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By Felix Just, S.J., PH.D.: An Overview of New Testament Geography
By Felix Just, S.J., PH.D.: An Overview of New Testament Geography
Student Goals:
: to get a sense of the geographical flow of the four canonical
Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles;
: to learn about the major NT events that happened in the following
Roman provinces and cities;
: to be able to identify these provinces and major cities (esp. the
capitals) by location on a map:
: see the long list of Online Maps from the "New Testament
Gateway" website;
: or see the collection of Bible Maps on this website (access
restricted to current students)
: or see the maps in the back of most good "Study Bibles."
Notes:
Since borders frequently shifted, there are some differences
between the political geography at the time of the birth of Jesus
(ca. 4 BCE), the death of Jesus (ca. 30 CE), the ministry of Paul (ca.
40-64 CE), and the writing of the other NT books (ca. 70-100 CE).
First Century:
Perga - port city visited only briefly by Barnabas and Paul; where
John Mark left them (Acts 13:13-14; 14:25)
Colossae & Laodicea - Paul (or one of his followers) wrote letters
to the Christians in both these cities (Col 2:1; 4:13-16; also Rev
1:11; 3:14)