Though an understanding of the historical/cultural environment of the New Testament is essential for critical interpretation, acquiring such information can be a daunting task. Readings from the First-Century World: Primary Sources for New Testament Study skillfully guides users through this challenging terrain. The selections are designed as a vehicle to move the learner with little or no knowledge of ancient sources to a basic understanding of the significant authors and texts. Readings from a variety of genres give insight into the archaeological, theological, and sociological background of the New Testament world. Among the many contributions are works by Tacitus, Josephus, and Philo. Proposed list: Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey Readings from the Ancient Near East: Primary Sources for Old Testament Study Encountering the Book of Genesis Encountering the Psalms Encountering the Prophecy of Isaiah Encountering the Gospel of John Encountering the Epistle to the Romans Encountering the Epistle to the Hebrews