ARCHAEOLOGY
AND THE
MINISTRY
OF PAUL
A VISUAL GUIDE
David A. deSilva |
a division of Baker Publishing Group
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Published by Baker Academic
a division of Baker Publishing Group
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Ebook edition created 2025
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Identifiers: LCCN 2024039002 | ISBN 9781540960955 (paperback) | ISBN 9781493450121 (ebook) | ISBN 9781493450138 (pdf)
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are the author’s own translation.
Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016
Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise credited, photos are the author’s.
Cover design by Paula Gibson.
Cain Christopher deSilva,
present ever in my heart and thoughts
12. Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis
Scripture and Other Ancient Writings Index
Perhaps the most fundamental principle of solid biblical interpretation is “Context is important.” A great deal of what I was taught—and what I now endeavor to pass along to my own students—about learning to listen to our Scriptures has to do with immersing ourselves in the various contexts of whatever passage one happens to be studying. How does it relate to its immediate literary context; that is, how do we hear it differently and with greater precision when we consider it not on its own but as part of a larger piece of communication? How does it relate to the context of the shared traditions available to its author and its readers—for example, resonating with or even reciting older texts—and to what end? What is going on historically, what ...
|
About Archaeology and the Ministry of Paul: A Visual GuideA fundamental principle of biblical interpretation is the importance of context—historical, literary, and canonical. But an often-neglected source of context for understanding Scripture is the field of archaeology. The physical and cultural world we inhabit affects us deeply, and that was no less true for the original writers and readers of Scripture. Archaeology provides insights into important questions like: What did these believers see day to day? What messages did they receive from their environment? What social practices influenced them? In this first of three planned volumes, New Testament scholar David deSilva uses archaeological findings to explore the places the apostle Paul ministered and his audiences lived. This visually compelling and beautifully designed book contains more than 250 full-color photographs of sites and artifacts. deSilva focuses on the fruits of archaeology in regard to the sites associated with the ministry of Paul in Acts and in Paul’s own writings. The combination of photos and text helps readers understand the real-life situations Paul addressed. This volume will be an important supplemental textbook for courses on the New Testament and for anyone who wants to better understand the lived context of Paul and his readers. |
| Support Info | rchlgymnstryvgd |