"Putting scripture into a global context"--Cover.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 265-266).

The Bible in history. Where are we headed? ; Complexities in understanding history ; The nature of history -- From creation to the Tower of Babel. The beginning ; The start of it all : creation ; The basis for understanding ; Adam and Eve ; Cain and Abel ; Technological advancement ; The age of Noah ; Sargon of Akkad ; The day the world changed ; Reflections -- The world takes shape. The age of the patriarchs ; The fall of mankind ; The Tower of Babel ; From one man comes a nation ; Ur : Abraham's hometown ; Egypt ; Canaan ; The Bronze Age ; Hammurabi of Babylon ; Reflections -- The establishment of Israel. An important discovery ; The conquest of Canaan ; The God El ; One step forward, two steps back ; Out with the old, in with the new ; A new generation of pharaohs ; The world takes a step forward ; The Hittite Empire ; Outside the Near East ; A long way away ; The uniqueness of Israel ; Reflections -- Impacts and intersections. Sacred, secular, and redemptive ; The reign of David ; A brief look at China ; Solomon : the prosperous international ; The divided kingdom : a time of war ; Greece ; Reflections -- Captivity and hope. Transition and change ; A time of warning ; The Assyrian Empire and the northern kingdom of Israel ; The Assyrian and Babylonian empires and the southern kingdom ; The Assyrian threat ; The rise of Babylon ; The rest of the world ; The development of Buddhism ; Judah in captivity ; Nebuchadnezzar's dream ; The return ; The Cyrus cylinder ; Reflections -- War, restoration, and reflection. Setting the stage ; War ; The Persian Empire ; Restoration ; Reform ; China ; Greece ; The impact of Greek culture ; Reflections -- Establishment, conflict, and domination. The silent years ; Transition from the Greeks to the Romans ; Alexander the Great ; The world after Alexander ; The advancement of trade ; The rise of Rome ; The fight over Israel ; The birth of Jesus : the arrival of the King of Kings ; Reflections -- Anno Domini. Turning the page ; The Roman Empire ; The birth of the Church ; Judaism in Israel ; Judaism around the world ; The Gospel and the Roman Empire ; The expansion of the Church ; The apostle Paul ; Persecution ; Africa and the Church ; Reflections.