The reign of Byzantine emperor Justinian I (482–565 C.E.) was marked by both glory and devastation. Justinian reconquered much of the former Roman Empire while establishing lasting legal codes and Read more…
Biblical Topics
Biblical topics encompass issues in the study of the Bible and Biblical archaeology, scholars and archaeologists who study the Bible, and issues in the interpretation of the Bible and Biblical archaeology findings.
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Justinian Plague Linked to the Black Death
• 05/10/2013
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The “Strange” Ending of the Gospel of Mark and Why It Makes All the Difference
• 04/24/2013
Most general Bible readers have the mistaken impression that Matthew, the opening book of the New Testament, must be our first and earliest Gospel, with Mark, Luke and John following. Read more…
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The Parables of Jesus
• 03/27/2013
“Recovering the Original Meaning of Matthew’s Parables” by Helmut Koester as it was originally published in Bible Review magazine. Koester suggests that the parables of Jesus did not communicate a Read more…
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Ancient Crucifixion Images
• 03/27/2013
Crucifixion images abound today—from sculptures and icons in churches to the masterful paintings hanging in museums. But how many of these actually give us a realistic idea of what Jesus’ Read more…
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The Staurogram
• 03/26/2013
The staurogram, a crucifixion symbol made out of the Greek letters Tau-Rho, is 200 years older than the oldest previously-known images of Jesus on the cross. Read more…
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Analyzing Biblical Psychoanalysis
• 03/15/2013
A Bible History Daily-exclusive contribution by “Bible in the News” author Leonard J. Greenspoon Read more…
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Make No Bones About It
• 03/14/2013
The Bible in the News, as published in the March/April 2013 issue of BAR Read more…
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The Making of a Messiah
• 03/08/2013
In this post I want to to consider what I call the “textual dynamics of messianic self-identity.” I realize that is a mouthful but bear with me here, as this Read more…
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Gospel of John Commentary: Who Wrote the Gospel of John and How Historical is It?
• 02/22/2013
The Gospels, the first four books of the New Testament, tell the story of the life of Jesus. Yet only one—the Gospel of John—claims to be an eyewitness account, the Read more…
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Mary, Simeon or Anna: Who First Recognized Jesus as Messiah?
• 02/12/2013
Who was the first person to truly recognize Jesus as the Messiah and understand the implications? Biblical scholar Ben Witherington III takes a close look at the account given in Read more…
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Witnessing the Divine
• 12/23/2012
The legend of the magi has fired the imagination of Christians since the earliest times. In art, the adoration of the magi appeared earlier and far more frequently than any Read more…
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The Bible and Sexuality in South Africa
• 12/17/2012
With the Bible used as both tool and resource, human sexuality is being openly discussed in South Africa, according to a paper presented recently by Gerald O. West at the Read more…
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How December 25 Became Christmas
• 12/07/2012
Theological scholar Andrew McGowan examines how December 25 came to be associated with the birthday of Jesus and became Christmas, a holiday celebrated by Christians around the world. Read more…
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Bible Passages About Redemption Reveal the Original Political Meaning of Salvation
• 11/16/2012
The summer of 2012 marked the 60th anniversary celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the British throne. The pomp and pageantry of her diamond julibee captivated not only her Read more…
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The Origin of Christianity
• 11/09/2012
Geza Vermes explores the origin of Christianity by examining the characteristics of the Jewish Jesus movement to see how it developed into a distinctly gentile religion. Read more…
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Willing but Weak: Mind over Matter?
• 09/17/2012
It is Jesus to whom we are indebted for the thought that lies behind the well-known saying, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Jesus’ exact Read more…
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Jesus, Paul and the Gospels
• 09/13/2012
Sean Freyne reviews “Jesus, Paul and the Gospels” by James D.G. Dunn. Read more…
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Did I Find King David’s Palace?
• 09/07/2012
Excavator Eilat Mazar describes finding what she believes to be King David’s Palace in Jerusalem. Originally published in the January/February 2006 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review Read more…
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First Turkish Dig Abroad Reveals Byzantine Baptistery in Kosovo
• 09/07/2012
Turkish excavations in Kosovo recently exposed a baptistery from the 6th century C.E. in the ancient city of Ulpiana. The original Roman city was destroyed in the fifth century C.E., Read more…
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A “Jesus Hideout” in Jordan
• 09/05/2012
Biblical Scholar James Tabor examines the setting of some of the Jesus’ final excursions before his crucifixion. Read more…
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Misogyny in the Bible
• 08/31/2012
Is God gendered as a male in the Bible? How could Scripture, the Word of God to so many Christians, be the product of patriarchy and its over-sexed values that Read more…
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Excavating Early Scottish Christianity
• 08/14/2012
Excavations on the Scottish island Eigg have uncovered a seventh century C.E. structure thought to be the monastery founded by St. Donnan, one of the first missionaries in Scotland. Also Read more…
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Did Pharaoh Sheshonq Attack Jerusalem?
• 07/25/2012
Israeli scholar Yigal Levin’s article “Did Pharaoh Sheshonq Attack Jerusalem” in the July/August 2012 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review examines the historical veracity of both the Egyptian Pharaoh’s account and Read more…
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Scorched Wheat May Provide Answers on the Destruction of Canaanite Tel Hazor
• 07/24/2012
The recent discovery of scorched wheat at Canaanite Tel Hazor may shed new light on the destruction of one of Israel’s most prominent sites. The discovery of large jugs containing Read more…
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Fatimid Treasure Discovered at Crusader-Era Apollonia-Arsuf
• 07/16/2012
Archaeologists seek out the treasures of the past, but rarely do they come across literal pots of gold. Tel Aviv University and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority excavations at Read more…
