A Podcast All About Christianity
Herod’s Family and Their Rule Herod’s descendants, collectively known as the Herodian dynasty, played significant roles in the governance of Judea and neighboring territories. Upon his death in 4 BCE, Herod’s kingdom was divided among his sons, creating a tetrarchy. The family’s influence extended well into the 1st century CE. Key Members of Herod’s Family: Historical … Read More “Herod the Great and His Dynasty: Builders, Rulers, and Their Lasting Legacy” »
There are two epistles in the New Testament that are attributed to the Apostle Peter. Skeptics argue that Peter did not write them and apologists argue that Peter did. This post is not about whether Peter did write 1 & 2 Peter but whether he could have. Some have argued that Peter, an uneducated fisherman, … Read More “Could Peter Have Written New Testament Epistles?” »
Quite often, New Testament writers quote the Old Testament. When we turn to those Old Testament passages, we may see some differences between what is found there and what we find in the New Testament. Sometimes that is because the New Testament author is paraphrasing the Old Testament passage but more often it is because … Read More “What is the Septuagint?” »
It is impossible to say exactly how many people in the early church were considered apostles. We can say with certainty that it was more than twelve. The original twelve were these: These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and … Read More “How Many Apostles Were There?” »
The beatitudes, part of the Sermon on the Mount (Plain), are some of the most beloved parts of the New Testament. Christians have loved them, whether in Matthew or Luke’s version, whether they agreed on the meaning or not. The Beatitudes Through the Ages by Rebekah Eklund is a priceless contribution to the study of … Read More “The Beatitudes Through the Ages – Review” »
Many Christians today look back to the church of the first century, the church we find in Acts and the letters of Paul, as the model to emulate. Some denominations aim to be “restorationist,” that is they seek to restore the purity of that early church. Whether or not that should be the aim of … Read More “Five Things to Know About the First Century Church” »
One of the greatest and earliest challenges to what would become orthodox Christianity was Gnosticism. But where did Gnosticism come from and how does it relate to the New Testament. Pheme Perkins, author of Gnosticism and the New Testament, is a New Testament scholar. She argues that there was a pre-Christian form of Gnosticism that … Read More “Gnosticism and the New Testament” »
