The sole purpose of this commentary (unlike most others) is to illuminate cultural, social, and historical realities in order to help the modern reader see how the first reader understood specific New Testament texts. Although some contextual or theological notes were sometimes required, they were kept to a minimum, leaving the reader to interpret the text for himself.

Knowledge of ancient culture is extremely important for understanding the Bible. Recognition of the importance of the historical context of the Bible does not negate the fact that biblical texts are reliable, retain their value for any time; but they cannot be applied to all circumstances. Different biblical texts address different circumstances and situations. Thus, some of them are directly related to the problem of salvation, others call Christians to fulfill their mission, others encourage them to take care of the poor and destitute, etc. Before putting these texts into practice, it is necessary to understand what their original purpose was and what circumstances accompanied it.

This in no way diminishes the importance of other factors that must be taken into account when interpreting the Bible. The most important aspect closely related to the spiritual acceptance of the truth in the heart and its use in life is always the literary, authorial context, i.e., it is necessary to read each biblical book taking into account how it was written and built by the author led by the Holy Spirit. This commentary does not pretend to do more than equip the reader with the necessary tool to gain access to the historical and cultural layer of the New Testament—but that is not the whole story. In my sermons and in my teaching, I am more concerned with the literary context than with culture. But readers can understand the context of a particular passage by studying the Bible itself. For ministers and other readers of the Bible, practical understanding is also essential, but the specific application of Bible truths can vary from culture to culture and from person to person, and this too is easily accessible to Bible readers without help.

For most of those for whom this commentary is intended (i.e., those who do not know Greek or Hebrew), it is extremely important to have a good, easy-to-read translation (e.g., one can recommend NASB, a translation that is very close to the original text, or NIV, which is easier to read than others. While the King James Version (KJV) is based on several New Testament manuscripts, mostly medieval ones, we now have more than 5,000 New Testament manuscripts, including some that are extremely close to the New Testament books (according to the standards used for ancient texts). These manuscripts make the New Testament the most well-documented book of the ancient world to date, and also explain why we have more accurate translations today than in the past. But the most important reason to use the latest translations is that they are written in modern English, and therefore they are easier to understand. Understanding the Bible and then applying its teachings in life is the primary purpose for which it is intended.

In the process of reading the Bible, it is very helpful to use other methods of studying the text itself, such as drawing up an outline and notes. For a more complete guide to Bible study, see Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, Howto Read the Bible for All Its Worth [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1981]

But one important factor in the practical understanding of the Bible that is not accessible to most readers is its cultural background. This commentary is intended to fill this gap and is recommended to be used along with other important elements of biblical study: an accurate and easy-to-read translation, context, prayer, and practical application of biblical teaching in life.

It must be emphasized once again that this commentary will be of no use to those who neglect the study of context, a principle of interpretation more fundamental than the cultural setting. It is recommended that you read each Bible book in its entirety, rather than jumping from one part of the Bible to another, to get a complete picture of the message of a particular Bible book. These books were addressed simultaneously to different groups of the population, who read them in turn, book by book, and applied the truths contained in them to specific situations. This must be taken into account in the process of reading, teaching, or preparing a sermon based on biblical material. (If the study of texts takes into account the general

 context and literary devices that were used in the ancient world, many seeming contradictions in the Bible disappear. Ancient writers, like modern preachers, often adapted the language to the level of the contemporary reader, but did not distort the meaning of the text or message. This was accomplished through an appropriate arrangement of material, and the context served as an inspired guide for the practical implementation of Bible truths.) Each time before using this commentary, it is necessary to consider the passage under study in the context of the entire biblical book.

But after studying the passage in its context, this commentary can serve as a valuable source of information. It can be used in daily prayerful Bible reading, Bible study, or sermon preparation. For us as biblical Christians, the Word of God is the most important book to study, and I hope that this commentary will help all believers in their study of God's Word.

Хотя содержащаяся в книге информация была проверена в учебных классах, при изучении Библии, с кафедры и в личных молитвенных чтениях, она не может ответить на ряд вопросов социально-культурного плана, связанных с некоторыми текстами Нового Завета. Несмотря на попытки найти ответ на поставленные вопросы, невозможно предоставить ответы на все вопросы; по этой причине в конце комментария приводится список важных работ по древней культуре в виде краткой библиографии.

Читатель также может найти сведения, касающиеся конкретного отрывка, в примечании к другим текстам или разделам, куда я счел нужным их поместить как источник важных сведений. Поскольку Новый Завет состоит из книг, обращенных к разной аудитории (так, динамичное по стилю Евангелие от Марка предполагает быстрое прочтение, тогда как Евангелие от Матфея требует более углубленного изучения и запоминания), моя трактовка разных книг отличается тем, что одни книги рассматриваются более, а другие менее подробно. Так, наиболее трудная для понимания современного читателя Книга Откровение требуетнаиболее детального рассмотрения.

Как использовать эту книгу

Этот комментарий можно использовать либо как отдельный справочник, либо в процессе самостоятельного изучения Библии. При молитвенном чтении Библии или в процессе подготовки к проповеди используются два наиболее важных инструмента ее истолкования: изучение библейского текста и контекста. Третий важнейший фактор, который был уже известен и учитывался древними читателями, — это культурно-исторический фон текста. Назначение данного комментария в том, чтобы восполнить эту потребность в той мере, в какой это позволяют рамки и объем однотомного издания.

Фундаментальным источником новозаветных концепций является Ветхий Завет, особенно в греческом переводе. В данном комментарии рассматривается историко-культурный фон Ветхого Завета, но поскольку он доступен каждому читателю Библии, внимание в комментарии сосредоточено на иудейской и греко-римской (античной ) культуре I в. Раннехристианские авторы, естественно, останавливаются и на других раннехристианских традициях и преданиях, сведения о многих из них мы можем почерпнуть из Нового Завета; но поскольку и этот материал доступен читателю, он, как правило, не рассматривается. Аналогичным образом, не приводятся сведения о ценностях разных культур, поскольку читатели, которых это непосредственно касается, обладают такими знаниями.