Questions/Suggestions for NT Antiquity

So I'm finishing up my lesson for tomorrow's class. It's the introduction to Ephesians. Something I noticed over and over again is that every commentary, background commentary, encyclopedia, etc. that I own speaks very heavily about the city but little about everyday life (aside from family hierarchy). I own the book The New Testament in Antiquity and for the most part, that was the most helpful resource. However, I would have loved something that spoke more about what life would have been like for them. Yes, I could have used the historical setting of the NT Roman Empire, but I had hoped for something more specific to the city of Ephesus. Can you recommend a more thorough resource, in general, for New Testament Antiquity including Culture, Religions, history of the city, founding of the church, etc.?

Secondly, I own the Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity. Is there a Scripture reference that I'm missing, or is it only topical?

Thanks for your help!

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Ted Weis

The first two suggestions that came to my mind you have already mentioned--NT in Antiquity and Dictionary of Daily Life.

You probably consulted the standard dictionaries, ISBE, ABD, etc. Also, the IVP Black Dictionaries, especially the Dictionary of New Testament Background. Works by Craig Keener are often filled with good background information.

Four other Logos books...

Not a book, but collection: Baker Academic New Testament Backgrounds. Good titles matching your topic.

Paul & His World: Interpreting the NT in Its Context by Helmut Koester

Cities and Paul: Images and Interpretations from the Harvard New Testament and Archaeology Project by Helmut Koester

This one is older...

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities

The Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities is a 1,300-page compendium of information about the ancient world. Covering subjects such as architecture, law, festivals, furniture, religion, warfare, customs, and daily life, it provides readers access to a broader understanding of ancient life. Arranged in alphabetical format by subject, this topical dictionary has been founded on a careful examination of original sources and input by leading scholars of the day

RyanB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/993876#Comment_993876

Also, the IVP Black Dictionaries, especially the Dictionary of New Testament Background. Works by Craig Keener are often filled with good background information.

The Dictionary of Paul and his Letters has a good entry on Ephesian Culture. Also worth checking out The New Testament Milieu by Toit and St. Paul in Asia Minor by Plumptre which both seem to have very detailed entries.

(Sorry I can’t be more helpful, I’m writing this from my phone and the text is tiny)

Sam Henderson

Sadly not available in Logos, Jerome Murphy-O'Connor's St Paul's Ephesus is pretty good. He begins by combing the ancient literature for every significant reference to Ephesus, offering excerpts and commentary on each. The second part of the book takes you on a walk through Ephesus the way Paul would have experienced it, then works though all the issues involved with Paul's ministry in Ephesus. He focuses sharply on the Ephesus of the mid-first century, and his approach is scholarly but still readable.

https://www.amazon.com/St-Pauls-Ephesus-Texts-Archaeology/dp/081465259X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536106889&sr=1-1&keywords=st+paul%27s+ephesus&dpID=51JUM8-nrYL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

Cynthia in Florida

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/993908#Comment_993908

Sadly not available in Logos, Jerome Murphy-O'Connor's St Paul's Ephesus is pretty good. He begins by combing the ancient literature for every significant reference to Ephesus, offering excerpts and commentary on each. The second part of the book takes you on a walk through Ephesus the way Paul would have experienced it, then works though all the issues involved with Paul's ministry in Ephesus. He focuses sharply on the Ephesus of the mid-first century, and his approach is scholarly but still readable.

https://www.amazon.com/St-Pauls-Ephesus-Texts-Archaeology/dp/081465259X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536106889&sr=1-1&keywords=st+paul%27s+ephesus&dpID=51JUM8-nrYL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

Sam: This was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Sadly, I had to search many resources for several hours to gather this type of information. Thanks!

Cynthia in Florida

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/993879#Comment_993879

Also, the IVP Black Dictionaries, especially the Dictionary of New Testament Background. Works by Craig Keener are often filled with good background information.

The Dictionary of Paul and his Letters has a good entry on Ephesian Culture. Also worth checking out The New Testament Milieu by Toit and St. Paul in Asia Minor by Plumptre which both seem to have very detailed entries.

(Sorry I can’t be more helpful, I’m writing this from my phone and the text is tiny)

Turns out, I had those in my library but for some reason they didn't come up in my search...even in my collection search. Thanks!

Ted: Thanks for those awesome suggestions. I'm going to check them out now!

RHC

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/993980#Comment_993980

Sadly not available in Logos, Jerome Murphy-O'Connor's St Paul's Ephesus is pretty good. He begins by combing the ancient literature for every significant reference to Ephesus, offering excerpts and commentary on each. The second part of the book takes you on a walk through Ephesus the way Paul would have experienced it, then works though all the issues involved with Paul's ministry in Ephesus. He focuses sharply on the Ephesus of the mid-first century, and his approach is scholarly but still readable.

https://www.amazon.com/St-Pauls-Ephesus-Texts-Archaeology/dp/081465259X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536106889&sr=1-1&keywords=st+paul%27s+ephesus&dpID=51JUM8-nrYL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

Sam: This was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Sadly, I had to search many resources for several hours to gather this type of information. Thanks!

If you're looking for electronic edition, it's available in drm-free pdf from the publisher at https://litpress.org/Products/5259/St-Pauls-Ephesus though not in epub or mobi/kindle unlike some of their other books.

Sam Henderson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/994244#Comment_994244

My two copies of the Muphy-O'Conor books are both made of paper, card and glue. The volume on Corinth is most thumbed one - a bit controversial in places, but some terrific insights into problematic aspects of the Corinthian correspondence. I visited the Old Corinth archaeological site after reading it, and felt like a homeboy returning to his old haunts.