If you’re like me, you hear the word “archaeology” and you primarily think of Indiana Jones. Then, if you toss the word “study” next to it, you know it will be nothing like Indiana Jones. Instead, you get a mental image of a lot of dirt being pushed around with tiny brushes. How riveting… but actually, it really can be riveting! But We are here to tell you what is inside an archaeology study Bible, and just how influential it can be on your study of God’s Word.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
But the truth is that history and archaeology are essential to Christianity.
- God created time and history
- The universe has a beginning and end
- The historical event of Christ’s death and resurrection is key to your salvation
- Your hope is grounded in a real place, at a real time… in history
Archaeology is an area of study that helps us uncover more truths about history. It teaches us important details on the setting and background in which the story of the Bible occurs. A plethora of authors wrote the Bible over at least a thousand-year period, so this information is crucial to our understanding of the text.
THE THREE PILLARS
The ESV Archaeology Study Bible encourages any and all types of Christians to experience the relevancy of archaeology. Here’s an excerpt from the introduction of this study Bible, explaining its 3 primary functions:
Three foundational pillars define our approach to this task. The first pillar is biblical orthodoxy.
All of the contributors hold to classical evangelical orthodoxy in the historic stream of the Reformation and affirm the divine inspiration, truthfulness, and authority of both Old and New Testament Scriptures in their entirety as the only written Word of God, without error in all that it affirms, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. They also affirm that God’s Word clearly teaches that the only means of salvation is through the Lord Jesus Christ. The message of the Bible is addressed to all men and women, and God’s revelation in Christ and in Scripture is unchangeable. Through the Bible the Holy Spirit speaks yet today. He illumines the minds and hearts of God’s people in every culture to perceive its truth freshly through their own eyes, thus disclosing to the church the very wisdom of God (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21).
The second pillar of the work is academic integrity.
The contributors to this project are highly trained scholars who are well versed in archaeology and related fields as they pertain to the Bible. The reader ought to peruse the List of Contributors included in this work, which demonstrates the excellent academic training and in-field experience shared by each of the contributors. The ESV Archaeology Study Bible steers clear of “pop-archaeology” that sensationalizes but is unreliable.
The third pillar of the work is accessibility.
Our hope is that this work will be broadly used throughout the church. It should be a helpful resource for all Christians. Pastors ought to find the material helpful as they seek to build up their congregations in the historicity and truthfulness of the Scriptures. Students—undergraduates and seminarians—should find it useful in their studies and in apologetics. In addition, we desire that laypeople, as they study this Bible, would be encouraged to dig deeper into the Scriptures and to grow in grace, knowledge, and truth.
WHAT MAKES THE ESV ARCHAEOLOGY STUDY BIBLE UNIQUE?
1. THE ESV
First, all of the historical and archaeological information is based on the English Standard Version. This translation is very reliable and used through the world.
2. THE TRIO
Have you heard of the ESV Study Bible and the ESV Bible Atlas? These two resources are meant to be paired with the ESV Archaeology Study Bible! Together, they cover a range of topics and areas of study. With all three, you will have a collection that provides a strong and well-rounded introduction to the Bible.
3. THE PROFESSIONALS
All of the contributors to this project are trained archaeologists and epigraphers. More specifically, main contributors are professionals who have actually used their hands to dig in the biblical lands. This adds a very unique perspective to this study Bible—and it’s one you can count on!
BUT WHAT IS INSIDE?
Here’s a list of everything that comes inside this study Bible:
- Thousands of notes illuminate the biblical text by providing archaeological, historical, and geographical background on various events, places, people, and everyday items mentioned in Scripture.
- Hundreds of sidebars provide more in-depth information on topics of interest from an archaeological perspective.
- Hundreds of full-color photos, maps, and diagrams invite the reader into the visual world of the Bible.
- Book introductions describe the ways in which archaeological fieldwork has allowed us to understand each book of the Bible better.
- Fifteen articles written specifically for this project explore key topics of interest in biblical archaeology.
- Specially crafted charts provide an easy thumbnail guide to such matters as the Hebrew calendar and important texts of the ancient world.
- An all-new glossary defines key words used throughout the ESV Archaeology Study Bible.
SEE FOR YOURSELF!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FULL COLOR MAPS
ARTICLES
READ ALONGSIDE ANY BIBLE TRANSLATION
LINKED VERSE REFERENCES
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