A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion
Page 16
“A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion is a helpful introduction to first-century history cloaked in an arresting story of a Roman centurion and his young slave, Tullus. Burge’s careful reconstructive work frames and fills in the story, with each chapter concluding with more detailed information about the various topics raised in that chapter (e.g., Capernaum, honor and shame, the Roman army). Yet for all its pedagogical value, the reader will be riveted by the story itself—an imaginative retelling of the backstory of a centurion who comes to Jesus for healing for his slave. Gary Burge proves to be a masterful storyteller in this engaging and fast-paced narrative. A great book for anyone interested in the New Testament and its social world.”
Jeannine K. Brown, professor of New Testament, Bethel Seminary, San Diego
“Masterfully written and extensively researched, this fast-paced account invites the reader into the first-century world of the Gospels even while intriguing the reader as a good story should. In contrast to some scholars’ wooden portrayals of all Jews or Romans or Syrians as the same, in this story, the characters are nuanced and come alive.”
Craig Keener, F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary
“Biblical scholars are not typically known for writing historical novels, much less gripping page-turners. Gary Burge, however, has accomplished both of these feats. Fully true to the historical-cultural setting of the early first-century Roman empire, this story not only makes the New Testament world come alive but it creates one very plausible scenario of the career and family of the Capernaum centurion of Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10. The characters become so real that I was even tearing up at the end of Burge’s story!”
Craig L. Blomberg, Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary
“I couldn’t put this book down. Part historical novel and part cultural handbook, Gary Burge’s A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion is a delight to read. This will be a great supplemental text for my New Testament courses. Students will be so entertained they won’t even realize how much they’re learning!”
Mark L. Strauss, professor of New Testament, Bethel Seminary, San Diego
About the Author
Gary M. Burge is professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. Among his many published books are Theology Questions Everyone Asks (with coeditor David Lauber), Jesus and the Land, Jesus the Middle Eastern Story Teller and Interpreting the Gospel of John.
More Titles from InterVarsity Press
A Week in the Life of Corinth
978-0-8308-6699-1
Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes
978-0-8308-7585-6
Theology Questions Everyone Asks
978-0-8308-8448-3
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