Table of Contents

Contents in Brief List of Maps and Charts...19 Preface...23 Abbreviations...25 Introduction...27 PART ONE: THE PROMISE 1. The Origin of the Bible...43 2. This Is the Way the World Was...57 3. Why the World Is Such a Mess...69 4. Abraham and Son(s)...87 5. Jacob and His Tribes...103 6. Let My People Go!..121 7. Making a Nation Out of a Mob...139 8. Just a-Lookin' for a Home...157 9. Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho--and Hazor Too...177 10. The Best of Times, the Worst of Times...195 11. Give Us a King Like the Rest of the Nations...213 12. A Kingdom United...231 13. The Failure of the North...255 14. The Roller-Coaster South...283 15. The Nation in Exile...315 16. Home Again...331 PART TWO: THE BLESSING 17. Bridges to the New Testament...349 18. Who Is Jesus the Messiah?...373 19. An Empty Tomb...399 20. The First Church Was Jewish...429 21. Reaching Out to Gentiles...447 22. What about the Gentiles?...463 23. Moving into Europe...477 24. Tentmaker and Troubleshooter...493 25. The Road to Rome...511 26. Rome and Beyond...533 27. The End of the Apostolic Age...551 28. But What about John?...573 Glossary...595 Bibliography...601 Credits and Permissions...607 Notes...609 Index...653

About the Author

Michael Harbin (ThD and ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) is the chair of the biblical studies, Christian education, and philosophy department at Taylor University. The author of To Serve Other Gods, Michael lives in Upland, Indiana.