Showing titles in Biblical History & Culture

The church has too often lost its way in reading the Old Testament for lack of sound principles of interpretation. When careless habits get us off track, we can lose sight of what the Bible is really saying, derailing our own spiritual growth and even risking discredit to God's word. We need a consistent approach to give us confidence as faithful interpreters. In Wisdom for Faithful Reading, trusted Old Testament scholar John Walton lays out his best practices developed over four decades in the classroom.

Explore the interwoven lives of King Herod and Mary, Mother of Jesus as New York Times bestselling author Kathie Lee Gifford brings these biblical figures into a new light. Follow Herod from boyhood as he strives and fails throughout his life to become a beloved king. Walk in the steps of Mary of Nazareth as she navigates the repercussions of Herod's deadly obsession.

From award-winning scholar John Bergsma comes an intriguing audiobook that reveals new insights on the Essenes, a radical Jewish community predating Christianity, whose existence, beliefs, and practices are often overlooked in the annuls of history. Bergsma reveals how this Jewish sect directly influenced the beliefs, sacraments, and practices of early Christianity and offers new information on how Christians lived their lives, worshiped, and eventually went on to influence the Roman Empire and Western civilization.

Volume 1 - Essene History and the Prophetic Calendar: According to ancient texts that contain completely accurate prophecies to date, we are on the precipice of entering the final jubilee of the Church Age. Who could have known how much influence the writings of a mysterious group of prophets and scribes hundreds of years before Christ would have on our understanding of end-times prophecy? As it turns out, much of what we’ve been taught about Israel in the First Century is incomplete. There were, in fact, Jewish believers who knew exactly what to expect in His first coming: that He would ...

Recent years have seen much controversy about the apostle Paul, his context, and its effect on his theology. In Four Views on the Apostle Paul: Audio Lectures, four leading scholars present their views on the best framework for describing Paul's theological perspective, including his view of salvation, the significance of Christ, and his vision for the churches.

Written with occasional humor and an easy style, and thoroughly referenced, with many entertaining "gotcha!" moments, Not the Impossible Faith is a must-listen for anyone interested in the origins of Christianity. Richard Carrier, PhD, is an expert in the history of the ancient world and a critic of Christian attempts to distort history in defense of their faith.

Who was Jesus? Historical sources portray a person who was complex, multi-layered, and often contradictory to the tidy portrait that much of modern Christianity paints him as. Even the gospel accounts render him as both judge and healer, teacher and temple, servant and savior. A Doubter's Guide to Jesus is a persuasive and often challenging investigation into the historical figure found in the earliest sources. These sources, which include references both direct and indirect - from Roman, Jewish, and Christian accounts - offer us more than simple evidence that Jesus existed.

The Book of Enoch: A Complete Guide and Reference is the ultimate reference and guide to the book of 1 Enoch (The Ethiopic Book of Enoch). This guide and reference contains the author's notes and insights on the ancient text, as well as commentary, parallel Bible verses, references to 2 Enoch and 3 Enoch, history, prophecy, and the Calendar of Enoch. The author has included an amazing section on the application of the Calendar of Enoch to the prophecy of Daniel and "Daniel's Week of Years."

This book unveils the truth about our history. The truth of our history begins and ends through biblical scriptures. We start with creation, and build from that point to the formation of Man (mankind). We identify our natural state of being much different that we have been taught in our education system and the church. The conclusion of this book will provide you a complete understanding of WHO WE ARE as God's people.

No matter your season of life as a woman, you long to be loved and appreciated. But perhaps most days you're left feeling unseen, unheard, or unknown. Though centuries apart from your life today, the women who knew Jesus faced similar fears and insecurities. Their names aren't etched onto the pages of Scripture, but they are etched into the heart of God. In this book, Paige Allen invites you to take a second look at the life-changing encounters of seven unnamed women who came face-to-face with Jesus in the Bible.

I nostri padri erano convinti di vivere sotto l’occhio di Dio: la sua esistenza era certa come quella del sole che sorge e tramonta. Oggi abbiamo smesso di crederci, o anche solo di pensarci. E la Bibbia nessuno la legge più. Invece la Bibbia è un libro meraviglioso. Che si può leggere anche come un grande romanzo. L’autobiografia di Dio. Aldo Cazzullo fa con la Bibbia quel che aveva fatto con Dante: ci racconta la storia, in modo chiaro e comprensibile a tutti, con continui riferimenti all’attualità, alla nostra vita, passando attraverso le vicende storiche e i capolavori dell’arte.

Embark on an extraordinary journey back in time to unearth the secrets of the earliest Christian texts with "The Nag Hammadi Library: A Beginner's Guide". This meticulously crafted guide unlocks the mysteries of ancient scriptures discovered in Egypt in 1945, offering a fascinating glimpse into a profound era of spiritual exploration. Discover the Hidden Wisdom: Delve into the Gnostic gospels, philosophical writings, and mystical scriptures that were hidden away for centuries. Uncover the teachings that challenged the very foundation of early Christian thought and learn why these texts were...

The Book of Jubilees was written in Hebrew by a Pharisee between 135 and 105 BC. The author interprets the history of events from the creation to the giving of the law on Sinai according to the Pharisaic standpoint of his time. His purpose was the defense of Judaism against the attacks of the Hellenistic spirit that had been in the ascendant one generation earlier and was still powerful, and to prove that the law was of everlasting validity.

From the garden of Eden to the garden of Gethsemane, trees have borne silent witness to the long arc of our redemption story. Christmas is more than a holiday we observe each year—it's a special piece of a much bigger story. In this teaching series, Pastor Skip Heitzig walks through some of the trees that mark key events in the story of God and His people—from original sin to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

How God Shaped Dr. Cho and His Ministry of Hope "I looked into the eyes of the people of Daejo-dong, the little town that held our ragged, old tent church and saw only suffering, hunger, sickness, hopelessness, and helplessness. But in my mind I saw these people as beautiful people of God, and my heart was ignited with a love spark that became a burning flame of desire to fill their hearts with hope by teaching them about God, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit" (Dr. David Yonggi Cho). Dr. Cho carried this vision with him throughout the years, as he struggled to bring hope to people and ...

In Killing a Messiah, New Testament scholar Adam Winn weaves together stories of historical and fictional characters in a fresh reimagining of the events leading up to Jesus's execution. Based on what we know of the first-century context, Winn's narrative offers compelling explanations for gaps in the Gospel accounts. The social, political, and religious realities of Jesus's world come to life and shed new light on our reading of the biblical texts. In a city full of political entanglements, espionage, and competing interests, the blame for the crucifixion is complex.

Too often when we come to the Bible, we settle for easy answers.

The most famous of all English Bibles, the King James Version, was the culmination of centuries of work by various translators, from John Wycliffe, the 14 century catalyst of English Bible translation, to the committee of scholars who collaborated on the King James translation. Wide as the Waters examines the life and work of Wycliffe and recounts the tribulations of his successors, including William Tyndale, who was martyred, Miles Coverdale, and others who came to bitter ends.

One of the most controversial statements in the New Testament concerns the virgin conception and subsequent birth of Jesus, a conception in which man had no part. It's recorded that a virgin conceived a son without the aid of man, then secretly and without effort gave birth to her conception. This is the foundation upon which all Christendom rests. The Christian world is asked to believe this story, for man must believe the unbelievable to fully express the greatness that he is.

This Apocrypha Audio series contains The Apocrypha, The Book of I Enoch, and The Book of Jubilees. You will hear the number one best-selling narrator, Steve Cook, bring life to these timeless manuscripts that have been enjoyed for millennia.