tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post783289651086433655..comments2023-06-15T09:41:19.355-05:00Comments on NT/History Blog: Galilee and other Pocket RegionsBill Heromanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283809456471966882noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post-20774214303091634682008-11-02T21:10:00.000-06:002008-11-02T21:10:00.000-06:00Peter - It may not be for nothing that America has...<B>Peter</B> - It may not be for nothing that America has worn the sword. If the Lord tarries, History (and He) may judge. But I believe EVENTS may determine the next president's reactions far more than his own currently high-minded rhetoric. Ideals aren't so enforceable when you have to REACT. Still, it should be interesting...<BR/><BR/><B>Lou</B> - You're welcome, and thanks for the encouragment. Here's my (long) reply:<BR/><BR/>My whole approach was to start with the <B>Oxford Classical Dictionary</B> and then follow their footnotes. Fergus Millar is absolutely a key OCD citation, but that book doesn't exactly focus on the NT era alone, so I only skimmed it until I recently had to really dig on the more obscure parts of Syria, Phoenicia and Lebanon. Aside from the OCD, my real favorites are the <B>Loeb</B> 'originals'. Now then, if you need one good history survey, you might look for a used copy of <B>Cambridge Ancient History Volume X, the Augustan Empire, 44 BC to 70 AD</B>. The first edition (1934 or 1952) is better on basic info than the 2nd edition (1996) which has more analysis. After that, Peter Green's <B>Alexander to Actium: The Historical Evolution of the Hellenistic Age</B> happens to be my favorite work on the Pre-NT Era, which I personally consider to be a better classical "background" to the NT than whatever the Caesars were doing at such-a-time. Not to disparage the importance of <A HREF="www.year-by-year.com" REL="nofollow">current events</A> which have their own significance to the NT setting, as you know I do strongly believe. ;)<BR/><BR/>Hope some of that helps...Bill Heromanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283809456471966882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post-22425473413119629442008-11-02T18:32:00.000-06:002008-11-02T18:32:00.000-06:00Bill,Thanks for writing about this topic which is ...Bill,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for writing about this topic which is important for understanding NT's social, economical and political settings. <BR/><BR/>Would you recommend "The Roman Near East: 31 BC-AD 337." I'm looking for a few books to purchase on Graeco-Romans History in the time of NT Writings.<BR/><BR/>LouAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post-43112460167033185102008-11-02T16:18:00.000-06:002008-11-02T16:18:00.000-06:00Rome never *started* a war in AsiaRight. And nor h...<I>Rome never *started* a war in Asia</I><BR/><BR/>Right. And nor has the USA. "They finished a few wars, settled a few, and avoided a few. They made quick strikes and left. They stepped in when the King [or President] died or was easy to depose. They did what they had to ..."<BR/><BR/>Believe that, and McCain just might get elected.<BR/><BR/>Sorry to go off topic, but I couldn't resist it!Peter Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13395635409427347613noreply@blogger.com