The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Good sources?

Hello.. I am in desperate need of some help.. I have a take home quiz from my biblical interp class.. I have 2 weeks to complete it but I must have IMPORTANT and PERTINENT information.. My quiz is to research and report on Paul, his relationship to the church of the Philippians, what the Philippians were known for, what other important churches were nearby, why were they important to the Philippians OR Paul, et cetera. Tomorrow I will officially be given the quiz with all of the specifics but I do know that I need to use Bible dictionaries, encyclopedias and such to find my information; NO INTERNET ALLOWED.. If my teach catches an internet source, AUTOMATIC 0%.. Unless the source is from a Bible program on a computer that is only an electronic copy of a physical printed book.. Anyways, I am lost as to what type of dictionaries or encyclopedias to use. What brands/publishers are better than others? I can also use "extra biblical" material such as Josephus or others like him.. I am pretty sure that the "Isbee" (I think thats it anyway) has a good series, but outside of that, I have not even the foggiest of any good books to use. I am hoping to be able to find these at a secular library or a book store like borders that will allow me to use the book within their walls for I dont have the $$$ to buy them and I have no library memberships.. I can find some at my school library but its SOO far away from my home.. 30+ miles each way for the library is a long ways.. ANY help would be grand and I thank you all in advance!

I don't know what you will find at stores like Borders or any other secular book store for that matter but you can get some good books at reasonable prices from wtsbooks.com (the bookstore at Westminster Theological Seminary). Others might have some good suggestions but a couple I can come up with are:
Let's Study Philippians (Paperback) by Ferguson, Sinclair B. $8.45
Philippians, 2nd ed. (BECNT)

Philippians, 2nd ed. Moises Silva, Baker Book House
Hardcover List Price: $29.99 Sale $19.19

Clint,

Here are a couple of suggestions which I would put at the top of my list:

1) New Testament Commentary - The Epistle to the Philippians, by William Hendriksen

2) Survey of the Bible: A Treasury of Bible Information, by William Hendriksen

Both are published by Baker Book House.

In His grace,

Commentaries often have a lot of the historical background, purpose of the letter, context, and stuff like that to offer. The notes in the New Geneva Study Bible are a good starting place, and sometimes they refer to other sources as well.

-R

The others have given excellent advice, especially with Hendriksen.

Wouldn't Berea and Thessalonica be two cities in close proximity to Philippi