English Bible History

The Dark Ages was a millennium, running from approximately 500 (Rome fell in 476) to 1500 AD (Martin Luther’s 95 Theses were written in 1517); being a three-fold darkness: spiritual, physical, and educational. “One must be accustomed to the light, at least in some measure, to be able to judge of the darkness. A blind man can have no idea of the extent of the darkness around him. It is the same as to moral and spiritual darkness. A person must have some acquaintance with the light of scripture in order to discern the darkness around him. Thus, alas, during the ages under consideration, ...

The God of the Old Testament commanded and endorsed many practices that we find morally reprehensible today. High on the list was the institution of slavery, which features prominently in several sections of the Hebrew Bible. Fathers could sell their daughters into slavery, masters could beat their slaves, creditors could carry off children for failure to repay a debt, and foreigners could be kept for life, passed down as inherited property. How are we to make sense of all of this from our modern point of view?

"Unwavering Faith: The Inspiring Lives of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther" is a powerful and transformative listen that brings to life the incredible journeys of 3 biblical heroes. This book is a masterful blend of historical detail and spiritual insight, making it a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration and encouragement in their faith journey. Be transported into the ancient world of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther as each narrative is rich with historical context and vivid storytelling; making these age-old stories feel both immediate and relevant.

Delve into the enigmatic world of the Hittites with "Understanding the Hittites: Biblical History, Archaeological Discoveries, and Etymological Clarifications." This comprehensive study bridges the gap between ancient biblical narratives and modern archaeological findings, shedding light on one of the most influential yet mysterious civilizations of the ancient Near East. From their mention in the genealogies and stories of the patriarchs to their significant role in the conquest of Canaan, this book examines the Hittites' presence and impact in biblical accounts. Explore Abraham's ...

Uniquely among the world’s religions, the central claims of Christianity concern not just timeless spiritual truths, but tangible historical events. At the heart of the of the Christian faith are things that are meant to have happened in Palestine between 5 BC and AD 30. It’s as if Christianity happily places its head on the chopping block of public scrutiny and invites anyone who wants to come and take a swing.

The belief in prophets is as old as religion itself, and the tradition of prophets is especially prevalent in Judaism and Christianity, with prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah being among the most famous historical figures in the Bible. God had prophets like Jeremiah perform symbolic acts that foretold future events, particularly hardships that the Israelites suffered at the hands of the Babylonians and Egyptians.

The Bible teaches us the real story of Christmas. The problem is people have taken this story and added onto it. Cultures have added on to it. It’s passed through countries, and they’ve tacked on their little spin. We have thousands of years of a Christmas that is built around legends and myths. The Christmas we know is, in places, more a fairy-tale. It’s an inspiring one for sure. But a fairy-tale, nonetheless. This book helps us slow down and unpack the layers so we can see just how beautiful this gift really is.

Joseph McCabe (1867-1955) was a Catholic priest and scholar who abandoned his faith in the 1890s and later became a very prominent secular activist. He published over 250 books and pamphlets, covering a wide range of genres, including history, politics, biography, and popular science.

This book takes a deep dive into the Old Testament and New Testament's use and development of the Wedding Metaphor in Scripture. The book develops the importance of the Wedding Metaphor in understanding the heart and character of God Himself. Additionally, we learn some amazing aspects of the plans and purposes of God regarding the Creation from beginning to the end of time.

Biblical History of the New Testament is a book of history, not theology. The purpose of this book is to not only provide a historical narrative of Jesus’ life and that of the early church, but also to do so in a way that reconciles the apparent discrepancies among the four gospel accounts while maintaining the chronological order in all four gospels.

Explore the life and legacy of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a transformative figure known for his profound spiritual insights, educational innovations, and founding of the Society of Jesus. This book provides an in-depth look at the life of St. Ignatius, from his early years as a soldier and his dramatic conversion to his establishment of the Jesuit Order and enduring impact on Christianity and the world. St. Ignatius of Loyola was a man of extraordinary vision, determination, and spiritual depth, whose actions and teachings continue to shape millions. This book takes a deeper look at his ...

Where God Was Born observes that at the birth moment of the biblical religions, all of the faiths took from one another, exchanged ideas, recognized their commonalities, and were open to peaceful coexistence. Offering a rare vision of God that can unite different faiths into a shared allegiance of hope, this is a brave, challenging, and profound work that addresses the most important issues of our time.

Hundreds of women studied and interpreted the Bible between the years 100-2000 CE, but their stories have remained largely untold. In this book, Schroeder and Taylor introduce listeners to the notable contributions of female commentators through the centuries. They unearth fascinating accounts of Jewish and Christian women from diverse communities—rabbinic experts, nuns, mothers, mystics, preachers, teachers, suffragists, and household managers—who interpreted Scripture through their writings.

Are your prayers boring, impoverished, and repetitious? Do you want to prayer more effectively, more often? Do you want your prayers to be richer, fuller, and more meaningful? Dr. McDowell uses his extensive experience in researching, writing, and teaching about prayer to demonstrate how our prayers can be all of those things. Analysis of biblical prayers, stories about real-life practices, and the presentation of a variety of styles and models of prayer will help you to find the practice of prayer that engages you where you are, and, through that, glorifies God. After all, as Dr. McDowell ...

In Corona Crisis, professor Mark Hitchcock shares how the current coronavirus outbreak is related to the vivid, end-time biblical prophecies about plagues, pestilences, and pandemics. Jesus listed "pestilences in various places" as a sign of his coming (Luke 21:11). In the prophecy of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, the fourth rider kills one-fourth of the earth with pestilence and the "wild beasts of the earth".

How did the movement founded by Jesus transform more in the first 75 years after his death than it has in the 2,000 years since? This book tells the story of how the Christian movement, which began as relatively informal, rural, Hebrew- and Aramaic-speaking, and closely anchored to the Jewish synagogue, became primarily urban, Greek-speaking, and gentile by the early second century, spreading through the Greco-Roman world with a mission agenda and church organization distinct from its roots in Jewish Galilee.

What does the Bible say about sexuality? How have traditions of biblical interpretation influenced our understanding of sex and gender? What the Bible Says About Sex answers that and many other questions. Not shy, it analyzes why the Church claimed dominion over marriage, while the female body remained a source of potential evil. It wrestles with how sexuality is used to reinforce notions of honor, and how it can be used to manipulate others. It looks brazenly at the pornographic and the erotic passages of the Bible, and how traditions of interpretation veiled them.

The Bible is the inspired word of God, but is the Bible we read today the same Bible our ancestors read? For centuries, there were meetings of church leaders to discuss and hash out the contents of the Bible. These included many arguments, disagreements, and controversies before the proper books of the Bible could be decided upon. Questions and curiosities about the Bible are not limited to the nonbeliever.

James was possibly the first New Testament book written, probably penned in the very late 40s AD. It is generally accepted that the book was written by James, the leader of the Jerusalem Church, also known as James the brother of Jesus. From the very first, some people objected to having James in the New Testament. Martin Luther pushed for its exclusion (as well as some other books) because he thought it crossed some Protestant doctrines.

In Wonders in the Deep Mensun Bound, the renowned archaeologist who was the Director of Exploration on the team that discovered Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance, argues that the history of the world is as much about maritime exploration and trade as it is about what happens on land. Using the many treasures Bound has discovered at the bottom of the sea and working with journalist Mark Frary, he sets out to write a maritime history of the world from 3000 BC to the present.