87 books like The Quest

A deeper understanding about the history of a period can be gained by examining the coinage of that time. Coins were the billboards and TV commercials of ancient history. David Hendin is the world-renowned expert on Biblical and inter-testament coinage. He does an excellent job of showing multiple versions of each denomination (since ancient coin dies were never identical) and explaining their history as well. David was also kind enough to verify the authenticity of the coins I present in my book. He discovered that I had inadvertently acquired what I thought was a valuable coin (of Aristobulus I of the Hasmoneans), but it was actually an overstrike of a less-valuable coin (Alexander Jannaeus).

As Leen Ritmeyer has done for the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Yigael Yadin has done for the fortress of Masada in the Judean wilderness. Through the findings of his excavations of Masada from October 1963 to May 1964, he transports you back in time to when the defenders of Masada, the last holdout of the Jewish rebellion, held off the Roman military for a time in AD 73. When the Romans finally breached the fortress, all they found were dead bodies. The Jewish defenders chose to end their own lives and those of their families to escape being killed, tortured, or sold into slavery. Yadin also presents the history of the fortress back to its founding by the Hasmonean, Alexander Jannaeus. 

Our knowledge of Jewish history would be sorely lacking if not for Titus Flavius Josephus. Josephus was a Hellenistic Jew who lived from AD 37-100, just a few decades after the end of the inter-testament period. He was a leader of the Galilean rebels during the Jewish revolt against the Romans. When the Jews led by him were soundly defeated in AD 67 in the town of Jotapata, he appealed to Vespasian, the Roman commander at the time, to spare his life and not send him to the emperor, Nero, for enslavement.  Josephus predicted that Vespasian and his son, Titus, would both become emperors. In time, Josephus became a patron of Vespasian and a prolific historian of the time.

Although not a history of Rome, per se, in this topically-arranged book, it covers a vast amount of Roman history. This is an outstanding book into the details of Rome’s religion, geography, administration, travel, and economy. It gives deep insight into what it was like to be a Roman citizen, whether one was a pleb or a member of the aristocracy. It presents the government of Rome, from the consuls and emperors down to the level of magistrates and civil servants. Many aspects of the history and structure of Rome’s military are covered in detail, and the book shows how it transformed and adapted over the years of the republic and empire. For any questions on Roman society, this book likely covers it.

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is a highly contested topic, especially relating to Bible prophecy. Many Jews and Christians believe that a final temple needs to be rebuilt, such as mentioned in Revelation Chapter 11. However, the Dome of the Rock is currently located on the Temple Mount, so this brings up a major dilemma.

Christian Widener has spent a lot of time researching the true location of the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant rested. He provides clear evidence about the original location that allows for prophecies to be fulfilled without disturbing the Dome of the Rock so Jews and Muslims can share the Temple Mount.

This novel has an interesting reveal on first-century history. Two people, one on purpose, one accidentally, leave the present age to be teleported back to first-century Jerusalem and cannot find a way to get back to their modern times. Much of the New Testament history is told up close and personal where the author makes you feel like an integral part of this time of history. I was enthralled and surprised by how words affected all my senses to such a degree. I found the storyline engrossing and made me feel as if I was there.

The New Testament has been portrayed as a repetitive and largely ahistorical text, except for the presence of the names of certain individuals (Emperors Augustus and Tiberius, Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate, Jewish King Herod the Great, etc, etc). Otherwise, very little fits with known history of first-century Juda and Galilee. But when one reads this religious narrative, The New Testament, next to the narratives of Josephus—written around the same time—one starts discerning certain recurring patterns. And after a while one realizes that The New Testament is anything but boring. It is actually a fantastic text, skillfully written in layers, where the historical layer lies just beneath the surface. The New Testament is full of incomprehensible elements—unknown names just thrown into the narrative, seeming contradictions, etc—but it is in these strange elements that the clues lie. One needs, however, to have Josephus' historical texts (The Jewish War and Jewish Antiquities)… show more.

Trobisch is a highly respected Net Testament scholar, and his insights are on full display in this short, but important, work. The exact origins of the New Testament have long been shrouded in mystery. Many people think of the New Testament as a collection of independent writings. Here Trobisch provides an important framework for understanding the New Testament as a whole. He reveals many important clues about who, when, how, and why the first edition of the New Testament was created. Trobisch shows the overall unity of the editorial features of the New Testament.

I am a long-time student of N. T. Weight and have read many of his books. I appreciate his scholarship and ability to communicate with “everyone.” I love Wright for his scholarly defense of Jesus' bodily resurrection. He leaves me in awe with his knowledge of Scripture and of the Roman world of the first century. He has influenced my Biblical worldview to the extent I can’t imagine writing a book apart from his influence. I admire his extensive knowledge of the historical context of the cities in which the seven churches are located. I love reading Wright for his contagious joy!  

In his story about Priscilla, Witherington was doing something very similar to what I was trying to do in my book and imagining what Priscilla, the wife of Aquila (who was often cited in both the Acts of the Apostles and in Paul’s letters) might have thought about her life as a Christian in the early Church. Witherington uses his vast knowledge of the world of the 1st century to bring Priscilla’s story to life.