The Archeology of the New Testament: The Life of Jesus and the Beginning of the Early Church - Revised Edition

By Jack Finegan

Book Overview

The Archeology of the New Testament is the authoritative illustrated account of what is presently known about the chief sites and monuments connected with the life of Jesus and the history of the early church. To follow the order of the New Testament, it first investigates sites connected with John the Baptist and then proceeds to Bethlehem and Nazareth, Samaria and Galilee, Jerash, Caesarea, Jericho, the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, and Emmaus. Each site is illustrated, and the accompanying text, numbered to facilitate cross-reference, contains a bibliography. This edition has been completely revised to reflect the most recent scholarship and excavations, and it contains many new entries. Anyone concerned with the historical, geographical, and cultural background of the New Testament will want to study this classic work as it retraces the steps of Jesus. "The definitive handbook. Finegan's comprehensive treatment of almost every problem in the field of New Testament archeology as well as his judicious evaluation of the evidence makes this book indispensable to every serious student of the Bible."-- The New York Times Book Review Originally published in 1993. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691002207
• ISBN13: 9780691002200
• Release Date: December 1992
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 472 Pages
• Weight: 2.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 8.5" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Valuable Resource

This book is an enormous treat - an archeological book written by a biblical scholar. It's hard to know which aspect provides the more valuable information. Of particular interest and surprise is the amount of coverage of such topics as John the Baptist, the Tombs, and the Cross. The book is well written and amply illustrated. There are few notes: the author instead includes lots of information in the text itself. Also, there is no bibliography, although there is an extensive "List of Ancient Sources" which is highly informative. If I had one criticism it is that the book assumes the reader is not a beginner, and as a result this may not be the best introductory text. Written in 1969, the book is dated. Yet almost everything relevant to the archeology of the New Testament had been discovered by this date, so the few finds since (e.g., the ossuary of James the Just) do not negate the book's value. Every New Testament reader should have this book in their library.

Excellent book, but too short!

This is a wonderful and lovingly prepared work. For the best of all worlds, I would suggest reading this with the incredible companion book, "The Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years". Then it is almost like an interactive experience, because you see the real man Jesus through "The Autobiography..." and see exactly where he lived in this book. It may appear a daunting book because of its 400 + pages, but I found it too short! If there is anything else the authors could have included in this excellent book, it can only because there is still 2000 years of dust on it! Buy it today.