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Israel under the Maccabees

Map 9: Israel under the Maccabees

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The Persian and Greek Empires

Map 8: The Persian and Greek Empires

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The Assyrian and Babylonian Empires

Map 7: The Assyrian and Babylonian Empires

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The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah

Map 6: The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah

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Israel under Saul, David, and Solomon

Map 5: Israel under Saul, David, and Solomon

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The Tribal Allotments of Israel

Map 4: The Tribal Allotments of Israel

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The Exodus from Egypt

Map 3: The Exodus from Egypt

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The World of the Patriarchs

Map 2: The World of the Patriarchs

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The Middle East Today

Map 1: The Middle East Today

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The Setting of Revelation

c. a.d. 95 John addressed the book of Revelation “to the seven churches that are in Asia,” namely Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, although there were undoubtedly other churches elsewhere in the province of Asia (e.g., Miletus and Colossae, see Acts 20:17; Col. 1:

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The Setting of 1 John

c. a.d. 85John likely wrote 1 John from Ephesus, where apparently he had relocated near the time of the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in a.d. 70. The letter was probably intended to be read by the church in Ephesus and perhaps also by other churches in

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The Setting of 1 Peter

c. a.d. 62–63 Peter, probably writing from Rome (called “Babylon” in 5:13), addressed 1 Peter to believers in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. These names all referred to Roman provinces in Asia Minor, north of the Taurus Mountains.

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The Setting of James

c. a.d. 40–45The epistle of James was likely written to predominantly Jewish Christian house churches outside of Palestine, based on its mention of the “twelve tribes in the Dispersion” (1:1), its distinctly Jewish content, and its focus on persecution and poverty. This would mean it was sent

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The Setting of Titus

c. a.d. 62–64 Paul likely wrote Titus during a fourth missionary journey not recorded in the book of Acts. Writing from an unknown location, he instructed Titus in how to lead the churches on the island of Crete. The churches there had apparently been founded by Paul.

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The Setting of 2 Timothy

c. a.d. 64–67 Paul likely wrote 2 Timothy during a second imprisonment in Rome following a fourth missionary journey which is not recorded in the book of Acts. Expecting that death would come soon, Paul wrote this “farewell” letter to Timothy, who was at Ephesus, urging him to

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The Setting of 1 Timothy

c. a.d. 62–64 Paul likely wrote 1 Timothy during a fourth missionary journey not recorded in the book of Acts. Writing from an unknown location, Paul wrote to Timothy at Ephesus to instruct him on how to lead the church there. Ephesus was a wealthy and highly influential

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The Setting of 1 Thessalonians

c. a.d. 49–51 Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians from Corinth near the end of his second missionary journey. Paul and his companions had established the church in Thessalonica but were forced to leave by opponents of the gospel. Later, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on the

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The Setting of Colossians

c. a.d. 62 Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians during a time of imprisonment, probably in Rome. The church at Colossae was likely established during Paul’s third missionary journey as he ministered for three years in Ephesus. It appears that Paul did not personally establish the church

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The Setting of Philippians

(c. a.d. 62) Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians during a time of imprisonment, probably in Rome. Located along the famous Egnatian Way, Philippi was the site of a key military victory by Augustus Caesar, and as a result it was declared a Roman colony, ensuring it immunity

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The Setting of Ephesians

(c. a.d. 62) Ephesus was a wealthy port city in the Roman province of Asia. It was a center of learning and was positioned near several key land routes in western Asia Minor. Paul probably wrote his letter to the Ephesians while under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28)

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The Setting of Galatians

(c. a.d. 48) Paul’s letter to the Galatians was likely written to the churches he had established during his first missionary journey (Acts 13:1–14:28). He probably wrote the letter from his home church in Antioch in Syria, sometime before the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:1–

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The Setting of 2 Corinthians

c. a.d. 55–56 Paul wrote 2 Corinthians from Macedonia a year or so after writing 1 Corinthians, during his third missionary journey. He had just finished his three-year ministry in Ephesus and was visiting the churches in Macedonia as he made his way to Corinth. In Macedonia he

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The Setting of 1 Corinthians

c. a.d. 53–55 Paul wrote 1 Corinthians during his third missionary journey, near the end of his three-year ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19:21–22). Both Corinth and Ephesus were wealthy port cities steeped in pagan idolatry and philosophy. Corinth benefited both militarily and economically from its strategic

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The Setting of Romans

(c. a.d. 57) Paul probably wrote Romans from Corinth during his third missionary journey (Acts 20:2–3). Rome was the epicenter of the powerful Roman Empire, ruling over many of the great ancient centers of Western civilization. Paul had established the church at Corinth during his second missionary

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Paul’s Journey to Rome

c. a.d. 60 Appealing his case to Caesar, Paul was ordered by Festus to be transferred to Rome. Paul’s journey was marked by difficult weather, as they had begun their voyage late into the season for sea travel. A bad decision to try to find winter harbor at