The Century of the New Testament

by E.M. Blaiklock

"Those who seek a balanced view of ancient history cannot neglect the New Testament records. Nor can those who would understand the New Testament disregard the history of the Mediterranean world of which Palestine was a a part. This book seeks to search both ends."

158 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Edward Musgrave Blaiklock OBE (6 July 1903 – 26 October 1983) was chair of classics at the University of Auckland from 1947 to 1968, and champion of Christian apologetic literature in New Zealand from the 1950s until his death in 1983.

Reviews

[Chris Comis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good NT scholarship. A bit dated now, but still very applicable. He basically takes a preterist approach to most of the prophetic passages of the NT, especially as these are played out in their first century context. He takes the late-date approach to the writing of the book of Revelation (AD 94 or so), but still manages to show how most of the book of Revelation is about the events that transpired from about 64 AD to 70 AD.

One of my favorite passages was where he discusses the aristocratic Christian constituency in Rome during the time of Nero. He mentions the evidence that there was a rather large Christian element in Nero's court, and how this was part and parcel to Nero's persecution of the Church in his day.

Basically, a great book on the events just leading up to the birth of Christ during the reign of Augustus Caesar in 27 BC, to the time of the end of Domitian's reign in 96 AD.