Reference no: EM133602824
The Historical World
Using the Bible commentaries you selected, look for answers to the following questions below regarding 'when' your passage was originally written:
When was this passage written? What time period? What was going on in that region at that time? (Hint: If your passage is part of a larger book or epistle, it was likely written when that book or epistle was written)
What is the internal evidence within the text which gives us a clue as to the earliest this passage, or the book it is found in, was written? What internal evidence provides us with evidence for the latest this text could have been written?
Given the earliest possible date and the latest possible date within the text, what external evidence exists during the same time period to help us understand the historical context surrounding this writing?
Is there any archeological evidence from the time? artifacts? homes? buildings? palaces? precious metals? inscriptions? which would help us better understand the time period? Is there a match between the archeological discoveries and what is found in your passage?
What do we know about the author (or authors) who wrote your Bible passage?
What is their backstory?
What was their relationship to the people who would have received and read their work?
Summarizing the Historical World section
Identify and showcase interesting and relevant research from the Bible commentaries you found and studied. Be sure to add citations (with page numbers).
That interesting and relevant research may include (a) aspects of the culture at the time the book was written, (b) the geographical region the book was written, (c) ideological views of parties and factions at that time, (d) archeological discoveries relevant to that book of the Bible or your passage. You do not need to find answers to all of these or address all of them in your abstract. Just address what you find and what you can write about, based on the current state of your research. The point is to focus on what was happening "there and then" which helps to better understand what your passage is about and why it was written.
Pretend you are having a conversation with someone who is unfamiliar with your passage. What are the most interesting things you've discovered about the historical context of the book your passage is found in?
Showcase and catalog what you discovered from your research on that book of the Bible and write it in a way that engages their interest.