The Bible has had an immeasurable influence on Western culture, touching on virtually every aspect of our lives. This authoritative one-volume reference to the people, places, events, books, and secular influence of the Bible was written by over 250 scholars from 20 nations. Full-color map section.

Bruce M. Metzger is George L. Collard Professor Emeritus of New Testament Language and Literature, Princeton Theological Seminary. A recognised authority on the text of the New Testament, he was chairperson of the NRSV Bible Committee, which produced the New Revised Standard Version, and he was co-editor (with Roland E. Murphy) of The New Oxford Annotated Bible. Michael D. Coogan is Professor of Religious Studies at Stonehill College.