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Sponsored by Crossway

SPOTLIGHT ON

Crossway’s ESV

Archaeology Study Bible

This new edition of the ESV Bible, annotated and
illustrated by field-trained archaeologists, locates
Scripture in vivid historical context

T plementary: “I don't think the purpose of archaeology is to prove
Currid thinks of archaeology and Scripture as naturally com-
he events of the Bible are set in real, historical places in
the ancient Near East, locations in and around what are
the Bible,” Currid says. “The Bible doesn't need to be proven; it
now Egypt, Iraq, Israel, and Syria. This area was the cradle
of civilization, and has in recent centuries been the source
of some of the richest and most important archaeological discoveries. stands well enough on its own. The purpose of archaeology is to
illuminate the historical background and setting of the biblical
The ESV Archaeology Study Bible, due out in March from Crossway, narratives. It helps to demonstrate that the biblical accounts truly
brings the deep historical context of archaeology to the timeless took place in time and history.”
world of Scripture, illuminating the For instance, few readers proba-
beloved ESV text with essays, notes, bly realize that Genesis takes place
and hundreds of photographs, in the Middle Bronze Age, which
maps, and illustrations contributed spanned from 2200 to 1550 BC. That
by field-trained archaeologists. context allows the archaeologists who
Dane Ortlund, Crossway’s executive annotated the ESV Archaeology Study
vice president of Bible Publishing, Bible to provide information such as
says the resource provides “a dis- that Abel’s work as “a keeper of
tinctive Bible offering for Christians sheep” would have yielded milk,
to see the earthiness and historical skins, and wool but not meat, since,
embeddedness of the Scripture.” as the accompanying note points out,
Edited by John Currid, an Old “animal husbandry did not provide
Testament scholar and archaeologist meat for humans at this time.” This
at Reformed Theological Seminary, The Galilee Boat: the remains of a boat like one Jesus and his Bible is full of annotations small and
and David Chapman, professor of disciples might have used fishing and traveling (© Todd Bolen/ large, such as a map that pinpoints
New Testament and archaeology at BiblePlaces.com); Below: A map of two possible locations of Eden two possible locations for the real
Covenant Theological Seminary, (David Barrett, © 2008 Crossway) Eden, adding a whole new dimen-
Crossway’s ESV Archaeology Study sion to the story of Adam and Eve.
Bible is a work six years in the mak- Looking at the completed Bible,
ing and a Bible unlike any other. "We Chapman says, “I am struck by how
were firm in our conviction that the much more the biblical text is made
main contributors must be trained understandable through notes on
field archaeologists, ones who have such diverse matters as fishing and
spent significant time getting their ancient boats in Galilee, agrarian
hands dirty,” Currid says. To that life, tax collecting, foot washing,
end, Chapman explains, he and stone vessels in Jewish purity law,
Currid assembled a team of 13 sectarian divisions, burial techniques,
“expert Christian field archaeolo- and crucifixion practices.”
gists, who were all also capable Chapman believes that “many
Bible commentators.” According to people will want to make this their
Chapman, “Every contributor was main Bible for personal reading and
selected based on his or her years for taking to church” but also sees a
of experience in archaeological loftier purpose for the resource: “As
fieldwork and in applying archaeol- we all grow in our awareness of the
ogy to biblical interpretation. Thus cultures that the biblical authors are
all were drawing on many years of addressing, we can better compre-
teaching and writing as they read hend God’s revelation to the initial
through each biblical book, care- recipients of Scripture. Through this
fully examining each passage for means, we also better understand and
archaeological connections.” apply the Bible in our world today.”