Post-Biblical Period
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.
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.
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 […]
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 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.
