heart and soul of the people who inhabited that world (p. x).
This focus on history, archaeology, and literature means that the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible does not address questions about the application of biblical teaching to today’s questions, as do many other study Bibles. Instead, its goal is to illuminate the meaning of the Bible in its original cultural contexts.
One of the paradoxical themes that emerges from such a focus is similarity and difference. Put simply, biblical religion displays both similarities to ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman culture, the cultural backgrounds of the Old and New Testaments, as well as differences from those cultures. Both are necessary to fully understand the Bible in context.
Let me illustrate this with two articles from the study Bible:
The first comes from the Old Testament. The religions of both Israel and other ancient near eastern societies involved animal sacrifices and food offerings. See the opening chapters of Leviticus for a biblical example of this. This illustrates similarity.
But differences emerge on close inspection—deep differences, in fact. An article titled “Great Symbiosis” (p. 186) explains:
In the ancient Near Eastern world, people believed that the gods were initially quite content to live without human beings… As time went on, however, they grew tired of feeding themselves, making clothes for themselves and building houses for themselves. Digging ditches for irrigation to grow crops was heavy labor.
They therefore decided to create humans as a slave labor force. The responsibility of humans was to care for the gods in every way. Rituals provided food and drink the gods. Temples provided housing. The gods then became dependent on people to provide the luxury to which they were accustomed and which they deserved. In turn, the gods would provide for the people (so the people could provide for them) and protect the people who were caring for them. This defined the codependent relationship between the gods and humans in the ancient world.
Besides the rituals and the temple building, the gods were interested in maintaining justice among the people, but not because the gods were inherently just or because of any sense of ethical right and wrong. Rather, the gods understood that if society was plagued by lawlessness, violence and disorder, the people would not be at liberty to carry out their ritual obligations. Thus there was a symbiotic relationship between gods and people…which was maintained for a smoothly operating ritual system, designed to keep the gods happy.
The “Great Symbiosis” describes the relationship between gods and humans in the ancient Near Eastern cultures surrounding Israel. It was fundamentally materialistic, concerned with divine and human needs for food and shelter, and it prioritized ritual over righteousness.
Israel’s theology, on the other hand, was primarily moral and prioritized righteousness—a divine attribute—over ritual. The article goes on to say:
The difference in Israel was that even though they offered sacrifices to Yahweh, Yahweh did not need these sacrifices as food. In his covenant with Israel he promised to provide for his people and to take care of them, much like other gods did. However, what he required of them was not care and feeding, but covenant fidelity. We could therefore say that the Great Symbiosis was replaced in Israel by the Covenant Symbiosis.
Here’s another example, this time from the New Testament. Between 1946 and 1956, scholars discovered 981 texts (or fragments of texts) in caves near the northern end of the Dead Sea called Qumran. The Dead Sea Scrolls include numerous copies of texts of the Old Testament, as well as texts describing the theology and practice of a sectarian Jewish group living in Qumran, probably the Essenes.
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls revolutionized our understanding of Second Temple Judaism, the period between the second century B.C. and the second century A.D., the period during which Jesus lived and the early church began. Scholars noted “significant examples of how the Qumran community parallels the New Testament church.” And yet, despite these similarities, the early church was also very different from the Qumran community. The article titled “Qumran and the New Testament” goes on to summarize the differences:
In sum, the Dead Sea Scrolls give us information on the kinds of issues of concern to Jews during the New Testament era: the identity of God’s true people, questions of ritual and purity, and the search for a fresh word of revelation in troubled times. But the community that emerged from Jesus’ teaching was radically different from that of Qumran. In many ways, Qumran depicts for us “the road not taken” by the early Christians (p. 1757).
Once we see the cultural backgrounds of the Bible, we realize that surface similarities often masked deep differences. Israel’s sacrificial system was similar to other ancient Near Eastern societies, but its theology was different. The early church’s worldview shared concerns with other Jewish groups, but how it addressed those concerns was different.
Although the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible does not focus on questions of application, it seems to me that understanding the similarities and differences of Israel and the Church to their surrounding cultures has enormous practical value. Christians today Christians cannot live in contemporary society without looking and sounding like our neighbors, to a great degree. And yet, there are deep differences. The goal is to be “in” the world without being “of” the world (John 17:13–19). Understanding how first Israel and then the Church struggled to be in-but-not-of helps us with our own struggle to do the same today.
Obviously, in a work of this size—weighing 4.3 lbs., this study Bible has 2,400 pages—a reader won’t agree with all the authors’ notes or essays. Walton and Keener take care to differentiate conclusions that reflect scholarly consensus from topics where there is a scholarly difference of opinion. Even so, I found my understanding of biblical passages enriched by encountering them in light of the history, archaeology, and literature of their cultural backgrounds.
The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible is available in print and digital formats. It is available in Kindle format for $14.99, in hardcover for $49.99, and in three leather-bound options for $79.99. The Kindle price is attractive, but I would recommend buying the hardcover or leather-bound copy. Yes, it’s a bit more expensive, but I think it’s much easier to use.
If you’d like to test-drive the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible before you buy it, I’d encourage you to visit the website contextchangeseverything.com, which includes a sampler of the print version of Genesis and Matthew. To see the layout of the Kindle version, click “Look Inside” on its Amazon.com page.
_____
P.S. This review was cross-posted at InfluenceMagazine.com.
P.P.S. If you found this review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
December 28, 2018
This was my first time reading through this edition. One of the reviews below led me to believe there would be nudes. There were no nudes. Do not read this edition expecting nudes; you will be disappointed.
November 10, 2022
Un ouvrage indispensable pour une bonne herméneutique biblique. Comme le dit Craig Keener : contexte, contexte, contexte !
October 12, 2016
The Cultural Background Study Bible is a Bible that contains a lot of information about the times in which the various sections were written. It has many pictures, maps and diagrams, and of course, commentary. The Bible is pretty large and heavy, but that is to be expected with so much extra content being added to it.
I must say that this Bible, or rather the extra content of this Bible, had a lot of unnecessary things, and even absolutely indecent things. First, the pictures. I don't remember if I've ever reviewed a Bible that had so many indecent pictures in it. There's the obligatory Adam and Eve (as usual, depicted before the fall of man with conveniently placed leaves), there are ancient artistic depictions of women exposing various body parts, including the lower half of the body, there are ancient depictions of men being circumcised…and so on. And get this, there's even a clay depiction of a woman bathing (not very detailed at all, but still…) from around, and I quote, the "eighth-sixth century BC, a few centuries after David saw Bathsheba"! I’m sorry people (sarcastically said), but this is absolutely absurd. Why would Christians think that looking at photographs of naked people are wrong but that it's okay to stare at a painting, statue, or etching of a naked person????? I don't care how "ancient" the depiction is, or even how undetailed, it's still wrong. Hasn't any one considered that some of the stuff might even be ancient pornography? Whatever the case, It's a denial of the fall of mankind, it's a denial of original sin, it makes it seem as though it is okay to not be ashamed to stare at other people's nakedness/shame, as long as it is ancient or artistic, and it also provides possible "stumbling blocks" to other Christians. My understanding of the Bible is not enhanced by looking at unclothed people.
Second, some of the commentary actually seems blasphemous. Just look at this commentary on Isaiah 46:9: "'I am God, and there is no other. ' The Assyrians saw their god Ashur as being the god from whom all other gods derive…In the Hymn to Aten from New Kingdom Egypt, Aten is hailed as the 'sole God beside whom there is none.' In an environment where numerous other deities claimed power, Israel's God is not making an absolute statement of uniqueness, though he could, according to Israel's theology, rather, he is saying that the readers know his uniqueness through past experience, and this will be confirmed through future fulfillment of God's plans." WHAT????????????? God is "not making an absolute statement of uniqueness"? But what does God say in the VERY NEXT STATEMENT IN THAT VERY SAME VERSE ? "I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE LIKE ME." This is simply shocking. Let's look at another one: The commentary on Proverbs 3:19: "'By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations.' It is not unprecedented that creation is said to be the product of a deity's wisdom, in the 'Memphite Theology,' the Egyptian god Ptuah is said to produce the world through his heart and tongue, standing for his wisdom and his speech…" Sections in the Bible like this seem to be actually making the case that there WERE/ARE actually other gods like God, without taking into consideration the CONTEXT of the rest of the Bible, and even the evidence of the archeology, that states that other so-called 'gods' are not even gods at all, but rather wood and stone. Essentially the commentators appear to think it valid to compare God to the attributes that man in his stupidity has ascribed to elaborately carved sticks and stones, and then finding "similar", though imaginary, attributes attributed to those sticks and stones they declare that God is not a unique 'god' and that He is compatible to a rock and a piece of wood. I hope that they do not mean to do so, but this is STRONGLY implied.
This is very awkward to say, but I don't like this Bible. Or rather, I don't like some of the commentary and other additions to this Bible. I don't know if I've ever said this before, but I'm saying it now: Don't buy this Bible. The back of this Bible says, in bold letters: "CONTEXT CHANGES EVERYTHING". It certainly does.
I received a free review copy of this book from The BookLook Bloggers Program (My review did not have to be favorable).
I must say that this Bible, or rather the extra content of this Bible, had a lot of unnecessary things, and even absolutely indecent things. First, the pictures. I don't remember if I've ever reviewed a Bible that had so many indecent pictures in it. There's the obligatory Adam and Eve (as usual, depicted before the fall of man with conveniently placed leaves), there are ancient artistic depictions of women exposing various body parts, including the lower half of the body, there are ancient depictions of men being circumcised…and so on. And get this, there's even a clay depiction of a woman bathing (not very detailed at all, but still…) from around, and I quote, the "eighth-sixth century BC, a few centuries after David saw Bathsheba"! I’m sorry people (sarcastically said), but this is absolutely absurd. Why would Christians think that looking at photographs of naked people are wrong but that it's okay to stare at a painting, statue, or etching of a naked person????? I don't care how "ancient" the depiction is, or even how undetailed, it's still wrong. Hasn't any one considered that some of the stuff might even be ancient pornography? Whatever the case, It's a denial of the fall of mankind, it's a denial of original sin, it makes it seem as though it is okay to not be ashamed to stare at other people's nakedness/shame, as long as it is ancient or artistic, and it also provides possible "stumbling blocks" to other Christians. My understanding of the Bible is not enhanced by looking at unclothed people.
Second, some of the commentary actually seems blasphemous. Just look at this commentary on Isaiah 46:9: "'I am God, and there is no other. ' The Assyrians saw their god Ashur as being the god from whom all other gods derive…In the Hymn to Aten from New Kingdom Egypt, Aten is hailed as the 'sole God beside whom there is none.' In an environment where numerous other deities claimed power, Israel's God is not making an absolute statement of uniqueness, though he could, according to Israel's theology, rather, he is saying that the readers know his uniqueness through past experience, and this will be confirmed through future fulfillment of God's plans." WHAT????????????? God is "not making an absolute statement of uniqueness"? But what does God say in the VERY NEXT STATEMENT IN THAT VERY SAME VERSE ? "I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE LIKE ME." This is simply shocking. Let's look at another one: The commentary on Proverbs 3:19: "'By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations.' It is not unprecedented that creation is said to be the product of a deity's wisdom, in the 'Memphite Theology,' the Egyptian god Ptuah is said to produce the world through his heart and tongue, standing for his wisdom and his speech…" Sections in the Bible like this seem to be actually making the case that there WERE/ARE actually other gods like God, without taking into consideration the CONTEXT of the rest of the Bible, and even the evidence of the archeology, that states that other so-called 'gods' are not even gods at all, but rather wood and stone. Essentially the commentators appear to think it valid to compare God to the attributes that man in his stupidity has ascribed to elaborately carved sticks and stones, and then finding "similar", though imaginary, attributes attributed to those sticks and stones they declare that God is not a unique 'god' and that He is compatible to a rock and a piece of wood. I hope that they do not mean to do so, but this is STRONGLY implied.
This is very awkward to say, but I don't like this Bible. Or rather, I don't like some of the commentary and other additions to this Bible. I don't know if I've ever said this before, but I'm saying it now: Don't buy this Bible. The back of this Bible says, in bold letters: "CONTEXT CHANGES EVERYTHING". It certainly does.
I received a free review copy of this book from The BookLook Bloggers Program (My review did not have to be favorable).
November 30, 2020
This year for my devotional time, I decided to read this Bible. Now when I saw read this Bible I don't just mean the text of the Scripture, I mean all the notes, articles, etc. This Bible is fascinating. It not only gives the Scripture and commentary on the meanings of the passages, but it also gives what is known about the surrounding cultures and how the teachings of the Bible relate to the practices of the peoples and cultures around them. Now I will admit there were times when I got frustrated, because at first glance it appears to teach that the teachings of Scripture were derived from the cultures around them. Then I had a thought. Every person on earth comes from Adam and Eve. Further all people are descended from Noah. This means all these surrounding cultures have a connection to the God of the Bible, whether they knew it or not, therefore it is not that the teachings of Scripture were derived from the people around them, but rather that their cultural memories were still somewhat connected to their origin. When they stepped away from the God of the Bible to go their own way, their teachings were changed to fit a corrupted world view. In this way it is not surprising that their teachings seem remotely similar to the Word of God. It's similar today. People who step away from the faith, tend to create gods in their own image. Some similarities will remain here and there, but the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth is found in the God of the Bible.
This Bible was a good read. I learned a lot from the commentary and it cemented one of my core beliefs. We who love the Lord need to read the Bible from a position of belief. When we find areas where we are at odds with its teachings, our first step should be to pray and ask God to show us where we are wrong, because He never is.
This Bible was a good read. I learned a lot from the commentary and it cemented one of my core beliefs. We who love the Lord need to read the Bible from a position of belief. When we find areas where we are at odds with its teachings, our first step should be to pray and ask God to show us where we are wrong, because He never is.
December 31, 2017
First of all, this is just a helpful study Bible with tons of great features--charts, articles, footnotes, etc. So many tools to use during one's study time.
But since I bought the Kindle addition, I want to give an extra shout-out to the publisher for making it an excellent resource even in the digital format.
I bought I different study Bible as a Kindle edition, and it was obvious they had just uploaded the Bible without really thinking about how to make it work. It was clunking and cumbersome to try to switch between a Bible chapter and a study feature.
Not so with the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Bible! Someone clearly put in a lot of work to make sure the reader could navigate all the features easily. I am so pleased and so grateful.
But since I bought the Kindle addition, I want to give an extra shout-out to the publisher for making it an excellent resource even in the digital format.
I bought I different study Bible as a Kindle edition, and it was obvious they had just uploaded the Bible without really thinking about how to make it work. It was clunking and cumbersome to try to switch between a Bible chapter and a study feature.
Not so with the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Bible! Someone clearly put in a lot of work to make sure the reader could navigate all the features easily. I am so pleased and so grateful.
May 9, 2019
Zondervan has released a monumental study Bible. The "NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible" promises to bring the ancient world of Scripture to life for contemporary readers. The array of resources presented and the depth of research made accessible could almost be described as incredible.
This Bible is presented in a beautiful format and the study notes and articles are written by top-notch evangelical scholars. The editors, John H. Walton (professor of OT at Wheaton College) and Craig S. Keener (professor of NT at Asbury Theological Seminary) are experts in their fields. They have drawn from the work of other evangelical tools in creating this study Bible: most notably, the "Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament", (edited by John Walton), and the "IVP Bible Background Commentary" for Old and New Testaments, (the NT volume of which was edited by Craig Keener).
Introductions focusing on the historical setting, cultural/religious setting and literary setting are provided for each book of the Bible. Broader introductions for different genres and collections of books are also provided, and over 300 articles are furnished on a variety of cultural background topics. Nearly 400 full-color photos, illustrations and images brighten the pages of this volume. There are dozens of detailed maps and the study notes are by no means brief. I would say it rivals the ESV Study Bible for length, but the focus on the notes is largely centered on historical and cultural background information.
So many modern readers of the Bible skip past background info and dive forward into application of the text. This is a shortcut that is not usually going to produce the most wholesome and meaningful results. Understanding the ancient world of the text of Scripture can help us better see the parallels with our own day and age. New insights can open up to us new vistas of thought, and cautions can prevent us from misappropriating passages in ignorance.
The book of Lamentations was my area of focus for this review. The introduction was not overly long but appropriately set the stage. Historical detail is a must for understanding what can be quite dark verses for the uninitiated. The pictures of captives from Lachish being led into exile, or of mourning captives being led away by the Assyrians gave an appropriate frame of reference for the text itself. The parallel laments of other ancient cities help inform the reader as to the genre of the book. The many notes explained odd references and brought out a fuller depth of meaning. What does it mean for those who pass your way to “clap their hands at you” (2:15 – derision)? Or why is a measuring line stretched out over a wall that then wastes away (2:8 – to determine which parts are too unstable to be reused)? What could the stones being thrown at those in a “pit” possibly signify (3:53 – stone covers placed over abandoned cisterns sometimes used as a gruesome end for enemies)?
The design of the Bible with its tan colored center column for cross-references, and its beautifully designed cover pages make it inviting to peruse. The extensive indexes make sure the resources you are looking for are accessible. Timelines and an excellent concordance are additional features that complement this work well. Of particular note are charts explaining Hebrew terms that have no exact English equivalent, and a helpful glossary of key Greek terms. The tables of parallel Ancient Near Eastern literature that attest to the Bible’s historicity or compare with it, are informative and invite the reader to pursue further study.
One final note of caution. Many evangelicals may not be prepared for the level of comparisons to be found between the Bible and other ancient literature and stories. Rather than explaining away or ignoring such parallel literature, this study Bible prepares the reader to know how best to understand the existence of such parallels and often points out how such parallels inform and enrich our understanding of Scripture and need not threaten our belief in Scripture’s status as the Word of the Living God.
I highly recommend this new study Bible and am happy to add it to my shelf as I seek to grow in my understanding of the world of the Bible.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review.
August 12, 2020
For the past twenty five years I have made the daily reading of Scripture a priority and chosen a different translation or type of Bible each time to read through from cover to cover. This one came highly recommended, but it turns out to be my least favorite of all the Bibles I’ve read. The Bible itself is beautiful and I love the way the Scriptures were presented. Where this one fell flat for me was with the commentary. Too often it seemed to focus on redundant similarities between the people of God and the societies that surrounded them or delve deeply into customs of other religions. It seems harsh to criticize this for being too focused on culture when it is meant to be a cultural background commentary, but while I expected to encounter such information, I didn’t expect it to be as repetitive and obvious as so much of it was.
September 5, 2017
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
This is the neatest Bible. All throughout the Bible you find insight into the customs, culture, and literature of Bible times. The pictures help make this Bible as well. I love the muted colors and the beige and brown theme throughout.
The Bible is hardcover with s beautiful dust jacket. If you enjoy studying the scriptures, this Cultural Backgrowns Bible will be a wonderful addition to your study tools. And if you have ever wondered about when something was written, or wondered what life was like in Bible times, this Bible may just been what you need. This book was given to me by BookLook Bloggers Review Program. I was not required to write a review of this book. I chose to write this review, and the opinions are mine alone!
This is the neatest Bible. All throughout the Bible you find insight into the customs, culture, and literature of Bible times. The pictures help make this Bible as well. I love the muted colors and the beige and brown theme throughout.
The Bible is hardcover with s beautiful dust jacket. If you enjoy studying the scriptures, this Cultural Backgrowns Bible will be a wonderful addition to your study tools. And if you have ever wondered about when something was written, or wondered what life was like in Bible times, this Bible may just been what you need. This book was given to me by BookLook Bloggers Review Program. I was not required to write a review of this book. I chose to write this review, and the opinions are mine alone!
December 24, 2022
This was such a helpful tool! There are so many scriptures that people misinterpret because they read them with modern cultural expectations. This book helped me understand how different ancient cultures were--more communal, superstitious, and honor-driven. I did realize I don't care that much about geography, and while it was cool to see connections between the Hebrew and Babylonian/Egyptian texts, I got sick of how long the notes were sometimes.
Reading the NIV translation was also enlightening, and I recommend that to everyone. This definitely won't be my last study Bible, and I already enjoy referring back to it. John Walton did a great job and I didn't even realize he was the editor until I had read most of it. I think anyone, Christian or not, will get a lot of this edition.
Reading the NIV translation was also enlightening, and I recommend that to everyone. This definitely won't be my last study Bible, and I already enjoy referring back to it. John Walton did a great job and I didn't even realize he was the editor until I had read most of it. I think anyone, Christian or not, will get a lot of this edition.
December 24, 2017
This is the best study Bible I have seen. The footnotes, the articles, and the extra content before both Testaments is so helpful for getting into the context of the ancient books, and for equipping readers to make their own informed interpretive decisions. My only critique is the lack of author attribution in the footnotes and articles, particularly in the Old Testament section. Walton is billed as the chief editor of the OT even though he didn’t write most of the content. I wish all of the scholars who contributed were better cited than just in the acknowledgments page. Other than that, highly recommended.
December 6, 2021
This study Bible’s one purpose is to increase your understanding of the cultural nuances behind the text of God’s Word so that your study experience, and your knowledge of the realties behind the ideas in the text, is enriched and expanded (v). Both Walton and Keener are masters in the cultures of the Old and New Testaments. There are 74 charts and 64 maps throughout the CBSB to help bridge the gulf that lies between the world of the Bible and the world of the modern reader. In my original review I looked at the book of Daniel. It is full of cultural insights which help give you a deeper understanding of the text by giving you the “mind” of the original audience.
April 6, 2024
Of the study Bibles I have used, this is clearly the best one. It looks deeply at the contexts of each of the books and rather than making theological positions, it sticks mostly to interpretation of the text as a historic text as much as theological text. This is very useful in this regard as it gives Christians and non-Christians understanding of what the Bible's books mean from an original context in a way other study Bibles don't. The NIV might be seen by Bible scholars as more conservative but the analysis of the text is excellent. Very recommended.
December 17, 2021
The whole idea of this study Bible is awesome! Rather than someone giving their interpretation based on their understanding of culture, this study Bible gives you the cultural background and somewhat lets you decide what the passages mean. There is still quite of bit of their interpretation, in fact, I find myself disagreeing with particularly Walton's assessment here and there, but overall I really enjoyed this study Bible and would suggest it to anyone.
December 25, 2021
The footnotes often went into overwhelming detail about the gods and history of the surrounding cultures, which didn’t really add to my understanding of the Bible. I wanted to read all the footnotes as I read this Bible from cover to cover, but due to the sheer volume and repetitiveness of them, I ended up skimming them. That said, I did gain some insights about several passages that had always confused me.
July 19, 2022
Wonderful
This bible is amazing for giving you a better understanding of the cultural and historical setting of the time/passage. I love cultural studies anyway, but this resource is so well organized that it is very easy to navigate on my kindle. I love the Bible so much, I want a hard copy of it too. It’s really a fantastic resource.
This bible is amazing for giving you a better understanding of the cultural and historical setting of the time/passage. I love cultural studies anyway, but this resource is so well organized that it is very easy to navigate on my kindle. I love the Bible so much, I want a hard copy of it too. It’s really a fantastic resource.
Read
November 19, 2025I just read the biblical text and the articles, not the study notes. The NIV is a good translation. The articles were somewhat helpful in understanding history behind biblical stories and ancient parallels with them.
May 27, 2018
It goes without saying that I have not read this entirely, nor do I agree with every note in this study Bible. However, I have found it to be consistently interesting, helpful, and edifying.
May 4, 2019
Illuminating
The very cultural background of which illuminates the course of the study of bible. A highly recommended tool to all.
The very cultural background of which illuminates the course of the study of bible. A highly recommended tool to all.
June 4, 2019
Excellent side notes and pictures avout the way of life during Jesus time before and after Resurrection
November 30, 2019
The cultural information is excellent. The NIV version is easy to read and understand.
December 31, 2019
Very interesting, the commentary gets a bit repetitive at times.
December 30, 2020
It took a long time to read every iota in this tome, but glad I did. Very enjoyable and illuminating. Recommended for anyone interested in a deep dive into the various cultures in the Bible. I am blessed to be near-sighted, but if you are not, make sure your prescription is up to date.
June 26, 2021
How can you give anything less than 5-stars to a Christian Bible? It is ALWAYS an awesome read.
July 2, 2021
so many illuminating notes help to place these scriptures in their historical context!
December 31, 2021
Deserves 10 stars! So much great background info.
April 12, 2022
Excellent reference Bible
December 30, 2022
Perfect! Of course! :)
January 7, 2023
Love the cultural background information
February 24, 2023
My favorite study bible.
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