The World of Jesus by Dr. William H. Marty

I received a copy of THE WORLD OF JESUS from Bethany House in exchange for an unbiased review.

Dr. Marty presents research and study regarding the time lapse between the Old Testament and New Testament in this short, easy-to-read book. Although this is not a light read, there are digestible sections for the person on the go.

While describing the events leading up to Jesus the Messiah, WORLD OF JESUS also contains snippets such as where Samaritans and other peoples originated, and a deeper understanding of the world so different from our own. Oftentimes jumping from what feels like ancient history to Jesus’ day is akin to jumping through time from the present day to some distant future where we can teleport and drive flying cars. It helps to have some idea of the events in between that transpired and allowed for the perfect timing. Dr. Marty makes history accessible.

Follow the Jews on their journey from captivity in Babylon, through the Roman Empire, coming into the New Testament days. This context allowed me to better understand the protective hand God had over his chosen people, as well as many references in the Bible specific to the culture of the times.

I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of biblical culture. WORLD OF JESUS is certainly not a ‘new Christian’ read, but will definitely benefit those seeking further knowledge of what shaped the Bible’s vastly different world.