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Critical to studying, understanding and applying the Bible is a knowledge of the Bible itself, as well as an understanding of the cultural background of the passage you're studying. With an understanding of the text's background you can more easily grasp the author's original concerns and purposes.

The Bible Background Commentary provides, in verse-by-verse format, the crucial cultural background needed for responsible--and richer--Bible study. It includes a glossary of cultural terms and important historical figures, maps and charts, up-to-date bibliographies, and introductory essays about cultural background information for each book of the New Testament.

Based on ten years of in-depth study, this bestselling commentary is valuable for pastors in sermon preparation, for Sunday school and other church teachers as they build lessons, for missionaries concerned not to import their own cultural biases into the Bible, for college and seminary students in classroom assignments, and for everyday Bible readers seeking to deepen and enhance their study of Scripture.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament's sister volume on the Old Testament, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament is also available from Olive Tree.

Voted one of Christianity Today's 1995 Books of the Year!

Written by Craig S. Keener, professor of New Testament at Palmer Seminary (Wynnewood, Pennsylvania). Mr. Keener has written a dozen books, three of which have won Christianity Today book awards: his commentaries on Matthew, John and the background commentary.