John Walton: What is the Ancient Near East?

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What is the ancient Near East? Is it useful for understanding the Bible? Dr. John Walton explains that without knowing the ancient background to texts, we may be tempted to fill in the gaps with our own modern cultural notions rather than the ones the biblical text assumed.

[@erichandley5176]

Learning about the ancient Near East, we learn so much about the Roman Empire, the evolution of Christianity, the Persian Empire, the Islamic caliphate and the formation of the Ottoman Empire.

[@markziegler580]

Thank you for bringing the need to understand the Ancient World, as much as we can, to grasp what was trying to be communicated to translate it into our world today.

[@oldlegend7169]

this helps me to understand the way the ancient people think - ancient world context.. not necessarily a myth but just a different way of thinking or looking at things.. thank you Dr!

[@kvelez]

0:49 Good quote. 4:45 Interesting view.

[@ChuckDownfield2727]

This guy is awesome

[@seantan2323]

Very good teaching. God bless you.

[@Moreh17]

So well said!

[@rnjan99]

Thank you for this info.

[@afoley2812]

The term Middle East was originally used by the British to refer to India, and India is in the Middle East in relation to the Near East and the Far East, but the subject of geography is somewhat lacking in the American education system.

[@miecadallo3271]

I just wanna ask why is Pentateuch different from other ancient Near Eastern literature? Thank you.

[@wesdale1753]

2/3 of the video is gone and he hasn't explain what is near east

[@DonExodus3]

The ancient near east is the middle east, 3000 years ago. The environment in which the Bible was originally written. It is the context of Genesis.

[@joelthorne7434]

You must be knowledgeable about the ancient Near East in order to study ancient Israel and the Bible, because ancient Israel and the Bible developed in the ancient world.

[@ChipKempston]

Good video, and a very important topic. However, I don't know why there would be any hesitation to say we need "experts" to help us understand. This has been true throughout Sacred History from Moses to John to the Ecumenical Councils and even to the Reformation. I don't believe most people have a correct understanding of Biblical Faith, which is why "easy believism" is rampant in some circles and why many have such a difficult time finding support for their doctrines in the Ante-Nicene fathers until Augustine comes along three centuries after Christ, with very little knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, or Middle Eastern culture. Yet this is who many in both Protestant and Catholic circles trace their theology to. I think the speaker makes some great points, but holds back a little too much because it's not popular to say that someone can't just pick up the Bible and understand it. Typically, they can't without years and years of study.

[@DanielWesleyKCK]

+Chip Kempston Good point. Every time we read an English translation of scripture, we're silently acknowledging our dependence on one or more "experts" to accurately translate and even interpret ancient texts produced in cultures all significantly different than the one we're currently embedded in.

[@Geletin911]

Well, he's coming from an Evangelical point of view, so of course he is going to say, "Nah, it's not necessary to have knowledge in order to have Jesus be your best bud, bro".

[@lisachapman-lush12420]

I agree. I know your comment is from nine years ago, and I am seeing this video for the first time for a course I am currently taking over the Old Testament. You make a very good point, as does the speaker in what he does say, but it is important to understand that we are always going to have more to learn, as we are not able to fully obtain and understand everything about God or this world, as our minds could not handle it in our human limited comprehension. When I was 14, my grandmother gave me a Bible concordance to help me translate the meaning of the ancient texts, and one of the first English translation of the original King James Bibles translated in1769, the original version of it is from 1611, which was directly written in translation of the the original scrolls collected and discovered before the first version of the Bible recorded in English language. She said that due to these translations over the years and the difficulty to properly understand the ancient Hebrew and Greek languages, the concordance would help me to understand what I was reading better. Even with taking her advice as I persistently refer to it for further understanding, I still find some things difficult to understand. I always pray to the Lord to bless me with the understanding that I His Will for me to understand. I also have discussion with others, especially preachers and those who I look up to with deeper understanding of the Bible. There will always be more that we learn in about the Bible, as well as, in and about life. The most important thing is to pray to our Heavenly Father, God, for the understanding He intends for us, together and as indu, as He has unique purposes for us all in this journey toward eternal fate. Those who refuse to believe or don't even try to understand God's Word, we must pray for them, as they are our neighbors, our brothers and sisters, whom God says we are to love as we love ourselves. I love this video and your comment. God bless. 😊

[@gravymorales4762]

👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎

[@Molemania11]

Wolf in sheep’s clothing. This man does not know God.

[@scentsyoureasking5506]

Present that accusation with evidence you received by God.

[@philipps6032]

Anyone can say that.

[@cjlc93]

I knew I would see a baseless accusation in the comments