Book Review: What’s In A Name?

In this volume, Simmons sets out to ‘bridge the gap between our world and the world of Jesus and the apostles’ through an analysis of ancient documents and modern scholarship. This bridge is constructed with eighteen carefully presented chapters, each dedicated to a different social or cultural segment of the wider society under investigation. Indeed, the progression through the various strata of society does take one on an impressive journey over the sometimes murky waters of the key traits and influences of the peoples populating the Roman empire of the New Testament period. The historical factors which led to the characteristics that most typified them in this period are also presented. Through careful scholarship and analysis, these groups and the social environment in which they existed become an increasingly clear picture to the reader. The breadth of material covered in the space of just a few hundred pages is impressive. One comes away with a basic knowledge of lifestyles ranging from emperors to slaves; from high priests and lofty philosophers to people struggling to maintain religious identity in the face of daily necessities. One of the problems in the text is an inundation of names, timelines and complex relationships, which can be overwhelming for a reader approaching the text as an introduction to the subject. However, plenty of references for further reading are provided, and each chapter has its own annotated bibliography to help guide one to clarification on specific topics. All in all this is a clear, well-presented coverage of a subject that is sure to be of interest to students of the New Testament.