Sep 10, 2012

Biblical Geography Strikes Back

  
A recent Wall Street Journal article entitled “Geography Strikes Back” reminded me of the importance that geography plays not only in understanding geopolitical realities, but also in understanding and appreciating the Bible. I know that biblical geography is not considered as hip as knowing Greek and Hebrew, but the longer I study, the more I appreciate the value of understanding the literal “facts on the ground” as it were. It is, of course, not an either/or dichotomy. You can and should study the biblical languages when possible. But how many spots on our shelves are filled with grammars and lexicons and yet we're lucky if we have one top-flight Bible atlas among our resources? When was the last time that you actually read your atlas or used a map to better understand the text? Maps and site pictures are not just eye-candy for our presentations but valuable tools in the work of understanding the Scriptures.

4 comments:

Wayne Stiles said...

Thanks, Charles. Honesty, I have found biblical geography MORE helpful to me in understanding the Bible than Greek or Hebrew. And it's far more accessible to the layman.

Anonymous said...

google map of biblical geography


http://www.openbible.info/geo/

Barry Britnell said...

Charles, well said. I made my first trip to Israel and Jordan in 2010. It has changed the way that I read the Bible because the geography of the land is so important. Thank you again for your comments.

Charles Savelle said...

I am glad that you had an opportunity to take a trip to the Holy Land. It really does change the way you read the Bible. Thanks for commenting.