New Testament Primer: Regions of the Holy Land

Need help keeping all those New Testament place names straight? In this final installment of our "New Testament Primer" series, we take a look at new Testament geography. Professor D. Kelley Ogden examines the Holy Land by region, describing the topography, population, and history of each area.

Galilee

There are over fifty references in the Gospels to Galilee as a region, the first mention being Joseph's return from Egypt with Mary and Jesus to live in the northernmost region of the land of Israel: "When he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea . . . , he was afraid to go thither: . . . he turned aside into the parts of Galilee." (Matt. 2:22.)

Jesus' ministry begins with a geographical note: "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him." (Matt. 3:13; see Mark 1:14.) And then "Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues." (Matt. 4:23.) Important towns of Galilee in Jesus' ministry included "Nazareth of Galilee" (Matt. 21:11), "Capernaum, a city of Galilee" (Luke 4:31), "Cana of Galilee" (John 2:1), and "Bethsaida of Galilee" (John 12:21).

One of the most important towns in Galilee was Sepphoris (located about three miles northwest of Nazareth), where Herod Antipas resided prior to making Tiberias the capital of Galilee. Since Sepphoris is not mentioned in the New Testament, few people have heard of it. Jesus may have taught there since he went throughout all of Galilee.

All but one of Jesus' apostles were Galilaeans (Judas Iscariot was perhaps a Judaean). When Jesus departed into heaven from the Mount of Olives, two men in white apparel asked, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven." (Acts 1:11.)

The speech of Galilaeans was apparently distinct from their fellow countrymen. A young girl at Caiaphas's palace in Jerusalem accused Peter, "Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto." (Mark 14:70.) Matthew adds, "Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee [Greek: reveals you]." (Matt. 26:73.) At the celebration of Pentecost after the Lord's resurrection, the thousands that had gathered in Jerusalem from all the Mediterranean world were amazed and marveled at the linguistic phenomenon they had witnessed, "saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?" (Acts 2:7.)

New Testament Primer: How We Got the New Testament

They didn't abandon the Old Word, for new understanding had made it more precious than ever. But they now had a New Word as well--Christ's teachings and the powerful example and acts of his life.

Because of the Jews, the Christians from the beginning possessed a body of scriptures as a unique heritage. But unlike orthodox Jews, who believed the collection to be completed scripture, Christ's disciples knew there was now a richer portion. They didn't abandon the Old Word, for new understanding had made it more precious than ever. But they now had a New Word as well—Christ's teachings and the powerful example and acts of his life.

The testimonies that have come to us of this New Word are those of apostles or of disciples closely associated with apostles: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Several ancient sources confirm that the gospel bearing the name of Matthew was written by the apostle Matthew, otherwise called Levi, the tax collector, who is said to have been run through with a spear as a consequence of his written and oral testimony.

Matthew spoke powerfully to his own people, longing for their eyes to be opened so they could see that the man Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and was their long-expected Messiah. His testimony is sweetened by many direct quotations of the Savior's own words. It is Matthew to whom we are indebted for a detailed recounting of Christ's Sermon on the Mount. In fact, there is a recorded statement by a bishop named Papias in the first half of the second century that Matthew was the one who compiled a record of Christ's sayings in Hebrew, and that others used his record as a source for their own testimonies of Christ's life and teachings.¹

New Testament Resources for Latter-day Saints

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher preparing to teach the New Testament for the first time, or a Gospel Doctrine student anxious to drink deep this coming year, you could probably use a good book (or two) to supplement your study. From recent titles to perennial favorites, here is a review of some of the best New Testament books for Latter-day Saints.

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher preparing to teach the New Testament for the first time, or a Gospel Doctrine student anxious to drink deep this coming year, you could probably use a good book (or two) to supplement your study. A reliable commentary can enrich your understanding of the language, culture, and lands of the New Testament, provide significant doctrinal insights, and expand your appreciation for the life and mission of Christ and his apostles.

But where can you find a dependable commentary? Fortunately, there are dozens of fantastic books on the New Testament suited for LDS readers. From recent titles to perennial favorites, here is a review of some of the best New Testament books for Latter-day Saints. If you have other suggestions, please post them to the message board for this article.

• General and Reference
• The World of the New Testament
• The Four Gospels
• The Acts and Epistles
• The Book of Revelation
• Specific Subjects
• The Joseph Smith Translation