In the preface of Structural Principles of the Bible by F. E. Marsh is a quote from Myles Coverdale, one of the early translators of the Bible. He stated, “It shall greatly helpe ye to understand Scripture, if thou mark not only what is spoken or wrythen, but of whom and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goeth before and what followeth.” Basically he was saying that we need to understand the Scripture in its historical and grammatical context. That’s good advice.
We think about the Bible in the framework of our Western culture and that can lead us astray in our thinking if we’re not careful. For instance, in Matthew 1:18 it distinctly states that Mary was espoused to Joseph. Yet Mary is called Joseph’s wife in verse 20 by the angel of the Lord. Now was Mary his wife or fiancee? To answer that question, we need to understand the historical culture of Middle Eastern marriage customs which were significantly different from our Western practice. A wrong understanding of the historical setting can lead to wrong interpretation of Scripture.
A number of months ago, I wrote an article on Bible encyclopedias. They are an excellent source of information regarding history and culture. However, there are a number of books around that deal specifically with this topic. I’m sure one or more of these will help you in your basic understanding of the Bible.
The first I suggest is a classic work called Manners and Customs of Bible Lands by Fred Wight. It has been around since 1953. It was originally his Master’s Degree thesis and then expanded from that to the present book form. In short articles, it covers almost every aspect of living in the Middle East. It also has a good bibliography for those who want to do more extensive research.
Another helpful volume is Harper’s Encyclopedia of Bible Life. This work was thoroughly revised in 1978. While there is some duplication of material with the previous book mentioned, there is an extensive section on the professional, and industrial life of Bible times that is not in the Wight book.
The third book is one I have just discovered. It is the IVP Handbook of Life in Bible Times. The editor is Mr. J. A. Thompson. The thing that distinguishes this work is the color photography. On almost every page is a picture or map and the majority of them are in color. A beautiful book as well as an informative one.
A discussion of this nature would not be complete unless the Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah by Alfred Edersheim was mentioned. The title tells the content. It is an often quoted source. To understand the cultural and historical climate in which the Gospel writers wrote–and assumed the reader would know–will open the door to many passages you may have struggled with in the past.
Last, but not least, is The Victor Handbook of Bible Knowledge by Mr. Gilbert Beers. Unlike the others, this book is written especially for the Sunday School teacher. The book lists 300 of the most often told stories of the Bible. Then, devoting two pages to each story, Dr. Beers provides background information that will add color and dimension to each story. If you teach Sunday School, this is a must for your library. This was an excellent tool used at our family altar when my son was growing up. Fully illustrated, mostly with color maps, charts, graphs, and pictures, you will be enriched by this tool.
Just a word in closing. I would not defend all the theological statements in these books. While there is very little in the way of doctrine in these books, these men are historians, not theologians and it is in history and culture that they shine. But read for what they are intended to be, a source for the history, culture, background of the Bible. You will be enriched and enlightened as you use these tools to study the Word of God.