Mr. Ferguson covers the political history, society, and culture of both the Greeks and the Romans from the time of Alexander through the first century and a little beyond. Then he covers Judaism just as completely from the time of the return from Babylonian captivity. The table of contents is nearly as detailed as an index, and it is easy to find what you need.
For example, in a class I was teaching recently, a student asked about the "lost gospels." This book covers all the apocryphal books in the Judaism section, not just those few included in the New Jerusalem (Catholic) Bible, and gives you a brief synopsis of each book, along with the evidence (or lack of) about its origins and canonicity. (And by the way, those books are not lost—scholars have known about them for years, in some cases centuries.) When you finish you have no doubt that these do not belong in anyone's Bible.
Another week someone asked about Gnosticism. I found an informative section on that sect. For one thing I learned that Gnosticism was not simply a Christian heresy. It was a pagan philosophy with many versions taught by many people for many years, including Plato. Gradually it made its way into the early church toward the end of the first century. It is impossible to list unequivocally, as we tend to do in our Bible classes, what "Gnostics" believe because there are so many types. However, he does manage to give eight "Characteristic Features," and in those you can see the things John, especially, was fighting in his gospel and epistles.
Of course this book is not necessary to understand how to please God and make your way to Heaven. Only one book can do that and it needs no help. However, the discussions here clearly point out the cultural "baggage" that first century Christians had to overcome, and studying it is a good reminder that we must do the same. When I hear about Christians who believe the USA is "the kingdom of God," or who are so "rights oriented" that they have no idea what yielding to a brother even means, I know we need that reminder. And learning what those ancient brethren were surrounded with on a daily basis can make us try harder to make a suitable application to ourselves.
I have no doubt that this book will come in handy for years to come. My husband will also use it, I am sure. It might make a good gift for yours.
This is the third edition of Backgrounds of Early Christianity, expanded and updated. It is published by Eerdmans.
Dene Ward