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Professor Moyer Hubbard believes that to understand the words of the New Testament, you need to understand the world of the New Testament. That’s the idea behind his new book, Christianity in the Greco Roman World, which explores the socio-historical background of the New Testament.

“My concern is to help students see that a better understanding of the New Testament world will lead to a better understanding of New Testament texts,” said Hubbard, professor of New Testament language and literature at ������ʷ’s Talbot School of Theology.

Hubbard explores issues such as education, philosophy and households and family life to provide readers with the premise that a better understanding of the historical and social context will result in a clearer understanding of the New Testament writings.

Christianity in the Greco Roman World is unlike any other book written on the New Testament as it combines narrative, historical description and extended reflection on specific issues from the text.

“I wanted a textbook that introduced students to the socio-historical background of the New Testament,” said Hubbard. “I wanted the book to engage a broader readership emphasizing the practical importance of understanding historical backgrounds Unfortunately, this book didn’t exist, so I had to write it myself.”

The book provides information that allows the students to deeply engage the subject, focusing on the setting of Paul’s letters to the churches in Asia Minor and Europe, through narrative.

“Narrative is a powerful vehicle for communicating the truth—as the Bible itself illustrates so well,” said Hubbard. “A good story touches a different cognitive dimension of the reader and has the potential of engaging the soul as well as the mind.”

Hubbard specializes in the Pauline epistles and the Jewish literature of the second-temple period.

Written by Jennifer Thach, Media Relations Intern. Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator, can be reached at (562) 777-4061 or through email at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu