New Testament History

The Gospel According to Judas, by Benjamin Iscariot, sheds new light on the mystery of Judas (including his motives for the betrayal and what happened to him after the crucifixion) by retelling the story of Jesus through the eyes of Judas, using the canonical texts as its basic point of reference. Ostensibly written by Judas' son, Benjamin, and following the narrative style of the Gospels, this re-creation is provocative, compelling, and controversial.

The Maccabees: The Hasmonaean Dynasty between Malachi and Matthew delves into the fascinating history of the Hasmonaean dynasty, which played a critical role in shaping the Jewish religion and culture during the Second Temple period. The book tells the story of the Maccabees, a Jewish family who rose to power in the 2nd century BCE and led a rebellion against the Seleucid Empire to reclaim their religious freedom. The book takes a detailed look at the key players of the Hasmonaean dynasty, including Mattathias ben Johanan, who helped spark the Maccabean Revolt, and John Hyrcanus, the first ...

The story of the New Testament’s transmission is one of dedication, resilience, and faithfulness. In The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origins, Transmission, and Reliability, Edward D. Andrews recounts how imperfect yet committed individuals worked tirelessly to translate and preserve the sacred texts, ensuring that the message of the apostles could be shared with people across the world. This book provides an in-depth exploration of the major early versions, including the Diatessaron of Tatian, the Syriac translations (Old Syriac, Peshitta, Philoxenian, and Harklean), the ...

Much of the contemporary discussion of the Jesus tradition has focused on aspects of oral performance, storytelling, and social memory, on the premise that the practice of communal reading of written texts was a phenomenon documented no earlier than the second century CE. Brian J. Wright overturns that premise by examining evidence that demonstrates communal reading events in the first century.

Dan Brown's International best-seller The DaVinci Code has raised many questions in the minds of readers. The DaVinci Code, in blurring the lines between fact and fiction, popularizes the speculations and contentions of numerous more serious books that are also attracting wide attention. How should we respond to such claims that we now have documents that reveal secrets about Jesus, secrets long suppressed by the church and other religious institutions?

This guide is intended to help those who are learning about the historical context of the New Testament, its authors, and their audiences. Every book of the New Testament is explored with those context points as well as commentary. For those of you who are new to Christianity, I expect this guide to help you grow in your faith. The realization that most of the New Testament was written to an audience of “new” Christians will help it become more personal to you. For those of you who are Christians since youth, I hope that this guide serves to pull you back into the Bible, to revisit its ...

The Epistle of James is a letter urging Jewish Christians to persevere in the face of persecution and is also a practical letter dealing with Christian ethics and insisting that actions, not words, are the mark of a disciple of Christ. This book is beautifully voiced by The Bible Reading Collective....

Engross yourself in an intimate exploration of the Gospel and researched details of the relationship between Jesus and his family, especially the startling specificity concerning his mother. Discover how Jesus’ stepbrothers fostered the founding of the new religion. Enjoy learning how Jesus’ heritage, Palestinian lifestyle, and politics influenced his ministry.

"The Bible as History: A Historical Journey Through the Bible" takes readers on a fascinating exploration of the ancient civilizations mentioned in the Bible. From the Egyptians and Assyrians to the Greeks and Romans, this book delves into the history and culture of these civilizations and how they relate to the stories and teachings of the Bible. The author uses archaeological evidence and historical records to provide insight into the society and culture of these ancient civilizations, and how they shaped the world we know today. This book is written for anyone who desires a deeper ...

Two thousand years ago, a former construction worker wanders around the back streets of a third-rate country in the Roman Empire. For a couple of years, he preaches in obscure parables. He never writes anything down. He has a handful of close disciples—all of whom run away when he is arrested. He dies in ignominious agony, nailed to a cross as a criminal. That should be the end of that sad tale.

British Narrator Simon Peterson reads The Epistle to the Romans in this wonderful audiobook collection of The New Testament. As a well-known Christian Broadcaster, Simon has the ideal voice for those of all ages who want to listen to The Bible in full, unabridged form. His emotive reading perfectly captures the beauty and power of God's Word and makes the King James English clear and easy to understand.

This Very Short Introduction audiobook offers a clear, accessible, and concise account of the apocryphal gospels - exploring their origins, their discovery, and discussing how the various texts have been interpreted both by the Church and beyond.

Before the gospels were written, there were proto-gospels, notes, lists, and collections used to construct the gospels we have today. Some gospels were used and built upon to form other, expanded gospels. The “Q” Document was used as a memory tool and literary scaffolding by Matthew and Luke in the writing of their gospels. Although many scholars believe Mark had access to the oldest parts of Q, others believe he did not. Since Mark predates Matthew and Luke, they believe Mark was used as a template for Matthew and Luke.

The Qur'anic sura (chapter) of Joseph deals almost entirely with the story of this noble Prophet, his brothers, and their father Prophet Jacob. Since the revelation of the Qur'an fourteen centuries ago, there have been numerous attempts to interpret this sura. The present study is a genuinely new look at the sura - including careful examination of the historical background of its story and detailed comparison with the corresponding Biblical narrative. While referring to interpretations from classical exegetical works, this book offers new insights into the meanings and magnificence of this ...

British Narrator Simon Peterson reads The Second Epistle to the Corinthians in this wonderful audiobook collection of The New Testament. As a well-known Christian Broadcaster, Simon has the ideal voice for those of all ages who want to listen to The Bible in full, unabridged form. His emotive reading perfectly captures the beauty and power of God's Word and makes the King James English clear and easy to understand.

This is the story of Joshua, a carpenter from the village of Nazareth who is called to preach the coming of God's judgment. This is the story of his ministry and its terrible end, seen through the eyes of his kinsman and closest friend, Noah the ironsmith. Noah, a pious man but one who understands the darkness of a world in which treachery and murder are the common currency of power, is prepared to risk his own life to save Joshua's.

British Narrator Simon Peterson reads The Epistle to the Ephesians in this wonderful audiobook collection of The New Testament. As a well-known Christian Broadcaster, Simon has the ideal voice for those of all ages who want to listen to The Bible in full, unabridged form. His emotive reading perfectly captures the beauty and power of God's Word and makes the King James English clear and easy to understand.

British Narrator Simon Peterson reads The Book of Revelation in this wonderful audiobook collection of The New Testament. As a well-known Christian Broadcaster, Simon has the ideal voice for those of all ages who want to listen to The Bible in full, unabridged form.

A short essay by Hugh Schonfield which tries to clarify the question of whether there is any evidence of the existence of a Gospel written in Hebrew.

British Narrator Simon Peterson reads The Epistle to Titus in this wonderful audiobook collection of The New Testament. As a well-known Christian Broadcaster, Simon has the ideal voice for those of all ages who want to listen to The Bible in full, unabridged form.