Please note this is a US edition of the NIV Bible, distributed in the UK by Hodder & Stoughton on behalf of Zondervan Publishers. Experience the Bible through the eyes of a first-century disciple by exploring the cultural, religious, and historical background of the Bible. This Bible allows you to understand God's Word in its original cultural context, bringing Scripture to life by providing fresh understanding to familiar passages, beloved stories and all the Scripture in between. The NIV First-Century Study Bible invites you into the questions, stories, and interpretations - both ancient and modern - which introduce you to a world vastly different from your own. Let us read with an eye on the past and with our feet planted in our present questions and circumstances. Join Kent Dobson as he unpacks the culture of Bible times and illuminates Scripture passages while asking thoughtful questions along the way. Kent is the teaching pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan, where he initially served as the worship director. He has been featured on Biblical programmes for the History Channel and the Discovery Channel. Kent fell in love with Biblical studies in Israel and had the privilege of learning from both Jewish and Christian scholars. After his time in Israel, he returned to the States to teach high school religion and Bible before responding to God's call to the pastorate. Today, he keeps his connection to the Holy Land strong as he leads tours to Israel that combine study and prayer, inspired by the ancient discipline of spiritual pilgrimage. This Bible uses the NIV translation, with US text. The text size is 9pt.