English Bible History

Elaine Pagels, one of the world’s most important writers and thinkers on religion and history, and winner of the National Book Award for her groundbreaking work The Gnostic Gospels, now reflects on what matters most about spiritual and religious exploration in the twenty-first century. This bold new book explores how Christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret Gospel of Thomas, rediscovered in Egypt in 1945.

Rabbi Curt Landry helps Christians discover their roots in Judaism, empowering them to walk in the revelation of who they really are and who they are born to be. Reclaiming Our Forgotten Heritage reveals the mysteries of the church, letting Christians grasp the power that comes from connecting with their true identity.

"Bible Trivia: 850 Interesting Questions and Answers" is not just an audiobook; it's a treasure trove of divine knowledge waiting for you to explore. Whether you're a seeker of wisdom, a fan of epic tales, or simply in love with history, this audiobook is your perfect companion. Dive into this audiobook and let your soul be touched by the timeless knowledge found within.

The Magi of nativity scenes are romanticized as well-dressed wisemen bringing gifts to Jesus. Traditional Chrstians tell of a miraculous star that guided exotic kings from Persia, India, and Africa. Academics dismiss both accounts as no more than a pious legend. Who is right? In The Mystery of the Magi, Dwight Longenecker shows that all sides are wrong and the Magi were diplomats from Petra, the capital of the Nabatean kingdom of Arabia.

In the Revelation Jesus speaks directly to John: “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;” The Revelation is not about “the things that were” or the past, at the time it was written. If this book is primarily about the future from the time of John receiving the Revelation, then we must consider that much of the things which shall be hereafter having commenced shortly thereafter, would now, in our time, 1900 years later, have already happened over that span of time, and can be found in history.

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?

If you want to discover the captivating history of the Queen of Sheba, then keep reading...Piecing together an account of the life of Queen of Sheba from varied sources gives one a fascinating glimpse into the ancient world, and from the turmoil of this chaos of information rises one constant figure: the queen herself.

In this new audiobook, Hall makes the airtight case that America's Founders were not deists; that they did not create a "godless" Constitution; that even Jefferson and Madison did not want a high wall separating church and state; that most Founders believed the government should encourage Christianity; and that they embraced a robust understanding of religious liberty for biblical and theological reasons. In addition, Hall explains why and how the Founders' views are absolutely relevant today.

Sir Oliver Mowat served as a Christian lawyer, politician, premier of Ontario, and was one of the Fathers of Canadian Confederation. He was known by all his contemporaries as being a godly man who sought to do what was right in the sight of God, and who believed passionately in the proclamation and defense of the gospel, and the administration of its graces. Near the end of his life, he published two works on Christianity and its evidences and Christianity and its influence as his contributions to the development of a holistic Christian apologetic.

In Sacred Scripture, Sacred War, James Byrd offers the first comprehensive analysis of how American revolutionaries defended their patriotic convictions through scripture. Byrd shows that the Bible was a key text of the American Revolution. Indeed, many colonists saw the Bible as primarily a book about war. They viewed God as not merely sanctioning violence but actively participating in combat, playing a decisive role on the battlefield.

I have been friends with Ari and Shira Sorko-Ram for more than 30 years and have ministered with them around the world. They know the importance of the Word of God and what it means in our lives. I love how Shira has taken her love and passion for God’s Word and written this beautiful book explaining how the Bible came to us and the impact it has had on the nations and kingdoms of this world. You are sure to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Bible you read every day.

In this short study, Lumpkin masterfully navigates the complex narrative where rebellion serves a dual role: initially, it liberates the Israelites from slavery, but later, it incites divine wrath. This duality mirrors the fine line between defiance and perseverance, the quest for personal freedom, and acts of treachery. The core lesson lies in the application of our will and intention.

If you think you know Bible history, you could be stunned by many findings in this book. From what Trinity means, to the day Jesus died, to mislabeled silent years, it will shock the senses with omissions in Bible studies and church services. From misguided preachers to those in it for celebrity status, radio programs, book deals, and speaking engagements, Jesus would admonish many churches and leaders for lack of discipline and rigor. You might be outraged that what is routinely taught covers less than 50 percent of the New Testament, and far less of the Old Testament.

The Scofield Reference Bible was the product of Dispensationalism, which offered a new way of reading the Bible, one that focused attention squarely on the end-times. That scripture would later become a core text of America's white Christian nationalism. In The Americanization of the Apocalypse Donald Harman Akenson examines the creation and spread of Dispensationalism.

Each chapter focuses on roughly one century in the life of the Christian church, providing an even-handed view of Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity, and Protestant denominations. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter offer opportunities to reflect on parallels in contemporary Christian church life, considerations from a relevant Bible passage, and opportunities for application. This is an excellent text for a half-year study group.

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.

Original dramas about women in the Bible who have done brave and courageous deeds for the glory of God. Using the Bible as my foundation, I bring in history and thought provoking scenarios to entertain and enhance discussions. These eight women, Rachel, Miriam, Manoah's Wife, The Widow of Zarapheth, Dorcas, Lydia, Priscilla, and Phoebe are somewhat lesser known women of the Bible. Discover and be entertained as these women speak in first person and share their life story with you and find out what you can learn from them.

The Bible for Grown-Ups neither requires nor rejects belief. It sets out to help intelligent adults make sense of the Bible - a book that is too large to swallow whole yet too important in our history and culture to spit out. Why do the creation stories in Genesis contradict each other? Did the Exodus really happen? Was King David a historical figure? Why is Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus so different from Luke's? Why was St Paul so rude about St Peter?

Plagues, pandemics, and infectious diseases have shaped the history of the Jewish people. Of course, there were the ten biblical plagues that famously smote the Egyptians—from the rain of frogs to the deaths of the firstborn—but that is just the start of the story. In The Eleventh Plague, Brown investigates the relation between Judaism and infectious diseases throughout the ages, from premodern and early-modern plagues, to rabbinic responses to smallpox and cholera, and to the curious practice of "Black Weddings" in which two orphans are married in a cemetery.

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.