Post-Biblical Period
Mar 8
The Gospel of Thomas’s 114 Sayings of Jesus
By: BAS Staff
Read the 114 sayings of Jesus from the Gospel of Thomas as translated by Stephen J. Patterson and James M. Robinson.
Jan 28
Where Was Moses Buried?
By: Marek Dospěl
Where was Moses buried? We don’t know exactly. Nor did the biblical writers: “Then Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of […]
Jan 23
What Is Coptic and Who Were the Copts in Ancient Egypt?
By: Megan Sauter
When did the ancient Egyptians stop writing in hieroglyphs, and what came next? From the fourth to ninth centuries C.E., Egypt was predominantly Christian. During this time, the language used by the masses was Coptic.
Dec 24
December 25th and Christmas
By: Megan Sauter
When did December 25 become the date for Christmas? In the Winter 2022 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, T.C. Schmidt argues for an early […]
Dec 18
Gospel Stories in Stone
By: BAS Staff
During the fourth century, when Christianity went from a persecuted minority to a state-sponsored religion, several monumental churches were built across Roman Palestine to commemorate […]
Dec 12
When Was Jesus Born—B.C. or A.D.?
By: Megan Sauter
In which year was Jesus born? While this is sometimes debated, the majority of New Testament scholars place Jesus’ birth in 4 B.C. or before.
Dec 5
Who Was St. Nicholas?
By: Mark Wilson
The legend of jolly old St. Nicholas evolved into Santa Claus in Christmas tradition, but who was St. Nicholas?
Dec 3
The Origins of “The Cherry Tree Carol”
By: Mary Joan Winn Leith
“The Cherry Tree Carol” is a Christmas carol that first appeared in 13th-century England; an American version was discovered in Appalachia in the 20th century. Stonehill College Biblical scholar Mary Joan Winn Leith explains the carol’s roots in early Christian Syrian churches.
Nov 3
What Were the Crusades and How Did They Impact Jerusalem?
By: Biblical Archaeology Society Staff
Some of the most famous churches in Jerusalem were built during the Christian Crusades by Crusaders wishing to memorialize sites they believed to have great Christian significance.
Oct 9
Jews in Pre-Islamic Arabia
By: Marek Dospěl
In the first two centuries CE, Jews led two major revolts against the Romans—first, the Great Revolt (66–74), then the Bar-Kokhba Revolt (132–135). In their […]
