According to researchers of antiquity driving away bad luck, the evil eye and, in short, envious people—this was one of the purposes of mosaics in Ancient Rome. You may know of amulets, incantations, but art and specifical mosaics were also…Continue Reading
Category: Posts
The Danger of Knowing Too Little Greek
Why Greek Tools Can Be Dangerous Never before have there been such powerful tools for zooming in on the details of Greek. These are useful and I’m glad to have them. But I wince when they are misused. And they…Continue Reading
New Second Temple Era Stone Inscription Mentions Jerusalem
During the winter of 2017, archaeologists working in a Jerusalem suburb, discovered the foundations of a Roman structure dating to the 1st century B.C.E. What they found was building remnants and a part of a common round column. The exiting…Continue Reading
The Blunder of Proof-Texting
One day my theological thinking about the gift of salvation was challenged by an individual who believed that “God wants ALL people to ‘be saved’”. By the way, there is nothing wrong with such a belief, but it is a…Continue Reading
Context, Terminology, and Translation
In this article, I want to discuss the importance of context, terminology and precise translation of the original text (be it Greek or Hebrew). When it comes to the interpretation of biblical texts and conclusions drawn from them these building blocks…Continue Reading
Jewish Customs of Mourning
The world of the Bible is full of symbolism that modern readers at times notice and do not appreciate, but very often miss entirely. People’s customs, traditions, and folkways about most ordinary matters of life often reflect deep into their…Continue Reading
Beyond English Bible IV : Reading the Original
Can you read the Bible in the original languages? Yes, anyone can! Well, if you don’t know how, you can certainly learn… And there is a way to do that without taking many years to learn Greek and Hebrew. Don’t get me…Continue Reading
A Gold Earring Discovered Near The City of David
A gold earring portraying the head of a horned animal was unearthed under the Givati Parking lot near Jerusalem’s City of David National Park. The earring belongs to the second or third century B.C.E. “The jewelry was found inside a…Continue Reading
Beyond the English Bible III: Lexicon
Many people know that the Bible they read is a transition. How can a serious student of the Bible go beyond the English text of the Bible? The answer to this question is not always simple and it is not the…Continue Reading
The Symbolism of The Jewish Beard
Since ancient times many Israelites preferred not to shave, but to wear a beard. Males from the western culture, especially since Roman times, preferred to shave off their facial hair. And we have countless images and depictions of people from…Continue Reading
Ancient Wine Jugs and Cooking Pots Discovered in Western Galilee
Researchers from Israel Antiquities Authority, the Safed Academic College, and the Israel Cave Explorers Club embarked on an intricate excavation mission to the cave on a cliff face near the Lebanon border. And their daring efforts paid off. Inside the…Continue Reading
Radiocarbon Dating Inaccuracies Could Shift History
Minute inaccuracies in radiocarbon dating may cause a massive overhaul of the historical timeline, researchers studying anomalies in this dating method have found. By questioning certain assumptions underlying radiocarbon dating, a team of researchers at Cornell University have uncovered 20-year…Continue Reading
Beyond the English Bible II : Interlinear
A majority of serious students of the Bible realize that what they study is not an English Book. The Jewish Bible was written in Hebrew and some sections in Aramaic. Christian writings were authored in Koine Greek. And Bibles in all other…Continue Reading
An Unknown Biblical King from 9th Century BCE
A carefully sculpted head of an unknown 9th century BC Biblical king has been discovered in Israel and archaeologists are working hard to try and discover just who this mystery king was. The two-inch sculpture constructed out of faience is…Continue Reading
Beyond The English Bible I : Concordance
Many students who wish to begin studying beyond the English translations of the Bible do not know how and where to begin. I get questions about this frequently and they deserve a good and thorough answer. I will provide helpful…Continue Reading
What Wine Would Jesus Drink?
What kind of wine would Jesus drink in his lifetime? Leonardo Da Vinci’s iconic painting, “The Last Supper,” missed a few marks, but it got the wine part right. Biblical historians have long pondered what dishes may have been on…Continue Reading
A Jewish vs. A Christian Paul: Religion Confusion
It is very common to think of Paul as a Christian. After all, so much of what is called Christian is based on his teachings which are a part of the Scriptures all Christians recognize. But surprisingly Paul did not…Continue Reading
Jesus the Nazarene or Nazarite?
After reading the gospels some people start thinking that Yeshua (Jesus) was a Nazarite. “And came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.” (Mat…Continue Reading