“To understand the immediate cultural and societal background of the cities to which John wrote in Revelation 1 and 2, we must first understand the broader background of Roman civilization and its impact upon Asian province,” writes Roland H. Worth in the introduction to this fascinating, information-packed work. It is an in-depth study of the history, culture, society, economics, and environment of early Christians living in Roman Asia. Drawing on a multitude of resources from diverse disciplines, Worth surveys Roman life and attitudes in general, and demonstrates how Roman power developed and was exercised in Asia. He describes life in Roman Asia: what it was like to live in that province, how the imperial cult grew and prospered there, as well as the nature of official governmental persecution in the first century. A second book, The Seven Cities of the Apocalypse and Greco-Asian Culture, will fill in the details of the local background of the Christians for whom the “mini-epistles” in the book of Revelation were written.

The companion to The Seven Cities of the Apocalypse and Roman Culture, this study explores the social world in which early Christians functioned in Asia, providing a comprehensive picture of life in this eastern province of the Roman Empire and focusing on how the local environment affects the interpretation of the book of Revelation. The history, population, local culture, economies, and cults of each city are examined in detail. Including data from hundreds of sources, this volume should prove useful to students of both the Bible and Roman history, as it bridges the gap between the two specialties and provides many details that enable the reader to imagine what life would really have been like in those ancient cities. As such, this study provides a valuable supplement to the broader question of Rome’s general impact upon the region traced in the Roman Culture volume. Although there are many works on the subject, this is the only place where all the information is pulled together. It is a useful resource for Scripture scholars, nonprofessionals with an interest in Bible study, professors and students of Scripture, and historians specializing in the first century CE.

A one–volume evangelical Wesleyan commentary on the entire Bible. John Wesley believed the Bible to be the Word of God, and he insisted that Wesleyan teaching conform to that standard. This commentary carefully explains the Bible, book by book, in terms of the intentions of the authors who composed it. At the same time, it is an inspiring exposition of the Bible’s message for us and the peoples of all times. The work includes introductory articles that reinforce the historic Wesleyan view of the infallibility and authority of the Scriptures. Written by nearly fifty scholars, this work is a collaboration to aid pastors, Sunday school teachers, Bible study leaders, college and seminary students, and others who love the Word of God.

Includes Part 1, Number 2: Books and Pamphlets, Including Serials and Contributions to Periodicals July - December)