Biblical Illustrator Plus: Winter 2007-08
The Back of the CD jewel case has this analysis:
In November 2005, news broke that the world's oldest map had been discovered. The Soleta Map, as it came to be called, was about the size of a postage stamp and showed the location of various cities along the boot heel of Italy. The map dated to about 500 BC. Since its discovery, however, some have suggested that the map may be a modern forgery. If it is a genuine artifact, it's a reminder of how far we have come in map-making technology. GPS systems in our cars can show us exactly where we are on a map. And online electronic satelite maps can zoom in our your backyard or on someone's property half a world away. Those who have studied maps have long noted how cities dot the water sources. Rivers and fresh-water lakes became the home to families, villages, cities, and eventually civilizations. This issue of Biblical Illustrator Plus explores how water affected civilization development and how those civilizations interacted with one another and how they came to know, understand, and relate to God. As you read and study, take time to evaluate where you are--and where you are going.
Click the image above for a larger view.
The BI+ CD contains background articles for a number of Lifeway Bible study curriculums. I teach from the "Explore the Bible" curriculum which essentially goes through the entire Bible in eight year cycles. This Fall, a brand new cycle began with our study of Matthew. I'll be honest and say that I was disappointed that we only spent only one quarter in Matthew's gospel. However, I'm very pleased that the corresponding Old Testament study in Genesis will span two quarters. The first book of the Bible is absolutely foundational for everything that comes after it, and I don't believe 50 chapters could have been adequately covered in only three months. Therefore, in the list of new BI articles below, many of them are related to our study of Genesis. Other articles relate to the "Bible Studies for Life" curriculum which looks related to be a study in the Gospels (but I don't have a schedule for that series, so I'm not certain).
Here are the current new articles found in both editions of Biblical Illustrator:
| Jeff S. Anderson | Understanding David's Enemies | Psalm 7 |
| Gary P. Arbino | Book Review: The IVP Atlas of Bible History by Paul Lawrence and Alan Millard | |
| Alan Ray Buescher | The Land of the Philistines | Gen 20-33 |
| Trent C. Butler | Polytheism in Abram's Day | Gen 12:1-9 |
| Joseph R. Cathey | ARTIfacts: The Goliath Inscription | |
| Mark R. Dunn | Who Were the Samaritans? | John 4:4-26 |
| Terry Ellis | Roman Tax Collectors | Luke 15:1-2, 11-24 |
| R. D. Fowler | Farming in the First Century | Luke 10:1-12, 16 |
| Thomas H. Goodman | Praising God from A to Z: The Acrostic Psalms | Psalm 145 |
| D. Larry Gregg Sr. | The Servant Songs in Isaiah | Isa 52:13 - 53:12 |
| Kevin Hall | Eden: All We Know | Gen 2-4 |
| Scott Hummel | Ur: The "Capital of the World" | Gen 11:1-9, 27-32 |
| Dorman Laird | Lot: the Master of Poor Choices | Gen 11, 13, 14, 19 |
| LeBron Matthews | The Invasion of the Kings | Gen 14 |
| Claude F. Mariottini | "...and Not a Drop to Drink": Water's Effect on Civilization Development | Gen 26 |
| R. Kelvin Moore | Melchizedek | Gen 14 |
| Harold R. Mosley | Mt. Ararat | Gen 8 |
| James Newell | Who Were the Hittites? | Gen 15, 23, 26 |
| Gary M. Poulton | Archaelaus: Ruler of Judea | Matt 2:1-23 |
| Mark A. Rathel | The Nazareth Jesus Knew | Luke 1-2 |
| James Wiles | Zechariah and Elizabeth: A Silence Broken | Luke 1:5-25, 57-80 |
For those fortunate enough (which includes me) to have the Biblical Illustrator Plus CDROM, dozens of articles from previous issues are included as well. In addition to Explore the Bible and Bible Studies for Life, these archived articles also support Lifeway's other curriculums such as MasterWork and the January Bible Study (Romans).
| N/A | Samaria in Jesus' Day | N/A |
| Jeff S. Anderson | King's Privileges or King's Crimes? | 2 Sam 11:1-5, 14-17 |
| Waylon Bailey | Languages of the Ancient Near East | Gen 11:6-7 |
| Albert Bean | The Arm of the Lord | Isa 53:1-12 |
| Albert Bean | Chesed Love | Psalm 86:1-17 |
| Martha S. Bergen | Rome: The Growth of the Eternal City | Romans |
| Robert Bergen | Potiphar in Egyptian Society | Gen 39:1-23 |
| Bryan E. Beyer | The Practice of Covenant Making | Gen 12:1-3; 15:1-18 |
| Ronald E. Bishop | Isaac | Gen 17:19; 22:2; 24:4, 67; 25:11a |
| Steve Booth | Of Inns and Inns | Luke 2:1-20; 10:25-37 |
| Bennie R. Crockett Jr | Immanuel | Matt 1:18-23; 2:1-2, 10-11 |
| Rick Davis | Destroyed Relationships | Gen 3:1-24 |
| Bob Dean | Paul's Use of the Old Testament in Romans | Romans |
| Robert J. Dean | Roads and Travel in the First Century | Luke 1:26-35; 2:4-7 |
| Joel Drinkard | Beersheba | Gen 26:12-33 |
| Bob Dunston | The Hills and the Valley | Gen 13:1-18 |
| Wayne Etheridge | Admah and Zeboiim | Gen 9:24-29 |
| Gary Lee Gramling | The Samaritans | John 4:7, 9-15, 28-30, 39-40 |
| Elmer L. Gray | Capital Punishment in the Ancient Near East | Gen 9:6 |
| Sharon H. Gritz | Life for a First Century Housewife | Luke 15:1-10 |
| Sharon H. Gritz | The "Word" in John's Gospel | John 1:1-18 |
| George H. Guthrie | First-Century Roman Government | Rom 13:1-14 |
| Stephen Z. Hearne | Forgiveness in the New Testament | Matt 18:21 |
| Norma S. Hedin | Birth Rituals of the First Century | Luke 2:8-20, 36-38 |
| Gene Henderson | A Description of Noah's Ark | Gen 6:1 - 8:22 |
| Timothy Paul Jones | The Meaning of "Raca" | Matt 5:21-26 |
| Francis X. Kimmitt | Ancient Near Eastern Flood Stories | Gen 8:20 - 9:17 |
| Thomas D. Lea | The Early Church's Use of Messianic Passages | Isa 53; Acts 28:23 |
| Jerry W. Lee | The Dust of the Ground | Gen 2:4-25 |
| David C. Maltsberger | Where Is Mt. Moriah? | Gen 21:1-7; 22:6-8, 15-18 |
| Claude Mariottini | Canaan in Patriarchal Times | Gen 12 |
| John Mason | Love's Abiding Nature | 1 Cor 12:31b - 13:13 |
| John Mason | Sychar and Jacob's Well | John 4:1-45 |
| David M. May | The Spirit of Restoration | Gal 6:1-10, 14-18 |
| T. Van McClain | Abraham's Homeland | Gen 12:1-20 |
| Glenn McCoy | First Century Priesthood | Luke 1:1-80 |
| Glenn McCoy | Introduction to Romans | Romans |
| Daniel R. McGee | The Servant Songs in Isaiah | Isa 53:1-11 |
| Larry McGraw | The Meaning of Violence | Gen 6:11-13; Psalm 55:9-11; Jonah 3:6-10; 1 Pet 3:9-12 |
| Warren McWilliams | The Galatian People | Galatians |
| Warren McWilliams | Grief Practices in New Testament Times | Psalm 23:4; John 11:24-26; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Rev 21:4 |
| Allan Moseley | David and Absalom: A Family Tragedy | Gen 50:17; 2 Sam 19:4, 7-8; Luke 15:20-24; Eph 4:32 |
| Allan Moseley | Who Were the Philistines? | 1 Samuel |
| Harold R. Mosley | In God's Image | Gen 1:1 - 2:23 |
| Harold R. Mosley | Zoar | Gen 18-19 |
| Timothy L. Noel | Jewish Inheritance Laws | Luke 15:25-30 |
| John Polhill | Paul and the Romans | Romans |
| Michael Priest | To "Tabernacle" | John 1:1-18 |
| Carolyn Ratcliffe | Messianic Expectations in Intertestamental Judaism | Luke 1:26-38; Matt 1:18-25 |
| Charles A. Ray | Nero: Ruler of Rome | Romans 13:1-14 |
| C. Mack Roark | Forgiveness & the Jewish Tradition | Matt 18 |
| C. Mack Roark | Martha of Bethany | Luke 9:51 - 10:42 |
| Glenn E. Robertson | Jewish Teachings on Forgiveness | Matt 18:1-9; 21-22 |
| Glenn E. Robertson | Was John the Baptist a Nazirite? | Luke 1:5-25, 57-80 |
| Bob Ross | Journey to Bethlehem | Luke 2:1-7 |
| Thomas Sawyer | Feasting: First Century Practices | John 12:2; Luke 7:37; 15:23 |
| W. Murray Severance | Fiery Darts | Eph 6:16 |
| George H. Shaddix | Ancient Altars | Gen 8:15 - 9:11 |
| Bob Simmons | The Curse | Gal 3:15 - 4:7 |
| T. C. Smith | A Convenient Theology | Job 8:6; Psalm 145:15-20 |
| Don H. Stewart | Obedient Joseph | Matt 1:18-25; 2:13-23 |
| Robert A. Street | Deceiver | Gen 25-33 |
| Robert A. Street | Haran | Genesis |
| Philip J. Swanson | Esau and the Edomites | Gen 32 |
| J. Rodney Taylor | Noah in Jewish Folklore | Gen 5:28 - 9:29 |
| John Mark Terry | Absalom: David's Son | 2 Sam 13-19 |
| John Mark Terry | Eliezer: Faithful Steward | Gen 15:2 |
| William Tolar | A Different Gospel | Gen 1:6-7; 2:11-21 |
| William Tolar | Jews in First Century Rome | Romans |
| Wayne VanHorn | Curses and Blessings in the Old Testament | Gen 2:15 - 3:24 |
| Fred M. Wood | Abimelech | Genesis |
| Fred M. Wood | My Brother's Keeper | Gen 4:1-26 |
| Fred M. Wood | Valley of Gerar | Genesis |
| R. Garland Young | Naming a Child | Luke 1:5-13, 24-25, 59-64 |
Biblical Illustrator Magazine is available by subscription for $24.95 and Biblical Illustrator Plus CDROM for $34.35. I highly recommend it even if you don't use these curriculums simply to build up a personal library of biblical backgrounds articles.