origin of christ

origin of christ Latest

Late-15th-century painting by the Spanish artist known as the Master of Perea depicts a Last Supper of lamb, unleavened bread and wine. Photo: Christie’s Images/Superstock

Nov 21 Blog

Was Jesus a Jew?

Was Jesus a Jew? Some people claim that Jesus was a Christian. Some have claimed that he was an Aryan Christian. But in recent decades scholars have been returning to ancient historical settings and discovering the Jewish Jesus.

Nov 17 Blog

When Did Christianity Begin to Spread?

By: Biblical Archaeology Society Staff

How old is Christianity? Churches are among Biblical archaeology findings that hold the answer.

Sep 24 Blog

The Staurogram

By: Biblical Archaeology Society Staff

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.

A 12th-century baptismal font in St. Bartholomew’s Church in Liège, Belgium

Sep 12 Blog

The Origin of Christianity

By: Noah Wiener

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.

The Sermon on the Mount. Ca. 1440-1445. Fresco.

Nov 9 Blog

Uncovering the Jewish Context of the New Testament

By: Biblical Archaeology Society Staff

According to Jewish New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine, much if not all of the New Testament is Jewish literature.

Dec 24 Blog

The Archaeological Quest for the Earliest Christians

By: Biblical Archaeology Society Staff

In part one of a two-part series, Douglas Boin presents new archaeological and historical research in the study of early Christianity.

Feb 17 Blog

Early Christian Art Symbols Endure after Iconoclast Attack

By: Robin Ngo

Depictions of fish and fishermen can be found in the colorful floor mosaics at the sixth-century C.E. basilica at Horvat Beit Loya, but they were defaced by iconoclasts in the eighth century.

Feb 1 Blog

The Archaeological Quest for the Earliest Christians

By: Douglas Boin

In part two of a two-part series, Douglas Boin challenges the idea that Christians left so few archaeological traces behind because they couldn’t afford to make them.

May 20 Blog

Geza Vermes (1924–2013)

By: Hershel Shanks

My friend Geza Vermes is dead. He was, most famously, the intellectual leader in the fight to free the Dead Sea Scrolls from the small coterie of scholars who was assigned to publish them but who endlessly procrastinated and wouldn’t let anyone else see them in the meantime.

Sep 5 Blog

A “Jesus Hideout” in Jordan

By: James Tabor

Biblical Scholar James Tabor examines the setting of some of the Jesus' final excursions before his crucifixion.

Must-Read Free eBooks

The Dead Sea Scrolls: Past, Present, and Future

Biblical Peoples—The World of Ancient Israel

Who Was Jesus? Exploring the History of Jesus’ Life

Ancient Israel in Egypt and the Exodus

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