Post-Biblical Period

Post-Biblical Period

Mariotto Albertinelli Jesus

Jun 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.

domitian-naples

Apr 22

Alternative Facts: Domitian’s Persecution of Christians

By: Mark Wilson

“Alternative facts” and “fake news” are not just a contemporary phenomenon. On occasion ancient writers similarly tried to spin their version of the truth. One such claim was that Roman emperor Domitian was a great persecutor of Christians.

The Copper Scroll. Found in a cave near the Dead Sea, the Copper Scroll describes a vast treasure—hidden in locations throughout the Judean wilderness. Photo: Courtesy École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem

Apr 17

Dating the Copper Scroll

By: Megan Sauter

In 1952, archaeologists found the Copper Scroll in a cave at the site of Qumran near the Dead Sea. Made of copper, the scroll stood […]

Gospel of Thomas (Sayings of Jesus) from the Nag Hammadi

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 […]

codex_glazier

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 […]

Aedicule in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Photo by Nathan Steinmeyer, BAS.

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 […]

St. Nicholas National Museum

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.

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