Archaeology Prof

I wrote about this on the OldTestamentProf.com blog, but I decided to add it here because the Biblical Illustrator is a great resource for those who are interested in Biblical Archaeolgy as well.

A not so well known resource for biblical and archaeological studies is the quarterly magazine Biblical Illustrator published by LifeWay Christian Resources. This is a shame because the articles are written by experts in the field and provide good background material for the Bible and its world.

I have written several articles for the magazine, including one on Gilgal that will appear in next summer’s edition. Go to the link to order a personal subscription or one for your church and Bible study teachers. The articles coincide with the Bible study curriculum of LifeWay, but they are very useful for personal study. 

LifeWay has several downloadable indexes to the Biblical Illustrator based on topic, scripture, and article title, etc. Biblical Illustrator is also indexed online in the Southern Baptist Periodical Index. Subscription rates for the SBPI are available, but check with your library; it may already carry the Index.

The editor, G. B. Howell does a great job in organizing each issue. The photographs, charts and illustrations are superb. I had the opportunity to serve as an archaeological consultant with G. B. on an extensive trip to Israel and Jordan. He ran me ragged searching for all of the out-of-the-way places, not normally mentioned or often visited.

LifeWay also sells the magazine on a CD-Rom called the Biblical Illustrator Plus. The CD includes the current issue in PDF format plus 200 pages of addtional material, including 50-70 articles from their archives. The CD is an excellent resource as well.

Although I don’t know him personally, Rick Mansfield wrote up his view on the Biblical Illustrator in his blog back in 2006. The links on his page are old and do not work.