Kristi McLelland
Professor, Teacher, and Biblical Culturalist
newlensbiblicalstudies.comBonus Features
Growing in the Knowledge of God
"May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord." —2 Peter 1:2 (NLT)
In that same letter, Peter closes with a similar exhortation: "...you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
For years, I asked the Lord to increase my hunger and desire for him—for his Word—and, in his faithfulness, he did. Studying the Word of God is one of the greatest joys of my life, and over the past two decades, I've grown closer to him through the teaching of Bible scholars and theologians who study Scripture through its original Middle Eastern lens rather than a Western mindset. That "adjusted focus" has blessed me immeasurably and opened up the Bible in a fresh, new way.
It's my hope that the resources on this page will bless you, and that you, too, will grow in the grace and knowledge of God and Jesus Christ—right along with me.
And as always, if you only have time to read one book today, make it his. Because his Word never returns void. As the LORD says in Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)—"It is the same with my word, I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it."
Reading Scripture Through a Middle Eastern Lens
Resources that provide deeper understanding of the social and cultural landscape of Biblical times—shedding greater light on Scripture when reading it through a Middle Eastern lens
Print Resources
Some titles may also be available in ebook and audiobook formats.
- Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith
Lois Tverberg and Ann Spangler
- Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life
Lois Tverberg
- Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus: How a Jewish Perspective Can Transform Your Understanding
Lois Tverberg
- 5 Hebrew Words that Every Christian Should Know: A Bite-Sized Bible Study
Lois Tverberg
- Listening to the Language of the Bible
Lois Tverberg
- Jesus and Women: In the First Century and Now
Kristi McLelland
- Bringing Heaven Here: A Prayer That Can Change Everything
Brad Gray
- Life in Biblical Israel (Library of Ancient Israel)
Philip J. King, Lawrence E. Stager—Westminster John Knox Press
- Social World of Ancient Israel: 1250-587 B.C.E.
Victor M. Matthews
- Invitation to Church History, 2 Volume Set: The Story of Christianity
John D. Hannah
- Sketches of Jewish Social Life
Alfred Edersheim
- Zondervan Dictionary of Biblical Imagery
John A. Beck
- The New Manners & Customs of Bible Times
Ralph Gower
- Manners And Customs In The Bible: An Illustrated Guide to Daily Life in Bible Times
Victor H. Matthews
- Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural Studies in 1 Corinthians
Kenneth E. Bailey
- The Blue Parakeet, 2nd Edition: Rethinking How You Read the Bible
Scot McKnight
- Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels
Barry Beitzel
- Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels
Kenneth E. Bailey
- Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible
Randolph E. Richards
- The Training of the Twelve: How Jesus Christ Found and Taught the 12 Apostles
A. B. Bruce
- The Mishnah: Translated from the Hebrew With Introduction and Brief Explanatory Notes
Herbert Danby
- The Didache: A Window on Earliest Christians
Thomas O'Loughlin
- The IVP Bible Background Commentary
Craig S. Keener
Informs about the cultural norms of ancient times
- Talk Thru the Bible: A Quick Guide to Help You Get More Out of the Bible
Bruce Wilkinson
- Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus
Joachim Jeremias
- Daily Life at the Time of Jesus
Miriam Feinberg Vamosh
- Women at the Time of the Bible
Miriam Feinberg Vamosh
Video Resources
Brad Gray
Bible teacher and speaker
walkingthetext.comLois Tverberg
Author, Bible teacher, and student of Ray Vander Laan
Focus on the Family has released a 6-part video series featuring Lois Tverberg based on her book Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus. Each episode is approximately 10 minutes and explores what it means to be a modern-day disciple of Christ in His Jewish context.
Other Resources I Recommend
A rich, verse-by-verse journey through one of Paul's most beloved letters.
I've been doing BSF for nearly twenty years—and I cannot imagine my life without it. If you're looking for a deep, structured study of God's Word in community with other believers, this is it.
A compelling look at one of the Old Testament's greatest stories of faith, leadership, and rebuilding against all odds.
A beautifully crafted Bible app read by women, for women—a favorite for daily time in God's Word.
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